MLB Players Association Negotiates Deal to Get Minor Leaguers Paid

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

What difference does it make if a player stays for another year of college or plays independent ball.  How does that impact the product we pay to see?  How does it change MLB at all?

Why should players get paid on perceived value? 

First, all players get paid on perceived value. Edwin Diaz just injured himself and is out for the season. Is that "fair"?

It matters a lot if the top players say to hell with it, play independent ball for a year and sign big free agent contracts with the Yankees and Dodgers when their draft rights expire. It matters if players drafted by the Pirates (knowing their pay is the same no matter when they get drafted) decide to go back to school for a year and re-enter the draft hoping some other organization drafts them instead. It makes the draft pointless. That would kill the main way small market teams acquire talent.

There's another angle here. Top draft pick bonuses keep independent leagues from starting. Remember the USFL?

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

First, all players get paid on perceived value. Edwin Diaz just injured himself and is out for the season. Is that "fair"?

It matters a lot if the top players say to hell with it, play independent ball for a year and sign big free agent contracts with the Yankees and Dodgers when their draft rights expire. It matters if players drafted by the Pirates (knowing their pay is the same no matter when they get drafted) decide to go back to school for a year and re-enter the draft hoping some other organization drafts them instead. It makes the draft pointless. That would kill the main way small market teams acquire talent.

You are really reaching.  Edwin Diaz and a player that has literally never played an inning of professional baseball are two entirely different things.   A player getting paid while they are injured is an entirely different thing.  BTW .... I don't know if it's fair that Diaz gets paid when he is not paying but there is ABSOLUTELY no way the players would ever concede that benefit so there is no point in discussing it as a potential solution.

I don't know that there is any real threat of players gambling their career on playing independent baseball.  However, did you notice this model allows for an infinite degree of variation to account for such concerns.   You could start the bonuses at $3M and you still have an $800K at the end of the 2nd round while paying every player after the 6th round $50K.  This model still allows for a $30K increase to every full season Milb player.  1st and 2nd round draft picks are not giving up $1-3M to play independent ball.  

And, remember, six-year minor league free agents can negotiate higher salaries, and 40-man roster guys are also paid more.

Players will hopefully get better nutrition at home parks, and decent money on the road. The off cost is still having housing that you basically sleep in for half the season and the cost of that. Again, sleep in as you can go to the park and use workout facilities, hang in the clubhouse if you like, et al. And your apartment sits vacant while you are on the road.

Past minor league players have to be shaking their heads that this didn't happen when they were...struggling.

Again, not sure where you're going with this, the link you provided is 5 years old?  Anything current?

On 3/30/2023 at 9:48 AM, Riverbrian said:

Here's an article explaining what baseball did with the help a high placed friend in Washington. 

 

https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2018/3/23/17152778/spending-bill-minor-league-baseball-explained-save-americas-pastime

 

I'll reiterate my main talking point again...History has shown that when everyday people make more money, they end up spending more money in the communities in which they live and work.   How is that a bad thing?  Minor League baseball will still be the best financial deal in professional baseball for fans, even after its players earn a liveable wage.