Union head Tony Clark applauds the Toronto Blue Jays' decision to give minor league players a 50 percent raise and hopes other clubs do the same.
Representatives from the players' association visited the Blue Jays spring training camp Monday, a day after The Athletic reported the team planned to provide raises for all minor league players, some of whom made as little as $1,100 per month in recent seasons.
Minor league players are not paid during spring training or the offseason. Those who don't receive lucrative signing bonuses often struggle to afford meals, rent and basic equipment like cleats and bats.
Toronto Blue Jays' Cavan Biggio watches his home run off Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Vince Valasquez during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Wednesday, March 6, 2019, in Dunedin, Fla. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)
Toronto is the first club to announce such a raise. Clark says the union is "glad there has been some dialogue and a decision made," and "we'll have to see how other teams either do or don't fall in line behind them."
Minor leaguers are not a part of the major league players' association, but Clark says they are "a part of the puzzle" for the union. He says "we will continue to do the things that we can do to support them moving forward despite that."
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