Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Blake Snell ruffled some feathers earlier this week when he said during a Twitch stream that returning to play for anything less than his full salary would not be worth it given the risk of COVID-19. But not everyone was upset.
Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper said during a Twitch stream of his own that he agrees with Snell’s thought process.
“What did Snell say earlier on his stream, do you know?” Harper asked a friend on his stream.
When a paraphrased version of Snell’s comments was relayed, Harper had this to say:
“He ain’t lying, he’s right. He’s speaking the truth bro. I ain’t mad at him. Somebody’s got to say it, at least he manned up and said it. Good for him. I love Snell, the guy’s a beast. One of the best lefties in the game.”
Snell’s comments came after multiple reports circulated earlier this week that MLB was planning to propose a revenue sharing salary structure for this season if play were to return, which would likely pay players less than a previous agreement in March guaranteeing players their full salary relative to games played. With much talk surrounding the possibility of a season somewhere in the 80-game range, the arrangement in place would pay players approximately half of their guaranteed salary.
“Y’all got to understand, man, for me to go — for me to take a pay cut is not happening, because the risk is through the roof. No, I’ve got to get my money. I’m not playing unless I get mine, okay? And that’s just the way it is for me. Like, I’m sorry you guys think differently, but the risk is way the hell higher and the amount of money I’m making is way lower. Why would I think about doing that?” Snell said.
“If I’m going to play, I should be at the money I signed to be getting paid. I should not be getting half of what I’m getting paid because the season’s cut in half, all on top of a 33 per cent cut of the half that’s already there, so I’m really getting like 25 per cent. On top of that, it’s getting taxed. So imagine how much I’m actually making to play, you know what I’m saying? Like, I ain’t making [expletive]. And on top of that, so all of that money’s gone and now I play risking my life.”
Snell is entering the second season of a five-year, $50 million deal that would have seen him make $7 million in 2020. If the players union and MLB stick to the prorated salary arrangement, Snell would make somewhere in the neighbourhood of $3.5 million if half a regular season is played.
MLBPA head Tony Clark has been quick to shoot down the possibility of the players accepting a revenue sharing agreement. Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday night on CNN that he is confident the league and the players will work out a deal for the framework of a possible 2020 season to proceed.
Opening Day was originally scheduled for March 26 before the coronavirus pandemic pushed back the season indefinitely.
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday that defenceman Alex Edler will sign a one-day contract in order to officially retire as a member of the NHL team.
The signing will be part of a celebration of Edler’s career held Oct. 11 when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canucks selected Edler, from Ostersund, Sweden, in the third round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.
He played in 925 career games for the Canucks between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, ranking fourth in franchise history and first among defencemen.
The 38-year-old leads all Vancouver defencemen with 99 goals, 310 assists and 177 power-play points with the team.
Edler also appeared in 82 career post-season contests with Vancouver and was an integral part of the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, putting up 11 points (2-9-11) across 25 games.
“I am humbled and honoured to officially end my career and retire as a member of the Vancouver Canucks,” Edler said in a release. “I consider myself lucky to have started my career with such an outstanding organization, in this amazing city, with the best fans in the NHL. Finishing my NHL career where it all began is something very special for myself and my family.”
Edler played two seasons for Los Angeles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He did not play in the NHL last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.
Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.
The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.
In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.
Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.
Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.
Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.
It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.
Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.
FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024
TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced cookie brand Oreo as the team’s helmet sponsor for the upcoming NHL season.
The new helmet will debut Sunday when Toronto opens its 2024-25 pre-season against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
The Oreo logo replaces Canadian restaurant chain Pizza Pizza, which was the Leafs’ helmet sponsor last season.
Previously, social media platform TikTok sponsored Toronto starting in the 2021-22 regular season when the league began allowing teams to sell advertising space on helmets.
The Oreo cookie consists of two chocolate biscuits around a white icing filling and is often dipped in milk.
Fittingly, the Leafs wear the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s “Milk” logo on their jerseys.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
