Will Chris Davis opt not to play in 2020?

[wildcard]

If there is a MLB season and  if players are given the option  to play at half pay or stay out because they don't want to risk catching the virus.

Davis has already been paid about 119M in his MLB career.   HIs half payoff  2020  would be 11.5m.   His 2021 and 2022 seasons will pay him 46M.   Is it worth it to him and his family to play in 2020 with the virus risk or could he forgo the 11.5m and be safer at home?

Some would say who cares if he plays or not.   But with Mancini on the IL it may open up first base for Ryan Mountcastle.     It could mean a ton to him.

 

[Can_of_corn]

The players are going to be at a higher risk going to the gas station then they are playing ball.  I don't see why any player that isn't in a high risk group, or that has immediate family that is, would decide not to play.

[TommyPickles]

He should really just donate his salary from this year to Baltimore hospitals and food banks... 

[George Zuverink]

15 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

The players are going to be at a higher risk going to the gas station then they are playing ball.  I don't see why any player that isn't in a high risk group, or that has immediate family that is, would decide not to play.

To Corn's point, here's an article that presents a long, but surprisingly accessible, description of the science and math behind the relative transmission risk of various activities and situations:

https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them

Doesn't discuss the risk that Davis' spring training stats were just an illusion.

[Aristotelian]

Counterpoint, $11M is still a lot and is more incentive to play than the majority of MLB players. He was also having a good spring until the shutdown. 

[scOtt]

6 hours ago, TommyPickles said:

He should really just donate his salary from this year to Baltimore hospitals and food banks... 

He just donated $3 mill earlier this year. Just saying...

 

 

Yes there is risk in playing, or not playing. I'm thinking in CD's case, his off season buffing up and his surprisingly successful spring are going to make him want to play very badly.

[Moose Milligan]

I hope so.  Cause that would mean some form of baseball is being played.

[ChosenOne21]

I don't see why he would. He's been pretty adamant that he believes he can fix things if given the opportunity. Guy really seems to want to prove he's better than the last few years

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

7 hours ago, scOtt said:

He just donated $3 mill earlier this year. Just saying...

 

 

Yes there is risk in playing, or not playing. I'm thinking in CD's case, his off season buffing up and his surprisingly successful spring are going to make him want to play very badly.

There's no way Davis doesn't play and due to what Trey is battling right now, there is spot opened up for a OF/DH type to get more at bats. And (big) if Davis really has improved he will get more at bats than he might have otherwise. Plus with this year's schedule being shortened it might keep a prospect like Mountcastle waiting until 2021 to play at the big league level. 

[ThomasTomasz]

13 hours ago, Aristotelian said:

Counterpoint, $11M is still a lot and is more incentive to play than the majority of MLB players. He was also having a good spring until the shutdown. 

Considering close to half of that will be taken in taxes, and he gave away $3 million this year, I'd say it would be worth it to play.  

[scOtt]

27 minutes ago, OsFanSinceThe80s said:

There's no way Davis doesn't play and due to what Trey is battling right now, there is spot opened up for a OF/DH type to get more at bats. And (big) if Davis really has improved he will get more at bats than he might have otherwise. Plus with this year's schedule being shortened it might keep a prospect like Mountcastle waiting until 2021 to play at the big league level. 

I don't know about that. And by that I'm not disagreeing with you. It might keep Ryan out or it might not. I REALLY don't know. It's an interesting question.

With Trey being out all year I'm guessing he's at least on the 50-man roster. If Trey was playing I'd bet Ryan was left out.