MLBPA and Major League Baseball Agree on Cba for Minor League Players

In a historic move, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have reached a tentative agreement on a five-year collective bargaining agreement for minor league players, according to multiple sources. The deal, which is expected to be finalized soon, will be the first of its kind in MLB history and will significantly improve the working conditions and compensation of minor league players. The agreement comes after years of advocacy and organizing by minor league players, who have long faced low wages, poor living standards, and a lack of benefits. In September 2021, minor league players voted to unionize and join the MLBPA, becoming the first group of professional athletes in North America to do so. The unionization effort was supported by Advocates for Minor Leaguers, a nonprofit organization that has been fighting for minor league players’ rights since 2019.
The new CBA will address some of the most pressing issues facing minor league players, such as pay, housing, health care, and career development. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who first reported the details of the agreement, the CBA will at least double the salaries of minor league players at all levels, starting from the 2023 season. The pay structure will change as follows:
  1. Complex league: from $4,800 per year up to $19,800
  2. Low-A: $11,000 to $26,200
  3. High-A: $11,000 to $27,300
  4. AA: $13,800 to $30,250
  5. AAA: $17,500 to $35,800
Additionally, minor league players will be paid almost year-round, instead of only during the season and spring training. They will also receive housing stipends or accommodations provided by MLB clubs during the season and spring training. Moreover, minor league players will have access to health insurance and retirement plans through the MLBPA. They will also benefit from enhanced educational and career transition programs. The CBA will also reduce the number of minor league players under contract with MLB clubs by 15 spots per team, from 180 to 165 players, starting from the 2024 season. This will create more opportunities for minor league players to advance through the system and reach the majors. The agreement marks a major milestone for minor league players and their union. MLBPA executive director Tony Clark praised the achievement in a statement: “I applaud this extraordinary group of young players and welcome them to the MLBPA. The historic achievement required the right group of Players and the right moment to succeed. Minor Leaguers have courageously seized that moment, and we look forward to improving their terms and conditions of employment through the process of good faith collective bargaining.” The news comes as MLB prepares to start a new regular season on Thursday, March 30. The minor league season will begin on Friday, March 31 with Triple-A clubs opening up their schedules.