Opinion | Free agency has become a theatrics display
Joe Perrino, Sports Editor
Ever since ESPN released the television special “The Decision” in 2010 to announce LeBron James’ signing with the Miami Heat, players in all professional sports have used similar marketing tactics to promote their selection of a team in free agency.
The most recent example came after MLB pitcher Trevor Bauer played a cat-and-mouse game with teams and fans that eventually ended Feb. 5, signing a three-year deal worth $102 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Throughout the entire offseason, Bauer — a prized acquisition for any team given his recent status as a reigning Cy Young Award winner, the highest honor a pitcher can receive — took to Twitter and Instagram to tell fans to give him the best pitch as to why he should join their favorite franchise. In a rush, fans of all teams — myself included, shouting into the void of social media to try to convince him to sign with the San Francisco Giants — tried to win Bauer over.
While many — like the Giants, sadly — didn’t even have a chance to land him in the first place, the New York Mets thought they had Bauer on lock.
Prior to his signing with the Dodgers, Bauer ran a merchandise sale and giveaway on his personal website. He announced that he would be giving away a signed Mets hat. On top of that, Bauer listed Mets jerseys and other gear for sale on that website. Mets fans took to Twitter, some more optimistic than others, thinking they had just landed the free agent. Little to their knowledge, it was a red herring.
This was saddening news to fans everywhere, as Bauer wound up selling out and went to the worst franchise in baseball, an organization that consistently uses its financial advantages to hurt small-market teams.
Okay, maybe I’m just a Giants fan that really doesn’t like the Dodgers. But a lot of fans were still upset.
For a moment, it seemed like Bauer would become a hero and join the figurative Rebel Alliance by signing with the Mets, a perpetual underdog; instead, he joined the Empire. And it seemed like he screwed over an entire fanbase in the process with that initial giveaway.
A series of tweets from Bauer Feb. 8 revealed a different side of the story, as the pitcher apologized to Mets fans, explaining the Mets merchandise he listed was a mistake. This could be a public relations move to make Bauer look like less of a bozo, but regardless, it brings up a whole other discussion regarding the evolution of free agency.
The “player empowerment” era in sports today, which has given more freedom than ever for players to make grand free agent decisions, has been largely fantastic for sports and important for athletes. But with the rise of social media, it’s also become a pony show that can heartlessly string entire fan bases along for the ride — right up until heartbreak.
Imagine the poor souls who bought a Bauer Mets jersey, only for him to never play a game with the team. Or the Cavaliers fans who tuned into “The Decision” special just to see James sign with the Heat. Players need to pay more mind to their following and fans — the heart and soul of their career — rather than exploiting their interest for simple monetary gain.
My heart goes out to the millions of sports fans who have been wronged by these childish displays of theatrics.