Major League Baseball has determined there was no agreement between the Mets and Yankees to suppress the market for top free agent Aaron Judge, reports Sean Gregory of TIME. The league had opened an investigation into the two teams last week after the MLB Players Association had raised some concerns about an article published by Andy Martino of SNY earlier this month.
Martino wrote the Mets were unlikely to pursue Judge in free agency, in part because of a mutual respect between Mets owner Steve Cohen and Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner.
As part of that piece, Martino wrote: “Talking to Mets people about this all through the year, the team in Queens sees Judge as a Yankee, uniquely tailored to be an icon in their uniform, stadium and branding efforts. Owners Steve Cohen and Hal Steinbrenner enjoy a mutually respectful relationship, and do not expect to upend that with a high-profile bidding war. The only way people involved can see the Mets changing course and pursuing Judge would be if the Yankees somehow declared themselves totally out of the bidding.”
To be clear, Martino didn’t characterize that as the sole reason the Mets could choose to sit out the Judge bidding, nor did he expressly state Cohen and Steinbrenner had talked about Judge’s free agency. He went on to note the Mets could be wary of signing another deal in excess of $300MM after extending Francisco Lindor last year.
The league requested communications between Cohen and Steinbrenner last week to determine if the owners formulated any kind of agreement for the Mets not to pursue Judge as a free agent, which would have been a collusive violation of the collective bargaining agreement. Mike Puma of the New York Post writes the league found nothing in those communications to support a finding of collusion.
That doesn’t necessarily bring the matter to a close, as the MLBPA still has the right to file a grievance on Judge’s behalf. If it chooses to do so, the case would go in front of an independent arbitrator. The union would have to demonstrate both that illicit communications between the Mets and Yankees did occur and that Judge’s market was impacted by those talks. The players union declined comment to both TIME and the New York Post as to whether it planned to dispute the league’s determination.
Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic also wrote last week the union could take issue with unrelated comments made by Astros owner Jim Crane to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com regarding the asking price of free agent ace Justin Verlander. Whether it plans to pursue a grievance in that matter also remains unclear, but the league was not expected to open an investigation into Crane’s statements.
Why do I think if Manfred would rule against both Cohen and Hal , he’d be outta work in a flash lol
It takes collusion to finish an MLB investigation that fast.
I am not saying that anything did or did not happen in the first instance. I am just saying that the MLB has never finished an investigation that fast before unless the outcome was predetermined.
You know Manny, that’s what I was thinking too. MLB is certainly not known for its efficient investigations.
That’s funny. A reporter says something that is clearly just speculation, by the reporter’s own admission; and apparently that indicates some kind of guilt to you. It’s like someone could post that some random person probably is going to rob a bank, and you think it’s fishy if the police don’t do a deep dive investigation? LMAO!
The reporter, Andy Martino, is featured on the homepage of SNY, the official Mets network, where he’s described as “SNY’s MLB Insider.” Clearly, he has more access to people within the organization than you do, Gasu1.
Gasu1, I owe you an apology. You’re right in observing that the report by Martino contains speculation.
I should point out, however, that the speculation was voiced by people within the Mets organization, to whom Martino refers as “Mets people”:
“The only way people involved can see the Mets changing course and pursuing Judge would be if the Yankees somehow declared themselves totally out of the bidding.”
They got their text messages and it probably provided all the answers they needed. I seriously doubt Cohen would text Hal saying something stupid like “Don’t worry buddy I won’t be driving up Judge’s asking price on you. Hey do me a favor and stay out of DeGrom’s would ya?” Hal responding with “Hey you know we should get John up in Boston and Tom out in Chicago to do a teleconference with us and we can pick which free agent each of us can put off limits to the other big markets bidding. Doubt we get those fools in LA to agree but they are only one team.” “We will still pay each of them between $30m and $40m a year well past their prime so we make it look good.” @
Such a time consuming and exhaustive investigation by Manfred….much like the deal he made with Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX. Commissioner?????
OMG . He put FTX patched on umpires starting with the All Star game. THAT alone should get him removed as Commissioner
Can’t believe the whole “buy fake money I made on my computer!!!” thing turned out to be a scam.
Lmao
Wait, so she’s not really in jail after having an accident and losing a limb?!
