Minor League Baseball – First Contract FAQs
What Every Player Should Know Before Signing
This FAQ is designed to help draft-eligible players, Minor Leaguers, and families understand how first professional baseball contracts work under the Minor League Baseball Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). It is intended as an educational overview of common questions and rules that apply to Minor League Uniform Player Contracts.
1. Who does the Minor League CBA apply to?
The Minor League CBA applies to players who:
Are employed by a Major League club, and
Are signed to a Minor League Uniform Player Contract (UPC)
It does not apply to players who:
Are on an MLB 40-man roster
Are on an MLB injured or inactive list
Are assigned to a Minor League team outside the U.S. or Canada
Have been inactive for two years or are voluntarily retired
2. What contract form will I sign?
You must sign the Minor League Uniform Player Contract (UPC). No other contract form is permitted under the CBA. This contract governs:
Your term of control
Salary
Assignments
Housing
Injury rights
Termination rights
3. How long is my first Minor League contract?
If this is your first-ever professional baseball contract:
7 seasons, unless
You are 19 years old on June 5 immediately before signing → 6 seasons
This term is fixed and not negotiable for first contracts.
4. Can anything be negotiated in my first contract?
No. For First-Year Contracts, the CBA does not allow:
Higher salary
Bonuses outside of the draft signing bonus structure
Release clauses
Special covenants
Housing upgrades
Everything is fixed by the CBA.
5. When do contracts become negotiable?
Once you have spent at least one day on any of the following:
Minor League Active List
Minor League Injured List
Minor League Development List
You become a Non-First-Year Player.
Important: This does not mean one day equals a full season — it only changes your contract classification.
6. What can be negotiated in a Non-First-Year contract?
Non-First-Year Players may be permitted to negotiate limited items, including:
Salary above the minimum (up to $8,400 per week)
Guaranteed money (signing bonus or termination pay up to $100,000 total)
Up to three release clauses
Up to three assignment-to-MLB-roster clauses
A contract term of up to two seasons
Certain MLB contract terms if added to the MLB roster (total cap: $4 million)
Rent-free housing or a private hotel room (counts toward salary cap)
Permission to negotiate with a foreign team
Interpreter services
Guaranteed invitation to Major League Spring Training with MLB-level housing and meals
7. How much will I be paid during the season?
First-Year Player Weekly Pay (2026 Rates):
Level Weekly Pay
Rookie $710
A $885
A+ $935
AA $1,040
AAA $1,250
Pay is prorated based on time on roster.
8. Do I get paid during Spring Training?
Yes.
Minimum of 4 weeks of Spring Training pay
2026 rate: $660 per week
If you are under contract for fewer than four weeks, pay is prorated.
9. Do I get paid in the off-season?
Yes — but it depends on your status.
Off-Season On-Site (club invitation):
$660 per week (2026)
Housing and meals provided
Off-Season Off-Site (remote or player-requested access):
$260 per week (2026)
No housing or meals
There is also a Dead Period (late November through January 1) when clubs may not require activity other than necessary rehab.
10. Do I get housing?
Yes, if you are:
In Spring Training
In the championship season
In the postseason
Invited to or required to report during the off-season
Housing is rent-free and must meet CBA standards.
11. Can I opt out of club housing?
Yes — at your own expense. If you would otherwise be required to share a bedroom, you may be entitled to a $50 per night lodging stipend if you notify the club by November 1.
12. What if I have a spouse or children?
If you notify the club by November 1, the club must either:
Provide appropriate private housing, or
Provide a housing stipend (minimum $50 per night)
Late notice makes accommodations discretionary.
13. Do I have to sign a lease?
No. Clubs cannot require players to sign leases for club-provided housing.
14. How does travel work?
Clubs must provide or reimburse:
Transportation to and from the ballpark (at lower levels)
Coach airfare, baggage fees, and ground transportation
Mileage reimbursement if driving
Hotel rooms when overnight travel is required
AAA travel over long distances may be by air.
15. Do I get meals and per diem?
Yes.
Two high-quality meals on game days
Nutritious clubhouse snacks
Per diem on the road (adjusted annually for inflation)
No clubhouse dues may be charged
16. Can I be moved while injured?
No. Clubs cannot assign or transfer a player to another affiliate while on the Injured List, except for approved rehab assignments.
17. Does Rookie ball count as a season?
No. Rookie and Complex League seasons do not count toward a season of service.
18. Can I use an agent?
Yes. Players may use an agent to:
Advise them
Negotiate Non-First-Year contracts
Explain rights under the CBA
19. Who approves my contract?
After the player and club sign:
The contract is sent to the Commissioner
Approval deadline is:
20 days, or
30 days if submitted between February 15 and April 15
The Commissioner must approve, disapprove, or explain any delay.
20. What’s the biggest mistake players make with their first contract?
Assuming:
“Standard” means harmless
One day on a roster equals a full season
Housing, pay, or off-season rules are informal
They are not. Everything is contractual.
Final Thought
Your first Minor League contract is not negotiable — but how you navigate it matters.
Understanding the rules early can protect your career, your health, and your leverage later.