Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio
One year after the work stoppage that postponed the start of the season, Major League Baseball players are enjoying the biggest pay increase in nearly two decades.
EMajor League Baseball’s average salary increased 11.1% to a record $4.9 million to start the season, the biggest increase in baseball since 2001, according to a study by The Associated Press. It was the biggest salary increase since it had a jump of 13.9% in 2001.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Texas Rangers shortstop Marcus Semien, who is part of the union’s eight-member executive subcommittee that helped negotiate the contract.
“It was time to be honest,” admitted Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Zach Eflin, who signed a three-year, $40 million deal in December. “It’s been a joke for the last five or 10 years about players who have received minimum wages.”
The team with the highest salary burden is the Mets, with a roster of $355 million, $70 million more than the previous maximum to start a season. Seven teams were over $200 million, according to AP.
Oakland was last with $58 million, less than the combined salaries of Mets pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, which tied the major league high of $43.3 million.
In the minors they will also benefit
In the rookie category (newcomers) the minimum salary per season will go from US$4,800 a US$19,800 in class A low from US$11 thousand to US$26,200; in Class A high from US$11 thousand to US$27,300; in Double A from US$13,800 to US$30,250 and in AAA de US$17,500 a US$35,800.
The agreement, which will last for five years, was finalized after the Players Association of the MLB created a minor league bargaining unit last year.
