The Blue Jays' move comes after there has been plenty of discussion on minor leaguers' low salariesGETTY MAGES
The Blue Jays are "finalizing a pay increase" of more than 50% for "any player who is on a roster of an affiliated minor-league club, from the lowest rung in the Dominican Summer League to the highest level at Triple A," according to Waldon & Rosenthal of THE ATHLETIC. The Jays are "positioning themselves as an organization ready to embrace change" in a time of "intense discussion over the low salaries of minor leaguers." Blue Jays VP/Baseball Operations Ben Cherington: "It puts us right now up at the top of the scale in the industry. My hope is it doesn’t stay that way. My hope is other teams eventually do the same." Team President & CEO Mark Shapiro "gave the final approval to increase the budget for minor-league salaries." Cherington: "It’s a comprehensive increase for every minor-league player. While it’s not going to be life-changing for any particular player, in total it’s a real sum of money. So, obviously, there’s a budgeting process as well. We had to go through that” (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/17).
SEEN AS A JUST DECISION: SPORTSNET.ca's Jeff Blair noted the Blue Jays "did not sound out or tip off other organizations about any imminent move." However, the decision is "just logical, especially if as an organization you have decided to be player-oriented." Minor leaguers receive between $1,100-2,500 per month and get a $25 per diem, half of which "often goes to pay clubhouse dues." They also are "not paid in spring training or the off-season." MLB last year successfully lobbied Congress "for passage of a bill that classified players as 'seasonal workers' in response to lawsuits alleging minor-league pay, which is less than minimum wage and has few built-in protections," violates the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/17).
