Lorenzo Cain opts out for remainder of 2020 season

[Eye Black]

Since the forum was down yesterday, I‘ll start this thread. I have complete respect for the decision, and I’m sure it wasn’t an easy one. Look forward to seeing Gamel getting a shot to be an everyday player. Assume either Broxton gets added to the mix at some point, or they experiment with someone else as the backup in CF (Brock Holt has 75 innings of experience at CF in the majors).

 

 

[adambr2]

While I understand they have a right to do so, I get a kick out of numerous guys opting out 10 days into the season.

 

Has anything changed? Is COVID-19 more dangerous now than it was when you decided to play? Is it more infectious?

 

No, everything is exactly the same as it was on July 23rd when the season began. You've just seen it now spreading through clubhouses so now it hits more home to you.

 

And chances are it's spreading through clubhouses because your teammates and fellow players can't follow rules and medical recommendations. It likely has zero to do with playing baseball.

 

With that said, while I wish Cain had done this from the beginning if he was going to do it, I respect him and his decision to walk away. Hello Keon Broxton...yay.

[stoutdude04]

Adam, I think that's why you're seeing guys opt out. They probably thought they would be 'safer'. Clearly they arent satisfied with the efforts by the league/their teammates.

[Eye Black]

Forgot to add this Tweet from Tom Haudricourt:

 

In the third year of his five-year, $80 million deal, #Brewers Lorenzo Cain had $16 million salary this year, which was pro-rated to $5.92 million in 60-game season. That's what he walked away from, so you have to respect his decision to opt out. Has wife and three young sons.

 

 

I think the salary is spread over service days, not games played. If so, I think he’d get paid for 8/66th’s of the season which would be about $718K. Basically his 5 year, $80 million deal is now 4.12 years and $64.7 million in reality (assuming we’re back to a regularly scheduled season next year).

[AZBrewCrew]

RB8 likely next

[markedman5]

[PinaMadness]

Per cbssports.com:

 

Unless Cain is deemed to be a high-risk individual, he will not receive pay or service-time credit for the remainder of the season. A prorated amount of his full-season salary ($16 million) would have been just shy of $6 million. It's worth noting that Cain has earned more than $66 million to date, and is under contract for an additional two seasons at $35 million total.

 

That being said, despite what Manfred says now, I don't see the season continuing past next weekend.

[PinaMadness]

RB8 likely next

Braun has been placed on the 10 day DL.

[Eye Black]

With Braun hitting the IL the Brewers are now without two of their biggest right handed bats. Tough timing considering they are going up against LHP Carlos Rodon tomorrow.

[pacopete4]

While I understand they have a right to do so, I get a kick out of numerous guys opting out 10 days into the season.

 

Has anything changed? Is COVID-19 more dangerous now than it was when you decided to play? Is it more infectious?

 

No, everything is exactly the same as it was on July 23rd when the season began. You've just seen it now spreading through clubhouses so now it hits more home to you.

 

And chances are it's spreading through clubhouses because your teammates and fellow players can't follow rules and medical recommendations. It likely has zero to do with playing baseball.

 

With that said, while I wish Cain had done this from the beginning if he was going to do it, I respect him and his decision to walk away. Hello Keon Broxton...yay.

 

Maybe Cain didn’t think the players would be so selfish and not responsible enough that they would be out partying, on cruises, going golfing, etc... and now that he’s seen it play out, he’s making a smarter move for himself and his family. If I was a guy like Cain, I’d be pissed at my fellow players for some of the crap they’ve done and pissed at the MLB for their lack of true leadership. It’s pathetic all around.

[DuWayne Steurer]

While I understand they have a right to do so, I get a kick out of numerous guys opting out 10 days into the season.

 

Has anything changed? Is COVID-19 more dangerous now than it was when you decided to play? Is it more infectious?

 

No, everything is exactly the same as it was on July 23rd when the season began. You've just seen it now spreading through clubhouses so now it hits more home to you.

 

And chances are it's spreading through clubhouses because your teammates and fellow players can't follow rules and medical recommendations. It likely has zero to do with playing baseball.

 

With that said, while I wish Cain had done this from the beginning if he was going to do it, I respect him and his decision to walk away. Hello Keon Broxton...yay.

 

I think that while nothing has changed, I think players are finding out that their fellow players aren't taking this seriously enough to warrant sticking around for 40% of a pro-rated salary. Whatever plan MLB had in place is not nearly (by a long shot) good enough to guarantee safety for players and their families, and after 10 days, it's more than enough look to see that walking away is a good, fair, and safe call by those who choose to do it at this time.

[DuWayne Steurer]

In the end I think it'll be moot, because if this season makes it 2 more weeks I'll be surprised.

[wildcat83]

While I understand they have a right to do so, I get a kick out of numerous guys opting out 10 days into the season.

 

Has anything changed? Is COVID-19 more dangerous now than it was when you decided to play? Is it more infectious?

 

No, everything is exactly the same as it was on July 23rd when the season began.

