April 3: The owners voted 30-0 in favor of the CBA and it is now official, per Passan.
March 31: The MLBPA announced that minor league players have ratified their new CBA with a vote of more than 99% in favor. The final step in making the agreement official is owner approval. Drellich tweets that could come as soon as Monday.
March 29: Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have tentatively reached a deal on a five-year collective bargaining agreement covering minor league players, as first reported by Evan Drellich of the Athletic. The deal has been approved by both union leadership and the league office, according to Drellich and Jeff Passan of ESPN (Twitter link). Official ratification is still pending approval from the full player body and the league’s ownership groups, though that’s largely a formality.
For the first time, players will be paid outside of the season. Passan notes that payment is nearly year-round, with a six-week gap during the winter. He provides specifics on the agreed upon minimum salaries (on Twitter):
- Complex leagues: $19,800 annually (up from $4,800)
- Low-A: $26,200 (up from $11,000)
- High-A: $27,300 (up from $11,000)
- Double-A: $30,250 (up from $13,800)
- Triple-A: $35,800 (up from $17,500)
Players will be paid during minor league Spring Training, with retroactive payments for this year’s exhibition play. Ronald Blum of the Associated Press reports the minimum salary is $625 per week for Spring Training work.
According to Drellich, the deal will contain medical and pension provisions and a 401(k) plan for players, as well as grievance procedures with the possibility of hearings in front of neutral arbitrators. Drellich also reports that the deal won’t involve the culling of any minor league teams for at least the next five years. However, Passan reports that the Domestic Reserve List — the maximum number of players per organization outside of Latin America during a season — will be reduced from 180 to 165, taking effect in the 2024 season.
Trimming the minor league roster size was a goal of MLB’s during last year’s major league collective bargaining talks; the union rejected the league’s proposals on that front during the lockout, but MLB was able to achieve that to some extent during these talks. The league had wanted the number below 150 players during last year’s negotiations. They don’t get that far under this agreement but have managed to reduce organizational roster sizes a bit.
Drellich reports one notable development for older signees (Twitter link). Players who sign with a club at age 19 or older will now be eligible for minor league free agency after parts of six seasons in the minors if they’re not added to the 40-man roster. Previously, all minor leaguers had to appear in parts of seven seasons before they could qualify for free agency.
That seven-year mark will still be in place for younger signees — primarily high school draftees and international amateurs — but will force teams to make a quicker decision on most players drafted out of college or who signed later than usual in the international market. Notably, that will only apply to players who enter pro ball from here forward; it is not retroactive.
Drellich reports a number of additional details as part of a piece that’s worth reading in full for those interested in the subject. Among the developments: adjustments to the housing program for players, a committee for feedback on rule changes which MLB tests in the minor leagues, and the creation of a joint drug agreement and domestic violence policy.
Minor league players voted to unionize last September. Their bargaining group was under the MLBPA umbrella, setting the stage for the Players Association and MLB to work on the first minor league CBA in history. Voting will be conducted amongst players on Thursday, with the agreement expected to be completed on Friday — the first days of the minor league season.
Games would have gone on even if a CBA hadn’t been agreed upon. The players had no attention of going on strike, nor was the league going to lock them out. Play would have continued under the previous conditions while the sides continued to negotiate. Nevertheless, the appeal of getting a deal done before the season starts is obvious. Players negotiate a significant bump in minimum salaries and other employment benefits. MLB had been backing legislation to exempt minor leaguers from state minimum wage protections in Florida. That’ll presumably no longer be a concern.
Coincidentally, there was a development on the non-CBA front regarding minor league pay earlier on Wednesday. A federal judge approved the $185MM settlement to which the league and a group of players had agreed to settle a class action lawsuit last June, as Drellich reported (Twitter link). Barring any appeals, that settlement can begin to be distributed to players 30 days from now.
Wow good for them
I admire anyone who played before this that didn’t get a half way decent signing bonus. A lot of dreamers trying to beat the odds.
I admire anyone playing WITH this too. These are still baseline low salaries for professional workers. Sure, augment with an off-season job. But you’re still talking about a very rare skill set only basing at 38k very close to MLB in AAA.
With an upside nearly unmatched in other professions. It’s a volunteer system with a “draft” but without a mandate. This will only increase the cost of going to minor league games. I realize I’m in the minority with this opinion but I remember going to AA Yankee games in West Haven while being a Red Sox fan. it was a quicker trip than to Bristol and fans were fans, all enjoying the game together regardless of professional loyalties.
mlb teams pay the minor leaguers’ salaries.
Is there any connection between minor league team business operations and MLB payroll? Separate entities?
You don’t think MLB will pass the raises onto customers?
Did the same thing in Springfield Missouri AA Cardinals. Texas League, which I believe, is older than the American League.
Those new numbers are surprising low still. the current numbers are horrible. Being in the minors has to be a labor of love mixed with hopes and dreams. it’s not a money maker by any stretch.
I’d rather just play video games in moms basement.
I think those are pretty strong numbers. It says that’s the minimum at each level, so a lot of guys are making more than those numbers. Also, they only work 6 months a year, so double the numbers to get a better idea of the salary.
@jaytibbs – for these players to make it to the next level and eventually the major leagues, it requires a full, 12 month commitment. While some of these players are forced to get part time jobs in the offseason just to survive (those who didn’t get a big signing bonus), they have to be fully committed to baseball and workout activities for the full calendar year. Some of these guys sign up as Uber drivers or other jobs you can set your own schedule to accomplish this. One thing’s for sure; it’s not an easy way to make a living. At least teams are forced to provide housing for these players during the minor league season. That alone provided a lot of relief to players in the lower leagues who were living below the poverty level. But still, hats off to the lower level prospects with no bonus money or other real income to survive on. They must really love what they do.
