Nats commit to pay full-time employees through at least May 31

The Nationals informed full-time employees they will continue to receive full pay and benefits through at least the end of May, a source familiar with the decision confirmed.

Following the lead of nearly every other major league organization in recent days, Nationals ownership sent an email out to all full-time employees Thursday with news they will continue to be paid through May 31. The club previously had committed to paying full salaries through the end of April.

A decision on payments beyond May will come at a later date, but it appears most Major League Baseball clubs at this point are proceeding on a month-to-month basis while waiting to see when (or if) the 2020 season will begin.

The Athletic first reported Thursday's news.

Full-time employees include those who work in the front office, members of the major league coaching, medical and support staff, minor league managers and coaches, scouts and others in baseball operations. Thursday's announcement does not impact stadium workers, who last month were collectively paid $1 million by each MLB organization.

Though no MLB franchises are known yet to have laid off, furloughed or ended payments to full-time staffers, they do have the legal right to do so after Rob Manfred this week suspended the league's Uniform Employee Contracts, something the commissioner is permitted to do during a formal national emergency like the current coronavirus pandemic.

A few teams, as well as the league's office, reportedly intend to ask top-paid employees to temporarily reduce their salaries to help ensure lower-paid colleagues continue to receive theirs.

The MLB Players Association agreed last month to a deal with the sport that guarantees them only 4 percent of their total salaries if the entire 2020 season is canceled, with the vast majority of that money going to lesser-experienced players who have lower salaries. In exchange for that concession, the players will be granted a full year of big league service time even if there are no games this year. If a portion of the season is played, players will be paid a prorated portion of their previously negotiated salaries.