It was Black Tuesday for the A’s, as the team furloughed scouts and other team employees, issued pay cuts to “a number” of other employees, and eliminating a $400-a-week stipend for all minor-league players, citing the lack of revenue amid baseball’s work stoppage.
The A’s were not the first team to furlough jobs in the pandemic, but Tuesday’s moves made them the most aggressive cost-cutters in Major League Baseball. The cuts brought about justified outrage and condemnation from fans and baseball media.
It should not have elicited surprise, though.