Blake Snell slams MLB coronavirus plan of reduced pay: ‘Risking my life’
Take less money to play baseball in 2020? Blake Snell will see you in 2021.
The Rays’ Cy Young Award winner made little secret about how he feels regarding a potential 50-50 revenue split that MLB owners are expected to propose to the union in order to resume its season, saying it’s “just not worth it” to play on a reduced salary.
“Y’all gotta understand, man, for me to go, for me to take a pay cut is not happening, because the risk is through the roof, it’s a shorter season, less pay,” Snell said Wednesday night on his Twitch channel.
“I gotta get my money. I’m not playing unless I get mine, okay? And that’s just the way it is for me. Like, I’m sorry you guys think differently, but the risk is way the hell higher and the amount of money I’m making is way lower, why would I think about doing that? Like you know, I’m just, I’m sorry.”
Money is expected to be the major point of contention between MLB and the Players Association, beyond just the health concerns that come with restarting the season in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The two sides agreed in March on a deal that would pay the players a prorated salary, but with potential games having no fans, the owners are seeking further concessions.
The 27-year-old Snell, who was scheduled to earn $7 million in 2020, later told the Tampa Bay Times he knows his comments may be perceived as greedy, but insisted otherwise.
“I mean, honestly, it’s just scary to risk my life to get COVID-19 as well as not knowing and spreading it to others,” he texted the newspaper. “I just want everyone to be healthy and get back to our normal lives ’cause I know I miss mine!”
While Snell told the Times he would think about sitting out the season even if a deal was agreed on, the left-hander indicated on Twitch he is already “preparing for next season” in his head.
“If I’m gonna play I should be getting the money I signed to be getting paid,” Snell said. “I should not be getting half of what I’m getting paid because the season’s cut in half, on top of a 33% cut of the half that’s already there — so I’m really getting, like, 25% — on top of that, it’s getting taxed. So imagine how much I’m actually making to play, you know what I’m saying?
“Like, I ain’t making s–t. And on top of that — so, all that money’s gone, and now I play risking my life. And if I get the ‘rona — on top of that, if I get the ‘rona — guess what happens with that? Oh yeah, that stays, that’s in my body forever. That damage is not gonna be like — the damage that was done to my body? That’s gonna be there forever.”