MLB says minor-league players will get paid through April 8
Major League Baseball said Thursday afternoon that it plans to pay minor-league players the amount of money they would have received from the start of spring training through April 8, had camp not been cut short by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The original start date for the minor-league season was April 9.
The MLB Players Association previously made arrangements to assure players on the 40-man roster of the 30 major-league clubs, as well as certain non-roster invitees to major-league spring training camps, were compensated. However, minor-league players who are not on a team’s 40-man roster are not covered by the MLBPA.
MLB released a statement that said minor-league players will receive a lump-sum payment for the period up until April 8. The league said it “remains in communication with Clubs on the development of an industry-wide plan for Minor League player compensation from April 9th through the beginning of the coming season.”
MLB suspended spring training games and spring camps last week due, and MLB, in consultation with the union, announced that major-league players had the option to return home, remain in their spring training cities or return to their major-league club’s home city.
Earlier this week, the MLBPA informed players and agents that players who are either on their club’s 40-man roster or players who were non-roster spring training invitees who were classified free agents this offseason and finished the 2019 season on a major-league roster or injured list could return home and receive up to $1,100 in a weekly allowance from the MLB Players Association.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore told The Star Monday that the club had kept its facility in Arizona open with a skeleton staff in order to allow members of its 40-man roster to train there, but also for minor-league players, primarily international players, who may not have the means to return home.
“We have a moral obligation to take care of our international players who have no place to go,” Moore said. “We’re certainly not going to put them out on the street.”
MLB announced Tuesday that each team had set aside $1 million to help offset lost wages for stadium workers and game-day employees.
Thursday’s announcement from MLB assures minor-league players who are not part of the union will receive at least a baseline level of compensation.
Here is the full release from MLB:
“Since last week, Major League Baseball has been engaged in a variety of discussions with stakeholders to identify ways to blunt the wide-ranging impact of the national emergency resulting from the global coronavirus pandemic. As those conversations continue, MLB is announcing today a league-wide initiative that will create a level of uniform compensation for Minor League players, covering the period between now and the originally scheduled start of the minor league season. MLB is taking this initial step today because of the effects of the season’s postponement on Minor League players and their families. MLB intends to continue working with all 30 Clubs to identify additional ways to support those players as a result of the delayed 2020 season.
“Each player who is under a Minor League Uniform Player Contract will receive a lump sum equal to the allowances that would have been paid through April 8th. The exceptions to this plan are non-40-man-roster players who are already receiving Major League allowances; players who are currently receiving housing, food or other services from Clubs; and players who were not participating in, or expected to participate in, Minor League Spring Training. MLB remains in communication with Clubs on the development of an industry-wide plan for Minor League player compensation from April 9th through the beginning of the coming season.
“MLB takes the community impact of this crisis seriously. We will continue to monitor ongoing events and undertake the precautions and best practices recommended by public health experts to protect fans, players and ballpark workers, and we urge all baseball fans to follow suit. MLB extends its best wishes to all the individuals and communities who have been impacted by the coronavirus.
“In the last several days, MLB has announced a joint, $1M MLB-MLBPA fund to speed food assistance to those impacted by the crisis and a 30-Club, $30M effort to support ballpark workers. Individual Clubs will continue to announce more details surrounding support for their local communities and players are coming together to urge fans to take this crisis seriously.”
Roster moves
The Royals announced several roster moves for the first time since spring camps were suspended.
They optioned infielder Kelvin Gutierrez, left-handed pitcher Gabe Speier and right-handed pitcher Kyle Zimmer to Triple-A Omaha. Zimmer, a former first-round pick who has battled injuries throughout his career, was awarded a fourth minor-league option this year.
