Call of Duty League Introduces New $55,000 Minimum Salary And Three-Year Contracts

With the Call of Duty League rostermania season beginning to rev its engine, and the 'team option' resigning period nearly over, the developers have now introduced a wealth of new rules for player contracts, including a minimum salary for starting players and an extension of contract length.

It's been widely discussed that the CDL players need more security in their jobs, even sparking debate as to whether there needs to be a players' union to prevent players from being held hostage by their parent organisations and low-balled into last-grasp contracts.

While a union never formed, the CDL has clearly been listening to their player base, and heading into the 2023 Modern Warfare 2 campaign, they will be rolling out a range of protection benefits for teams to enforce.

CDL To Introduce Minimum Salaries of $55,225 

As of August 22, the 2023 season kicks off. While players will be waiting a few months to feature in a revamped CDL format, the contract negotiations can officially take place. Those players who have not signed 'plus one' (an additional year under their current organisation, only applicable to those heading into their second and final year under the previous rules) contracts will become free agents. 

All contracts must now meet the league's minimum salary of $55,225 USD, including health care and retirement benefits. Teams are now also required to distribute a minimum of 50% of any prize money to players too, and while that may have been the standard practice before, it's now a legal requirement.

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Obviously, teams can opt to increase these salaries. Players like Seth "Scump" Abner will be on much higher figures. However, for newer players into the league and lesser-established names, the minimal requirements will prevent them from being taken advantage of.

Any terminations of contracts now also have a 60-day payment buffer, where teams will need to buy out the next 60 days of the player's contract and cough up any outstanding bonuses or prize money. 

CDL Revamp Contract System To Include 3-Year Signing Options

With rostermania set to kick off officially in the coming weeks, a brand-new three-year contract has been rolled out, which will serve as a huge bargaining tool for players looking to be a leader and focal point of a team. 

Having previously been maxed to two years, teams may now look to secure players for long-term projects through a three-year deal. Free agents such as Dillon "Attach" Price might be the first to reap these rewards, with the All-Star second team player likely to be attracting most organisations' focus heading into Modern Warfare 2.

The new contract requirements have quickly gone down well in the community, with figures applauding the league's input to protect their players.