Media by Associated Press – San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. looks out of the dugout during the fifth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Minor league baseball players scored a victory that wasn’t as big as they would have liked over Major League Baseball. A years-long battle over player pay was ended Friday when MLB agreed to pay out $185 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing MLB of violating minimum wage and overtime violations.
The settlement, which was agreed upon in May, was just filed Friday. The league has also agreed to rescind all prohibitions against MLB teams paying their minor leagues for labor outside of the season. Around 20,000 minor league players are expected to receive a check.
Out of the $185 million settlement, $120 million will go to the players. Each player is expected to receive around $6,000.
More squabbling over money
With the deadline for an international draft looming, the MLB and MLBPA are still $80 million apart. The league presented the union with a proposal for $181 million in guaranteed spending for the top 600 international players in a draft that would take place in 2024.
The MLB would also like the draft to have designated slot values for those players, while the union would like teams to have the flexibility to go over those numbers.
The two sides have a deadline of July 25 to complete the deal.
Padres get some good news
Fernando Tatis Jr. was cleared to start swinging the bat this week. Friday, Tatis was able to do some light work off the tee.
It’s a big step in the progress of Tatis, who hasn’t played in 2022 due to a fractured left wrist. Tatis smashed 42 home runs with 97 RBIs and hit .282 last season.
The Padres could use a boost to their lineup following the All-Star break. San Diego is 9.5 games behind the Los Angels Dodgers for first place but are in a position to grab a Wild Card in the National League.
Cano still kicking around
The Atlanta Braves acquired Robinson Cano from the Padres for cash considerations, and he’s shown some signs of life during his first week with the team. Cano, who is 39 and was a member of the New York Yankees’ 2009 World Series team, went 2-of-3 in his debut with the Braves on July 11. This has been a tough season for Cano, who is hoping to keep his career alive.
Before coming to Atlanta, Canon spent over a month out of the big leagues due to poor performance. Before playing for the Braves this week, he had last played in a big league game on June 1. The Braves are Canos’ third team this season as he also spent time with the Padres and New York Mets.
Reinforcements on the way
The first-place Mets may be adding more depth to their pitching staff soon. Jacob deGrom made another rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on July 14 and had a good outing.
De Grom pitched four innings and only allowed two hits and one run. He struck out four on only 42 pitches.
The two-time former National League Cy Young winner has yet to pitch this season after suffering an injury in 2021. Over his career, de Grom is 77-53 and has a 2.50 ERA.
Over the past few seasons, the pandemic and injuries have limited his workload. After making 30 or more starts from 2017 to 2019, he has only made 27 starts total since the start of the 2020 season.
Keep up with your latest MLB news coverage and betting pick previews at NJ Sportsbook.