Matt Blitz
Update 1:48 p.m.: On Monday, the Washington Nationals reversed course, according to the Associated Press. In a text message sent to minor league players, the organization wrote, “Upon further internal discussion, you will receive your full stipend of $400 per week through the month of June. We will consider future payments on a month to month basis. Thank you!”
Washington National players are providing financial assistance to their minor league brethren, after the team management announced a 25% pay cut.
Over the weekend, the Washington Nationals made the organizational decision to cut the pay of about 200 minor leaguers for at least the month of June, from $400 a week to $300 a week. While other teams have committed to paying the full stipend at least through June (some for the entire season), at least one team (the Oakland Athletics) is stopping payments all together going forward. The Nationals seem to be the only major-league team paying a lower stipend amount according to the Athletic.
However, late Sunday night, Washington Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle announced via Twitter that Nats players will be making up the lost funds, which amounts to about $20,000, for their minor league brethren.
— Sean Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo) June 1, 2020
“All of us were minor leaguers at one point in our careers and we know how important the weekly stipends are for them and their families during these uncertain times,” Doolittle wrote. “Minor leaguers are an essential part of our organization and they are bearing the heaviest burden of this situation as their season is likely to be cancelled. We recognize that and want to stand with them and show our support.”
The players decided to make up the difference in a Zoom call right after the news broke, per Doolittle. “Every player wanted to do something to help. It was unanimous,” wrote Doolittle.
Doolittle has not immediately responded to a request for further comment.
The decision comes after MLB teams cut hundreds of minor league players late last week, amid near certainty that the minor league season will be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Beyond June, it is unclear what the Nationals will do in regards to paying minor league stipends. They’ve previously said that it will be decided on a per month basis.
The Lerner family, which owns the team and has a net worth approximated at $4.4 billion, announced last week that there would be no layoffs for the Nats staff, but there will be partial furloughs and pay cuts ranging from 10-30%, according to the Washington Post. This will be the case even if there ends up being a season. Benefits, however, will remain intact for the remainder of the employee’s contract.
“All considered, I’ll [expletive] take it,” a Nationals employee texted the Washington Post. “It’s nice to know that our jobs are safe.”
