MLB announces short-term plan to compensate minor leaguers

Major League Baseball has developed a plan to support minor-league players until the originally scheduled start of the MiLB season, according to a release from MLBPR on Thursday.

The minor-league campaign was initially set to get underway on April 9, but the coronavirus crisis has pushed Opening Day until at least mid-May.

"Each player who is under a Minor League Uniform Player Contract will receive a lump sum equal to the allowances that would have been paid through April 8," the leagues said in its release.

"The exceptions to this plan are non-40-man-roster players who are already receiving minor-league allowances; players who are currently receiving housing, food, or other services from clubs; and players who were not participating in, or expected to participate in, minor-league spring training."

MLB added that it's working with all 30 teams to develop an industry-wide plan for compensation from April 9 until the season begins.

Meanwhile, one unnamed MLB team has reportedly told its minor leaguers not to speak with the media without written permission, according to JJ Cooper of Baseball America.