How does the MLB proposal impact Cuban players? We take a closer look.
Based on the MLB proposal, some prominent players of Cuban birth or Cuban descent would have taken a big cut in the 2019-2020 season. Note that the proposal was vehemently rejected by the union and the players across the board.
In a prorated 82 games season that is supposed to commence July 4th as per Jeff Passan, this is the first step in a negotiation that will more than likely get done sometime in the near future, opening the way for the season.
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The proposal is the hands of the union and the owners are awaiting a counteroffer to get the ball rolling and meet the July 4th deadline for a season. Based on the table a player could get paid as little as 20% of their salary for the season, based on where they fall on the table and this doesn’t include federal income taxes that could be as much as 37% of their earnings.
The MLB proposal rejected by players to include pay cuts as stated by the table.
• $563,500 (league minimum) 90%
• $563,501 – $1,000,000 72.5%
• $1,000,001 – $5,000,000 50%
• $5,000,001 – $ 10,000,000 40%
• $10,000,001 – $20,000,000 30%
• More than 20,000,001 20%
This table sets the stage for a great debate in the upcoming week that is set against a ticking clock for a season that is fast approaching. A sticking point for the salaries could be the federal income tax that would severely cripple a player’s earnings for this abbreviated season. Expect the union to return with a more player-friendly proposal in the coming days.
For example, Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies would only be paid 20% of his salary based on this table, which is a significant pay cut for the star third baseman.
Most affected by this would be players such as José Abreu who is in the first year of his big three-year $50M extension signed this off-season or players who are in the last year of their deals and want to showcase themselves for a juicy extension in this shortened campaign.
Based on my calculations here is what some Cuban or Cuban-American players will make based on the MLB proposal over the 82 game season not including taxes:
Nolan Arenado: $7.84 mil
J. D. Martínez: $ 5.75 mil
Eric Hosmer: $ 5.40 mil
Yasmani Grandal: $ 4.93 mil
Aroldis Chapman: $ 4.64 mil
Yasmani Tomas: $ 4.59 mil
Nick Castellanos: $ 4.32 mil
Rusney Castillo: $ 4.21 mil
José Abreu: $ 3.74 mil
Nolan Arenado: $7.84 mil
J. D. Martínez: $ 5.75 mil
Eric Hosmer: $ 5.40 mil
Yasmani Grandal: $ 4.93 mil
Aroldis Chapman: $ 4.64 mil
Yasmani Tomas: $ 4.59 mil
Nick Castellanos: $ 4.32 mil
Rusney Castillo: $ 4.21 mil
José Abreu: $ 3.74 mil
Raicel Iglesias: $ 2.95 mil
Yuli Gurriel: $ 2.85 mil
Jorge Soler: $ 2.39 mil
Yaisel Sierra: $ 2.13 mil
Luis Robert: $1.66 mil
Carlos Rodon: $1.64 mil
Alex Ávila: $1.56 mil
Lance McCullers Jr. $1.51 mil