The Houston Astros are officially back in the news again.
The Tri-City ValleyCats have sued Major League Baseball and the Houston Astros for their unilateral decision to end their affiliation with the minor league organization. The suit seeks in excess of $15 million, ValleyCats chairman Doug Gladstone said Friday morning.The team took the action after MLB decided to sever ties with the minor league team and a number of other affiliates around the U.S.
The 33-page complaint accuses Major League Baseball of using "bullying" tactics to pit minor league operations against one another for survival. It notes that the Houston team announced it was continuing its affiliations with "three teams owned by the Astros and one owned by a former U.S. Senator and current Governor.
ValleyCats president Rick Murphy said last week it will cost the team an additional $220,000 to $250,000 per season to operate as an independent because they must now pay additional on-field costs, including the players’ and manager’s salaries. Those were paid by Houston when the ValleyCats were an affiliate.
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