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Giants pick a nice time to commit to paying their minor leaguers

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Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports


Less than two hours before the start of an MLB draft that will help infuse talent into their own system, the Giants committed to treating those already in that system fairly.

And in doing so, likely helped their chances of injecting even more ability into the minor league ranks.

Shortly before Wednesday’s virtual draft, the Giants announced they will continue paying their minor leaguers their $400-per-week stipends through Sept. 7, which would have been the end of their season. Previously, the team had only committed to keep the paychecks coming through the end of June.

In the macro, it’s a minuscule amount of money for a franchise that Forbes valued at $3.1 billion, yet it took about two weeks for the Giants to formally decide their prospects should not have to find side jobs in the middle of July. The A’s were the only team to determine their minor leaguers would cease to be paid, a decision they were shamed into reversing. The Nationals docked the pay from $400 to $300, which again they reversed after their major leaguers came together, pledging to bridge the $100 differences.

There was not much fear the Giants would follow a similar path, yet it was curious they were hesitant not just because of the morals but because of the tangible effect it could have on recruiting. Following the truncated draft, the Giants will be competing with every team around the league in trying to lure prospects who slipped out of the five rounds, armed just with $20,000 and recruiting pitches. The Giants can now show the undrafted that they are committed to supporting their minor leaguers.

Since the Major League Baseball season paused as the coronavirus moved in, these have been the difficult decisions facing franchises around the league. The Giants have now pledged to pay their minor leaguers, though they have cut a known 37 of those minor leaguers since the break. They have pledged that their full-time employees, both on the baseball and business side, will be paid through September, though about 60 part-timers, whose jobs are primarily linked with games that involve fans in stands, have been furloughed.