Cricket's $50 million man David Warner considers baseball
David Warner has been Australia's cricketing hero during the Ashes and the swashbuckling opening batsman has also considered trying his hand at baseball.
Warner has scored two centuries and two half-centuries in three Tests against England this summer, a remarkable change in fortunes after he was dropped from the side in July.
News Ltd reports that with another lucrative Indian Premier League contract looming and sponsors lining up, the 27-year-old could earn up to $5 million a year for the next decade.
But Warner's earning power would skyrocket if he followed through with a plan to play baseball professionally.
"Dave and I have spoken about it - it would be interesting to see how he goes," Warner's manager Tony Connelly told News Ltd.
"A pitch over the plate is a full toss right in his range but once they start throwing curves, it's a bit different.
"We talked about setting up a trial in the States and getting him in batting cage just to have a look.
"It was more a fun thing to see how he goes. Right now he's in the middle of an Ashes series and that's his total focus."
Major League Baseball promoters have even mentioned Warner's name in discussions surrounding an All Stars fixture when the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks play at the Sydney Cricket Ground in late March.
"We threw his name around in our internal discussions," Major League game promoter Justin Moore told News Ltd.
"I've had people asking me about Dave Warner from bizarre corners of the planet.
"Out of all the cricketers, he's probably the one who could convert because of his eye and his power, plus his fielding is good enough.
"If he was any good at baseball, he could double or triple what he earns from cricket.
"You just don't know with Dave.
"If you get on base 35 per cent of the time and have a reasonable RPI and a good slugging percentage, they'd write you as big a cheque as you'd want."
Major League Baseball's top hitters can earn up to $20 million a year.
