Dodgers: Ross Stripling, Jimmy Nelson won’t receive paychecks during season

Two Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers will not be paid again this season.

In a quirk of how the finances work for the upcoming MLB season, Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Ross Stripling and Jimmy Nelson will not receive another paycheck this season.

According to the Associated Press, there are 11 major leaguers whose pro-rated pay for the upcoming season is less than their portion of the $170 million advance in salaries paid by MLB based on agreement back in March that also set the stage for commissioner Rob Manfred to implement a 60-game schedule without negotiating a new financial framework with the players.

Ross Stripling and Jimmy Nelson must rely on their previous earnings.

In other words, while most players will continue to receive bi-weekly pay on a pro-rated basis, Stripling and Nelson will have to wait until next April to receive their next paycheck.

Veteran players, regardless of original contract size, received $286,500 in advance pay as part of the March agreement.

Luckily, for Stripling, he was able to negotiate a new contract worth $2.1 million in January, which paid out $1.5 million as a signing bonus. On top of the advance amount he received, the majority of his earnings have already been deposited into his bank account.

“It will be strange to receive no money or paychecks throughout the year,” Stripling told the Associated Press. “I’m thankful for my background in finance, because I’m comfortable with my ability to budget. I do worry about the 10 other guys in my situation. Technically will be receiving zero income until next April. That’s a long time to budget ahead.”

Besides pitching for the Dodgers and hosting a podcast, Stripling works as a financial advisor with B. Riley Weath Management. If anyone can navigate his way through these challenging financial times, it would seem to be him.

However, Jimmy Nelson is not as fortunate as Stripling in the way his contract is structured. The reliever, who was hampered by injuries in 2019, signed an incentive-based deal in the offseason that only provides a base pay of $750,000, which, on a pro-rated basis, equates to less than the $286,500 advanced in April.

It is unclear how Nelson’s performance bonuses will be calculated under the new financial framework. He is eligible to receive $1 million for making the opening day roster, which seems extremely likely, given teams will be allowed to carry 30 players to start the year.