In N.Y., George King III notes Yankees staffers on Monday were informed that their salaries "wouldn't be slashed and their benefits remain in play." How long that goes on "hasn't been determined, but it's possible that the plan goes until at least the end of the month." The Yankees paid staffers through June 1, pushed that to June 15 and "extended that on Monday and will monitor the situation daily." How long MLB clubs can "continue to avoid slashing salaries or furloughing staffers isn't known" (N.Y. POST, 6/17).
SAFE SPACE: MLB.com's Brian McTaggart noted Astros Owner Jim Crane yesterday informed team employees that there "would be no furloughs and that club staff would continue to be paid through Oct. 31, with the highest-paid employees -- those making $100,000 or more -- taking pay cuts." Crane said, "The higher-paid people would take cuts at various levels, but we didn't announce those things. But it's similar to some stuff that's out there. I think that was a big relief to the staff." But Crane said that the team "will soon up its on-site staff" to 50% of work capacity, with employees "working one week from home and then one in the office" (MLB.com, 6/16).
WALK IT BACK: In DC, Jesse Dougherty notes two weeks after the Nationals "tried to lower weekly stipends for minor league players but were roundly criticized for it," the club has "set a payment plan for the rest of the season." Sources said that the Nationals "will continue to pay minor leaguers $400 per week through Sept. 7." MLB "mandated $400 stipends for minor leaguers in April and May, then left it up to each club to make decisions." The Nationals "shaved the stipends from $400 to $300, but when their major leaguers promised to make up the difference, they caved to public pressure and restored the full amount" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/17).
