Yesterday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred discussed the long-simmering issue of pay to minor-league players, as Evan Drellich of The Athletic reports (subscription link). Manfred’s office recently launched negotiations with the minor-league governing body known as the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues.
MLB has fought tooth and nail to secure legal advantages against minor-league ballplayers, who remain without a union. While it battles to preserve its freedom of action, the league is also not unaware of the many problems posed by the current system, in which most minor-league players are dimly compensated for their labor. There’s always a risk of a reversal of legislative or court victories. And a concerted PR strategy from the players’ side could yet turn the tide.
While the ongoing talks with the NAPBL are voluntary, Manfred recognizes the practical need to address the matter. “The game’s about young players right now,” says the commissioner. Proper development of key player-assets requires a “positive environment,” which in turn means “you’ve got to have good facilities” and “you’ve got to pay correctly, and make sure you got the right people teaching.”
The imperative to “pay correctly” — an exceedingly interesting turn of phrase for the commish to introduce — is of chief interest to minor-league players. But there’s quite a bit more going on here. As Drellich well puts it, “Lurking in the background, and as a point of leverage, is the possibility that MLB seeks to cull some teams or otherwise reshape some aspects of the minors.” Hence the engagement with the NAPBL, which does not represent players but does have power over all other pertinent business matters that its big brother does not govern directly.
Manfred left little doubt that MLB owners aren’t just planning to open their pocketbooks. He cited a need “to look at the efficiency of the system” — for its own sake, perhaps, but also to “create[] some economic flexibility” that can be put to use in addressing the ballplayer salary issue. Beyond that, it seems mostly a question of whose profit margin will take the hit. As Manfred says, “Whether we pay or they pay, that’s a negotiation, right?”
Having won the early lobbying battle, organized baseball has earned itself time and space to structure a solution — albeit one that can still be subject to challenge. It’s still not clear what the league thinks it means to “pay correctly,” but the present approach seems unlikely to define that in the first instance by reference to concepts of fairness. Rather, what we are seeing now is an ownership effort (at both the major and minor-league levels) to arrive at an economically efficient solution that maximizes organizations’ investments in young players, staves off labor disruption, and assures the paying and voting public that all is well. Of course, the players will still have opportunities to influence the outcome, whether or not through the MLBPA or formal bargaining. It seems promising that MLB recognizes the need for change, even if the process isn’t ideal for labor. Whether the resulting system will be a fair one for pre-MLB ballplayers remains to be seen.
it seems it is nothing but empty talks.
they should all make the same salery, DSL to AAA. make it, say, $2,000 a game unless otherwise stipulated by a guaranteed contract.
I don’t think a minor leaguer needs to suddenly make a 6 figure salary. But maybe something in the $350-$400 a game is reasonable.
well whatever works really. im not an expert on the numbers, but i think as long as each guy gets perhaps a bit beyond the “mimumum livable wage” or better (whatever that is believed to be) over the course of close to a full season, its a good deal. it doesnt help the teams that these guys are forced to devote time to second jobs and giving up because its not a worthwhile goal to shoot for money-wise.
I think 30,000 (could be higher or lower)a year not per game . I see teams like Oakland, Tampa bay, and Arizona keep low player on bench to lower payroll. The Amount could be worked out with team and players rep but give them a fair wage.
How about 60 grand a year? A reasonable starting salary for a full time job.
I mean, even $40k would be a live-able wage. Anything is an improvement on the current pay system
40k to live in San Jose? People at In and Out make more than that.
That’s ludicrous. There would be no minor leagues at that cost.
The parent club is paying the player salaries. A graduated pay scale that pays a living but increasing wage, dependent on level of play, would cost each parent club less than $10 million per year. Hell, even if each team just allocated an additional $2 million to their minor league payrolls, it would result in life-altering pay for some of the players.
You have to be some kind of truly despicable evil to pull what they’ve pulled on minor leaguers. Shame on MLB.
The “pay your dues” mentality. “We” didn’t have it, you shouldn’t either. Considering the elevated revenue they can allocate some cash to the minors, whether its salary based or increases in road allowances.
