The C-word - "Collusion" - has a long and odious history within the House of Steinbrenner. (Remember Jack Morris, Kirk Gibson, Carlton Fisk in the mid-1980s? Bryce Harper and Manny Machado in 2019?)
Colluding is simple, elegant, clean... and hard to prove.
With a wink, Hal Steinbrenner and Mets owner Steve Cohen - both billionaires, several times over - can agree to fake bid on each other's star free agent. The Mets pass on Aaron Judge, the Yankees on Jacob DeGrom. The players either accept what they're offered or leave NYC.
While the fans scream about greedy, disloyal athletes, the owners get to count their money.
Jack Morris came knocking in 1986, when the Yankees were halfway through their 14-Year Barf. Thirty-seven years... has nothing changed?
Not limited to NY teams. I think Hal is signaling to other owners: "I'm not gobbling up every free agent like my Dad did because that's bad for the industry. But I'm taking a lot of shit for it from my fan base. So listen assholes, if you want to drive up the price for Judge, fine. But I'll remember. Believe me."
ReplyDeleteIs that collusion?
Very disappointed in Cohen. I was hoping he would force the Yankees into really competing.
ReplyDeleteIn a down economy, the billionaires need to stick together.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone really think Manfred will find any agreement between the 2 NY team owners? Of course not. Don't discount the idea that he encouraged them to refrain from going after the other team's top free agent. This commissioner (like the several proceeding ones) is 100% in the owner's corner. He's like a referee working in the WWE or Globetrotters/Washington Generals basketball game.
ReplyDelete