 

Eduardo Rodriguez is going to miss the rest of the season with an inflamed heart. I doubt anyone on July 23rd thought that a professional athlete could have life threatening symptoms. Sure they know in the back of their minds its possible, but being a professional athlete facing a virus that mostly affects the ill or the elderly has to give you a sense of invincibility. Seeing a MLB player have very serious complications has to change things for some. Anything with your heart can be career or even life threatening.

[Thurston Fluff]

In the end I think it'll be moot, because if this season makes it 2 more weeks I'll be surprised.

 

At this point I'm not sure what the point of continuing is other than money. Even if the season finishes by some miracle and we go on to win it all what would a championship even mean? For the life of me I can't figure out what these games count for. The most irrelevant season ever just doesn't seem like a good time for out first championship.

[Underachiever]

While I understand they have a right to do so, I get a kick out of numerous guys opting out 10 days into the season.

 

Has anything changed? Is COVID-19 more dangerous now than it was when you decided to play? Is it more infectious?

No, everything is exactly the same as it was on July 23rd when the season began. You've just seen it now spreading through clubhouses so now it hits more home to you.

 

And chances are it's spreading through clubhouses because your teammates and fellow players can't follow rules and medical recommendations. It likely has zero to do with playing baseball.

 

With that said, while I wish Cain had done this from the beginning if he was going to do it, I respect him and his decision to walk away. Hello Keon Broxton...yay.

 

I think that while nothing has changed, I think players are finding out that their fellow players aren't taking this seriously enough to warrant sticking around for 40% of a pro-rated salary. Whatever plan MLB had in place is not nearly (by a long shot) good enough to guarantee safety for players and their families, and after 10 days, it's more than enough look to see that walking away is a good, fair, and safe call by those who choose to do it at this time.

Looks like the answer to all three of your questions in LoCain's mind is yes. But I'm glad you get a kick out of it.

[adambr2]

While I understand they have a right to do so, I get a kick out of numerous guys opting out 10 days into the season.

 

Has anything changed? Is COVID-19 more dangerous now than it was when you decided to play? Is it more infectious?

No, everything is exactly the same as it was on July 23rd when the season began. You've just seen it now spreading through clubhouses so now it hits more home to you.

 

And chances are it's spreading through clubhouses because your teammates and fellow players can't follow rules and medical recommendations. It likely has zero to do with playing baseball.

 

With that said, while I wish Cain had done this from the beginning if he was going to do it, I respect him and his decision to walk away. Hello Keon Broxton...yay.

 

I think that while nothing has changed, I think players are finding out that their fellow players aren't taking this seriously enough to warrant sticking around for 40% of a pro-rated salary. Whatever plan MLB had in place is not nearly (by a long shot) good enough to guarantee safety for players and their families, and after 10 days, it's more than enough look to see that walking away is a good, fair, and safe call by those who choose to do it at this time.

Looks like the answer to all three of your questions in LoCain's mind is yes. But I'm glad you get a kick out of it.

 

So he thinks it is indeed more deadly and infectious than he did on the 23rd? No, I highly doubt that's his mindset.

[young guns]

He probably just thought the rest of the league would be smart about it and the opposite seems to be more true and has decided its not worth it anymore.

[adambr2]

While I understand they have a right to do so, I get a kick out of numerous guys opting out 10 days into the season.

 

Has anything changed? Is COVID-19 more dangerous now than it was when you decided to play? Is it more infectious?

 

No, everything is exactly the same as it was on July 23rd when the season began. You've just seen it now spreading through clubhouses so now it hits more home to you.

 

And chances are it's spreading through clubhouses because your teammates and fellow players can't follow rules and medical recommendations. It likely has zero to do with playing baseball.

 

With that said, while I wish Cain had done this from the beginning if he was going to do it, I respect him and his decision to walk away. Hello Keon Broxton...yay.

 

Maybe Cain didn’t think the players would be so selfish and not responsible enough that they would be out partying, on cruises, going golfing, etc... and now that he’s seen it play out, he’s making a smarter move for himself and his family. If I was a guy like Cain, I’d be pissed at my fellow players for some of the crap they’ve done and pissed at the MLB for their lack of true leadership. It’s pathetic all around.

While I understand they have a right to do so, I get a kick out of numerous guys opting out 10 days into the season.

 

Has anything changed? Is COVID-19 more dangerous now than it was when you decided to play? Is it more infectious?

 

No, everything is exactly the same as it was on July 23rd when the season began. You've just seen it now spreading through clubhouses so now it hits more home to you.

 

And chances are it's spreading through clubhouses because your teammates and fellow players can't follow rules and medical recommendations. It likely has zero to do with playing baseball.

 

With that said, while I wish Cain had done this from the beginning if he was going to do it, I respect him and his decision to walk away. Hello Keon Broxton...yay.

