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MLB to assist minor league players affected by coronavirus


Minute Maid Park on September 10, 2019 in Houston, Texas.

Bob Levey | Getty Images

Minor League baseball players affected by the cornoavirus pandemic work stoppage are about to get some financial  assistance. 

One week after halting operations, Major League Baseball said it offer its Minor Leaguer players a “uniform compensation” package that will cover the “period between now and the originally scheduled start of the minor league season.”

“The MLB is taking this initial step today because of the effects of the season’s postponement on Minor League players and their families,” the MLB said in a statement. “MLB intends to continue working with all 30 Clubs to identify additional ways to support those players as a result of the delayed 2020 season.”

Under what the MLB calls a “Minor League uniform player contract,” players will get payment equal “to the allowances that would have been paid through April 8.”

Players who are “non-40-man roster players who are already receiving Major League allowances,” are not eligable for the plan, according to the statement. In addition, “players who are currently receiving housing, food or other services from Clubs; and players who were not participating in, or expected to participate in, Minor League Spring Training,” are also excluded. 

On Tuesday, the league announced it also established a “30-club, $30 million” relief fund for ballpark employees affected by the suspension of games. Last week, the MLB suspended Spring Training games and delayed the start to the regular season due to the coronavirus outbreak. The regular season was originally set to begin on March 26.

The MLB said it will remain in contact with clubs to determine further compensation plans should play remain suspended from April 9 through the start of the season.

“MLB takes the community impact of this crisis seriously,” the statement said. “We will continue to monitor ongoing events and undertake the precautions and best practices recommended by public health experts to protect fans, players and ballpark workers, and we urge all baseball fans to follow suit.”

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