Shaun Morash wasn’t happy with Hal Steinbrenner for telling reporters (including Dan Martin of the New York Post) at the owners meetings that the team’s $300 million payroll will almost certainly come down after this season, as it is not a sustainable number for the Yankees.
“My message would be ‘shut up,’” Morash said. “This is a feel-good season for fans, and we know the big Juan Soto elephant in the room that Hal has already addressed and basically said, ‘hey, we want to talk to him now. ‘These comments are only gonna make Yankee fans not believe that they will retain Soto even if the deal is to sign Soto but nobody else.
“Hal, just shut up right now, even if you believe that and there is gonna be truth to that. The public and the fanbase doesn't want to hear that and put any negativity into the minds.”
Morash also takes issue with his assumption that, once the payroll comes down, the prices for going to a Yankee game and eating at a Yankee game will likely stay the same.
“I have a tough time as a Yankee fan who loves going to the ballpark staring up and understanding, you know, the same old song and dance. Fifteen bucks for the beer here, 40 bucks for the chicken finger bucket,” Morash said. “Are you gonna take down the prices that it costs to be a fan? Whether it's tickets or everything when you reduce payroll? Probably not.
“So, from a fan's perspective, if I'm putting over money over fist for tickets and this, that and the other, I don't want to hear that. I wanna see you invest money when it counts, and you better not let this prohibit you from keeping the best star in baseball who's currently here.”