Housing I fully support but it’s high risk, high reward and legal. Like any entry level job, it was never meant to support a family.
What a garbage take.
Ahhhhhh. That is cute and naive. You think that minor league players only work 6 months out of the year at baseball.
With the exception of the guys playing complex ball, we used to call that short season ball and its made up of mostly college player and high school players that have already played an entire season as an amateur, minor league players are in spring training, in season, or playing in a league like the AFL or Caribbean Winter ball from mid-February to January. If they are injured when the season ends, they are rehabbing with the team the entire time. Many at the team facilities. During the time they are not at camp or playing, they are working out or training at baseball academies (like Driveline) multiple hours per day.
It is not like these guys can go get another job in the offseason. So no, you don’t multiply by 2 to get anything. Their salary is what they make in a year.
Their choice, boss.
Whitey Ford delivered packages in the off-season. As a Yankee. So did Frank Tepedino. As a Yankee. Tepedino later became a NYFD hero. Post-Yankee.
You’re confusing ‘can’t’ with ‘won’t’ or ‘don’t want to’.
Outinleftfield- I agree, but especially lower level players…they have off-season jobs or are going to college in the off-season. College is about the negotiating point draft picks HAVE to sign. So, you’re getting say 35k to sign plus college.
You’re comparing players from 60 to 70 years ago to what is done now? Kids now are in year around weightlifting/conditioning/throwing programs at the high school level and you think minors leaguers have time to work a full time job in the offseason. Ok.
Ok.
Willie…they do work off-season jobs mostly.
It’s still a choice. Lots of people in different professions have to work a job and do conditioning programs, etc.
Actually I roomed with a minor leaguer and in the off season he did have another job.
Understand, I’m all for MiLB Players getting paid more. I’m just saying these players make a choice to do what they so. Some on here interpret that as somehow being against the players getting more. They SHOULD get paid better. I’d rather see the union take up for these guys before the next set of nine-figure millionaires.
@Bronxmac77
Pretty common to substitute teach, or go back home and hit in cage locally…back at the college and wrap up the degree. Young guys are pretty easy going and not typically tied down. I lucked out and later had a wife who is a business professional. That was offsetting any scouting I was doing. I had guys from my HS and league that I kept up with. One worked grain elevator construction in the off-season. One had been his class valedictorian and had been a 3rd rounder with the Orioles. He jumped in on his post grad medical schooling. Apartments with a chair..tv…found furniture. Golden days ya know. In my time at OSU it seemed like almost everyone returned at some point to use the facilities and kind of acted like defacto coaches.
Not the life most older adults would love. But you don’t know what you don’t know when you’re 20.
Yeah. I’m comparing guys like Willie Mays to modern minor leaguers.
I get guys pursuing their dreams. The saddest thing is wondering what might have been. Funny thing is, when I grew up, we had a math teacher named Chuck Schilling… Who also played 2nd base for the Boston Red Sox. Did both jobs very well. Jim Lonborg, his teammate, became Dr. Jim Lonborg, dentist. Dr. Bobby Brown, Yankees 3B and cardiologist. The game wasn’t any easier back then. The guys who played it just made the best of the hands they were dealt.
A choice means there are other options doing what you are trained to do. Not the case here. The only way to MLB is through the minors.
No one in any non-sport profession works out year round to do their job, works 6 days every week from February to September, and on those 6 days are expected to work a 10 hour day.
MLB has admitted that they are not seasonal workers by paying them for 10 1/2 months of the year in this CBA.
They can’t now. MLB is paying them for all but 6 weeks of the year in this CBA and it precludes other employment.
What offseason? Minor league players are in camp or playing from February to September and then the AFL or Winter Leagues for most.
Again, I’m all for MiLB Players getting what they can. In the last 10 years I’ve been to dozens of MiLB games. The chasm between the bonus babies and the hangers-on is deep. I was pissed when MLB contracted 40+ MiLB teams. The greed of MLB owners is ridiculous.
Most don’t have an offseason and haven’t for a couple decades. Players show up to camp in February and the season ends in September. The better prospects then play in the AFL or Winter Leagues or both at their team’s behest. MLB admitted there is no offseason by paying minor league players for 10 1/2 months out of the year.
So they can go get a job at Christmas for the entire 6 week “offseason”. Unless Mommy and Daddy or Grandpa owns the business, its not likely that anyone is hiring them for 6 weeks. Maybe they can go do Uber or Door Dash for those 6 weeks.
Players 60-70 years ago had to play the field. No DH. Til 1973. Imagine the stats Williams, Musial, Pops Stargell, and your own Willie Mays might have done as a DH.
But it’s truly a year around job. It really doesn’t pay. Most people in baseball really don’t make much. It seems glamorous. But it doesn’t pay. Not just on field personnel…scouting depts. Montreal in the mid 90s literally couldn’t afford to pay me…what a team like the Yankees would have given no thought to at all.
I’m not even arguing that it’s glamorous. I get the desire to make a decent wage. I would think that maybe a little less $30 million salaries at the top and a boost at the bottom (minors) would go along way to keep these guys from hot dogs and ramen. I wish the union would focus more on that.
Coolest thing that ever happened was one day the Detroit Tigers rotation was 4/5 guys from my HS league. Then about the 20th best player I saw from my area ends up doing really well. Montreal used to just sit on my region..then it’s been Detroit. Good memories.
I used to work in minor league baseball. Not sure about all, but the team I worked for was subsidized by the MLB team. So yes prices at all levels will likely go up.
