The New York Yankees might be one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world, but there is just one thing they refuse to do for their own players.
Sports Illustrated’s Stephanie Apstein reported the Yankees don’t foot the bill for Internet access on its flights through Delta.
Per SI:
“Gerrit Cole had dreamed of playing for the Yankees since he was a kid, and in so many ways the experience has been exactly what children envision: the crisp pinstripes, the retired numbers, the Bleacher Creatures.
But one thing surprised him when he got to New York after signing a nine-year, $324 million deal before the 2020 season: The fourth-most valuable franchise in sports charges players for internet access on the team plane.
Technically, it’s Delta that does the charging, approximately $9 per flight. (Delta also offers free iMessage and WhatsApp.) But the Yankees, whom Forbes estimates are worth $6 billion, do not cover the cost. A person familiar with the prices of such things said an in-flight Wi-Fi plan for one team for one year costs approximately $40,000—or about the price of four Cole pitches.”
During the offseason, the Yankees shelled out a lot of money to re-acquire outfielder Aaron Judge this offseason, but that is merely a dent in the overall net worth of the team.
So, why won’t the Yankees cover the WiFi?
“I think most of our players can afford it,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told Sports Illustrated’s Stephanie Apstein.
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Yankees veteran outfielder Brett Gardener jokingly blamed Judge.
“It’s your fault,” longtime center fielder Brett Gardner said. “Your contract is too big, so they can’t pay for the Wi-Fi.”
The estimated 2023 payroll for the Yankees this season is $272 million.
Don’t expect anybody to actually feel sorry for a bunch of millionaires not getting free Wi-Fi.
The team has bigger problems on their hands, like trying to figure out how to deal with the Houston Astros when they meet up in the playoffs. Back in October, The Astros swept the Yankees to reach their 4th World Series in 6 years. The Astros have eliminated the Yankees from the postseason in 2015, 2017, 2019, and in 2022.
Maybe the team needs to spend more to figure out how to get past them.
