Minor leaguers, MLB reach deal in minimum wage suit
NEW YORK » Minor league players and Major League Baseball have reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging teams violated minimum wage laws.
Terms of the settlement were not filed with the court Tuesday and details were not released. Two people familiar with the negotiations, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the release of details was not authorized, said the sides in recent weeks had been discussing a possible settlement in the $200 million range.
“We are pleased to report that the parties have reached a settlement in principle in this over eight-year-old case, subject to court approval,” lawyers for the players said in a statement. “We look forward to filing preliminary approval papers with the court and cannot comment further until then.”
The two sides asked the court for permission to file by July 11 for approval of the settlement.
The suit was filed in 2014 by first baseman/ outfielder Aaron Senne, a 10th-round pick of the Marlins in 2009 who retired in 2013, and two other retired players who had been lowerround selections: Kansas City infielder Michael Liberto and San Francisco pitcher Oliver Odle. They claimed violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and state minimum wage and overtime requirements for a work week they estimated at 50 to 60 hours.
A trial had been scheduled to start June 1 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.
Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero wrote in a pretrial ruling that minor leaguers are year-round employees who work during training time and found MLB violated Arizona’s state minimum wage law and was liable for triple damages. Spero also ruled MLB did not comply with California wage statement requirements, awarding $1,882,650 in penalties.
He said minor leaguers should be paid for travel time to road game s in the California League and to practice in Arizona and Florida.
Twins’ Correa put on injured list
MINNEAPOLIS » The Minnesota Twins placed shortstop Carlos Correa on the 10-day injured list with a bruised right middle finger that wasn’t healing fast enough for him to face his former team.
The move, retroactive to last Friday, was made before the Twins began a three-game series against the Houston Astros, for whom Correa played over the past seven seasons. Correa will be eligible for reinstatement to the active roster next Monday, meaning he must sit out at least six more games.
After signing a three-year, $105.3 million contract that includes opt-out clauses after this season and next, Correa is batting .255 with five doubles, two homers, 12 runs, 11 RBIs and eight walks in 24 games for the Twins.
deGrom moves to 60-day IL
WASHINGTON » Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom was moved to the 60day injured list by the Mets in a procedural move that does not necessarily indicate any news about his progress in returning from a stress reaction on his right shoulder blade.
By shifting the right-hander from the 10day IL, the NL East-leading Mets made room on their 40-man roster for lefty Locke St. John, who was waived by the Cubs.
Speaking to reporters, New York manager Buck Showalter wouldn’t offer any specifics about where things stand with deGrom. He went on the injured list on opening day, April 7, after getting hurt late in spring training.
Padres manager Melvin to have prostate surgery
SAN DIEGO » San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin says he’ll have prostate surgery Wednesday and hopes he misses only part of a forthcoming road trip.
Melvin said he doesn’t think he has cancer, “but they won’t know until they get in there.” He was in street clothes during his pregame session with the media on Tuesday.
Melvin, who was hired away from Oakland on Nov. 1, said he’s been feeling various symptoms since the team returned from a road trip last Wednesday night.