Players get meal allowances and lodging paid for when they travel. Plus a lot of them have signing bonuses. They are doing okay.
Players can also get hookups from local companies that advertise with the team, free clothes, free use of cars, free dinners, etc..
@Zerb63.
I’d estimate that with salary and the average signing bonus it’s usually around a years salary of ok wage for a person without kids and all that. It’s the 2nd year on things can get really tight. But that’s when the weeding out goes on…or time to hang it up
Minor league teams are not subsidized by MLB. None are. MLB pays the players, coaches and trainers salaries and travel expenses. That is it. The minor league team pays the rest.
Players stayed in a flea bite motel and until this CBA was signed got one meal at the ballpark and $23 /day per diem. They were NOT doing ok.
That is the entire reason that MLB had to pay current and former minor league players $185 million as settlement for the lawsuit against them and why they are now providing housing all season long, 2 meals per day and an increased per diem at all levels.
About 20% of minor league players got a substantial signing bonus. Most of those signing bonuses are very small Only about 80 per year out of 480 or so that make it to the minors get a signing bonus of more than $500k.
Players can get sponsorships from local businesses, but that is not the norm. Maybe 1 in 1000. The players in the minors move in and out so fast that local businesses don’t use them for advertising. I cannot think of a single minor league player in SoCal that has local sponsorships. They do not get free cars or clothes. A few businesses might give a player or two free meals, but again that is not the norm.
At the lower levels of the minors players lived 4-8 per apartment during the season. They ate ramen, pb&j, and other cheap foods most days. In SoCal where rent on a 2 bedroom apartment can run from $2k to $3K, the players were hurting.
Not sure why you feel thee need to try to tell false stories when there are thousands of articles and an entire lawsuit about what really went on in the minors.
That was my first thought as well but an over 50% raise is nothing to sneeze at. I’m glad to see this compromise, it’s a step in the right direction.
It’s a step in the right direction. I like that. But those salaries are low. even if it’s for six months out of the year.
Well, they have other choices. Other fields that offer different pay. It’s a choice.
Well, they have other choices. Other fields that offer different pay. It’s a choice. Then let them chose another line of work then. I think it’s hysterical that anyone accepts a job, accepts the pay plan, and then cries that they’re there under paid. Its your choice. Nothing is owed to anyone. If your unhappy, I’ve on to something that makes you happy.
Business 101
The minimum for an AAA player is roughly $6k a month to play for your dream. Most will get much more. Well deserved with the $$$ being thrown around today.
Its called minimum wage laws. MLB was violating them. Business 101.
Literally almost any job would pay better. Minimum wage is higher than those complex salaries. And AZ and FLA aren’t always cheap places to be.
Is it a choice? Who wouldn’t give anything for a shot? It’s tough to turn down over money.
Business 101 – take care of people that have a potential 700-on-earth skill set.
Well, nothing plus nothing is still nothing. Much of this was done over a year ago for last season. This is just codifying it with the new players union. One big change last year – teams have to supply housing now instead of 10 guys renting an apartment. milb.com/news/mlb-owners-to-provide-housing-to-min… However they didn’t provide housing for married players last year. I remember reading that the Padres bought an apartment complex somewhere.
That’s more than 50%. AAA is like 100%
@Talking baseball u are correct and we are having this same discussion right now with our Teamster UPS contract. Our part timers are expected to work full time hours at twighlight time; for $15 an hour! Cmon guys, like I get that $17 is a big jump but these kids bust their ass and need to be able to pay their rent.
They didn’t have to give any raise. Was there a massive number of prospects quitting because of the low pay? Definitely didn’t have to double or triple it. A raise of a few thousand would have been much appreciated. Owners all the sudden become generous? What’s up with this?
Logic says that this was a big part of the discussion with the previous negotiation process; as I think we all felt that the players union didn’t make as big of a jump that necessitated a stoppage. Here, we have a clear, and much needed w for the players union.
They DID have to give a raise. MLB already had to pay over $165 million to settle lawsuits over not paying minor league players even minimum wage. They are still not necessarily at minimum wage considering these players required schedules (10am to after 10pm on most game days an 6 days per week all season) and the requisite travel.
Wasn’t in article when I read it. That explains a lot.
They were not meeting minimum wage requirements. That’s what’s up with this. They’re simply achieving compliance, so they don’t come under additional legal or congressional scrutiny.
A congressional committee literally hauled MLB in about their minor league wage structure. Baseball is trying PR. Yeah…they didn’t have to but yeah they did. I’m not sure their complex pay would stand up in a wage trial even now.
Lawsuits made mlb make these changes. It’s one of the reasons they’ve shrunk the minor leagues.
My driver worked years early morning $8 or something for 3 or 4 hours a day loading trucks. Got $28 or something when promoted to full time driver and was stuck at that for years or decades. His story reminded me of mlb. Work in the sweat shop with chance to make better money.
I started as a loader making $11 in the late 2000…worked 3 jobs, trying to make it to driver. Made it to driver. Blew my neck out at 34, now I’m a thug
There are tens of millions of laborers in this country. It doesn’t take much to be qualified to do that, which is why they are at the lowest end of the pay scale. The easier you are to replace, the less money you make. Even then, my laborers make more than minimum wage, but MiLB player did not.
Once he became a driver, your guy was one of millions in the US that can do his job. He got paid 4-5 times as much driving as he did in the laborer job, because he was harder to replace.
There are 120 minor league teams with a total of 3600 players. They are extremely hard to replace. Only 450 people are added to that workforce every year and once the season starts its nearly impossible to get more players with comparable skillsets. Any replacements they can find, are a lower level of skillset.
