Snell doubles down on pay-cut comments: 'Not fair to the players'
Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell reiterated Thursday's comments regarding proposed pay cuts for players in 2020.
Snell previously commented on the prospect of slashing his salary during a Twitch stream that went viral, saying he doesn't wish to split revenue with owners because he's "risking" his life to play baseball this year.
On Friday, the 2018 AL Cy Young winner insisted he's speaking up out of concern for the well-being of his fellow players.
"I want people to understand, what I'm saying is real," Snell said, according to Josh Tolentino of The Athletic. "I'm concerned just like everybody else about the virus, and I want to make sure me and my peers are taken care of. We want to play under circumstances that we agreed upon as a group. I will play if I get 50% and we play 50% of the season. But to accept making less than that and with more risks for our health, it's not fair to the players.
"I have love for all the essential workers. I have friends and family who are in health care, working essential jobs. Everybody needs to understand this is us wanting fair treatment during a crazy time with the pandemic going on."
Major League Baseball sent its proposal to the players for an abbreviated 2020 season this week, but the MLBPA balked at the idea of splitting revenues 50-50. Union head Tony Clark said the idea of revenue sharing amounted to instituting a salary cap. In March, the two sides had agreed to prorating player salaries during a shortened season.
The league maintains its franchises will suffer major economic losses by playing in empty stadiums during the pandemic. Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday that teams could lose as much as $4 billion in 2020.
Since Snell's comments went viral, other star players, including former National League MVP Bryce Harper and Rockies All-Star Nolan Arenado, have gone public with similar sentiments. The left-hander told Tolentino that he's received an outpouring of support from fellow players, including several who texted him in thanks for "speaking up."
"A lot of us won't come out and say it, but yeah - Blake is right," an unidentified Rays player told Tolentino. "Good for him."