MLB, Clubs Plan To Address Minor League Pay Impacted By Coronavirus Halt

Update (11:45 am ET): The Dodgers have been added to the list of teams that are continuing to pay their minor leaguers the allowances and stipends they normally receive during spring training.

Update (2 pm ET): The Red Sox's plans on paying minor league allowances has been added to the story.

Update (2:35 pm ET): The Marlins' plans on paying minor league stipends have been added to the story.

Update: (3:15 pm ET): The Padres' plans on paying minor league per diems have been added to the story.

3/18 Update (1:30 pm ET): The Cardinals' plans on paying minor league per diems has been added to the story.

3/18 Update (2 pm ET): The Indians' plans on paying minor league per diems has been added to the story.

3/18 Update (7 pm ET): The Tigers have been added to the list of teams that are continuing to pay minor leaguers their spring training allowances.

3/18 Update (7:30 pm ET): The Yankees' plans on paying minor league per diems has been added to the story.

3/19 Update (10:15 am ET): The D-backs' plans on paying minor leaguers has been added to the story.

3/19 Update (12:25 pm ET): The Giants' plans on paying minor leaguers has been added to the story.

Major League Baseball and individual clubs plan to address concerns over minor league pay in the near future, league and club officials confirmed to Baseball America.

Non 40-man roster players, with a few exceptions, have been sent home from spring training facilities after a memo sent by MLB on March 15 recommended doing so. Minor leaguers are not paid during spring training and have begun turning to social media to voice frustrations that they will no longer have access to the food or facilities provided at spring training sites.

Minor leaguers are unable to collect unemployment benefits because they are technically under contract with their clubs, but also struggle to find jobs at home because they may have to quit at any moment and return to baseball. 

According to league officials, MLB is trying to iron out issues with the Major League Baseball Players Association regarding major leaguers before turning its attention to minor leaguers and their pay. 

Some teams have taken steps individually. BA correspondent Marc Topkin reported the Rays will continue to pay minor leaguers the $400 a week per diem they normally receive during camp. The Mets also confirmed to BA they will continue to pay minor leaguers the allowances they normally receive during spring training. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told BA the Dodgers are doing the same.

A Red Sox spokesperson told BA the team is currently paying its minor leaguers their spring training allowances through March 19 and is having ongoing discussions about what steps they will take after that date. The Marlins informed BA that their minor leaguers are receiving their spring training stipends through the duration of scheduled spring training. The Padres also confirmed they will pay all of their minor leaguers their spring training per diems through April 8, the originally scheduled end of minor league spring training. The Cardinals announced on Twitter they will honor their daily per diem for their minor league players. Indians team officials informed BA they are giving their minor leaguers $400 per week for the next two weeks. The Tigers announced in a statement they will be paying their minor league players who were in camp the remainder of their spring training allowances.

The Athletic's Lindsey Adler reported the Yankees are paying their quarantined minor leaguers their $25 per diem through March 20 along with an additional unspecified stipend beginning March 18. BA correspondent Nick Piecoro reported the D-backs are giving their minor leaguers one-time deposits of up to $1,500 in addition to their $300 weekly per diem. The Giants confirmed to BA they will continue to provide daily allowances to their minor leaguers. 

Two other clubs contacted by BA said they are currently in the process of planning measures to compensate their minor leaguers, although formal plans have yet to be established.

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