The Staten Island Yankees have announced they will cease operations. The team was financially troubled already but due to the corona crisis, it got even worse. To continue as an independent team is not an option according to the club. The Club is suing the New York Yankees for broken promises.
Even though the Yankees had made repeated assurances we would always be a minor league partner, the MLB team announced it would leave Staten Island for greener pastures.
According to the Staten Island club, the MLB club did not contact them directly. The Staten Island Yankees had to find out through social media.
Moving to indy ball would mean that Staten Island had to field a subpar team with players that have no connection to the Yankees farm system. Additionally, this would require additional expenses including payroll for players, coaches and staff. Unfortunately, that additional expense and the loss of the connection to the Yankees in our shared city makes it impossible for the Staten Island Yankees to operate independently.
As a result, the Staten Island Yankees will step aside and let others try to save baseball in Staten Island.
Earlier today the team filed a lawsuit against the New York Yankees and Major League Baseball to hold those entities accountable for false promises. A portion of any settlement or jury verdict will go to the Staten Island Yankees Foundation to be distributed to local Staten Island charities like the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Person Centered Care Services. All outstanding ticket purchases will be fully refunded upon request.
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