Bill Passed to Study Impact of Minor League Baseball

Recently, Major League Baseball announced a proposal to cut ties with 42 minor league baseball teams, including the Grand Junction Rockies.

The Save Minor League Baseball Task Force introduced the bill as a result of statements from Major League Baseball:

"If the National Association [of Minor League Clubs] has an interest in an agreement with Major League Baseball, it must address the very significant issues with the current system at the bargaining table," MLB said in a statement, per the Los Angeles Times. "Otherwise, MLB clubs will be free to affiliate with any minor league team or potential team in the United States, including independent league teams and cities which are not permitted to compete for an affiliate under the current agreement."

The bill is designed to look at the impact minor league baseball has on cities and towns like Grand Junction, and to find a way to keep baseball in those towns.

Colorado Congressman Scott Tipton, a member of the Save Minor League Task Force and a huge baseball supporter was quoted as saying:

"A professional baseball team is an invaluable asset in a smaller community like Grand Junction. Each season, millions of dollars are brought into the community in the form of tickets, merchandise and charitable donations and are all much appreciated in a region of the state where achieving economic prosperity can be difficult... It's important for the MLB and the MiLB to continue searching for win-win scenarios as they move forward with the future of baseball. "

Should the Major League Baseball teams decide to end their association with the minor leagues, the impact, both economically and socially will be felt in towns all across America.

Including Grand Junction.