@forwhomjoshbelltolled
Except the scam was not the “fake money made on a computer” and it was actually what the individual who convinced people to give him & his company their “fake money” to “protect & grow” it. Pretty sure creative accounting practices existed long before “fake money made on computers”.
Bernie, Enron, & Lehman Brothers say hello.
~back to the baseball discussion~
Fully aware of the nuances in this case.
Statement on “crypto” stands.
Wanted to see if anyone would offer the “sure, the obvious pyramid scheme didn’t work THIS time, but the obvious pyramid scheme COULD still work” take.
This seems to be as close as I got, though. Maybe people are finally wising up.
Sounds like a whole lot of nothing. Smh
Maybe not a flash but… soon enough
NO COLLUSION XD
The union. Lol. All they’re trying to do is justify the over charged dues to the players. Accusations, really.
Get a reality check.
Sounded like if there was an agreement it was made years or even decades ago. I would hope both owners would be smart enough to discuss it on their known easy traceable communication devices. Personally I believe there was an agreement and I could care less. If the Yankees told me they wouldn’t go after my free agents if I didn’t go after theirs I would be like well I suppose we could do that while digging my nails into my skin in a attempt to hide my excitement.
Not discuss it.
That’d be fine if there weren’t other teams interested in his services. The Yankees and Mets could collude all day long but when the Giants want to give him 300MM? How much does it help that the Mets wouldn’t give him 275?
It doesn’t at all. Only helps the two NY teams if the other would have been the next highest bidder. Definitely helps PR Marketing wise. Until Cohen I would say it favored the Mets more.
Meh. I don’t believe it actually happened. The Mets and Yankees have such different team make ups and approaches to free agency that I just don’t see this being a real issue either way.
I understand what Manfred tried to do here: control optics. But, in reality, what it seems he did was just ensured the optics shined directly on MLB’s perceived ineptitude at the highest levels of administration, e.g. Manfred.
If the union files a grievance (I don’t think they’re that desperate), it will presumably be the only thing that could top MLB investigating this to begin with, unless they hire Andy Martino as their PR person.
If Judge gets a $300 million dollar contract how can they possibly prove that his market was hurt.. So yeah, don’t see a grievance coming.
The problem is how do you claim “collusion” or “market suppression” at the beginning of the free agent signing period? MLB is not the NFL or the NBA where free agency is fast and furious and practically over within three or four days. Judge could still be a free agent well in to January as that is just par for the course in MLB.
Nothing burger
With pickles.
Are agents allowed to collude? Scott boras does it all the time.
Even if it did happen I’m not sure it will matter.
Oh, that’s good. I thought the Mets and Yankees would go down in history with the likes of terrible franchises like the Black Sox and Astros for cheating. Thank goodness they both have squeaky clean reputations still.
There are too many media people in the Internet / Communication age today. They put spins on things and present them as facts.
At times I managed in business. I’d be in a meeting in the morning with half a dozen or so people, and in the afternoon people that weren’t in the meeting would tell me what it was about and what was decided….almost none of which happened.
It happens in these comment sections as well as in every other communication channel. Critical Thinking which used to be a prerequisite for positions such as the media has been replaced by gossip and little groups of people that try to make reality for whatever reason.
Gotta get a lot of likes on Facebook.
Look, it’s much more of an immediate world Sam. Everyone had to ne the first to post sports news and it’s no wonder that it has led to what I call an ADD Media. (Not making light of people who actually have this)
It’s hard work to get things right. I was the subject of a one page article in an industry publication once and the author and I went back and forth multiple times to make sure he had all the information correct. It was time consuming but ultimately very rewarding.
Assumptions of a Conspiracy to hide Collusion. Prime Evidence, neither the Yankees or the Mets have ever signed a prominent free agent leaving the other team. The defense, for most of the past 50 years the Mets arguably havent had the calibre of player reaching free agency that the Yankees would have had interest in, and the Mets until Cohen were seemingly cash strapped and could not reach the prices of the prime Yankee free agents. Verdict, I’m not believing in the assumptions, the conspiracy or the collusion ever happening.
WampumWalloper;
There was a national government official about 35 years ago that when asked about a conspiracy replied:
“I’m adamantly opposed to any conspiracy that I’m not a part of”.
