Oct 11, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, left, and general manager Brian Cashman watch batting practice before game one of the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Cleveland Guardians at New York Yankees
(New York, NY) — The New York Yankees are arguably the most prestigious and successful franchise in Major League Baseball. The team is valued at $6 billion, per Forbes making them the fourth (Cowboys, Patriots, Rams) most valuable franchise in professional sports.
Despite that, the Yankees make players pay for Wi-Fi during team flights. Yes, you read that right.
According to Stephanie Apstein of Sports Illustrated, the Yankees are one of two MLB teams that who implement this process. The other, the Cincinnati Reds. Technically, it’s Delta that does the charging, which is approximately $9 per flight. But the Yankees, do not cover the cost. As Apstein put it, the cost of a one-year, in-flight Wi-Fi plan is roughly $40,000, “about the price of four [Gerrit] Cole pitches.”
Longtime center field Brett Gardner is blaming Gerrit Cole for the outrageous protocols. “It’s your fault,” Brett Gardner told him. “Your contract is too big, so they can’t pay for the Wi-Fi.” Former Yankees pitcher Jameson Taillon said he refused to pay for in-flight Wi-Fi with the team based “on principle.”
Luckily for the Bombers, this did not weigh into Aaron Judge’s decision on signing with the team.
“I’ve got T-Mobile, so I don’t have to worry about it,” said Judge, who’s a spokesman for the company. T-Mobile offers customers free Wi-Fi on Delta flights.
Non-Yankees were flabbergasted when they were told the policy existed. Miami Marlins outfielder Jazz Chisholm laughed out loud.
“Bro, the Wi-Fi didn’t even fricking work and I paid 10 bucks!”
“Who told you that?” asked Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs, who said he had never heard of such a thing. “I think they’re messing with you.”
In the grand scheme of everything, we don’t think it will break the bank on any MLB players, but it’s still flabbergasting to think a franchise like the New York Yankees could be so cheap.
