The eye-popping money Yankees’ Gerrit Cole, MLB stars will make during coronavirus shutdown

Gerrit Cole

New York Yankees' Gerrit Cole is in the first year of a nine-year, $324 million contract.AP

It’s good work if you ... can’t get it?

Big-name Yankees and stars around the league won’t get their full salaries as the coronavirus continues to shut down Major League Baseball. But they’re still going to get paid — and handsomely, at that.

LATEST CORONAVIRUS UPDATES FROM NJ.COM

Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Aroldis Chapman and players on big-money deals will get $4,775 a day for 60 days of the work stoppage, according to a report from the Associated Press. That’s through the end of May. Total, that equals $268,500.

Of course, that’s a pittance compared to what they were due. Cole was set to be paid $36 million this season. At that rate, he would have made $193,548 a day. Stanton was set to make $28 million and Chapman would have made $16 million.

The pay comes from the $170 million teams agreed to advance players on 40-man rosters, injured lists and outright assignments to the minor leagues during the work stoppage.


Buy Gerrit Cole Yankees gear: Fanatics.com, Dick's Sporting Goods, MLBShop.com, Lids


According to the AP, the money was split by four groups of players, based on contract types. Players with single salaries get $4,775 a day. Those who make under $91,799 when they’re set to the minors will get $275 a day. Players who earn between $91,799 and $149,999 in the minors receive $500 a day. And players who make more than $150,000 in the minors will get $1,000 a day.

According to the AP, projected over a full 186-day season, the payments would work out to salaries of $888,150, $186,000, $93,000 and $51,150.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether it’s a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey:

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.