If your driver was one of only 3600 people in the country qualified to do his job he would have made hundreds if not thousands per hour.
I have workers that operate equipment that only 8 thousand people in the US are qualified to use and they make upwards of $300 per hour. If I send them to a job out of town, I have to pay that rate for travel time too.
If one of the most profitable industries in the world is operating a sweat shop in its minor leagues, then we have done something seriously wrong as a country and as fans for not advocating for those minor league players.
Same with my Dad. He started in the yard, parking, gassing and washing trucks. Eventually became a driver, and did great. That’s how it used to work.
Probably not smart to have glaring wage discrepancies in such a high profile business as baseball.
My Dad (RIP) was a UPS driver for 30 years. They struck over that crap 50 years ago! Over a Christmas season, which is normally mad bank for UPS drivers. Weird to hear they’re fighting over that again.
It’s the minimum wage, just like real life, talent will dictate higher pay.
Modern day Production expectations are unrealistic to the human body’s ability. I’m speaking from personal experience. Past, present and future. I have dealt with it every day for 15 years; the toll that an unnatural workload takes on a human body.
Entry level jobs don’t need to be high paying; but if you work full time hours, you should have no problem paying your rent, power, having a car and cell phone payment. Instead, minimum wage means you work 3 jobs at 50 hours, destroy your body young (see me) and hopefully you have the means to pay for yourself to get a degree, like I was lucky enough to. Lots of people have no option but to destroy their bodies and struggle forever; shouldn’t be that way.
I agree with you overall, and I’m a fierce capitalist; but there’s a large sector of people out there right now that are just so completely out of touch with the real working class and what they go through; it’s enough to drive a union steward crazy. I’m all for raising wages as much as possible; and anyone who isn’t simply doesn’t care as much about the working class; as they do the rich. And that’s a tough pill to swallow for some; that their beliefs are built on sucking the man off; even when they claim to be “anti government” or whatever.
Play Ball!
Sorry boss. Working a certain number of hours guarantees nothing. An unskilled or low-skilled worker will never make as much as a skilled tradesman or professional. And cell-phones are not a necessity. Believe it or not. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were being facetious.
If you want society to work; you need people that want to work.
When you pay people beans for what you call “unskilled labor;” suddenly, there’s less burgers being flipped, longer lines at the supermarket, and supply chain issues.
But hey, keep telling people who punch a clock that they don’t deserve to have a normal life. This is exactly what I was referring to; the large sector of people who are so completely out of touch with reality. You guys bought houses in ‘95 for $75k; and wonder what is wrong with US; the younger generation; when THAT SAME HOUSE is now $375k; and we had to scratch, fight and crawl just to get min wage to freaking $15 in some places. Despite this incredible inflation.
Please, if you’re out of touch with the working class; don’t act like you know what’s going on out there.
I own two homes, mariners season ticket holder…and I came from nothing. Trust me, I KNOW the value of hard work; and I understand that not everybody is going to PROSPER.
But paying rent, a cell phone and a car payment IS NOT PROSPERING. That should be a STANDARD of living. Are we in the greatest country in the world? Do we want people out there spending money; contributing to society? Or do we want working class people living in a 5 bedroom house with 4 roommates who can’t afford to take their kids to the movies?
Pay more. Period. Watch the magic happen
Skipped the whole workers of the world unite speech,
Go carry your picket sign elsewhere.
And if you hurt yourself, call the whaaaaaaambulance.
Another really intelligent point there, guy. Excellent contributions to this discussion! Please, for the love of god don’t go anywhere near a ballot
I have, and I do. I also wore a uniform to defend others’ rights to do so. Rights include the right to disagree with mindless rants such as yours. I never whined about any compensation package. Just did what it took to better my own.
If you’re living in a ‘5 bedroom house with four roommates’, you have no business having kids.
Issue is that a pay increase does NOT guarantee purchasing power. Inflation is a BEAST!
Increasing the minimum wage DECREASES purchasing power. Always has. Always will.
Yup. Your $15 McDonalds workers (who their franchisees are still pouring though at twice old salary) have pushed the cost of things higher for those 25/hr workers who didn’t get 50% wage increases.
Purchasing power is all that really matters.
Dump 50% more cash on the market…doesn’t make it worth more..you just made your dollar worth much less
This is all we have, @Dock_Elvis. To combat wage discrepancy. You make a sound point regarding purchasing power; but you’re not pretending as if the whole thing isn’t just a giant game of elite rich monopoly, right? The federal reserve; the debt ceiling, I mean logically society should have crumbled in on itself by now due to our incredible debt. We haven’t been debt free in this country since 1837!
$25 trillion in debt; yet we’re the most powerful country in the world. Yet, if you’re 25k in debt and not bringing in any income you file for personal bankruptcy.
Nothing makes sense, dude. The fed reserve seems to make decisions on a whim these days. All I care about directly (while I absolutely take lots of time pondering the massive, worldwide repercussions of such topics); all that I can control directly for my guys is to fight for them to make as much money as possible. That’s what I can do to make my little corner of the word better; so that’s what I TRY to focus my energy on.
And it’s a scary, slippery slope to steer away from paying workers more; whether you’re actually doing it or simply discussing it here; I have to question your values, and who/ what you “stand” for, if anything? Do you represent the American people, in your opinion?
Or do you represent this idea that the resulting wage, and cultural gaps we are currently experiencing….no problem? Whatever? NATURAL SELECTION! The planet will implode in 20 years anyway right? So who cares!?!?
We are fighting a lot of that at the corporate level. A lot of old guys are deploying their golden parachutes….in industries all across the country. Apathy at the top, trickles down to apathy at the working class. We are actively fighting apathy.
