A group of US senators gave baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred a three-day extension until Friday to respond to questions about the sport’s antitrust exemption and minor leaguers, further drawing out this tumultuous chapter in the history of America’s Pastime.
The senators had made the request to Manfred on July 18, and MLB asked for the additional time, as they continued to review the facts of the matter. Major League Baseball’s antitrust exemption, unique among large private corporations, has come under increased scrutiny among a wave of trust-busting sentiment, often led by criticism of more traditional monopolies and the rise of Big Tech in the digital sphere.
Read More: Minor League Asks Congress To Restrict MLB Antitrust Exemption
Richard Durbin, an Illinois Democrat who chairs the Judiciary Committee, and Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican who is the ranking minority member, are among four senators who asked Manfred a series of questions that could be a prelude to proposed legislation further limiting an exemption created by a 1922 Supreme Court decision.
“I kind of reject the premise of the question that minor league players are not paid a living wage,” Manfred said before last week’s All-Star Game.
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