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STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED BELOW
As first reported by Nick Piecoro of AZ Central
The Diamondbacks have begun to inform employees that the team will implement layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts as it looks to cut costs with revenues at a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sources inform that Derrick Hall sent out an e mail informing the organization that there would be Furloughs, Layoffs, and Pay Cuts , and staff are being informed today which category they are in.
While no official word or numbers of people to be furloughed or layed off is available at this time, these cuts are likely very extensive and no department of the organization is likely to be spared. Anyone who is not furloughed or layed off is certainly getting a pay cut I’m told.
As nearly 40 million Americans have joined the unemployment rolls over the last few months it comes as no surprise that the Diamondbacks organization would be impacted as well. Personally, I have many friends and acquaintances in the organization and I hope that they’ll rebound quickly.
While there may be a reflex to lambast the team for these moves, I’ll be reserving my thoughts until the full extent and duration of these moves is clearer. No business, no entity, is immune from impact, as we’ve seen.
UPADTE:
By contrast, some clubs seem to have avoided going this route.
Additionally, the Royals will not have any layoffs or furloughs. Nearly 150 employees will not take pay cuts. Higher-level employees will take tiered cuts, but the organization plans to make them whole when greater revenues start coming in next year. https://t.co/yZCcMT6ecr
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 29, 2020
This all comes on the heels of massive cuts in the minor league system, as reported on by Jim yesterday.
This Tweet provides a bit more context to that as well
Have learned of more D-Backs' releases. With these, the D-Backs have released 62 players in the past couple of weeks. That is far beyond normal. No MLB team had released 45+ players in the March-May timeframe in 2018 or 2019. https://t.co/irUWEcnNbb pic.twitter.com/IkZZ8G7nw5
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) May 29, 2020
Compare and contrast:
Even better news from the Twins: As teams around baseball cut hundreds of minor league players, Minnesota does not plan on releasing any minor leaguers, a source tells ESPN. If there is no minor league season, all the players currently in the farm system will get the $400 a week. https://t.co/fAavhlkUhM
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 29, 2020
So while small market midwest teams are holding the line, mid market Arizona is not. Not judging....yet...just reporting.
All the best to all affected.