FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray details how the New York Yankees allowed the Boston Red Sox to snag Trevor Story—with a catch.
Finally, Trevor Story has found a home in Boston to the tune of $140 million for six years.
The move has been considered a win for Boston and Story, who could end up moving to shortstop as soon as next season.
The Yankees immediately responded by signing Marwin Gonzales, which was considered to be an underwhelming response to losing out on Story.
Yankees fans who were hoping to land Story need not fret: the Yankees didn’t necessarily lose out on Story, because it’s likely they didn’t want him in the first place.
Yankees use free agency trick to get Trevor Story to Red Sox
According to FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, the Yankees frequently allow sports agents to attach the Yankees name to free agents that New York is not even pursuing. This allows agents to negotiate for a higher price, and it pressures teams to steal players away from the Yankees.
“They were never serious about signing [Carlos Correa] or Trevor Story or any of these top shortstops,” Murray said at around the 26:45 mark of The Baseball Insiders podcast with Mark Carman.
“You’re telling me that the New York Yankees allow other agents to use their name to get dudes more money so the Yankees can benefit because now x team has paid more for that player and they’ll have less available dollars in theory in the future and then other players can fall to the Yankees,” Mark Carman said, summarizing their strategy. “Sounds like a brilliant strategy, but also scummy at the same time.”
“If Brian Cashman did do that, I tip my cap, because they ended up paying $140 million for Trevor Story, so, good work, Cashman, if that is indeed the case,” Murray said.