Ever wonder what the smallest possible payroll is? You couldn't field a major league team for less than $10MM this year, because the major league minimum is $400K. Players with at least one day of service time and players who have been on the 40-man roster for two or more years make at least $65K, even if they're in the minor leagues. Minimum salaries at the major and minor league level increase regularly to account for the cost of living, but do not decrease, even if the cost of living drops.
This MLBTR Glossary entry relies on information from Cot's Baseball Contracts and the current collective bargaining agreement. It was originally published on August 4th, 2009.
I can understand the 65K, thats not that much. But 400K is and will be enough to live off of for quite some time to come. Raising that due to “cost of living” is a bit ridiculous.
“Minimum salaries at the major and minor league level increase regularly to account for the cost of living, but do not decrease, even if the cost of living drops.”
I’m going to guess this will change at the next CBA.
That’s not even factoring in their $76 per diems and free lodging/travel expenses.
A $10MM payroll is Frank McCourt’s 5-year plan for the Dodgers.
Alright, all I need is about 10 million dollars and Malcolm’s Awesome Team will be in business.
I now see why that one day of service time is so important to a lot of these guys. Minor Leaguers without it make around 1/10 of those who do have it. Major League salaries have gone through the roof in the last 20 years while Minor League salaries have remained constant over the same time.
How many wins does a 10MM team project to have? 60? 70?
MLB needs to destroy the Union. Plain and simple.