Bill exempts minors from minimum wage
Associated Press
Minor league baseball players who make as little as $5,500 a season would be stripped of the protection of federal minimum wage laws under a provision in government spending legislation expected to be approved by Congress this week.
The “Save America’s Pastime Act” is included on page 1,967 of the $1.3 trillion spending bill and appears to pre-empt a lawsuit filed four years ago in U.S. District Court in San Francisco by three players alleging Major League Baseball and its teams violate the Fair Labor Standards Act and state minimum wage and overtime requirements for a work week they estimated at 50-to-60 hours.
The provision in the legislation would exempt “any employee employed to play baseball who is compensated pursuant to a contract that provides for a weekly salary for services performed during the league’s championship season (but not spring training or the offseason) at a rate that is not less than a weekly salary equal to the minimum wage ... for a workweek of 40 hours, irrespective of the number of hours the employee devotes to baseball related activities.”
The House approved the spending bill Thursday and the legislation appears likely to be approved by the Senate and signed by President Donald Trump.
“Instead of going through the regular committee process where it has a hearing, all of this was done in secret and a in a very rushed manner,” Garrett Broshuis, the lawyer for the players, said Thursday. “It’s emblematic of how things are getting done in Washington these days, where the people with a lot of money are able to flex their political muscle and make a lot of contributions and get things done in secret that benefit only them.”
The language in the spending bill is nearly identical to a stand-alone bill introduced in 2016 by Republican Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois. At the time, the pair said the exemption from minimum wage laws was necessary because without it, minor leagues would have to make cuts that could imperil teams and hurt the economy in cities where they play.
Only major league players are unionized.
While early selections in the annual draft of players residing in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and top amateurs from the rest of the world can command signing bonuses as high as about $8 million under the current rules, monthly salaries for most players on minor league rosters are low: $1,100 at rookie ball and Class A, $1,500 at Double-A and $2,150 at Triple-A. Players also receive a $25 per diem on the road and dinner at the ballpark following games.
Tigers 6, Phillies 2: Eight days before opening day, Jake Arrieta made his first appearance for the Philadelphia Phillies.
“I had a ton of nervous energy,” Arrieta said Thursday after allowing two runs that included Miguel Cabrera’s solo homer.
Arrieta struck out two and walked none, throwing 31 pitches over two innings. He gave up three hits.
Arrieta and the Phillies finalized a $75 million, threeyear contract on March 12, a deal that could be worth up to $135 million over five seasons.
Three pitchers were ejected along with Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler and bench coach Rob Thomson as three batters were hit by pitches during the game. Detroit starter Matthew Boyd and Philadelphia relievers Parker Frazier and Pedro Beato also were tossed by plate umpire Tom Hallion.
Mets: Righty Rafael Montero is likely to undergo Tommy John surgery after suffering a complete tear of the unlar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, the Mets announced. Montero, who is out of options and has struggled this spring, had been fighting for a roster spot, but the Mets were also considering parting ways with him.
Wednesday’s Games Thursday’s Games
Lightning at Islanders: Late Rangers at Flyers: Late Coyotes at Hurricanes: Late Panthers at Blue Jackets: Late Capitals at Pistons: Late
Oilers at Senators: Late
Maple Leafs at Predators: Late Canucks at Blackhawks: Late Kings at Avalanche: Late Golden Knights at Sharks: Late
NHL notes
Bruins: Injuries continue to plague the club. The Bruins were without seven key players, including center Patrice Bergeron and defenseman Charlie McAvoy, when they lost 2-1 to the Blues in overtime on Wednesday night.
Red Wings: Defenseman Mike Green will have seasonending surgery on his cervical spine on April 5 in New York. He has eight goals and 25 assists in 65 games this season.
Golden Knights:
Blackhawks: Forward Patrick Kane says he isn’t sure yet whether he would play for Team USA in the upcoming World Championship May 4-20 in Denmark. The Blackhawks are already eliminated from NHL playoff contention.
Ducks: Goalie John Gibson is peaking for the playoffs. When the Ducks beat the Flames 4-0 on Wednesday night, he earned his fourth shutout of the season, stopping 29 shots. He is 12-3-1 in his last 16 starts.