Miami Marlins: Minor Leaguers to receive pay through April 8

Miami Marlins minor leaguers and other MiLB players will be paid by MLB through April 8, the league front office announced on March 19.

The decision to end Spring Training baseball and push back the start of the Major League season has taken its toll on everyone involved in the game. That includes minor league players on all levels of the Miami Marlins farm system.

A bit of good news was released at the end of the week, that those players in the minors and across MiLB will receive allowances from their Major League teams through April 8. There is also news that Major League Baseball is looking for ways to help lessen the blow to the game due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Per MLB.com, in a prepared statement that was released on March 19, “Since last week, Major League Baseball has been engaged in a variety of discussions with stakeholders to identify ways to blunt the wide-ranging impact of the national emergency resulting from the global coronavirus pandemic.More from Marlins ProspectsMiami Marlins: Checking in on prospects from the 2022 Arizona Fall LeagueMiami Marlins: How top 2022 MLB Draft picks performed this seasonWhat’s wrong with Kahlil Watson?Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 2Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 1“As those conversations continue, MLB is announcing today a league-wide initiative that will create a level of uniform compensation for Minor League players, covering the period between now and the originally scheduled start of the Minor League season.”

That means the Marlins affiliates in Clinton, Iowa, Jupiter, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida and Wichita, Kansas will all receive their allowances. It was also announced that MLB is working on other measures to work together with all 30 franchises to help find additional ways to help players get through baseball’s work stoppage.

There is no timetable yet as to when a date is appropriate for the Marlins or any other team to resume practicing and preparing for the 2020 season. Last week, Marlins CEO Derek Jeter officially closed the team’s practice facilities in Jupiter, Florida and sent the remaining players in Major League camp as the spread of the virus nationally and worldwide has continued to be a pandemic.

Per the press release, “Each player who is under a Minor League Uniform Player Contract will receive a lump sum equal to the allowances that would have been paid through April 8. The exceptions to this plan are non-40-man-roster players who are already receiving Major League allowances; 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.”

The Marlins were in the middle of a 12-6 record when play halted in the Grapefruit League. The team had released players to their minor league camp or were assigned to minor league teams prior to the end of Spring Training baseball.

Top prospects, outfielder Monte Harrison and starting pitcher Nick Neidert was among the 48 players still remaining in Major League camp, having a solid shot to make the Marlins 26-man roster.

The Marlins looked like a team ready to prove to the baseball landscape they wouldn’t be pushovers this coming season. After a 57-105 record in 2019, the front office made significant changes to the roster. Those changes included adding veteran bats and brining in veteran arms to strengthen the bullpen.