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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake Bees players and coaches say they are thrilled with a recent collective bargaining agreement that features a substantial raise for minor league players.
The MLB Players Association formally announced on March 31, the minor league opening day, that it and Major League Baseball teams agreed on a new pay scale for all minor league players in the largest development since minor league players were formally accepted into the baseball union in September.
ESPN baseball reporter Jeff Passan first reported the changes last week, noting that, among other changes, the Triple-A salary was bumped from $17,500 to $35,800 per season. The Triple-A regular season is now nearly the same as the major league season, beginning in late March and continuing through most of September.
"The agreement represents a giant step forward in treating minor league players as the elite professional athletes that they are," said Tony Clark, the association's director, after the players agreed to the changes. "It's a historic day for these players, their families and the entire player fraternity."
The deal, which went into effect immediately and remains in place through 2027, also includes new transportation policies; increased food per diem; restored name, image and likeness licensing opportunities; a new 401k benefit plan; a new medical insurance policy and other adjustments.
The recent changes are the latest change since MLB took control of the minor league system in 2020. For example, MLB began a new policy last season where MLB teams were required to provide housing for qualifying minor league players, following reports that several players would share a small apartment to save costs. That policy will have "further improvements" in 2024.
But salaries remained a major issue before the season began. The new agreement comes after many failed attempts, including in courts, to raise the minor league salary over the last few years. Because of the low wages, many minor league players have spent the offseason working odd jobs not just to continue chasing their dreams but to make ends meet.
Former Bee Tyler DeLoach told NPR in 2017 that he retired early because the pay wasn't enough to keep up with costs.
It was a grind being a minor leaguer. ... Some of the conditions were pretty rough.
–Salt Lake Bees manager Keith Johnson
Salt Lake Bees pitcher Ryan Smith, a Princeton alumnus, told KSL.com he's worked several jobs since being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Using his education, his "go-to" job is helping tutor high school students preparing to take standardized tests that help them get into colleges, which he feels lucky to have.
With the changes, he said he and his teammates may not have to rely on those jobs as much anymore. They'll have more time to train in the offseason, so they can improve their craft and potentially crack the big leagues.
"I think a lot of guys are super excited. There have been a lot of people who have worked super hard for this and a lot of people who have come before us — minor leaguers, lawyers, representatives — pushing for change," he said. "I'm happy things were able to be worked out. ... I think it will be huge for minor leaguers, today, tomorrow and as time goes on."
Salt Lake Bees manager Keith Johnson, who played most of his career in the minor leagues before going into coaching, said he's equally thrilled about the changes. He understands that the casual fan probably scowls when the sport's top players seek multimillion-dollar deals; however, he says that's not what's happening here.
Per Passan, other pay scale changes raise the bare minimum from $4,800 per year to $19,800. That's for players who are working at a team's complex league. Single-A players will now make between $26,200 and $27,300, up from $11,000 per year; Double-A player salaries will jump from $13,800 to $30,250.
"It was a grind being a minor leaguer. ... Some of the conditions were pretty rough," Johnson said. "Now it's more like a job — you're taken care of a little bit better. It's going to allow players to come out and be themselves a little bit more because all that stress of all the external things aren't going to be as great."
