REALLY DUDE

BY MIKE RIFKIN

On Monday Yankees Owner Hal Steinbrenner spoke to the media about the team and some other financial things. One of the items Hal Steinbrenner discussed was MLB implementing a salary cap. Steinbrenner said “ he would consider a cap only if it’s accompanied by a salary floor.” 

A Steinbrenner arguing for a potential salary cap is not good for the game of baseball. Would George talk about a salary cap? No, he would do whatever it took to win baseball games. Hal, you are the owner of the New York Yankees, the most successful franchise in all of sports and you want to have a salary cap? Now, where I do agree with him is the fact that baseball should have a salary floor, but we all know the players will not go for a salary cap. This is the owner of the Yankees crying because now other teams are spending to their levels. The fact that Hal even said salary cap, like he owns the Pirates is an awful sign for baseball, the owner of the Yankees should want to spend money. 

The Milwaukee Brewers had the best record in the National League, and were four wins away from going to the World Series and were 23rd in payroll. The Mariners were one win away from going to the World Series and they were 16th in payroll, I don’t hear those owners crying for a cap. Five teams in MLB spent less than 100 million dollars, The Pirates, Rays, Marlins, A’S and White Sox and they all finished below .500. Now, the Rays have a new owner so we can wait to see if they spend. 

These small market teams can be upset about how big markets spend, but the owner of the Yankees shouldn’t make that argument. Again, I think Hal is right about getting a salary floor, but a cap is not something he should focus on. What he should be focused on is helping the Yankees win their first World Series since 2009.