Minor league pay plan to extend through May 31,…
Minor league pay plan to extend through May 31, MLB announces
MLB announces extended payment plan for minor leaguers amid coronavirus shutdown
Baseballs are scattered around one of the fields as Oakland Athletics players take batting practice during spring training at Lew Wolff Training Complex in Mesa, Ariz., on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020. (Randy Vazquez / Bay Area News Group)
By Shayna Rubin |
PUBLISHED: March 31, 2020 at 10:20 a.m. | UPDATED: March 31, 2020 at 10:45 a.m.
Major League Baseball took another step to ensure its players are compensated through the regular season hiatus.
The commissioner's office announced Tuesday morning that the minor league compensation plan through May 31 as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, leaving uncertain when baseball's regular season might begin at every level of the game. The compensation plan also includes extended medical benefits.
The original plan, enacted on March 19, ensured minor leaguers a "lump sum equal to the allowances that would have been paid through April 8th." The lump sum distributed amounts to $400 a week for players at every minor league level. Though, players with signing bonuses, major league players, players who are already receiving housing, food or other services from Clubs and players on the restricted, voluntary retired, disqualified or ineligible lists are not qualified.
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That $400 a week exceeds what some lower-level minor league players would receive in a typical season. Class A Stockton Ports pitcher Peter Bayer said he was making $325 per week in season — that extra $75 can allow players like Bayer and his teammates some room to breathe, fiscally.
However, the compensation plan enforces a pay decrease for qualified triple-A players, who receive approximately $500 per week during the season. Major league players are paid a minimum $563,500 per year, for context.
Shayna Rubin | Contributor
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