Good morning, all! I hope your Tuesday is off to a great start!
Jeff Passan of ESPN sent the baseball universe into a tizzy on Monday with a report that Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper and baseball commissioner Rob Manfred went toe-to-toe, during a clubhouse meeting last week. Manfred has been making the rounds - as he does each season - meeting the clubs, but he has made it a point this year to talk to the players about the game’s economics.
The deal between MLB and the MLBPA expires after the 2026 season, and the players are insistent that the owners want a salary cap. All other major sports have one, but a salary cap to the MLBPA is worse than a pandemic. Passan claimed, according to sources, that Harper confronted the commissioner about the salary cap in a heated exchange, even though Manfred never brought up a salary cap.
Not to be outdone, NY Post baseball writers Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman also claimed “their sources” told them of the same confrontation. Reporters hate to be scooped by a story and within seconds of Passan releasing his to social media. Heyman and Sherman were out with a video, explaining what happened.
My take? I think the entire story stinks. Maybe Passan - who acts as if he didn’t break the story it didn’t happen - and Heyman and Sherman - who believe they are the inventors of the baseball scoop - are correct about the Philly kerfuffle. My problem with it is nobody, repeat nobody, was quoted in the story. It was all about, “sources say,” “my sources tell me,” “our sources say,” yada, yada, yada.
The only player on the record about something happening in the Philadelphia clubhouse was the Phillies Nick Castellanos, who commented in general that a salary cap is a non-starter. That’s it. When Passan asked the commissioner and Harper to comment on what happened both refused.
Far be it from me to take three reporters who have a national platform to task. But wouldn’t you think a story, where a commissioner is verbally challenged in a heated exchange by a star player, deserves an on-the-record comment?
As for ESPN, Passan’s employer, call me even more skeptical, after Red Sox manager Alex Cora called the all-sports network out over the weekend, for making up player trades and then going on air to report these stories, when he (Cora) worked for ESPN between his playing and coaching days.
Furthermore, ESPN opted out of its $1B+ contract with MLB after this season. The two sides will be splitsville shortly. Manfred has admitted ESPN, Apple-TV and NBC are all negotiating with him about a new contract to take the place of the one ESPN abandoned. Could it be negotiations are not going well between ESPN and MLB on this proposed new deal? Is this ESPN’s way of saying take your game and shove it?
This is what happens when you supposedly “break” a major story and just quote “sources.” Skeptics like me begin questioning, if there is an ulterior motive. And I don’t need any sources to tell you that.
Here are some other stories that caught my eye for Tuesday, July 29, 2025:
Rooting for Deion Sanders, after the Colorado football coach explained his extended time away from the university was because he was recovering from cancer surgery. Sanders said he had bladder cancer and has had his bladder removed. Here is hoping for the best of health for Sanders, who says he has been told he is cancer-free.
Ryne Sandberg R.I.P.
I guess the Cleveland Guardians won’t be trading Emmanuel Clase by Thursday’s trade deadline. The Guardians closer was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave Monday. It’s part of MLB’s continued investigation into sports betting. He joins fellow pitcher Luis Ortiz, who is on paid leave through Aug. 31. Baseball and all sports have cut deals with the gaming industry, all in the name of money. You just wonder how many more stories such as these are going to emerge.
You don’t think these sports are now in bed with the gaming industry? I do not know if this was a story or ad, because there was no distinction, but this piece was lumped in with other stories on the home page of the CBS Sports website on Monday:
If you tell me Athletics pitcher Luis Severino will be in his old Yankees pinstripes by the trade deadline, I won’t argue.
Why does the Yankee Stadium organist think it’s necessary to play after every pitch?
Has anyone noticed how the Texas Rangers have gotten back into the thick of the wild card race? It’s a marathon not a sprint.
Thank you for subscribing and have a terrific day!
DAN