Hypothetical: Youβre the owner of an MLB team. I offer to take $0 salary and sign a minor league contract and go to Low A.
If the βhe sucks nowβ crowd is right and I get lit up, you cut me, lose $0 and thereβs no risk to the big league club.
If the βclubhouse cancerβ crowd is right, you see it immediately at Low A and cut me. You lose $0 and thereβs no risk to the big league club.
If thereβs massive negative PR, which we already know there wonβt be, you just cut me and move on. The story is dead in a couple days, you lose $0, and thereβs no risk to the big league club.
But, assuming none of those things happen, which they obviously wouldnβt, if you like what you see, you can promote me to AA and re evaluate me there. Then AAA. Then the big leagues. If I earn it, which youβd be 100% in control of deciding. If you donβt think Iβm good enough, you lose $0 and thereβs no risk to the big league club.
You could take away my βanticsβ. You could take away my social media. You could ask anything of me. If I donβt comply, you cut me, lose $0, and thereβs no risk to the big league club.
What logical reason is there to not do this? At worst, you cut me and thereβs no risk to the big league club. At best, you get a Cy Young winner for $0 who you know can still pitch and could help the big league team if and when you see fit.
NEWS: Iowa coach Ben McCollum is finalizing a new six-year contract, sources told me and @jeffborzello . McCollum led the Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight in his first season at the helm and was pursued by North Carolina during the Tar Heelsβ coaching search last month.