It’s a fact that minor league players often have difficulties living a decent life because they are not paid enough.
While MLB has led efforts for teams to offer housing for them, food and wages remain delicate topics as far as minor leaguers go.
They make too little money to afford any luxuries, and yet they have to hear MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred saying that their salary isn’t a problem.
“Rob Manfred: ‘I kind of reject the premise of the question, that minor league players are not paid a living wage,'” The Athletic’s Evan Drellich tweeted, quoting the controversial leader of baseball.
While most of the baseball universe clearly disagrees with his remarks, Forbes’ senior contributor Maury Brown hits us with a painful truth: Manfred’s salary.
“Rob Manfred makes $11 million annually,” Brown tweeted.
Rob Manfred makes $11 million annually. https://t.co/EFaXL4bLUJ
— Maury Brown (@BizballMaury) July 19, 2022
A Slap In The Face For Minor Leaguers
Nothing like a wealthy executive telling hundreds of young, aspiring ballplayers that they make enough money when they can barely pay their bills.
It’s a slap in the face of minor league baseball, as the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) can’t fight their battles.
That’s why minor leaguers make so many sacrifices to reach the major leagues,
It’s often life-changing money for them, as they see their minor league salaries turned into the major league minimum, which is now $700,000.
If you think there is a stark contrast between a rookie making $700,000 and a veteran making $20 million, think about the drop-off from MLB’s minimum salary to making $1,000 per month, like many minor leaguers.
This is an issue that the league, if they want to project the right image to the world and protect its workforce, badly needs to address.
Let’s see that idiot Manfred show us how he could get by on it then.