@Samuel thank you for that laugh, sad that it’s true, but still hysterical
Outside of Cano and Strawberry, I can’t recall any prime FAs that the other team passed on; and both make the right decision for their franchise at the time. As far as pretty good FAs are concerned, Curtis Granderson.
This is not believable at all Manfraud. Why would he want to punish 2 of the wealthiest owners in baseball when they are basically his bosses.
Boras Playbook
2019
FreeAgent: Garret Cole
Desired Team: Yankees Fallback Team: No One
Boras and Cole let it be known Cole grew up in Orange County. Angels think they have a chance thus they bid against themselves when reality Cole has no intentions of signing anywhere other than the Yankees.
2022
Free Agent :Aaron Judge
Substitute Angels with SF Giants
Substitute Orange County with Bay Area.
Yeah, Judge isn’t going anywhere. It’s all about doing his due diligence to see what the market will bear. And then he’ll take the number back to Hal and say, here’s what you’ll write the check for. And he knows that Hal can’t possibly say no.
Actually he can say no and tell him to take a hike if it’s too high. The fan base woulf riot for a week, but they’d get over it.
If the contract was a bad deal, I’m guessing many yankee fans would be relieved. I knew plenty of Yankee fans who used to say, “I can’t wait until we get Arod off the books.”
I think part of that had to do with how unlikable ARod became throughout his tenure. Can’t quite say the same for Judge. As someone who has never liked the Yankees and rarely rooted for anyone on that team to succeed out of disdain for their ability to spend enormously to win championships, I found it very easy to root for Judge during his run this past season.
You mean, Even though Joe Torre is in the front office at MLB, the Yankees haven’t done anything wrong? Seems unlikely
manfraud!
I’m not saying Manfred and MLB did a complete investigation, but it also wasn’t worth their time. If was an Andy Martino story from SNY with no sources. There was no agreement. Cohen likely doesn’t want to add another $300 million-plus contract, or he’s simply waiting to see where the market is going with Judge. I do think it’s possible he also doesn’t want to open up a turf war since the two operate teams in different leagues, but that would be a business decision, not a collusion decision.
The players union needs the Mets in on Judge (and Verlander, and deGrom) to drive up offers from other teams. It hurts when any of the big money teams sit out of certain player’s markets and you end up with Zack Grienke in Arizona.
MLB and the MLBPA created a dynamic where the big teams now regularly sit out on most of the top players. There’s a flexible cap, but a cap nonetheless.
Sounds like it didn’t matter because he signs with the SF Giants!!!!
The Angels could have done this last 2 offseasons. It doesn’t take much to do it. and I wonder why haven’t they?
That was a quick investigation. One must only look at Trevor Bauer to see the discrepancy. Good grief.
The Trevor Bauer situation is much different than this. He had kinky sex… it was blasphemy… We’re not talking doggie style here… he went way over the line.
So MLB can investigate players that are into kinky sex?
Because the unbiased media always tell just the facts and all the facts without any agenda driven slant and others are never harmed by their honest reporting.
Andy Martino should be fired from SNY. He broke the BS story.
That has to be the fastest investigation in MLB history.
Being investigated in this manner, if you were either one of these owners, wouldn’t you just pass on Aaron Judge altogether now?
Nothing to see here… move it along. Oh, and just for the record, the Yankees didn’t cheat by stealing signs with the use of YES Network cameras.
Thank you
MLB investigated itself and found that MLB did nothing wrong
Someone in the MLB office continues to send me a holiday ham every year without signing the card because he or she wishes to remain anonymous I feel awful for not being able to properly thank them so I’m leaving this here. If you read this, just know that the old lady who tailors my suits appreciates the gift
Imagine that!
OF THEY’D FIND NO COLLUSION JUST LIKE WHEN JETER COLLUDED TO GET STANTON TO NY FROM THE MARLINS
Andy Martino is a twit.
Nothing to see here, move along
There was never such a thing to begin with. Collusion only occurs when a market is severely impacted via an external agreement by two or more parties. Plenty of teams spill easily beat the highest reported offer made previously so nonissue. Basically this is a case where a member of the media overstepped the facts and reported his opinion.
I’ve got it as a positive. Union expressed some concern, MLB took it on board, both parties move on amicably. Almost like the way a couple of adults would do it.
It strikes me that there are a lot of commenters here defending the owners and their hireling, Manfred. Weird.