Major League Baseball and minor league players in the MLB Players Association have agreed on a collective bargaining agreement that will be the first in history to apply to minor league players. according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The CBA has a five-year term, as is standard practice for CBAs in the world of baseball, and is paid at least double at all levels.
Per passan, here’s how the salary structure will change under the CBA:
- Complex league: from $4,800 per year up to $19,800
- Low-A: $11,000 to $26,200
- High-A: $11,000 to $27,300
- AA: $13,800 to $30,250
- AAA: $17,500 to $35,800
Additionally, Passan notes that players get paid “almost all year round.” Minor league players were previously not paid during the offseason or spring training. Paying a fair wage and being paid year-round has historically been a major bone of contention for minor league players. Passan adds that starting with the 2024 season, MLB’s domestic reserve list will be reduced by 15 spots from 180 to 165 players.
Evan Drellich of The Athletic reports on other facets of the agreement:
- MLB has agreed not to reduce the number of affiliated minor league teams during the term of the CBA. However, MLB was already barred from doing so by virtue of their agreement with minor league team owners.
- A joint drug agreement and a policy on domestic violence, as used in the majors, were agreed.
- Minor league players have NIL rights and the MLBPA will enter into licensing agreements on their behalf.
- On the apartment front, players in the high minors – ie double- and triple-A – will get their own bedrooms. Low- and High-A players can get a bedroom or opt for housing benefit instead. Spouses and children of players also have access to club-paid accommodation.
- Minor league players who sign with an MLB organization aged 19 or older will now be under team control for six years, up from seven years.
- Transportation to and from the game location is now guaranteed for Low- and High-A level players.
- Players are compensated during off-season training times, and dead times are also built into the off-season calendar.
Minor league players voted to unionize last September. At the time, MLBPA Director Tony Clark said:
I salute this exceptional group of young players and welcome them to the MLBPA.
Historic success required the right group of players and the right moment to succeed. Minor Leaguers have boldly seized this moment and we look forward to improving their terms of employment through the good faith collective bargaining process.
I also want to acknowledge the tireless efforts of Harry Marino and the dedicated group he led at Advocates for Minor Leaguers, without which this historic organizing campaign would not have been possible.
The news comes just hours before MLB kicks off a new regular season. Meanwhile, the minor league season begins on Friday 31 March and Triple A clubs open their fixture lists.