What Does The New MLB Deal Mean For The Detroit Tigers

As reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, all MLB rosters are frozen as a result of the delayed start of the season due to the coronavirus. How does affect the Detroit Tigers in 2020?

On Friday, the league and the players union agreed to an agreement on pay and service time. The owners set aside $170 million dollars in salary for April and May and if the season gets canceled, the players would be able to keep it as reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN. 

Per Ken Rosenthal of the Atheltic, the money will be distributed between four tiers of players: those with guaranteed contracts and those in three different levels of split contracts between majors and minors. So for players who are not on the 40-man roster, they will not be paid during this time. Per the 17-page agreement that was obtained by the Associated Press. 

Each team shall contribute $94,444.44 per day for 60 days, a total of $170 million, either from March 26 through May 24 or until the start of the season, whichever is earlier, to allocate among players on the 40-man roster, 60-day injured list and those with major league contracts on outright assignments to the minor leagues. The payments will be made in equal installments on the normal payroll schedule. A player with a split contract (different salaries in the minor leagues and major leagues) receives $275 daily if his salary while in the minors is $46,000 to $91,799, $500 daily if $91,800 to $149,999 and $1,000 daily if $150,000 or more. The remainder of the $170 million will be split among the rest of the players with major league contracts who want advances; each player has the right to opt-out. Amounts will be reimbursed through payroll reductions.

Teams will pay players’ travel costs for leaving and returning to spring training.

So, unfortunately, many Tiger minor leaguers will not be getting paid and will be looking for work. If you can help out on Emily Waldon’s project in assisting players in finding work, click on the link to learn how you can help.

As Jay Markle discussed how this agreement would impact the Tigers on a draft level with the MLB draft being shorten to five rounds, the service time element would hit the Tigers the hardest if the season ends up being canceled. They would be based on the players’ service time based on their 2019 season.

So C.J. Cron, Jonathan Schoop, Ivan Nova, and Austin Romine would all be eligible for free agency without playing a game for the Tigers and Maybin would be denied a chance a third tour of duty with Detroit.

We all want baseball back. Whether it’s a shortened season or doubleheaders every day, whenever this season starts, we hope it starts soon. There at least is a plan in place and that’s a start. Until then, enjoy the reruns of classic games or a good book.