Marlins’ defense against potential player payroll grievance. And MLB nixes Marlins’ idea
The Marlins might not get many fans at their games, but they’re being closely watched nonetheless.
In this case, among those doing the observing are both Major League Baseball, which scuttled the team’s unusual idea of hiring pedestrians for a practice squad, and the players union, which is reportedly displeased with the team’s lack of spending.
The Marlins announced last week that they would be hiring former college and professional players to be available to work with — and play against — players on their Single A Jupiter team for 10 to 15 home games per month from April 1 to Sept 15. The Marlins were willing to pay $150 per person, or $30 an hour, for the noon-to-5 p.m. job.
A source confirmed, as The Athletic reported, that MLB contacted the Marlins and said they were not comfortable with the Marlins moving ahead with that plan because it could violate MLB policies involving wages and roster rules.
Under the current labor agreement, players must earn a minimum of $26,200 in Low A ball and at least $19,800 in rookie-ball leagues.
A practice squad player for the Marlins would have earned as much as $12,000 per year — well below the minimum player contract.
The Marlins’ ad, posted last week on social media, said: “This is a unique opportunity to gain exposure to professional players and coaches, enhance your understanding of high-level training tactics and receive performance data on your practice sessions when applicable.”
MLB wasn’t comfortable with any of that, and the Marlins took the ad down before the players union called MLB to express concern.
The players union also has been watching the Marlins’ spending for years, filing two grievances against the Marlins that remain unresolved from 2017 and 2018. The union could file another if the team doesn’t substantially increase its payroll, from its current $70 million, in the months ahead. No grievance can be filed until after the season.
According to the labor agreement, a team would not be automatically punished, but would be at risk, of losing a grievance filed by the player’s union if its luxury-tax payroll is not 1 1/2 times the amount it receives from local revenue sharing. The Marlins are expected to receive at least $70 million in revenue sharing this season, according to the Athletic.
The Marlins’ luxury tax payroll, calculated differently from its actual payroll, is about $85 million, or about $20 million less than what is needed to satisfy the criteria that must be met to avoid being at greater risk of losing a grievance.
According to a non-Marlins source briefed on the situation, the Marlins do not intend to start spending millions to increase their payroll. They do not believe they are at serious risk of losing a grievance in part because of the wording of the labor agreement.
The labor agreement requires teams to use revenue-sharing dollars “in an effort to improve performance on the field.”
The Marlins believe they have done that, even with a low player payroll, and would be prepared to use that defense if a grievance is filed.
As The Athletic noted, “a club in violation does not automatically receive punishment, but puts itself at greater risk of penalty in a grievance. When a team’s payroll falls below 150 percent of its revenue-sharing take, the burden of proof shifts from the union to the team.”
The Marlins declined to comment on a potential grievance or their defense if one is filed.
Pressed last month about the team’s spending, owner Bruce Sherman said:
“Everybody wants you to sign every free agent that’s available. We understand that, and we have signed free agents. We’ve signed — not the big name free agents, but we’ve signed many free agents. We have done more trades than almost any club in baseball. We have an incredible crew of young talent that’s going to emerge for multiple years.
“We made a significant investment, not only in the front office staff in technology, but we’ve also done a tremendous amount to improve the ability of the players to perform. We’re putting a tremendous amount of resources in loanDepot. You haven’t seen any of this, but we’re going to have the second-biggest weight training facility in all of baseball for our players. Our training doesn’t stop at the major league level. We’ve added levels into the organization that we’ve never had before.”
This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM.