There has to be SOME response to unrest. That’s how a democracy works; when a large, contributing sector of your chain is struggling….you need to make adjustments, or risk larger consequences that we are arguably already beginning to see.
I actually grew up in a Teamster warehouseman family. I’m well educated on labor. I was just speaking about the economic reality of inflation. Wage increases if not carefully structured…lead to inflation which destroys purchasing power. My wife is one of the Top CPAs in this country and speaks on this quite a bit.
I’m not trying to imply ANY political stance. Just the reality….which we’ve seen play out before our eyes the past few years.
The gross vast majority of businesses in this country are operated by owners with 100 employees or less. They aren’t billionaires manipulating any global system.
Make yourself scarce in an economy of you want paid.
You bring up a great point; and for the record, no political stance here either. I deal in facts, and reality. Each issue requires its own specific consideration; not a blanket belief system, ESPECIALLY nowadays.
The great point you bring up is the vast majority of business possess less than 100 employees. And it’s unfortunate for them, that they were able to pay their employees so cheaply for so long; as a means of profit. That was a part of the deal; I only have to pay x so that makes the whole thing worth it.
Along the way, the value of our labor, and our dollar has dropped. It sucks for the small business owner; and I have a couple friends who have had their business bled out and shut down; beginning before the pandemic and then the COVID TKO.
Again great advice on the whole “make yourself scarce” line. But we have lots and lots of “unskilled” (not my words) people that we either need to find a way to put to work and make productive; or foot the bill for them to scrape by, or foot the bill for them to live on the streets. Without any drastic legislation. I’m not sure which direction those folks are headed. And there’s a lot of them, just fyi. And they have thoughts, emotions, ability to get physical, violent, etc.
Natural selection is great! Until we leave a bed full of bugs and don’t want to make it. That’s what I feel from a lot of Americans; the lack of desire to take responsibility for the whole thing. What can I do? Rather than; what can be done for me?
I think saying that these employers with 100 employees or less got away with paying workers so cheaply is a GRAND blanket statement. Most employers are about a month or two from going out of business. Labor is anywhere from 40-60% of their ledger. Employees then are essentially partners. But they don’t bare the risk involved in the ownership.
Issue is pumping money INTO the system does not increase purchasing power, because it devalues the dollar
Will it? It’s not like a talented MiLB player can go play for a different team. They have no leverage. Business 101.
He can go get hisself a good paying job.
“They have no leverage…”
That’s sports talk for “They aren’t that good.”
When they inked the contract, they should have read it first. Or maybe gone to a school that enabled them to do so.
They obviously have some incredible leverage. Top 3600 players in the world outside of the major leagues means they ARE that good and it got them $185 million settlement from a congressionally protected monopoly and a more than 100% increase in pay and benefits.
Maybe its time you went back to common sense school because you have not learned any.
It is actually a very nice start
What’s the catch?
I’m surprised the MLBPA agreed to this. While these salaries are a big improvement – I’d love to get such a percentage increase on my salary – they’re still fairly low.
Now we see why MLB cut so many teams. They knew this day was coming, and despite the pay increases, fewer players to pay means probably not paying much more overall than they used to.
If it was just the owners being incredibly generous why wouldn’t they approve it? Unless they will think the owners will just factor this in with their mlb contracts which they will.
Probably tied in with a past deal or future one.
Positive development for minor league players. They are still underpaid, but the grotesque aspect of it has lessened.
No such thing as being underpaid in a free or somewhat free country. Players could choose more lucrative employment if available. Agree the amounts looked ridiculous low before.
What part of minimum wage doo you not understand? What part of MLB already LOST a lawsuit over this do you not understand?
Minor Leaguers are represented by the Major League Players Union, having them scooped up if anything means that if there is a strike in the future. Major League Baseball can prevent replacement players like what almost happened in the last strike.
The increase is very good for Minor League Players and again because of the union protection, if there is a strike in the future the union can take care of them to make sure in case of a strike through union dues to pay them regardless if they play or not.
I think it’s too little, too late.
I used to go to MiLB games a lot. Great baseball. Great price. MLB tried to kill most MiLB, in order to tightly control what remains. They almost succeeded. Do you know that 60-80 years ago, players in the old PCL would REFUSE to go to the majors? Their salaries and conditions were more preferable to some of them. MLB stepped in and killed that too.
Greedy sumbitches.
60 years ago was the 1960s and no player in the 1960s refused to go to the majors. Now if you are talking about pre-WWII, 80-100 years ago, then you are correct. Back then there were no MLB teams on the west coast and the PCL had as many teams, more players, and the play was high level. They even played in some MLB quality stadiums such as the LA Angels Wrigley Field and the SF’s Seals Stadium. Even Lane Field in San Diego was a great ballpark for the day. PCL teams even had their own farm systems. They still didn’t pay the stars as much as MLB.
You’re right. My timeline is pre-expansion pre-west coast. But some players DID make more than the MLB minimum. For that matter, the old International League Baltimore Orioles (who discovered Babe Ruth) also paid well, and made money by selling their best players to MLB teams. There was no mandatory draft then. Lefty Grove (example) fetched $100,000+ for the Orioles, who sold him to the A’s.
You’re correct. By the 60’s, that was all finished.
Great step, nice job by Tony the Tiger and co to get these kids much needed huge raises.
This feels long overdue, but happy to have it in place now. Players are still underpaid but, as a general foundation, this is great news.
This is a win for players, owners, fans, and the United States of America.
Happy for the players but it doesn’t do anything to benefit me that I can think of.
