MLB continues to negotiate with MiLB on a new Professional Baseball Agreement, but it also has been "working to create a different type of partnership with independent baseball leagues," some of which "could be officially announced soon," according to Evan Drellich of THE ATHLETIC. MLB already has a "working relationship with the Atlantic League that could be expanded," and it is said to be "pursuing agreements with the American Association and the Frontier League as well." But those arrangements "would not be nearly equivalent" to the one MLB has with MiLB. Some believe that MLB is "attempting to create leverage as negotiations unfold" over a new PBA. One source said that the planned partnerships "fit MLB’s vision for 'One Baseball,' a tenet espoused by commissioner Rob Manfred." The PBA expires Sept. 30, and sources said that a new deal between MLB and MiLB is "not going to be done by that time." Progress is "being made, but some of the major economic components have yet to be discussed, including an updated list of teams MLB wants to remove from the Minor League Baseball umbrella" (THEATHLETIC.com, 9/23).
FIRST ONE DOWN: ESPN.com reported MLB and the Atlantic League "extended their agreement through 2023 to stage experiments in the Atlantic League, which tested an automated ball-strike system to call pitches in 2019 and has used other innovations such as limits on defensive shifts and mound visits, larger bases and shorter breaks between half-innings." MLB said that it "will meet regularly" with the league to "discuss joint marketing and promotional opportunities" (ESPN.com, 9/23).
