The Department of Justice, on behalf of three former minor league teams suing Major League Baseball after the league stripped them of their affiliation, has asked a federal court to limit the antitrust exemption given to MLB.

The three teams suing MLB were among 43 that lost their affiliation when the league downsized the minors to 120 teams in 2020.

MLB has asked that the lawsuit be dismissed, citing the antitrust exemption. In the filing with the U.S. District Court in New York, the Justice Department asked the court to "define the exemption narrowly."