 

I think that while nothing has changed, I think players are finding out that their fellow players aren't taking this seriously enough to warrant sticking around for 40% of a pro-rated salary. Whatever plan MLB had in place is not nearly (by a long shot) good enough to guarantee safety for players and their families, and after 10 days, it's more than enough look to see that walking away is a good, fair, and safe call by those who choose to do it at this time.

 

Fair points, and I don't begrudge Cain for opting out. It's certainly clear now that this MLB plan was a failure from the start. Let's not forget that the sides had months to come up with a fair, safe plan. They prioritized money instead. COVID-19 got put on the backburner and they bickered until the end of June about financials. The MLB "plan" was simply mandated by Manfred and cobbled together by MLB at the last minute after the two sides failed to come to an agreement.

 

Now it looks entirely possible that the greed from both sides will result in nothing for both of them. Manfred certainly looks like a failure as a commissioner yet again, the owners look just as bad, and Tony Clark has poorly represented the players, not being able to see the forest through the trees.

 

Disappointment and failure all around.

[liveforoctober]

While I understand they have a right to do so, I get a kick out of numerous guys opting out 10 days into the season.

 

Has anything changed? Is COVID-19 more dangerous now than it was when you decided to play? Is it more infectious?

 

No, everything is exactly the same as it was on July 23rd when the season began. You've just seen it now spreading through clubhouses so now it hits more home to you.

 

And chances are it's spreading through clubhouses because your teammates and fellow players can't follow rules and medical recommendations. It likely has zero to do with playing baseball.

 

With that said, while I wish Cain had done this from the beginning if he was going to do it, I respect him and his decision to walk away. Hello Keon Broxton...yay.

 

This is such an interesting take and it comes across as a little callous to me. My initial thought when I heard the news was that Cain obviously had doubts going into all of this but I assume (based off of no info) that he wanted to give it a go for MKE and his teammates to see if the situation was going to be safe. He got a feel for the situation and decided against.

[adambr2]

While I understand they have a right to do so, I get a kick out of numerous guys opting out 10 days into the season.

 

Has anything changed? Is COVID-19 more dangerous now than it was when you decided to play? Is it more infectious?

 

No, everything is exactly the same as it was on July 23rd when the season began. You've just seen it now spreading through clubhouses so now it hits more home to you.

 

And chances are it's spreading through clubhouses because your teammates and fellow players can't follow rules and medical recommendations. It likely has zero to do with playing baseball.

 

With that said, while I wish Cain had done this from the beginning if he was going to do it, I respect him and his decision to walk away. Hello Keon Broxton...yay.

 

This is such an interesting take and it comes across as a little callous to me. My initial thought when I heard the news was that Cain obviously had doubts going into all of this but I assume (based off of no info) that he wanted to give it a go for MKE and his teammates to see if the situation was going to be safe. He got a feel for the situation and decided against.

 

While I stand behind the opinion that opt out/opt in decisions should have been made before the season in the absence of something major changing with the virus (it hasn't), I could rephrase by simply saying that if the above comes off as callous.

 

I can understand the mindset that some players such as Cain initially had faith in their fellow players to follow safety protocols, faith which has now evaporated. I think it was wishful thinking at best, though, to think that a league full of young men were ever going to spend this entire season following social distancing and safety guidelines.

[folly412]

Players at this point don't know whether they're playing tomorrow or sometime next week. Some have been stranded in another city unexpectedly for several days. They'll soon be expected to play double headers, be subject to more schedule changes, possibly an uneven number of games between teams, and other structural or scheduling changes that are being made up as they go. Even with all the chaos of the new protocols and everything, all of this has got to have made it messier than most expected. In addition, Cain's quite possibly trying to figure out when/where/how his boys will go to school and didn't need all of these additional variables being introduced to that situation on a daily basis. Good on him for prioritizing correctly.

[Jopal78]

I don't begrudge Cain for opting out, it is probably a very hard decision to leave 6 million dollars on the table. However, does this mean he's hanging up the spikes as a pro-player? It's not like covid-19 is just going to disappear by February 2021 when he's due to report to Spring Training.

 

Even if there is an effective vaccine rushed to the market in the next 6 months, there's no guarantee that the virus is suddenly eradicated. If he opted out in August of 2020, unless there is a huge drop in the infection rate, he'd be an idiot to report to camp in 2021.

[CheezWizHed]

A lot of things could change in the next 6 months. Vaccine, MLB rules (e.g. do a bubble?), family situation, whatever...

 

I'd wonder more about this being Braun's last year over Cain.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Don't underestimate the possibility of someone's wife in their ear about how they're scared and want a player to come home. For all you know Cain wanted to play and his wife hated it. No idea if that's the case obviously, but more goes into this than a player's thoughts. I'm surprised he showed up at all. He's at twilight of his career, has made tons of money, and is 2 months from his regular offseason anyway. That would be a hard sell for me.

[CheezWizHed]

Don't underestimate how much he loves to play also. To most of these guys, this is more than just a job and money. Once you walk away in your mid-30s, you never get it back.