Advocates for MiLB ED blasts Manfred over wages comments

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred believes minor leaguers earn living wages. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Advocates for Minor Leaguers ED blasts Rob Manfred for living wage comments

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 7/19/22

Hours ahead of the MLB All-Star Game, commissioner Rob Manfred found himself in some hot water among proponents for increased benefits for minor league baseball players.

On Tuesday afternoon, when discussing the topic of minor league players' salaries, Manfred said, "I kind of reject the premise of the question that minor league players are not paid a living wage."

Not only did the commissioner's comments draw the ire of some people on social media, but the words drew a quick, fiery response from Advocates for Minor Leaguers Executive Director Harry Marino as well.

Harry Marino, who says MLB is nervous about losing its antitrust exemption, lashed out at Commissioner Rob Manfred pic.twitter.com/dOywsaChWw
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 19, 2022

Earlier this month, Marino sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee leadership, calling for MiLB players to get the same protections already given to MLB players. According to Advocates for Minor Leaguers, players in Triple-A currently make a minimum of $700 a week, Double-A players $600, Single-A players $500 and complex-league players $400.

There are also currently six teams that don't pay players who are in extended spring training camps, according to Marino's group.

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