Phillies’ Andrew McCutchen first MLB player to support MiLB campaign

The Phillies take better care of their MiLB affiliates than most franchises

The Phillies are actually one of the only franchises that takes care of its prospects, though they could certainly do more. They provide housing stipends from Low-A level up, as well as salary for extended Spring Training; as of late June, they were the only NL East franchise compensating their players for extended Spring Training.

The Mets do none of these things. Instead, they actually actively work to widen the gap between big-leaguers and prospects, which is shameful. During the first height of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, they cut 39 minor leaguers rather than pay them their stipends. The MiLB season had already been canceled, so they really had nowhere else to go.

If you consider yourself a baseball fan but don’t think minor leaguers deserve better from the billionaire ball clubs that employ them, ask yourself why. Steve Cohen had $2.42 billion to buy the Mets – a new MLB record, by the way – but doesn’t have the money to pay prospects for extended spring training or housing. That doesn’t add up; it’s a choice that he and every other owner makes.

If you think what major-leaguers do every game is impressive – throwing gas, hitting home runs, stealing bases, etc. – think about how minor-leaguers do all of those things after a night of sleeping in their car or on a floor somewhere, likely without adequate nutrition or any of the fancy treatments big-leaguers get from the world-class training staff. Imagine how many prospects would develop into big-leaguers faster if they were able to focus on honing their craft, not on how to make ends meet.

The argument many supposed baseball fans make is that minor leaguers choose to work in these conditions for nominal pay. Technically, this is true. But for one thing, it is appalling and unacceptable that compensation is so low, regardless of if the players accept it or not. Moreover, if you had the natural talent to play the game you claim to be a fan of, you’d probably want to see if you could live out your dream, too.

MLB and MiLB are like a couple in an unhealthy relationship. One side holds all the power, manipulating and hurting the weaker side, which is trapped out of a mixture of love and necessity. The power balance needs to shift.

McCutchen is only one man. But he’s a big-leaguer, and his platform is bigger than any minor leaguer’s. Sunday Night Baseball is averaging 1.61 million viewers, and they all saw Cutch’s new statement piece.

Hopefully, he is only the first of many Major Leaguers to take up the cause.