MLB to Cough Up Monstrous $185 Million Landmark Settlement Following Violations Born From 2014 Federal Case

The Major League Baseball (MLB) administration has decided to settle an eight years-long lawsuit. Some Minor League players filed a federal class-action lawsuit in the year 2014. The authorities will be paying a whopping $185 million in compensation. 

Retired baseball player Aaron J. Senne, formerly a Miami Marlins’ frame member, filed the lawsuit. Senne was a part of the Marlins setup till the year 2013. The Marlins drafted him into the Major League during the 2010 season. 

MLB has agreed to pay a massive sum of $185 million, as compensation. The MLB will pay the amount to settle a federal class-action lawsuit filed by some Minor League players for payment violations. The players complained about having put through overtime training amidst minimum wage. However, the settlement is pending a judge’s approval. 

MLB made to pay a colossal compensation 

In 2014, Aaron Senne and 42 other Minor League Baseball players filed a lawsuit against the MLB administration. The players believed that the authorities violated the Fair Labor Standards Act. As per the lawsuit, the players, through their attorneys, alleged that the minimum wage laws of California, Arizona, and Florida were violated. While, overtime and other remedies available under the Law of California got ignored, as well. 

Jeff Passan of ESPN has stated that the settlement will stipulate MLB to issue a memo to teams. It will direct the team authorities to pay Minor League players during spring training, extended spring training, and instructional league play. Earlier, the teams didn’t have the permission of financial authorities to pay the players during those periods.

Back in February, Evan Drellich of The Athletic reported on the argument made by an MLB attorney, which suggested that the Minor League players, though unpaid during those periods, were receiving more than $2,000 per week based on what amateurs pay for training.

Read More – “Extremely Tired Antics”-New York Yankees Star Takes a Dig at MLB’s Response to Players Union Rejecting the Mediation

According to Drellich, Elise Bloom (the MLB attorney) quoted, “It is the players that obtain the greater benefit from the training opportunities that they are afforded than the clubs, who actually just incur the cost of having to provide that training. During the training season, the players are not employees, and would not be subject to either the Fair Labor Standards Act or any state minimum wage act.” 

Meanwhile, the Minor League players’ representative Harry Marino (Exec. Director of Advocates for Minor Leaguers, a group pushing for changes) has recently stated that the Minor League players would only attain satisfaction when allowed to negotiate fair wages and working conditions for themselves. 

Justice at last for the Minor League players 

In October 2020, the Supreme Court denied MLB’s request to dismiss the lawsuit. Moreover, the United States Senate Judiciary Committee has asked Advocates for Minor Leaguers to provide an insight on the impact of MLB’s Anti-Trust Exemption upon the Minor League players. It means MLB has to address its treatment of Minor League players in the legal setting. 

Watch This Story – From Max Scherzer to Gerrit Cole – Highest-Paid MLB Stars in 2022

Do you believe that all Minor League players will receive fair treatment from now on?