Three-time MVP Mike Trout will reportedly lose close to $24 million for the shortened 2020 season. Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Nine MLB players could lose more than $20M for prorated season

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 6/17/20

The majority of baseball fans care little about billionaire owners or millionaire players losing money in any given year. They care even less during a worldwide pandemic that has left more than 45 million people without work and fearful of what the future holds.

Understanding these losses, however, helps one realize why MLB owners and the MLB Players Association still haven't put pen to paper on an agreement for a pandemic-shortened campaign.

The latest reported stage of negotiations has owners offering 60 regular-season games with fully prorated salaries as long as the players agree to an extended postseason that includes eight clubs from each league.

Action Network's Darren Rovell reports that nine players will forfeit more than $20 million in expected salary under this season format that could begin on July 19:

Based on a 60-schedule at full pro-rata salaries, nine players will lose at least $20 million in salary this year. pic.twitter.com/Y1Bv5oOkzG
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 17, 2020

Los Angeles Angels superstar and three-time MVP Mike Trout is set to lose $23.7 million from his standard salary. Pitchers Gerrit Cole ($22.7 million) and Max Scherzer ($22.6 million) are next on the list.

Fellow aces Justin Verlander ($20.8 million) and David Price ($20.2 million) fall below the $21-million mark for lost pay.

These numbers enforce the belief held by ESPN's Jeff Passan that the MLBPA will ask for more than 60 regular-season games at 100 percent prorated salaries even if fans can't attend contests due to the virus outbreak.

Over the weekend, the union rejected a 72-game plan that was financially equivalent to what the players would receive for 50 games under the terms of Wednesday's reported proposal.

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