Minor leaguers are not paid until the regular season starts. This is one major contention in those compensation lawsuits you surely have heard about.
On the minor league reporting date, it is not later. MLB camp is earlier, creating a greater schedule mismatch. That is why STEP Camp was axed. That is the only real difference this year.
For at least the last five years, they have had 16 days of minor league spring games. Reporting dates have been consistent.
Not sure what you are probing for here…