Blake Snell reiterates pay cut comments: Players want 'fair treatment'

Fair treatment for the players. That's what Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell is advocating for amid the coronavirus pandemic despite the controversial comments he made Thursday on his Twitch channel regarding pay cuts across Major League Baseball. 

The 2018 Cy Young winner doesn't want to take a pay cut to play baseball amid the pandemic, and he doubled down on his initial comments while also clarifying his stance on the situation, according to Josh Tolentino of The Athletic:

"I want people to understand, what I'm saying is real. 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 percent and we play 50 percent 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." 

Snell isn't the only player who won't play for less than 50 percent of their salary. Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper and Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado agreed with Snell's comments...and they probably aren't the only ones who share that mindset.  

MLB sent a proposal to the players' union this week regarding an abbreviated 2020 season that would begin in July, but many players, including Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle, are concerned about their health and the unknown long-term effects of the coronavirus.  

On top of proposing a 50-50 revenue split, MLB presented a few other major points with the players' union, including an 82-game regional schedule, implementing a universal designated hitter, 30-man active rosters with 20-man taxi squads and an expanded postseason. A deal between both sides has yet to be reached, and it seems that a little more deliberating will need to be done before the players' union is comfortable with a return to baseball.