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MLB 2013 Drug Suspensions to Cost Five Players Over $6 Million, Even Without A-Rod

Major League Baseball (MLB) has handed down its 50-game suspensions to 12 baseball players. Six of the players are in the major leagues right now, and six of them currently are playing in various aspects of the minor league teams. Of course Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez is the most watched because of his superstar status and a 211 game suspension, although he is not counted in the six in the majors today. The MLB disciplinary action regarding the Biogenesis investigation comes with 50-game suspensions, which also come without pay, for each player’s violations.

24/7 Wall St. tallied up each of the fines based on contract values from Baseball-Reference.com, but if any performance or bonus amounts are not included, then we have not included them. Rodriguez is going to get the biggest suspension in baseball’s latest performance-enhancing drug scandal. What is interesting is that if you tally up the losses from the other six, or five really, the losses will still be in the millions of dollars that the teams will not be paying to these players.

These were the statistics for each of the salaries on the 2013 contract from Baseball-Reference.com, and we have prorated them in total to come up with a total MLB payout:

  • Nelson Cruz (Rangers) was $10.5 million in 2013
  • Jhonny Peralta (Tigers) was $6 million in 2013
  • Antonio Bastardo (Phillies) $1.4 million in 2013
  • Everth Cabrera (Padres) $1.275 million in 2013
  • Francisco Cervelli (Yankees) $515,000 in 2013
  • Free agent pitcher Jordan Norberto was not tallied up because his suspension will start after he is signed, so his value could be higher, lower or even nothing.

The total comes to $19.69 million for these five salaries. So a loss of 50 games out of a 162 game season (50/162) generates player salary losses of $6.077 million or so. We did not tally up the other six players down in the minor leagues.

Baseball-Reference.com lists A-Rod’s 2013 contract as $28 million and his 2014 contract as $25 million, outside of bonuses. Unfortunately, his contract dwarfs the other players, and he will be appealing his suspension and will be playing. This means that his real losses are not yet known.

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