Strike Causes Angels to Eliminate Arizona Instructional League Team

The Angels said they will not participate in the upcoming instructional league in Arizona because of financial reasons.

The announcement by Ken Forsch, the Angels’ director of minor league operations, means the team will not be a part of the Arizona Instructional League program for the first time since 1966.

“It’s just financial,” Forsch said. “It’s a big cash outlay. You’re looking at $110,000 to $120,000 for six weeks.”

The Angels’ youngest minor-league players, those taken in the 1994 draft and who had played at either the Class A or rookie league level, were expected to attend. The Angels are the 13th team that has said it won’t participate in an instructional league.

“During these difficult times, we feel our people are more important than programs,” Angel President Richard M. Brown said in a statement. “From the outset of the players’ strike, unlike some other clubs, we pulled our scouts off the road. We believe foregoing our participation in the instructional league shouldn’t be any different.”