STEINBRENNER CRIES PAYROLL IS "NOT SUSTAINABLE" & CHANGES ARE COMING!

I can't listen to Hal Steinbrenner talk anymore, it's worse than nails on a chalkboard for me. It's been this way for far too long and I am over it. So, when I read THIS yesterday, I just wanted to scream. Hal just needs to shut up and stop talking.

I get it. No business wants to spend tons of money to operate their business. Baseball is a business. Hal has committed just over $300 million in payroll to this team and that's a ton of money. It's too much money. You DON'T need to spend that kind of money to have a winning team.... period. There are no hard facts to prove only big payrolls win World Series Championships. In fact, teams that are the best of the best DO win championships with less money.

But that's not the Yankee way. It never has been. George Steinbrenner spent money and demanded excellence and championships. Granted, nothing is run today is like it was when George was alive, but the Yankees have always spent money and expected to win. We all know, the Yankees aren't hurting for money by a long shot.

The Yankees can afford anything they want so this hot garbage statement of payroll not being sustainable is crap. The Yankees are the second most valuable sports franchise and are valued at $7.1 billion. Should the Yankees be spending $300 million every year? NO, but they are right now largely because of Brian Cashman and his poor acquisitions. Seriously, the Yankees will be stuck with Giancarlo Stanton through 2027. Even IF someone would be willing to take some of that contract, he's not waiving his no trade clause. Aaron Hicks is still on the Yankees payroll and that was a terrible deal. Jacoby Ellsbury's deal sucked. We can go on and on with his bad deals and have a book of a blog post here. Cashman is a huge part of the problem.

So, I get it when Hal says they are going to rely on a few veterans who do make more money but have proven experience with some young kids who are more cost controlled like Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominguez, because that makes sense! But Cashman has a long history of making some bad deals and he plays a huge part in where the payroll is now. The fact that the Yankees player development hasn't been very strong also does not help. If you don't grow it, you can't develop it and manage your costs better which means you are going out and paying top dollar to find it. That was in your "deep dive," right Hal? Guess that slipped through the cracks, too.

So, Hal is crying about payroll while he is praising Juan Soto and wants to keep him? Read THE BIG JUAN SOTO TEASE! That doesn't go together. Soto has made it clear; He is going to get his payday. He's had multiple opportunities to cash in with a nice contract and said no in hopes for a bigger piece of the free agent grand prize. If Hal wants Soto, he better be prepared to open his wallet and quit crying about his payroll not being sustainable because these two things do not go together. Also, if that's the case, you shouldn't have went ALL IN over the winter giving up a large haul for a one-year rental. THAT is also not a smart business move.

So, I am tired of Hal's mouth moving. He could have a $300 million payroll for the next five plus years and be completely fine. I'm not saying he should do this, just stating he has the financial means to do so. He's made tons of money since his family bought the team in 1973 for $8.8 million. The Yankees charge an arm and a leg to get into the stadium and buy food and drinks. He also makes more revenue when he makes the playoffs and with tv and streaming deals. Have some cheese with your wine and shut up.

I'm over Hal. Spend money on Soto or don't.... but own your choices, your GM's choices and quit trying to gaslight fans.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj