MLB players will take time to respond to money-slashing plan

Baseball players will take at least a few days and possibly until next week to respond to Major League Baseball’s proposed sliding scale of salary slashing for a pandemic-delayed season in ballparks without fans.

Stars Mike Trout and Gerrit Cole would lose most under proposal teams made Tuesday, about 77% of $36 million each y were set to be paid this season.

A big leaguer earning $1 million or less would keep at least 43% of his salary under six-tier scale. About 460 of approximately 900 players on rosters and injured lists when spring training was stopped in mid-March due to new coronavirus make $1 million or less.

Trout and Cole would be cut to about $8 million each. Colorado’s lan Arenado would drop from $35 million to $7.84 million.

“Interesting strategy of making best most marketable players potentially look like bad guys,” Milwaukee pitcher Brett Anderson tweeted.

players’ association called proposal “extremely disappointing.” union has argued players already accepted a cut to prorated shares of ir salaries in a March 26 agreement and should t have to bargain again.

MLB would like to start season around Fourth of July in empty ballparks and proposed an 82-game regular season schedule. It claims teams would lose billions of dollars by playing with ticket money and gate-related revenue.

“This season is t looking promising,” New York Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman tweeted. “Keeping mind and body ready regardless.”

Union head Tony Clark has t commented publicly on MLB’s proposal and has said very little publicly since late March. nt Scott Boras has repeatedly criticized MLB for proposing more salary reductions and has questioned accuracy of manment’s financial claims.

“Hearing a LOT of rumors about a certain player nt meddling in MLBPA affairs,” Cincinnati pitcher Trevor Bauer tweeted Wednesday. “If true -- and at this point, se are only rumors -- I have one thing to say... Scott Boras, rep your clients however you want to, but keep your damn personal nda out of union business.”

Boras did t respond to a request for comment on Bauer’s remarks.

“Working toger to man public health issue has brought great solidarity among players,” Boras said earlier in day. “y are a strong united front and resolute in ir support of MLBPA.”

Players are expected to propose more games, which would yield a higher percent of ir original salaries. MLB says that without fans each additional game would result in a $640,000 loss.

Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio told Greater Milwaukee Committee on Tuesday “ be-careful-what-you-wish for part is hours every day.”

“It’s got to come toger very quickly or we won’t be able to, we will just run out of time," he said. “To pay players at a full contract rate, pretty much 90% of that would go to pay m and wouldn’t cover any or costs.”

Details of plan have been disclosed to Associated Press by several people familiar with proposal. y spoke on condition of anymity because details have t been anunced.

MLB’s proposal says that within 48 hours of ratification of an agreement for player compensation terms and for health and safety protocols, commissioner’s office would anunce a proposed timeline for resumption of season.

resumption would include a training period of at least 21 days, and each team would be allowed a maximum of three exhibition games, all in final seven days of training period.

Opening day would be in early July, and final scheduled regular-season game would be later than Sept. 27 — same as in original 2020 schedule.

Issues such as roster size, trade deadlines, series length and treatment of luxury tax would be delegated to a subcommittee.