MLB and the MLBPA reportedly made a deal that would establish the first collective bargaining agreement in minor league history. The deal, good for five years if passed, would increase pay across all levels of the league and introduce a formal grievance procedure for players.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan was the first to report the news, which comes several months after the MLBPA unionized minor leaguers in an effort to improve working conditions. Between minimal pay, demanding hours and lacking accommodations, the welfare of players had been a topic of discussion for several years before the union was formed.
This CBA is a culmination of multiple efforts in recent years to improve workers’ rights in the minor leagues. Housing was a historically challenging issue for players, but the problem worsened even further during the COVID-19 pandemic when apartments and host families became all but unavailable. MLB decided to provide housing to players before the 2022 season, taking one step of many toward improving workers’ rights.
Not only will pay more than double across all levels of minor league baseball but players will also now be paid on a year-round basis instead of exclusively during play. This was a major point of contention for the MLBPA, which claimed that players were not earning a consistent, livable wage under the current system.
Though the agreement will still have to pass a player vote Friday to take effect, no strike or alteration of play is expected to occur if it doesn’t pass. According to Passan, one noticeable concession in the agreement is that players at teams’ complexes in the Dominican Republic will not be protected by the CBA.
The number of players allowed on each team’s Domestic Reserve list, reserved for minor league personnel located within the U.S. and Canada, would also decrease from 180 to 165. This was reportedly something the league has been pursuing for some time, as the issue has come up several times in recent months.
