MLB releases plan to compensate minor league players during shutdown
MLB announced Thursday afternoon how it will compensate minor league players while baseball is shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the release, a league-wide initiative will “create a level of uniform compensation” for minor leaguers, which will cover the period between Thursday and the originally scheduled beginning of the minor league season, which was set for April 9 for full-season affiliates.
“MLB is taking this initial step today because of the effects of the season’s postponement on minor league players and their families,” the release says. “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.”
Players who are under a minor league uniform player contract will “receive a lump sum equal to the allowances that would have been paid” through April 8. Players who are not on the 40-man roster, but are already receiving major league compensation, players who are receiving housing, food or other services from their club, and players who were not participating in minor league spring training are not included.
The league is continuing to develop a plan with the 30 clubs for further compensation from April 9 until the minor league season begins — though there is no set date.
“MLB takes the community impact of this crisis seriously,” the statement reads. “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.”
The Seattle Mariners have seven minor league affiliates, including Triple-A Tacoma, Double-A Arkansas, High-A Modesto, Low-A West Virginia, Short-A Everett, and rookie league affiliates the Peoria Mariners and Dominican Republic Mariners.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 12:28 PM.
