Union creates fund for non-roster players in big league camps

The agreement struck last week between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association ensured all players on 40-man rosters would be paid a partial salary even if there's no 2020 season. But what about longtime big league players who aren't currently on 40-man rosters?

That group was taken care of Friday when the union voted to establish an assistance fund for players with major league experience who were in spring training as non-roster invitees.

The fund will pay anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 to players who have spent at least one day in the big leagues and were in a team's big league camp on March 13, the day after MLB put spring training on hiatus. The amount of pay will be based on previous service time, with those who have less than one year in the majors receiving $5,000, escalating up to $50,000 for those who have at least six years in the majors.

Non-roster players had been facing an odd predicament. Last week's deal between MLB and the MLBPA guaranteed payments to players on the 40-man roster, with minor league players separately guaranteed $500 per week through the end of May.

Many non-roster invitees, though, are experienced major leaguers who have non-guaranteed contracts that will pay them $1 million or more if they make their clubs' opening day rosters. The union decided to make sure they have access to more than the $400-a-week payment, though this new fund is available only to those who request it, because some veteran non-roster players have banked millions of dollars during their careers.

The Nationals had seven non-roster players with major league experience in big league camp on March 13: relievers Fernando Abad, Sam Freeman, Javy Guerra and Kevin Quackenbush, plus catcher Welington Castillo and utility men Emilio Bonifácio and Brandon Snyder. (Snyder, for what it's worth, was re-assigned to minor league camp March 14, but it appears he would still be eligible to receive a payment from this fund.)