Senate Judiciary Committee asks MLB to explain potential impact of stripping away league’s antitrust exemption on the minor leagues

The Senate Judiciary Committee asked Major League Baseball and commissioner Rob Manfred to explain the potential impact of stripping away the league’s antitrust exemption on the minor leagues.

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa sent the letter on Monday and asked for a response from Manfred by July 26. The letter was also signed by Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah.

“Your answers will help inform the Senate Judiciary Committee’s analysis of this century-old exemption,” the letter reads.

The committee previously sent a letter in late June to non-profit group Advocates for Minor Leaguers, which recommended that Congress create legislation that nullifies the exemption for minor leaguers.

“We look forward to providing detailed information to the committee regarding baseball’s limited antitrust exemption and how it has provided franchise location stability at the major league level, maximized the availability of minor league baseball for fans and quality employment opportunities for aspiring major leaguers,” the league said in a statement.