MLB players on the Injured List (IL) receive up to 70% of their remaining salary while sidelined, as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
This helps protect their income during extended injury layoffs.
Also worth reading: How do AI tax loss harvesting strategies work in 2026 and what are the best tools available? · What are the state EITC income limits and eligibility charts for 2026? · How is AI impacting gig economy workers in 2026 and what are the financial implications?
Players with guaranteed contracts continue to receive their full salaries even if they are on the IL, unlike those with non-guaranteed deals who may have their pay suspended.
The different IL designations (10-day, 15-day, 60-day) do not affect the player's salary - they only impact roster management for the team.
Teams can backdate an IL placement up to 3 days, meaning a player's salary is covered from the actual date of injury, not just when they were officially placed on the list.
Injured players typically cannot travel with the team, but they do continue to accrue service time towards free agency and other contractual milestones while on the IL.
MLB's Injured List rules are more flexible than the Disabled List policies of the past, allowing teams to more easily manage short-term injuries without losing a roster spot.
Salary information for injured players is included in a team's payroll for luxury tax calculation purposes, even if the player is not actively playing.
There are no limits on the number of times a player can be placed on the IL in a season, as long as the injuries are legitimate.
Rehabilitation assignments in the minor leagues allow injured players to begin earning their full MLB salary again before returning to the active roster.
Certain high-profile, multi-year contracts may include additional injury protection clauses beyond the standard CBA provisions.
The percentage of salary paid to IL players can be reduced if the injury is found to be pre-existing or aggravated by the player's own misconduct.
Teams must continue to pay a released player's salary if the injury occurred while they were under contract, unless a settlement is reached.
Injured reserve lists in other sports like the NFL do not provide the same guaranteed salary protection as the MLB's Injured List.
The IL designation allows teams to replace injured players on their active rosters, helping them remain competitive during a player's recovery period.
Both the players' union and team owners have negotiated the IL rules to balance the interests of the athletes and the organizations.