@YourDreamGM Contraction of minor league teams means a better consolidation of talent. Minor leaguers with better pay could also mean them not having to drive Uber to make ends meet and focus better on training, nutrition, and sleep. In the end, we get a better MLB product with enhanced competition all around.
It only benefits you if you want to see better baseball.
Not really, it should be $65,000 min wage on all of those leagues., just as it should be on all USA full time jobs. Poverty wages benefit no one and hold society back.
I would lose all my interns, would have to fire employees and work harder myself. That sounds awful.
People are ignorant regarding these minimums. Millions of jobs would be cut. I doubt this guy is smart enough to find a job in robotics.
It sounds like he got his economics degree from the same place that taught A.O.C.
Change your business model then. You are a bad business person if you can’t figure out how to pay all your employees a living wage.
You’re a horrible business person if your business is only viable because your employees can draw food stamps. I don’t see why I should pay to keep your business afloat.
No one is sticking a gun in your neck.
As A Yankees fan, I don’t see why I should pay to keep the Tampa Rays afloat either. Glad we have some common ground. All the best!
Maybe its because of her high level of education and intelligence, high level of integrity, and the fact that she gets things done for people in her district. You know, the JOB of a congressperson.
We’ll have to agree to disagree, sport.
All the best.
@YourDreamGM sounds like you are putting people in the poor house on purpose. Sounds good for them, awful for you.
@jimmay the worst people in the country are the ones who claim to be “proud small business owner” but they run it at a loss. Pure scammers. Nightmare level people, the reason why everything is going badly.
@Halo11fan
Yeah yeah we all know you are a big hitler superfan. Have a mute you loser. Why do they let you around here, you dont provide any value other than sieg heiling your way around here. Puke. Angels will never win because the right is wrong.
Agreed, Manny. In the long run paying minor leaguers a living wage is good for MLB. It allows players to concentrate on developing their baseball skills over the need to hold down part-time jobs.
Hey Blue…. you do know the Dodgers are in LA due to unbridled corporate greed, right?
Rant on!
Can’t tell if you’re answering me Blue. But I’m not ranting. Corporate greed isn’t necessary bad. The Dodgers basically became the Dodgers by developing a huge farm system back in their Brooklyn days. Branch Rickey and all. They hired a whole lot of dirt cheap talent, groomed it, and skimmed the cream of the crop. It worked. All motivated by winning and cost control.
I mean, hardly “f-you” money, but a huge improvement!
Baseball on the up and up baby. Insert home run pun here. Nice this got done now, good news to start the season. Play ball!
Anybody know what the pay is like in the independent leagues ??
I can’t imagine it’s much. If I’m not mistaken, most players in the independent league, if not all of them live with host families during the season.
The minimum wage in AAA last year was $17,500. That’s minimum wage at McDonalds money. The new minimum is obviously a step in the right direction but still really low.
The jump from 35k per year to 730k per year (MLB minimum) seems really out of whack.
I would rather get paid to ride a bus and practice play baseball vs working fast food. The off-season, workout equipment, healthcare, lodging, higher grade of sexual partners etc are nice benefits. You don’t get a $700,000 raise when you get called up to Applebee’s vs the show.
“higher grade of sexual partners” ??? bro go outside
You obviously never played baseball above the little league level.
Welcome to real life.
GM’s sexual partners are on OnlyFans, so he doesn’t know what he is talking about
Ugly girlfriends = Lacks confidence.
@YourDreamGM you obviously have never been outside. I have played ball in college. You can stop talking lil guy.
StaphCurryIsAWimp
Guess you missed the fact that there IS no offseason. Which is why MLB is now paying these players year round with the exception of 6 weeks in the winter.
Keep in mind the minor league split rate for a player on a 40 man roster with 0.000 years of service on optional assignment is only 58,800$ this year. For players on optional assignment on a split contract with 0.001+ years of service it’s only 117,400$ this season. So, in relation, 35,800$ minimum for a AAA player not on a 40 man roster isn’t terrible.
Its not minimum wage at McDonalds in my neighborhood. They start at $15 per hour at OC McDonalds which is $31.2k annually. Plus they get paid for overtime.
“Drellich also reports that the deal won’t involve the culling of any minor league terms for at least the next five years” This implies there might be more cutting of minor league teams on the way, after 5 years, which would be pure disaster.
It may not have happened for now, but will this eventually result in cutting more minor league teams in the future? If so, then is it really a victory? In U.S. history, do private sector unions ever keep the number of jobs stable after a salary increase? What’s the catch in all of this? Which group will end up losing their jobs because of this?
Ohtani and Soto will have to settle for a G3 instead of a G4.
Many unions have had an increase in jobs written into their CBA after a salary increase. CBA’s covering autoworkers unions with 3 different manufacturers required additional jobs and an increase in wages for workers.
Its not a zero sum game when revenue keeps increasing. No one has to lose their job.
You could make more as a McDonald’s closer than as a Single-A closer
Free market, boss.
The McDonald’s closer is overpaid.
I’m glad to see this. Also unmentioned is the benefits. For example, minor leaguers finally got free housing a couple of years ago. I suspect that this is just of floor of future benefits.
I read “Ball Four” years back. The amount players were fighting for was laughable. Now, look we’re they are. I think the same will happen in the minors. In 10 years, the pay will likely be 50-100k depending on the level.
Unmarried minor league players got free housing starting in 2022. If you want to live away from your family, any player can take advantage of that. Its dormitory style, so its still 4 players to a dwelling unit. Of course, if you play in many areas of the country like California or New York, to rent a 2 bedroom apartment would require 7-8 guys on what minor leaguers used to get paid.
