I realize that when the Vikings are killing it, no one in Minnesota is thinking about yet another disappointing Twins season. But, my Yankees just came off of a World Series appearance and are in the throes of the Hot Stove Season – when teams sign free agents and make trades for the upcoming season. Every day there are rumors, potential blockbuster deals, and a plethora of possible outcomes. Last year, the big fish was Shohei Ohtani of course – perhaps the most sought-after free agent of all time. The Los Angeles Dodgers shocked the sports world with a $700 million contract (most of it deferred). And of course Ohtani went on to have one of the greatest seasons of all time and the Dodgers beat my Yankees for the World Series title.
Sigh…
You see, for the uninformed, Ohtani isn’t just some baseball player. He’s a once in a generation (or longer) talent that might go down as one of the greatest athletes of all time. But there’s more – he’s the biggest Japanese star to ever appear in our Major Leagues. When he plays, TV ratings in Japan skyrocket. His jersey is the biggest seller in Major League Baseball. Ticket sales went up around the league when his Dodgers came to town. Everyone wants to see Ohtani’s greatness in person or on TV or any way they can. And he’s a hero for all Asians who love baseball – Japanese or otherwise. If you don’t believe me, go to a Dodgers game anywhere…you’ll see.
Ohtani is not just a ballplayer. He’s a brand. The Dodgers figured that out better than the other 29 teams and are capitalizing on it.
This year’s big free agent is Juan Soto, who is coming off an amazing (yet not quite Ohtani amazing) season with the Yankees. He just signed a deal with the New York Mets for $765 million over 15 years (with potential raises that bring the contract to $805 million). He’s only 26, in the prime of his career, and is bound for the Hall of Fame. There’s only one problem: he’s not Ohtani. Soto, while a great player and also a very entertaining guy, is from the Dominican Republic. There have been plenty of superstars from the DR – it no longer confers the novelty that Japanese players still do. I have heard several baseball insiders say that a team would be crazy to spend that kind of money on Soto. He doesn’t sell the jerseys. He doesn’t boost ratings. He’s not an international phenomenon. We’ll soon find out – just how much of a brand that Juan Soto is…in New York (albeit in Queens and not in the Bronx).
And that brings me to the reason I am writing this for TC Jewfolk. When the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings began on Dec. 9, there were two other free-agent stars out on the market. They are stars, not superstars. They will not be Hall of Famers. But they are winners, they have a track record of success, and are excellent ballplayers. Oh, and they’re both Jewish.
The winter meetings are an annual event – a 4-day gathering of all 30 Major League baseball teams in one place – their owners, GMs, managers, and even some players. Agents schmooze with GMs trying to get massive free agent deals for their clients. Aging players who some have forgotten about often times show up looking for work. The baseball media world shows up in force always looking for a rumor to ramp up the excitement. I attended the Winter Meetings once – at Opryland in Nashville in 1998. It was a different world in 1998. So so different.
Alex Bregman, formerly of the Houston Astros and Max Fried, formerly of the Atlanta Braves are both free agents. Pre-winter meeting estimates had them commanding somewhere in the $150-$200 million range for 5-7 years of their services. Fried exceeded that, signing a reported 8-year contract for $218 million with my New York Yankees. We know there have been Jewish players over the years, but we also know that there have been very few Jewish stars. Bregman and Fried are in fact, stars. They are two of the best Jewish players of this generation and each has many years left in the league. I listen to baseball news and baseball talk radio all the time…all year round. I have not yet heard one commentator or personality mention that Bregman and Fried are Jews. You might say – why is that important? As of the start of the meetings in Dallas, my Yankees were in the running for both of them. The Yankees have had Jewish players over the years, but never a star. Now, they could have two at the same time.
When the Mets traded for David Cone, there was, in New York City, a buzz – for a minute. Most of us heard the mispronunciation of Cohen. The Mets just got a pitcher named David Cohen we thought. My mom was ecstatic…until it was revealed that it was Cone. David Cone has said himself, that he received tons of offers to appear at bar mitzvahs and other Jewish events when he first arrived to New York.
That is the excitement we could have with Bregman in addition to Fried. Why doesn’t anyone talk about the marketing opportunities they would have in New York City? Why doesn’t anyone talk about how inspiring they would be to little Jewish kids in the Tri-State area? Why has not one on-air personality mentioned this very obvious fact? A Jewish star in the Jewish capital of America just seems like a golden opportunity for both the team and the player. I know for a fact that Jews have bought these two player’s jerseys simply because they are Jews – not because they were Astros or Braves fans. It’s literally the same thing with Ohtani. Kids are Ohtani fans – not Angels or Dodgers fans.
Remember this poorly produced video after 10/7?
I mean, no Max Fried – but there is Alex Bregman! And Fried used to wear #32 – honoring the one and only Sandy Koufax. Both Bregman and Fried (with fellow MOT Joc Pederson) combined for the most Jewish play in Major League history: In the 2021 World Series, Bregman hit a pitch by Fried to Pederson out in left field.
My Yankees got Fried, and since we know the Twins aren’t going to ante up for Bregman, they may as well add him too. We need these guys on our team because 3rd base is a hole and you can never get enough pitching. But also, because the Yankees would definitely sell some extra kosher hot dogs with Bregman and Fried on the diamond in the Bronx. Bregman’s Brats? Fried’s Franks?
