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Zimmerman: MLB, MLBPA need to 'get things done' on player salaries

Alex Trautwig / Major League Baseball / Getty

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With Major League Baseball and the MLBPA continuing to work on a plan to start the 2020 season, one of the biggest wrinkles that will need to be ironed out is how players will be compensated financially and if teams will seek to pay them less if fans aren't allowed to attend once games get underway.

"I would need to be fully informed about revenue and things like that before I would decide if I think it's fair for us to do that," Washington Nationals veteran Ryan Zimmerman said, according to Ronald Blum of The Associated Press. "I know the owners make a lot of money. ... We're in such a unique situation. People want to play. People want to get back on the field."

Owners advanced players $170 million for April and May, which will be counted against their salaries should baseball resume. If the season is canceled, the players will forego any additional salary for the 2020 campaign, though they would still gain the same amount of service time accrued in 2019.

According to the AP, 65 players were poised to earn at least $100,000 per game in a standard 162-game season. Four players - Mike Trout, Gerrit Cole, Nolan Arenado, and Justin Verlander - were set to receive north of $200,000 for each game played.

Zimmerman, 35, added that it's imperative that the league, owners, and players' union get on the same page.

"If there ever was a time where two sides that have obviously argued in the past could get along and get things done, now would be the time," he said.

Opening Day was originally scheduled for March 26 but has been delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. The league hopes to have a concrete plan to resume the season by the end of May.

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