Baseball is trying to set up an 82 game schedule, but certain prima donnas won't agree to taking a pay cut. Certain pitcher has been very outspoken about expecting his full contract amount, even though he would only be playing a half season, which for a pitcher is about 32 starts in a five man rotation. $7,000,000 over 32 games, or nothing for zero games. I think if I was the owner of that team I'd tell him fine, zero it is.
Jerry
Where a lot of pro sports is concerned when ownership/labor issues are the topic and it's the proverbial "millionaires versus billionaires" debate I tend to zone out and think a pox on both their houses. I saw this story though and, surprisingly even to me, I think the pitcher has a leg to stand on.
Baseball, as part of its collective agreement that was done by the strongest union in sports, already agreed to a pro-rated salary change relative to number of games played. Ownership made the suggestion and the union agreed. Now ownership is asking for another lowering of payroll based on other revenue changes; in a sport where salary as a percentage of overall revenue has never been accepted by the union and ownership has gone along with that.
Now this particular pitcher. A young guy (compared to us they all are). Making $7m per year this upcoming season. Made $1m last year if what I read is correct. Cy Young Award winner recently and only been pitching since 2016.
He plays in Florida so presumably no state income tax. But after Federal taxes, agent's fees, etc, optimistically estimate he's keeping 50%. So he's making $3.5m this upcoming season and had maybe $500,000 last year. He's still on an early contract. So while current salaries are nothing to sneeze his really big paydays are ahead of him. The contracts that will set him and family and kids and college etc are the ones in front of him (if he's smart).
So his Union has already agreed that he gets prorated pay this year. 82 game schedule cuts the $3.5m in half to $1.75m. If he can afford not to work this season he has to measure that against his view of the health threat that is the team environment during the current climate. I'm not sure I'd wager the future contract of a Cy Young award winner in baseball against a health and welfare threatened half season's salary right now.