HAL STEINBRENNER IS THE BOY WHO CALLED WOLF!

Almost 6 months ago to the day, Hal Steinbrenner was crying about payroll. Suddenly Hal has magically had a change of heart. Or he realizes he's in the hot seat. You pick which narrative you like best, either way he sounds like a damn fool.... or the modern-day boy who cried wolf.

In May we wrote STEINBRENNER CRIES PAYROLL IS "NOT SUSTAINABLE" & CHANGES ARE COMING! It's pretty tone deaf when the owner of the second most valuable sports franchise says a $300 million payroll isn't sustainable. It IS sustainable, he just doesn't like the cost of his poor acquisitions. None of us do. But you can't make that ridiculous statement after trading several players for a one-year Juan Soto rental. Even if he was doing it for strategy against Steve Cohen, we just don't want to hear it. You gambled and it didn't pay off with a championship like you wanted, Hal.

So here we are six months later and the Yankees are trying to woo Soto away from the Mets and we get the next stupid Hal headline at the Owners Meetings yesterday:

So, six months ago, payroll was "not sustainable" and suddenly now they are in a better starting position? Get outta here. You were in a great position before any extra revenue earned from the postseason. It's like Hal is trying to channel his dad George Steinbrenner with his "it doesn't mean that I can't do what I want to do" comment but he's no George. He tries to talk the talk and walk the walk but he can't.

So now, the Yankees are "in a better position" because now that it could very well come down to Mets vs Yankees decision for Soto and Hal wants to go toe-to-toe with Cohen and his deeper pockets. Hal makes it sound like there will be no penny pinching this winter and honestly, if he wants a high caliber player like Soto he can't afford to penny pinch. 

So, does Hal finally put his month where his mouth is? I hope so. It's rare to see the Yankees miss out on a free agent they are hyper focused on. Look at Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge, who have Hal's ear and trust, and he wants to have that same relationship with Soto. That is going to come at a cost, and the Mets are saying they won't be outbid.

Hal says "we've got the ability to sign any player that we would like to sign" literally means "no excuses" to us, Hal. You were crying about money 6 months ago....so now no one believes it. You better deliver.

You should also read SERIOUS QUESTION. DOES HAL STEINBRENNER KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING? for more of this.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj