MLB Considering Massive Expansion of Arizona Fall League to Help Minor-League Players

One of the biggest casualties of MLB's ongoing hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic has been minor-league baseball, and the players who make up the various leagues.

As the MLBPA fights to earn money and teams continue to lose it, the MiLB players are already feeling the brunt of the disagreements, with hundreds cut over the course of a couple months and many more to come, with a regular season all but canceled.

Now, the MLB may be developing a plan to help those still in affiliated ranks after all, and it should help a bit.

The Arizona Fall League typically runs from mid-September through October, after the conclusion of the MiLB season. The AFL attracts some of the top minor league prospects, with each MLB club sending players to get scouted for a better chance at a spot in the majors. Many famous names have taken to the AFL fields before, including Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols and Bryce Harper.

The benefits of expanding the AFL are two-fold. First, the league can fill the void of the bound-to-be-cancelled minor league baseball season, while also providing increased exposure to the league's best prospects. An additional companion league in Florida would only make the proposition more exciting for the players, and would allow more to participate.

The more baseball, the better, especially considering the challenging situation in front of minor-league players and the extensive hiatus that seems to be distant from its conclusion. An expanded AFL may be the ideal solution.