FanPost

The Yankees have effectively rewritten the narrative on Free Agency


Everywhere you look there are a plethora of Yankee "Fans" crying in their beverage of choice because the Yankees did not even consider Bryce Harper and did not effectively make a run- or perhaps not even an offer- on Manny Machado.

Therefore, according to "some", the world is coming to an end, the Yankees already lost the 2019 season so why bother even playing?

The Yankees, once again, failed to sign all the best players on the Free Agent market and therefore Brian Cashman must be fired and George Steinbrenner is rolling over in his grave because Hal is a poor excuse of an heir to the Yankee dynasty.

Don't believe me?

Visit a fan forum on any Yankee or baseball fan site anywhere on the internet...it's all right there- in fact, we will probably see some delusion in the comments below this article shortly.

The entitlement is kinda sad really.

Oh, the horror!

"The Yankees may regret going cheap in the off-season" they cry.

Really? Is there some sort of guarantee that signing Manny automatically means they would have won it all? Why play then...let's just sign him now, give the Yankees the title for the next 8 years and resume the actual playing of the game in 2026.

I love this one...

"Manny and Bryce are generational players and the Yankees MUST sign one or Both!"

How many "generational" players do they need? They have Judge and Stanton. Sanchez, Torres and Andujar are no slouches either and each have untapped potential at this stage. How many $300 million dollar contracts do the Yankees need to carry to satisfy "some" of their "fans"? How will they afford to keep Judge, Torres and Sanchez when their big contract negotiations come into play if they have these huge contracts already on the books?

You have to THINK while you dream..and it is very easy to thoughtlessly dream from your armchair GM office while playing with someone else's money.

"Can the Yankees really not beat the offer Chicago has made to Manny?" they ponder.

A: Yes they can

b: They don't want to

c: They don't need too

d: They don't need him

There are, and thankfully so, many more fans that see all this in the reality of the real world where the Yankees cannot possibly sign every player, nor can they win every year.

Shocking I know...welcome to the real world.

They realize that the media either takes or creates every rumor about Machado and Harper (you know, the ones like "Machado's wife will lead him to the Yankees") to make you read and click, click and read...and you eat it up.

The Agents for these players take or create rumors about Yankee interest to drive the market up for their clients because the Yankees have always been the measuring stick to determine the value of top players available for hire.

However, someone forgot to tell the press and players Agents that the Yankees, for a couple of years now, are no longer playing that game.

The Yankees have effectively rewritten the unwritten narrative in Free Agency that says that they are in on every player, when most of the time they are not, and they have now sent clear message to anyone that has the grey matter to follow it.

Simply put...the Yankees have let it be known, loud and clear, that an Agent, media or a fan base will not determine who they have an interest in. An agent, media or a fan base will not use them to set the market bar for talent.

If you do not like it, stop watching, stop buying merchandise and stop attending games.

We all know you won't do that- but it's fun to hear you threaten so.

The media, in wanting to sell papers, insisted early on- even years earlier- that the Yankees were in on Harper. They dd that for clicks and reads and you obliged. Scott Boras incited them to go to print with these fantasies by aligning the Yankees with Harper to drive his price- and the hopes of the fans.

The Yankees never once indicted they were seriously interested in him, in fact stated numerous times they were not in pursuit and the Yankees are getting hate for what fans made up in their heads and hearts, what agents wanted you to think and what the media wanted you to buy.

Machado? Different story- they wanted him but the Yankees made it clear they had a limit, they would not go over it.

The Yankees made it clear that while they were interested, they would not pay a ransom...that is now the job for other teams. The Yankees are no longer playing that game- for now.

I read some comments on how "some" "fans" were livid with the Yankees ownership for being greedy, keeping their revenue and not reinvesting into the team.

Ah yes, let's hate on them for wanting their business to make money and ignore the fact they fielded a 100 win team last season that finished first in home runs, shattering the record, and second in everything else that matters while doing so at only 70% health of their offensive capability WITHOUT Machado.

Make no mistake about it- Manny would have been a good problem to have, but he also is not a guarantee the Yankees would have won it all, let alone made the postseason. You wanted him, his Agent wanted the Yankees to want him and the Media kept telling you the Yankees were getting him...the Yankees never told anyone that.

Your anger, disappointment, and delusion (take your pick) is aimed at the wrong party here.

If the Yankees really wanted him or felt they really needed him, then no one would be able to compete with them for his services.

If Manny really wanted to be a Yankee, no one really would have been able to compete with them for his services.

There would be no need to debate, negotiate or tour other cities.

"If it's close, I will be going to the Bronx" he said. That's the game of Agents and Media...and the Yankees no longer want to play.

End of story.

I am proud of the Yankees for being financially responsible. Machado will not get the money he thinks he deserves and no player is worth.

I hope this is a trend...not just for the Yankees but for all of baseball. The agents are out of control and the salaries are as well. No player is worth these types of contracts...none of them.

The Yankees have finally learned over the last few seasons to assess their clubs needs, spread out the addressing of them by getting missing pieces (plural) to enhance what they have and have learned to stop playing the game of Agents and Media.

This is a team sport and they have holes in the team..not just one spot. They spread their money around well and addressed them instead of folding to Agents, Media and deluded spoiled fans and dumping it all into one player.

It's about damn time.

Step away from the ledge, put down the knife..breathe.

The Yankees will be just fine without Machado...

Will you?

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