Trevor Bauer is a Cy Young Award winner and a free agent. He is the best pitcher on the market and in a normal world he would cash in big time, like Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg did last winter.
But these are not normal times, so we will see where the market goes – and, actually, Bauer is a bit unusual himself given his use of social media.
Bauer engages frequently on Twitter, which in itself is hardly unique and not a bad thing, either. But Bauer’s outspokenness during last summer’s labor negotiations, and his comments directed toward Commissioner Rob Manfred, are a little outside the norm for athletes on social media.
Is that a bad thing? Could it impact his free agency? Does it signal anything about his being a fit in New York?
All depends on who you ask.
I asked three former General Managers if they would be scared of Bauer’s social media presence if they were currently GM of the Yankees.
Former GM 1: “I think the world is changing and this is the new player, one who is active on social media. You just want somebody who won’t embarrass the organization. I’d (tell) the player, ‘You have to be aware of this. There’s nothing like New York and you have to be ready for it.’”
Former GM 2: “When things don’t go well and (the player) is that outspoken it becomes a problem (for the team). There’s not a guy like that in New York and there’s a reason for that. I wouldn’t even pursue him. It’s a non-starter for me.”
Former GM 3: “It doesn’t bother me all that much. As long as it’s not disparaging to the organization or his teammates and not embarrassing to the organization, I’m okay with it. He’s got a lot to say, but it’s a free country, man. It might be something that has to be managed, but overall does the player bring positivity with his play and his effort or not? Does the good outweigh the bad?”
I also asked three agents if Bauer’s social media presence would present a problem if they were negotiating with the Yankees.
Agent 1: “If he’s my client I’d tell him to dial it back, at least for now. The Yankees are so covetous of their brand. It does matter. I’m not even saying he’s a bad guy, I have no idea. I’m just saying all things being equal…he wouldn’t be my first choice if I’m Brian Cashman.”
Agent 2: “I do not have a problem with almost all of Bauer’s positions. No one is going to silence him since that is part of the flair that gives him the swag on the field. Take the chip off his shoulder, and you may have an entirely different pitcher. The Yanks want everyone to fit within a specific prototype. It hasn’t translated into the success that they want. Maybe it’s time to change things up a bit.”
Agent 3: “I’ve never heard anyone say he wasn’t a great teammate. So he’s not a conformist. That’s one of the things that makes him a great competitor. I would never encourage him to be anything other than what he is.”
There have been other players that don’t fit the Yankees “prototype” that have played here and thrived to varying degrees – Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, and CC Sabathia, for three. But they all presented somewhat softer sides of their oversized personalities after arriving in New York, too.
Brian Cashman did not wish to comment on free agents when I asked about Bauer’s social media presence. But Mets President Sandy Alderson sounded more than happy to discuss Bauer’s potential in Queens during an appearance this week on WFAN.
“This is an entertainment business,” Alderson told Craig Carton & Evan Roberts. “We’ve got to be open-minded about how players express themselves. The thing that’s interesting about Bauer is he brings along with him a lot of ideas, a lot of routines, a sort of technical orientation that I bet we can learn from. As long as it’s not disruptive in the clubhouse, and basically if guys see someone performing, they’ll live with whatever the baggage is. I actually think Bauer would be a great personality in New York, the kind of guy that fans would embrace.”
And not surprisingly, Bauer’s agent, Rachel Luba, echoed that sentiment during an appearance on WFAN earlier this month.
“He has a strategy and he knows what he’s doing and I don’t think anybody who really understands the game and the industry can’t see that,” Luba told John Jastremski. “They totally get what he’s doing and I think he’s great for the game.
He’s drawn interest in the game in an incredible way. He’s also encouraged other players to start speaking up and have personalities.”
“Bauer makes very valid points when he speaks out and he’s always open to having a discussion,” Luba continued. “Bauer is an entrepreneur himself. He understands how businesses work. He has a couple businesses of his own, so he gets where the other side is coming from. He understands that a lot of times in baseball for change to happen you have to speak up because otherwise nothing will get taken care of.”
Whichever team signs Trevor Bauer will get a very talented pitcher. They will also get a very intelligent player who isn’t afraid to speak his mind and draw attention to himself – and that team needs to be prepared for both.
Follow Sweeny Murti on Twitter: @YankeesWFAN
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