A’s Owner John Fisher Reverses Decision To Stop Paying Minor Leaguers

by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
June 5, 2020

After announcing last week that the A’s organization would stop paying its minor league players their $400 weekly stipend, team owner John Fisher reversed course on Friday and announced in an interview with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that the team would continue paying its minor leaguers through the end of the regularly-scheduled minor league season in early September.

While no official announcement has been made regarding the cancellation of the minor league season, it’s widely assumed that minor league teams will not return to action this year.

Fisher’s original decision to stop paying minor leaguers was met with plenty of displeasure last week. Pitcher Peter Bayer, who made 37 relief appearances for the Stockton Ports last season voiced some of the strongest criticism when the decision was announced last week.

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.”

Despite the financial difficulties that the delayed season has caused many teams, the A’s were the only organization that made the decision to stop paying its minor league players.

On Friday, Fisher said, “I changed my mind after spending a lot of time talking to our team…I concluded I’d made a mistake.” He added, “I’ve listened to our fans and others, and there is no question that this is the right thing to do…We clearly got this decision wrong. These players represent our future and we will immediately begin paying our minor-league players. I take responsibility and I’m making it right.”

Fisher mentioned that he’d conferred with team president Dave Kaval, vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane and general manager David Forst before deciding to reverse his original decision.

One would assume that Beane and Forst were both well aware of the negative impact of Fisher’s original decision on the long-term morale of A’s minor leaguers. And with next week’s amateur draft limited to just five rounds this year, there will be numerous undrafted amateur players available who might not look favorably on signing with an organization that refused to pay its minor leaguers.

The decision to resume payment applies only to the A’s minor league players and doesn’t affect the numerous scouts, minor league managers and coaches, player development personnel and others who were also furloughed. But Fisher did say that the team would establish an emergency assistance fund for furloughed employees.

Many A’s minor league players welcomed news of the team’s reversal in policy on Twitter.

Bayer stated, “I want to thank the Athletics organization for reversing course and paying MiLB players. I take back my statements because of this reversal and the fact that they apologized to us. I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to get myself ready when we start back up.”

Zack Erwin, who made 39 relief appearances for Midland last season, said, “I’m thankful the A’s reversed their decision to pay the minor leaguers! This will be very helpful in being able to train and prepare like we need to! Can’t wait to play ball again!”

And catcher JJ Schwarz, who split time between the Stockton Ports and the Beloit Snappers last season, proclaimed, “Respect to the A’s organization for reversing their decision to pay the minor leaguers!!! This will play a very crucial role in the future of our franchise. I don’t know about y’all, but I’m ready for some baseball!!”

*          *          *

Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm. You can also get our exclusive A’s minor league newsletter e-mailed to you free by signing up here.