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MLB, Minor Leaguers Reach Tentative Deal on First-Ever Collective Bargaining Agreement

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Minor league baseball players reached a tentative agreement with Major League Baseball on the collective bargaining agreement for minor leaguers who formed a union last year, MLB Players Association officials said Wednesday night. 

The five-year deal—which will go to a ratification vote by players on Thursday and to MLB owners for a vote in coming days—will at least double the pay of minor-league players and provide other benefits. Last September, MLB voluntarily recognized the union, which made the MLB Players Association the bargaining agent for minor league players. 

The move to unionize minor leagues came just months after MLB had agreed to pay $185 million to settle a federal class-action suit brought by minor leaguers who were seeking compensation for minimum-wage and overtime violations. Pay and workplace issues in the minor leagues had become a prominent issue in recent years. 

MLB had taken over operations of the minor leagues in late 2020 and implemented a housing program for players while also reducing the total number of affiliate teams in the system. The union, however, contended the players often lived at or below the poverty level. 

The new agreement will change player rights and compensation in the minor leagues. It follows a grass-roots campaign to better minor-league working conditions led by current and former minor league players and some fans. The minor-league union doesn’t yet have a player leadership board, but consulted with an estimated 150 players throughout the bargaining process. 

Under the agreement, players will see their minimum season salaries at least double this year, with incremental increases codified over the duration of the CBA. At the lowest levels of the minors, player salaries will increase from $4,800 per year to $19,800. At Triple A, the highest level before the major-leagues, salaries will increase from $17,500 to $35,800. 

Additionally, minor league players will get paid on a new schedule. Previously, they only got paid for in-season work, which excluded spring training and any offseason programs hosted by their parent clubs. Now, players will get paid for spring training (including four weeks of retroactive pay for 2023) and will be paid for all but six weeks of the year. 

Players who sign their deals at age 19 or older (they currently can sign as early as age 16) can also become minor-league free agents after six years of service time, down from seven years prior to the agreement. In a victory for the major-league teams, the union agreed to a reduction in the total number of players teams can have in their domestic affiliate system at any one time. Beginning in 2024, that figure can be reduced from 180 players to 165 in-season, and 190 players to 175 in the offseason—meaning 15 minor league players per team are likely to lose their jobs starting next year. 

However, the league also agreed not to contract any more minor-league teams over the course of the CBA. 

Minor league players will now retain name and likeness rights and get improved medical and retirement benefits. Players will now get a formal grievance process with a neutral arbitrator for various disciplinary events. 

Additionally, players will now have significantly more control over club access to their biodata through the use of wearable technology. Previously, teams were allowed to require players to use technology that tracked information such as strength and fatigue. Under the agreement, use of wearable technology has to be voluntary on the part of the players and the team must provide a written explanation of the technology, how it will be used, and which club officials will have access to it. 

Write to Lindsey Adler at [email protected]

Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8



Minor league baseball players reached a tentative agreement with Major League Baseball on the collective bargaining agreement for minor leaguers who formed a union last year, MLB Players Association officials said Wednesday night. 

The five-year deal—which will go to a ratification vote by players on Thursday and to MLB owners for a vote in coming days—will at least double the pay of minor-league players and provide other benefits. Last September, MLB voluntarily recognized the union, which made the MLB Players Association the bargaining agent for minor league players. 

The move to unionize minor leagues came just months after MLB had agreed to pay $185 million to settle a federal class-action suit brought by minor leaguers who were seeking compensation for minimum-wage and overtime violations. Pay and workplace issues in the minor leagues had become a prominent issue in recent years. 

MLB had taken over operations of the minor leagues in late 2020 and implemented a housing program for players while also reducing the total number of affiliate teams in the system. The union, however, contended the players often lived at or below the poverty level. 

The new agreement will change player rights and compensation in the minor leagues. It follows a grass-roots campaign to better minor-league working conditions led by current and former minor league players and some fans. The minor-league union doesn’t yet have a player leadership board, but consulted with an estimated 150 players throughout the bargaining process. 

Under the agreement, players will see their minimum season salaries at least double this year, with incremental increases codified over the duration of the CBA. At the lowest levels of the minors, player salaries will increase from $4,800 per year to $19,800. At Triple A, the highest level before the major-leagues, salaries will increase from $17,500 to $35,800. 

Additionally, minor league players will get paid on a new schedule. Previously, they only got paid for in-season work, which excluded spring training and any offseason programs hosted by their parent clubs. Now, players will get paid for spring training (including four weeks of retroactive pay for 2023) and will be paid for all but six weeks of the year. 

Players who sign their deals at age 19 or older (they currently can sign as early as age 16) can also become minor-league free agents after six years of service time, down from seven years prior to the agreement. In a victory for the major-league teams, the union agreed to a reduction in the total number of players teams can have in their domestic affiliate system at any one time. Beginning in 2024, that figure can be reduced from 180 players to 165 in-season, and 190 players to 175 in the offseason—meaning 15 minor league players per team are likely to lose their jobs starting next year. 

However, the league also agreed not to contract any more minor-league teams over the course of the CBA. 

Minor league players will now retain name and likeness rights and get improved medical and retirement benefits. Players will now get a formal grievance process with a neutral arbitrator for various disciplinary events. 

Additionally, players will now have significantly more control over club access to their biodata through the use of wearable technology. Previously, teams were allowed to require players to use technology that tracked information such as strength and fatigue. Under the agreement, use of wearable technology has to be voluntary on the part of the players and the team must provide a written explanation of the technology, how it will be used, and which club officials will have access to it. 

Write to Lindsey Adler at [email protected]

Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

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