The A's were the first MLB team to end the $400 weekly stipends they had been paying to their minor leaguers while the MiLB season was suspended, and while there were "some reasons to believe that others teams would follow," none have so far, according to John Hickey of SI.com. The A's are "alone in having made a decision that is both unpopular and a bit of a public relations nightmare" (SI.com, 5/30). In S.F., Scott Ostler wrote the fraternity of MLB team owners "had a good week, in terms of saving money." The owners, who "never open their books to the world, are trying to vilify MLB players in the battle over how to share baseball's pandemic-related losses." Ostler: "One thing to keep in mind: Team owners tend to have much longer baseball careers than players do" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/31).
STEPPING UP: In K.C., Lynn Worthy wrote Royals ownership and management have "taken steps to avoid layoffs and furloughs" amid MLB's "uncertain future." The club has "opted to institute tiered pay cuts at the upper levels of executive pay," including Royals Senior VP/Baseball Operations & GM Dayton Moore, to "avoid cutting employees." The Royals' baseball operations department includes 218 employees from the executive level all the way down to scouts, coaches, trainers and minor-league player development staff (K.C. STAR, 5/30). In Boston, Peter Abraham noted clubs are "slashing costs by furloughing employees, cutting the salaries of others." When MLB returns to "whatever the new normal will be, scouts and coaches will remember which teams supported their employees and which did not" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/31).
AROUND THE LEAGUE: A source confirmed that the Twins have "pledged to continue $400 weekly stipends and to provide full benefits to all of their minor leaguers through Aug. 31" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/30)....The Yankees as of Friday "continued to pay minor league players $400 per week and hadn't released any." However, both situations are "subject to change" (N.Y. POST, 5/30)....Sources said that the Pirates "will pay their minor league players at least through the end of June" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/31)....The Indians "will continue to pay their minor-league players through June" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 5/30).