I guess none of the other teams followed suit after Toronto increased its minor league salaries by 50% this year.
a lot are probably still anyalizing the costs of it, and just how many guys they’d have to pay how much in total.
I’d like to think organizations know how many players they have in their system and are capable of doing simple math… I’m fairly certain they all know what it’d cost, they’re just trying to find the best place to take that money from.
They probably need some minor league owners to do some shuffling as well. I’m sure some of the ones that aren’t as rich wont be able to afford it and will have to sell at least partial ownership of their teams.
Minor league teams don’t pay player’s salaries. Below AA there just isn’t enough money for them to even really pay the little they are currently getting.
But do they pay teams for affiliations or something then? I don’t know the landscape of minor league economics but they must have some risk and costs involved. Maybe teams jack up those numbers a bit to increase salaries?
Regardless, the players are affiliated with the parent club anyway. They can add to the player’s salary if they choose.
No. In minor league baseball the MLB affiliate pays salaries and all costs associated with the players and coaches. The minor league affiliate sells tickets and concessions and is responsible for all promotions. So an increase in salary won’t directly impact minor league affiliates. But contracting teams would.
was unaware that Toronto did that do you have a link.
It was announced during the offseason.
Announced in March 2019…Here is one of the links: foxbusiness.com/features/toronto-blue-jays-to-boos…
Here is an interesting item from the article:
While most minor league players earn an estimated $7,500 per year, according to The Associated Press, the average salary for athletes at the big league level is more than $4 million. Players in the minors are restricted to $1,100 per month max in their first year – after that, the league says the salary is “open to negotiation.”
Restricting players to $13,200/year is ludicrous.
Well it’s not a year, only @6 months, but I agree. It’s for sure NOT an hourly job. I think the payscale should go up per level. Quick but unresearched idea: lowA 20k, highA 25k, aa 30k, aaa 40k? Seems reasonable…?
That’s nice and all but the low minor players are still making below minimum wage
Minor league ball players should be on a sliding scale. Most in A ball are young kids who never been on their own, many away from home for the first time. Giving them 36k a year should not break the bank of a billion dollar producing
Double AA should get 40k & AAA 50k. Overall, it would cost the owners and/MLB 20 to 30 million which is a drop in the bucket when the game produces billions
Not enough.
AAA is used like a MLB bench these days because it’s so cheap. 100,000 for AAA or they should be free agents every year after they make AAA. or both.
Minor league players who are brought up to the majors make the pro-rated minimum while in the majors. So it’s not like the teams that “use(d) like a MLB bench these days because it’s so cheap” are still making MiLB money.
I agree 100% David. Should be a sliding scale based on whatever level you reach AND also a sliding scale based on service time. Someone who has been in A ball for 3 years should make more than a rookie A baller, and so on and so on and so on.
Just lip service by the league. But serious pay reform is needed. Only a handful of minor leaguers get paid anything decent. Most are playing for peanuts. And the vast majority of minor leaguers really have no hope of making the majors. The league knows this. So in essence, the majority of minor league players are just practice ponies, sparring partners, for the guys with a real chance. Since they are really providing a service pay them like they are employees, not interns.
I would pay them minimum of $5000 per month for the 5 month minor league season from low A ball and below. Raise it $1000 per month as you go up the ladder from there. Sure, $25,000-$40,000 is not a lot, but it is a ton better than what they get now. Baseball can more than afford this. They should also beef up per diem rates when on the road, and also improve gameday meals for the players.
Unfortunately, I don’t see anything substantive happening here, and they only way it happens is if minor league players organize and strike, or if the MLBPA makes it an issue at the next CBA negotiations. Not holding my breath.
Given that the MLBPA is directly responsible for taking money out of minor league players’ pockets, I don’t see them suddenly changing their tune and taking up the cause for the minor leaguers.
He’s too busy trying to make the game faster and less enjoyable than worrying about such matters as minor league pay.
Minor league teams do not generate the revenue anywhere near the majors do. Some teams in A ball barely draw a few thousand
Most MiLB teams are not owned by the MLB team they are affiliated with. MLB teams pay the MiLB players salaries so attendance has no relationship to attendance.
