Angels News: Team to continue paying minor league players in July

The Los Angeles Angels are expected to continue paying minor league baseball players through the month of July, despite the MiLB season being canceled.

While the minor league baseball season was officially canceled on Tuesday, there is at least a silver lining for the players in the Los Angeles Angels’ system. The team is expected to continue paying the $400 stipend to players past the June cutoff.

According to Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times, the Angels have opted to continue the stipend through at least the end of July. The team had previously extended the deal through June after its original expiration at the end of May.

In continuing to pay minor league players, the Angels are joining the Braves, Cubs, Indians, Pirates, Rangers, Rays, Rockies, White Sox, and Yankees in paying the stipend through July 31st. 19 other teams have committed to paying their minor leaguers through August 31st and beyond, with the Detroit Tigers committing to go an indefinite period as needed. Only the Arizona Diamondbacks have yet to confirm their intentions for the stipend.

Unlike their MLB counterparts or players on the 40-man roster, minor league players are not on guaranteed contracts. Their pay is commensurate with playing games, and clubs can suspend their contracts as needed in lieu of live games. However, players that were included as part of the 60-man player pool will receive a payment of $108.50 per day in addition to their minor league salaries, per MLB.

The Angels have been an interesting club to watch during these times. While the club has moved forward with its plans to purchase and develop the property around Angels Stadium, the Halos have also been at the forefront of cost-cutting measures. Those measures include furloughs in the front office and minor league staffs, as well as making numerous cuts on the MiLB roster side of things prior to the MLB Draft. As such, it came as no surprise that the team was one of the last to announce its intentions in regard to minor league pay past June.

"Angels: Five prospects to watch on 60-man player pool"

In the meantime, the Angels appear prepared to go month-to-month on this topic, likely based on whether the MLB season goes on as expected and if income doesn’t take a further hit.