Yahoo Finance Bernie Sanders rips MLB for cutting 40 minor-league teams: 'A disaster for baseball fans'
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is not happy with MLB. Sanders ripped the league Friday after it unveiled a new minor-league format, which eliminated 40 minor-league teams.
Sanders vowed to fight that decision, calling it "a disaster for baseball fans, workers and communities across the country."
This is about greed – plain and simple. Closing down Minor League teams, like the Vermont Lake Monsters, is a disaster for baseball fans, workers, and communities across the country. I will do all I can to fight it. https://t.co/4FC6E2k0si
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 12, 2021
As Sanders notes, his local team, the Vermont Lake Monsters, may be eliminated as part of MLB's new program.
Bernie Sanders has rallied behind minor-league baseball
This isn't a new issue for Sanders. He's expressed frustration over MLB's treatment of minor-league teams since 2019. That November, Sanders sent a scathing letter to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred blasting the league for being greedy.
"Let’s be clear," a passage in Sanders' letter read. "Your proposal to slash the number of minor league teams has nothing to do with what is good for baseball, but it has everything to do with greed."
In that same letter, Sanders pointed out the fact that many minor-league players make under minimum wage, and highlighted the disparity of wealth between those players and team owners, most of who are worth billions.
Sanders wasn't the only politician to take up this cause in 2019. Over 100 members of Congress signed a letter sent to Manfred echoing similar points.
Manfred and Sanders met that December to discuss the issue. MLB issued a statement after that meeting, calling it "productive." At the time, Sanders said he would continue monitoring the situation.
It's unclear whether Sanders will pursue another meeting with Manfred following Friday's news.
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