The Pittsburgh Pirates will soon announce they've cut a number of minor-league players, joining a number of major-league ball clubs in the process.
General manager Ben Cherington said it didn't make sense to string those players along if they didn't have a clear future in the organization.
"Our feeling (is) that if we truly cannot see opportunity next year for a player, we are not necessarily helping them by extending the relationship," Cherington said, according to Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic.
Several teams have already made significant cuts to minor-league rosters. The New York Yankees released 45 minor leaguers earlier this week, though they committed to continue paying a $400 weekly stipend to those remaining in the system. The Oakland Athletics informed their minor leaguers that they would cease stipend payments May 31.
Other teams have taken a different course of action. The Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals don't plan on making any cuts to their minor-league rosters during this summer. The Twins reportedly committed to stipend payments through Aug. 31, while the Royals announced they would pay minor-league players through the end of the year.