This new CBA dictates that AA and AAA players will no longer live dorm style, instead they will have only 1 person per unit. Anyone who doesn’t want to live in the already agreed upon locations, will receive a stipend to live wherever they want. So another giant plus for them.
AA and AAA will be living 1 person per ROOM. They will still be living with multiple players in an apartment. Not everyone can ask for a stipend, just those that already have a home in the area or married players. That married players can now ask for a stipend is fantastic. Could you imagine having to live away from your wife and kids or not get the same benefits as other players?
The players learned what to ask for in the one season that they had housing included as a benefit.
I think that housing is long overdue.
Good improvement but all Americans really have to start pushing for a $35/hr or $65k minimum wage across the board.
Right. Then there will be no entry level positions and no one can develop a skill.
Why to really dumb down the work force and send the U.S. into oblivion.
When are you going to get a job and move out? Mom I told you I am holding out for $35 a hour!
@YourDreamGM
Ever tried holding down a $1500/month rent on $60k a year? It’s not easy, especially if you get a health problem or have an expensive monthly college debt to pay.
@Halo11Fan11yearsold
Lil bro, the entry level jobs would be making that much, and all salaries would go up accross the board. The fact that there are zero social safety nets in this country like there is in England and all other countries, means American salaries should be sky high across the board to cover for this. Either give us high wages or give us socialism, you are going to destroy us even more if you dont.
Yes, making people live in poverty from day 1 is working out SO well! You are smart!!!
My laborers get the equivalent of $36,400 per year to start. After 3 months they get benefits like 2 weeks paid vacation and medical. If they stick with us through 6 months that goes up to $41,600. There is no way for a family to live on that in southern California.
“My workers don’t make a living wage and that’s terrible! Nothing I can do about it though”
Hmm we could easily install a UBI and subsidize all those wages like, tomorrow, but we better not because rich people LOVE seeing their fellow Americans live in hell. Really bad times if you arent a 1%er.
Solid logic there. I’m sure the 1% would love being taxed a ton more to fund everyone else. No way they would leave the country or massively raise the price of their products. In fact, I’m sure they’ve been just itching to get taxed more and will welcome any change that makes all their future earnings practically irrelevant.
Go on and hate the rich if you want, but they aren’t dumb enough to just stay in a country where they’ll get taxed to death.
And to make a UBI work for 260M American adults, you’d probably need a bare minimum of $500/mo to make any real difference. That’s $1.56T/yr. It’s simply unfeasible unless the government cuts a *ton* of other programs.
There were 1,313,147 million households in the top 1% in the US and we earn an average of $823,763. That is $1.08 trillion in income annually
There are 65 million households in the us with an annual income under $50k. To fund a $1200/month UBI for all households with an annual income under $50k is $78 billion. Not an insurmountable burden for the wealthiest people to bear and no government programs would have to be cut to do it. While I am not in the Arte Moreno class of income, I am in the 1% and would pay it happily. Instead I get away with legally paying less than 5% in federal and state taxes combined most years.
For whomever said it, my laborers are paid above market and also receive company paid healthcare and other benefits. By the end of their 1st year no one is making less than $52k. My point was that even when you pay the lowest skilled workers far above market wages, its still not enough to live on in SoCal.
year. and agallon of milk will go up to 20 dollars..there is no way we can give everyone 35 dollars an hour.all skilled workers would quit their jobs to go work in 7-11s and burger king.
We can’t give poor people any more money because chief economist slimray doesn’t understand inflation or why people choose the jobs they choose
Well of course you scale up all the other wages, its called a MINIMUM wage – are you thinking that the other wages wouldnt go up? Why? I didnt say that. Minimum wage means cashiers make $65k year a year and everyone else who makes between 65-100k, would go up.
Why are you all so against making everyones (including you own) lives better? Look in the mirror- why do you want worse times for your fellow Americans? I want no homeless people and would happily give them free money if it meant them off the streets. Why do you think backbreaking labor is the only way out? Stop wasting peoples times and lives with your money making schemes.
Also, you do know why milk would go up right? Because the CEO would arbitrarily raise the prices because they are psychopaths who are destroying the country in the chase of more wealth hoarding. There’s no reason other than 1 man’s greed.
“StephCurryRetiresWith8Rings” thought the A’s trading Matt Olson for Cristian Pache is still a win for the A’s front office. When it comes to economics… yeah, definitely the last person I’d expect to know about paying people…
Yeah, okay Steph.
You can afford $200 drive thru meals. Others cannot.
The poor owners must be in shambles, wearing barrels around themselves begging for coins in the streets over this. Oh the humanity
We didn’t think it was a big deal.
Wow, an actual reasonable negotiation that benefits both sides… shocking
Ha ha. Without the ugly public sniping !
Got to admit, I was shocked.
Amazing how much easier it is to get a deal done when there’s far less money involved.
A+ for minor league players.
F for current mlb players. Bob Nutting types aren’t going to take less profit to pay these kids.
This is a ridiculous statement, these figures mean that each of the 30 owners will be responsible for a grand total of 4,627,100$ for 165 domestic minor league players next year instead of the 2,113,600$ they now spend on 180 domestic minor league players. That’s peanuts.
You don’t know Bob.
Sure I do, he’s the goofball that agreed to pay Carlos Santana 7M$ this season to bat .150.
It’s not the current MLB players that will be affected. It’s fans, always is. Owners will just jack the price of beers another $1 or up ticket prices and make their money back.
Its major league owners paying these costs and total per team is about the cost of a journeyman utility player or middle reliever per year.
That’s excellent news and it’s also *highly encouraging* to see the league and players hammer out an agreement without a ton of public acrimony, missed deadlines and last minute scrambling. Imagine undoing the goodwill and momentum of the WBC, the night before opening day. Hard not to have some optimism about the game’s long term health and direction.
