When ESPN’s senior MLB insider, Jeff Passan, has time, it’s a moment to watch out for. He recently took aim not at the usual suspects like the Pittsburgh Pirates or the Cincinnati Reds, but at the New York Yankees. After witnessing their crosstown rivals land Juan Soto thanks to Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend, Passan questioned whether Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner truly comprehends what it means to manage baseball’s most storied franchise. “If the (luxury tax) penalties are so tough, then why are the Dodgers and Mets doing it?” Passan stated. “At the end of the day, these are the New York freaking Yankees. If a luxury tax threshold is impeding them, that says more about their current position than the tax itself. When have the Yankees ever played third fiddle in baseball? That’s where they’re at in terms of spending.”
Passan clarified that he didn’t advocate for the Yankees to impulsively blow past the Steve Cohen tax, recognizing the steep penalties involved. However, he insisted that if a team trusts its scouting and development efforts, the tax should serve as a challenge rather than a blockade. “It makes it a little bit more difficult, but I’m OK having more difficulty on the minor league level if my big league team is better,” Passan remarked. He pointed out that the Dodgers are not making absurd payments for their acquisitions, staying within the market value.
This perspective sharply contrasted with Steinbrenner’s remarks on the YES Network, where he expressed concerns typically voiced by small-market owners, despite managing a franchise valued at over $7 billion. “It’s difficult for most of us owners to be able to do the kind of things that they’re doing,” he said. The Yankees cannot adopt the mentality of “most owners” if they aim to uphold their legacy.
Although the Yankees are the reigning American League champions and believe their approach will pay off, Passan remains skeptical. He argues that they are not clear frontrunners, merely “in the mix.” While Steinbrenner believes that their improved starting rotation and the acquisitions of Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt will compensate for Juan Soto’s offense, Passan sees a different situation—one where the Yankees are justifying their tactics instead of embodying the true spirit of the franchise.
Imagine if Passan had heard Steinbrenner’s comments before his The Michael Kay Show appearance.