I am all for increasing minor league wages, especially for those in the lower minors who are on their own for the first time. However there are consequences. Should it cost between 20-30 million as @davidkaner said, you must expect a dip in big league salaries. That’s nearly half of some teams major league payrolls, and the owners will not take a hit on this, they will not allow their bottom line to suffer. Sure, baseball brings in lots of money, but it also costs a lot to run one as well. All the facilities, coaches, scouting, etc. is quite expensive. By no means am I defending the owners, but you have to be aware of a ripple effect.
Yankees500, you couldn’t have said it better.
I’m guessing this means that they’re considering what the implications of reducing the amount of single A and rookie league teams are.
Could result in higher pay, but fewer opportunities?
Drop the draft to about 40 rounds and shorten the careers of AAAA players?
The draft is ALREADY at only 40 rounds.
i was thinking this…i wouldn’t be surprised if the outcome is a more streamlined MiL system. From what i can tell some teams have a half dozen + MiL affiliates.
And maybe they figure the can offload the AAAA players on the Independent Leagues?
All have at least 7 affiliated clubs. Some have as many as 9 affiliates. There are some short-season affiliates that are shared between 2 MLB clubs.. Here is a list of all the affiliated clubs..
baseball-reference.com/register/affiliate.cgi?year…
The Cubs have 9.
Follow MinorLeagueGrinders on Instagram if you want a nice look into some of the “perks” of being a minor league ballplayer. These guys deserve better.
The low minors/short season leagues should be standardized. As if now there’s way too much variation, and it really only serves big spending teams.
Each team has at last one DSL affiliate, some have 2. Each team has at least two stateside short season affiliates- usually an AZL/GCL complex team and a short season A team. But there are exceptions.
The Rockies dont have a complex based team, so they send their just drafted youngsters to the Pioneer League. That’s technically a rookie league, but in practice most teams use it as a short season A ball league equivalent to the Northeest or NYPL. Since they’re sending younger and less experienced players, they tend to do worse (just one division title in 30 years).
Meanwhile the entirety of the Appalachian League seems to exist only so teams that want to spend more as an “advantage” can try out more guys. The Yankees have 10 teams- 2 each in the DSL and GCL, an Appy team, a NYPL team and 4 full season affiliates. The Marlins have 3 fewer teams, allowing them to spend less money. This not only is bad for parity – this gives NY more ability to unearth prospects than other teams – it means players go through vastly different experiences when signed/drafted and their competition can sometimes be way unbalanced. Makes evaluation harder for the teams, too.
I disagree.
Any team can choose to spend in the international market and small market team’s are the ones who need options like that the most.
You can fund international operations for years for the cost of a low level free agent. Rich teams can do more of everything but limiting cheap options is much worse than simply mandating far pay for your workers as a separate issue.
This is absolutely a MLB players union issue.
Analytics and better player development means more players than job in the majors. There will never be enough stars to fill all the team’s but there will always be more than enough replacement level players.
Teams are taking advantage of supply and demand by inking legit MLB players to minor league deals while good team’s leave MLB ready young players in AAA for years as back ups.
Instead of deciding which players to represent the MLB union should support all professional baseball players knowing that most could and their careers with a few years in AAA as a back up even if they are in the majors now.
If a team is going to ruin a good players career by letting him spend years in AAA to provide back up to the MLB roster they should be paid as MLB reserves and represented by the MLB union.
If some minor league teams have to go for MLB to be able to afford minimum wage I don’t see the issue.
Are minor leaguers in this situation responsible for their own health insurance?
Let’s face it, anytime a corporation discuss paying it’s workers more or raising the price on a product they’re selling the costs get passed on to us he consumers. MLB teams can move millions and billions this way and that way but it’s the fans that will end up footing the bill and getting fleeced.
Are you saying screw the minor league players because you need a 3rd beer more than they need food?
The problem with the “pay people more and it will cost me money” argument is that it’s perfectly logical for the customer to want to pay less, and however they get to that point isn’t something that troubles them. Almost all apparel is made outside the USA because labor costs are higher here, as is a lot of steel, autos, appliances, etc. The consumer wants the lowest price, and if it comes at expense of a plant closing in another state and moving the jobs to offshore, they are fine with that.
They want cheaper goods because they are paid $7/hour and living on food stamps. Pay them more and they become less price sensitive.