It only took MLB losing a 185M$ settlement and for Congress to threaten taking away their monopoly. In the process, about 2,000 minor league jobs disappeared via nixing multiple teams and reducing roster sizes 12 months from now.
Coming soon $100 tickets to minor league game..
Nope, these figures mean that each of the 30 owners will be responsible for a grand total of 4,627,100$ for 165 domestic minor league players next year instead of the 2,113,600$ they now spend on 180 domestic minor league players. That’s peanuts.
The owners of minor league teams don’t pay the salaries of those players. MLB owners do. Your $16 little league seat is safe.
While minor league owners don’t pay player salaries, $100 tickets are already here. Quick google says “The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, along with the Las Vegas Aviators, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s, are the most expensive in minor league baseball at $100 apiece.”
The lesson? Ticket prices are a product of supply and demand, not based on costs. That $100 seat behind home plate didn’t cost any more to install than the $20 seat down the line. None of the prices you pay in MLB or MiLB alike are based on cost, they’re based on optimizing revenue. If the players voluntarily take huge salary cuts, there’s a 0% chance that means you’ll be charged less — it simply means ownership keeps the money.
The only downside is that the players have to pay union dues now, but a 100% raise will go a long way in offsetting that extra expense. Well done MLBPA!
Typically union dues are a 2-5% of wages. I think they will be happy with that tradeoff.
You people have to stop with all this anti-union rhetoric. Union dues are not a significant part of a person’s wages, they’re intentionally set to be payable on a worker’s wage.
In other words; instead of the 38 man AAA reserve list, 37 man AA, and 35 A+, A, and RK reserve lists that are in place now at the minor league level, we should expect to see 3 less roster spots at each of those levels beginning next year.
The salary increases follow the implementation of housing and housing allowances.
More money plus fewer bills is a great combination.
I’m generally in the labor side but I’m a realist. 90% of these guys are there so the 10% who are legit prospects have games to play. And that 10% got nice signing bonuses.
So a third round pick who got a $500k bonus and spends 4 years in the minors grosses about $150k per year to develop. Not bad.
It’s the guy drafted in the 18th round repeating A ball who is broke.
Moral of the story is if you’re not getting $200k in a signing bonus, go to college.
With the roster limits reduced, you’ll see fewer of those guys signing. In fact, 15 fewer spots x 30 teams means 450 less guys playing in the minors next year.
I will take my scholarship, experience, and degree. MLB might still be interested in my during or after college. I have a number but it’s at least double 200k.
“The players had no attention of going on strike”
You mean “intention.”
Maybe, those raises could have come earlier at the expense of major leaguers (if they weren’t so greedy). Overall, it’s great. I wonder what percent make the minimum and what the average salary is, though. Even I’m making more, and I feel underpaid. There is quite an unreasonable gap between AAA and MLB for sure, though. It the talent level gap that big honestly? Guys like Sandy Leon could split time at both levels and wouldn’t be elite at AAA and poor at MLB; only the salary would drastically increase.
You can bet that almost every single minor leaguer with the exception of those who have previous big league service time are making at or near the minor league minimum. Sandy Leon is probably making significantly more than that with Texas. Over 5,000 minor leaugers – only ~300 of them will debut in the bigs in a given season.
These are not super high salaries but are a significant improvement. It is a start, not an end.
While that is a step in the right direction it’s still low. It’s a good thing most if not all kids trying to make it to the the ML have the love and support of parents that want their kid’s dreams to come to fruition. When a player finally reaches the ML it’s pretty universal they thank their parents.
They won’t need to eat P&J sandwiches as frequently. They can splurge on a few more specialty ballpark hot dogs and on KD too.
Still barely a livable salary, but with MiLB teams paying for housing during the season, this gets them fairly close. Some of these guys will have to take a job during the winter, especially if they have a family, but at least they won’t have to survive on Ramen for most of the season.
Just curious… how many of you folks regularly go to MiLB games?
20-30 per year most seasons. Mostly in California, although we love to take in games in places we are visiting if they have a team.
After reading the piece in The Athletic, a few things stood out for me beyond the well deserved increase in pay.
First was that MLB admitted that these are not seasonal employees. They are now being paid throughout the year except for a 6 week period.
Housing. While it’s still dormitory style with at least 2 players per bedroom in A and A+ ball, in AA & AAA they get their own room. Unlike last season, married players can get a stipend so they can be with their family.
Meals and nutrition. I guess MLB no longer wants minor league players eating peanut butter or ramen 2 meals per day. They have increased per diem on the road and during spring training, hired nutritional coaches, and are having more input into the meal the minor league teams provide for the players on game day. Top level athletes need top level nutrition and MLB is finally doing something about that for the minor leagues.
This is a big step in the right direction.
A Ball still uses host families
Not in decades. MLB owners are paying for housing for them now.
Outinleftfield? Not in decades? That’s news to me. Cause I’ve given a lift to a few Midwest League players back to their host families late. Host families are given season tickets usually. If that’s changed its been in the past 6 years.
Agreed completely.
And on another point. It’s good to see MLB dealing with issues for their “professional athletes” such as nutrition. They squeezed minor league communities completely out or baseball by demanding playing facilities meet higher standards. Good to see them focusing on themselves too.
There’s the WNBA to fall back on.
It’s a good step.
How much higher can they go before there’s serious contraction at the minor league level? Fringe players will no longer have a chance to play if it goes much higher.
It’s a good thing they unionized cuz these mlb owners are absurdly cheap in paying players in the off season. They should have gotten sued years ago.