PHILADELPHIA _ The Phillies do not know when or if their season will begin due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the organization committed Friday night to paying their full-time employees through at least the end of May.
John Middleton, the team's managing partner, emailed team employees Friday to inform them that the ownership group has agreed to not reduce salaries or benefits through May of 2020. The team, along with all 30 major league franchises, had previously said there would be no changes to pay through April.
"We are all part of the Phillies family, and together we will get through this," Middleton wrote.
The team's decision, which was first reported by NBC Sports Philadelphia, makes the Phillies the second major league club to guarantee pay through May. The Atlanta Braves made the same commitment last week. The Phillies also committed $1 million to part-time employees, many of whom received stipends on Friday.
The coronavirus has limited the team's ability to generate revenue and it remains uncertain if the Phillies will play this season in front of fans, presenting an obvious challenge to the team's revenue. The league has discussed plans in the last month to play the season in Florida and Arizona. But for now, those are just ideas. Major League Baseball generated roughly 40% of last season's revenue at their gates. Even a season in empty ballparks would present a financial challenge.
"There may very well come a time when certain adjustments have to be made. However, that time is not now," Middleton wrote. " ... The status of this insidious virus changes daily, as you all know, and it is impossible to project too far into the future. If and when the day comes that salary adjustments are necessary, I assure you that we will make such adjustments The Phillies Way. We will treat everyone _ whether on the baseball or business side _ as fairly as we can."
