SAN FRANCISCO — Major League Baseball and minor league players were granted approval to delay for four days the submission of their proposed settlement to a federal court.
Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero approved on Thursday a request by both sides to reset July 11th to July 15th as the deadline to file the settlement.
Two people familiar with the negotiations claimed that both sides had been talking about a possible settlement of $200 million when the sides announced their settlement on May 10. The people spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because they were not allowed to release details.
Aaron Senne, first baseman/outfielder and a 2010 10th-round pick by the Marlins, filed the suit in 2014. He retired in 2013 along with two other players who were lower-round selections, Michael Liberto from Kansas City and Oliver Odle from San Francisco. They claimed violations to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act as well state overtime and minimum wage requirements. Their work week was estimated at between 50 and 60 hours.
Spero stated in a March pre-trial ruling that minor leaguers were year-round employees who work during training. He also found MLB had violated Arizona’s minimum wage law. He was therefore liable for three times the damages. Spero also found that MLB failed to comply with California’s wage statement requirements and awarded $1,882,650 in damages.
He suggested that minor leaguers be paid for travel to California League games and practice in Arizona and Florida.
The players suing in 2017 were those with minor league contracts and who played in the California League at least seven consecutive days beginning on February 7, 2010, or February 7, 2011, depending upon state or federal claims. They also included those who participated spring training, extended-spring training instructional leagues (Arizona) starting Feb. 7, 2011.