Far away from Major League Baseball’s mighty salaries and Hollywood glitz, Paré is among the thousands of minor leaguers who survive on baseball earnings below the federal poverty line. But the overwhelming majority of players in professional baseball’s extensive player development system never see a cut of that wealth. His experience is typical among players on pro baseball’s ground floor, highlighting that financial struggle is, as much as promo nights and floodlit nostalgia, a minor league tradition. One that might, according to a lawsuit filed against Major League Baseball two years ago, violate federal and state minimum wage laws. Unfortunately, not everyone, but there are a lot of people that depend on it anyway.”Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred indicated to reporters in July that additional regulation could ultimately lead to smaller minor league rosters or fewer teams.

Source: National Post August 26, 2016 17:26 UTC