A’s To Stop Paying Minor Leaguers: Players React

by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor

After word broke early on Tuesday that the A’s would be furloughing much of their baseball operations staff, including most of their player-development employees and pro and amateur scouts, news came later in the day that the organization would also stop paying its minor league players after the end of this month. With the season on hold, the team had been paying its minor leaguers $400 per week.

An e-mail from A’s general manager David Forst to the organization’s minor league players read in part, “Unfortunately, considering all of the circumstances affecting the organization at this time, we have decided not to continue your $400 weekly stipend beyond May 31. This was a difficult decision and it’s one that comes at a time when a number of our full-time employees are also finding themselves either furloughed or facing a reduction in salary for the remainder of the season. For all of this, I am sorry.”

While the minor league season hasn’t officially been cancelled yet, this decision by the A’s seems to confirm what most expect – that there is virtually no chance that there will be a minor league season this year. And if teams are not expecting there to be any minor league baseball in 2020, then it’s highly likely that we may be seeing similar decisions made by other organizations in the coming days. But with Tuesday’s move, the A’s are leading the way.

On Tuesday morning, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN reported that almost all of the A’s amateur and pro scouts would be furloughed in June after the amateur draft, as would about three-quarters of the organization’s player development staff. A few hours later, Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that the A’s would not continue paying their minor league players after the end of this month. And Robert Murray of The Score quickly followed up that news by tweeting a copy of Forst’s e-mail to the organization’s minor league players.

In the e-mail, the GM noted that the team “relies heavily on revenue from tickets/concessions, broadcasting/media, licensing and sponsorships to pay player salaries. In the absence of games, these revenue streams will be lost or substantially reduced.” And he reminded players that “your UPC [Uniform Player Contract], remains in place during the period of its suspension, and you are not permitted to perform services for any other Club…Your contract will continue in full force and effect for the remainder of its term…”

A number of A’s minor league players offered reactions to Tuesday’s news.

Outfielder Greg Deichmann, the A’s 2017 2^nd-round draft pick who hit 11 home runs for the Double-A Midland RockHounds last season, told A’s Farm, “Everyone, especially us players, have been waiting to hear some news moving in the right direction. So, for this to be the first big announcement as far as baseball goes is a little disappointing. Obviously, we’d like to hear some positive news.”

Deichmann claimed that the uncertainty of the situation has been weighing on players. “Big leaguers and minor leaguers alike are sitting in limbo just waiting to be told something so we can either know to ramp it up for game action or just cut our losses and go get an offseason job.” He added, “So many people in the country have been affected by this pandemic and want some sort of hope, and I know I’m not the first to say it, but if we can get baseball back in some fashion, that’s a sign of hope to a return to normalcy, and what came out today doesn’t necessarily point towards that.”

Deichmann’s teammate, Zack Erwin, who made 39 relief appearances for Midland last season, tweeted, “Not only is it likely that minor leaguers will not be able to play, but we will also not make any money from our uniform player contracts until middle of next April. Meanwhile, we are still expected to train and stay in baseball shape for the slim chance we play this season.”

Erwin also claimed, if there is no minor league season in 2020, that he will earn a total of roughly $5,600 for the 19 months between September 2019 to April 2021, including his $1,200 government stimulus check.

Pitcher Peter Bayer, who made 37 relief appearances for the High-A Stockton Ports last season, had strong feelings about the decision. He told A’s Farm, “$400/week is nothing, but it means a ton to us. It would show that the organization cares about us…I’ve completely lost all respect for everyone involved in this decision. And I know a lot of people feel the same way as I do, they just won’t say it publicly.” Bayer then added, “We are professional athletes, it’s about time we are treated like it.”

Pitcher Bryce Conley, who threw 6 innings of a combined no-hitter for the Stockton Ports last season, on Twitter, called the decision, “A very poor investment on the A’s part.” He claimed, “I would go back to waiting tables but people still don’t want to go out to eat.”

Pitcher Ed Baram, who was the A’s 30^th-round draft pick last year and made his professional debut in the Arizona League last summer, told A’s Farm, “I feel like we all knew it was coming, but it’s still a tough feeling knowing there isn’t really any hope for minor leaguers to play at all this year. Time to get a full-time job and train my ass off until ST21.”

Meanwhile, infielder Cobie Fletcher-Vance, who played for the Class-A Beloit Snappers last season, let it be known that he just wanted to get back out on the field. He tweeted on Tuesday, “I just want to ball…Pay or not, just let us play.”

Team owner John Fisher, who had never before issued a public statement regarding any aspect of the A’s, sent an e-mail to A’s fans and staff early Tuesday evening. In it, he stated, “I am very saddened to let you know that we have implemented a significant temporary furlough of staff positions, and reduced compensation for staff members who are not furloughed. We are also suspending compensation for the A’s minor league players.”

Fisher added, “I know that many of you will wonder why the A’s are cutting costs now. Nobody knows how this pandemic will evolve over the long term. What is clear is that our revenues will be dramatically reduced this year. None of this diminishes the pain of today’s actions, but it is an honest acknowledgement of the circumstances of the moment.” And he wrapped up by saying, “I want our employees and fans to know that we remain deeply committed to the long-term future of the Oakland A’s, including our new ballpark, which we know can be a positive force for the City of Oakland and the East Bay.”

After Tuesday’s developments, it remains to be seen how positive the path forward will be for many A’s minor leaguers, as well as other minor league players across the game.

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