Reading closely tells you Manfred isn’t really offering much of anything, and is implying contraction. “The game’s about young players right now,” is a statement of the ML Owners newfound discipline in handing out contracts to older free agents–you are going to continue to see contraction in that market–obviously not on the most prime superstars, but there were be plenty of players who will end up with a lot less than they expected.. MLB has run the table on the Minor Leaguers, and paying for favorable legislation (which is what they have done) assists in that. Now, MLB recognizes they have a PR problem, and they want to do some cosmetic things, but they are not going to be investing huge amounts of money in this. So, let’s wait and see for details beyond atmospherics.
Give them $5,000 raise and a bag of weed.
The entire minor league system needs to be replaced by a more efficient process that provides more rapid paths to the majors, fairly compensates prospects, while quickly weeding out non-prospects rather than keeping them around as roster-fillers, The present system is a relic that will not be fixed by a band-aide approach.
MLB could pay for the amount of raise by doing away with current revenue sharing . Why pay team to lose like San Diego, Arizona Colorado ,Miami , and many more. The amount could go up each year say 10% rather than all at once.Until you get to the level that both sides can support.
I think about 50% of them would take them up on Brian suggestion. They could take the money and sell the weed.
MLB owners aren’t going to shell out $50-60 and pay them like Minor League Hockey players. Yes I realize they play double the games. I just don’t see much movement in the overall salary structure unless you cut minor league teams. I mean could you imagine no Midwest League?
They do need to pay them for time spent in spring training, time spent at a teams facility in the offseason and AFL. Also bonuses for players who make the playoffs, ASG, Player+ Pitcher of the week-month and housing stipends for players wouldn’t be the worst idea either. That would be a start and honestly should’ve been done years ago.
No one in American can afford to live decently on minimum wage. Baseball players are no exception. MLB should be ashamed of themselves, especially when you realize that they openly lobbied congress to keep these salaries at that level.
These guys aren’t living off their minor league wage. They don’t pay rent and they get stipends for food, not to mention their signing bonus they get.
The more you raise the wage of a minor leaguer, the fewer teams and opportunities there will be.
Many are playing for signing bonuses less than $25,000 and are taking four years to reach the majors, if that. They DO pay for things like rent, auto insurance, car payments, and even food on non-game days. They live in the same world that you and I do, but they also spend 40+ hours each week honing their craft, even during the “offseason”, which really does not exist for them.
Many of these players are making about $10=13K per year, That’s about half of what they would make if they were getting paid minimum wage to work in fast food, with no appreciable skills.
And they can’t wait to leave a country where they’d earn less in a month then they do in a day here just for that chance.
While your typical minor leaguer makes a mere pittance, compared to major leaguers, not all struggle with money. Especially the first 2 rounds of the draft and many international signings Yes, that leaves most of the other players signing in rounds 3 through 40 with smaller signing bonuses, but to say that all minor leaguers are hurting is false.
Everyone always wants more money and i don’t blame them. However, if the minor league owners, especially in the lower levels, are forced to pony up, we’ll see several go under. Most independently owned minor league teams know they’ll never make much, if any, money.
The minor league teams aren’t the ones paying the player salaries. That falls on the parent club that the minor league team is affiliated with.
I understand that, but Manfred talked about others possibly paying, so until he clarifies, it is a possibility that the cost could be shared.
Call this “The Kyler Murray Effect”.
When the salaries you offer can no longer attract qualified job applicants, you raise the pay.
Minimums… 25k below A ball, 40k for A, 60k AA, 80k-100 AAA. Flat rate. Only players making more are those with mlb contracts. Start paying your players!!!
How about they just remove a couple layers of the minor leagues? We already have too many players wasting their time in the minors when they will never make the show. Does MLB really need low A, high A, AA, AAA and MLB levels? Also, maybe if pitchers aren’t stuck in the minors pitching year round in winter ball as well, they won’t all have TJ surgery before they even sign an extension or hit free agency…
Ever since I found out how poorly minor leaguers are treated by MLB teams I have not gone to a single MLB game. It is a monumental disgrace that a multi billion dollar industry insists on treating their employees poorly.