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Report: Oakland A's Will Have 'Widespread' Furloughs Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
May 26, 2020
The Oakland Athletics are set to become the latest MLB franchise to furlough several employees because of lost revenue from the coronavirus pandemic.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported there will be "widespread" cuts across the organization, and some who remain will be asked to take pay cuts.
The Los Angeles Angels previously announced furloughs of non-playing staff beginning June 1, including their scouting department and many minor league staffers. The Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds are among the organizations that have also instituted furloughs.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported scouts have been informed their furloughs will last through Oct. 31.
The Athletics have been among the most financially strapped teams in baseball for much of their recent existence. Their payroll regularly ranks among the bottom handful in MLB, and the Oakland Coliseum is considered perhaps the worst ballpark in the league.
The franchise hasn't paid its rent for the Coliseum because of the pandemic.
"The Joint Powers Authority has been unable to make the Coliseum available for use by the A's," a team statement read. "The A's look forward to when the City and County feels it's safe to lift the current directives, and the A's are granted access to the facility to play."
John J. Fisher, who owns the Athletics, has a net worth of $2.1 billion.
