Athletes in all sports must weigh a variety of factors when deciding where to sign as a free agent.
Financial concerns are often at the forefront, of course, but there’s also personal comfort, family obligations, and whether to stay with your current team or move on to a situation with less certainty. One factor not normally at play? Which team will let you grow the beard you want to grow.
Andrew Cashner was traded from the Padres to the Marlins in July, and though he hasn’t been dominant in Miami, the Marlins would still likely prefer a chance to re-sign him when he becomes a free agent this winter. There’s one problem, though: under manager Don Mattingly, the Marlins have an anti-facial hair policy modeled after George Steinbrenner’s famous rule for the Yankees. This does not suit Cashner, who prefers a different look:
Via Larry Brown Sports:
Pitcher Andrew Cashner, who was acquired from the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline, said that the Marlins’ no facial hair policy would impact his decision when he becomes a free agent at season’s end.
“That is a big deal to me in free agency,” Cashner told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, adding that he hates the policy.
Manager Don Mattingly, who was a member of George Steinbrenner’s famously beard-free Yankees, has been strictly enforcing the policy.
“It’s just who we want to be as an organization,” Mattingly said. “It’s nothing like it makes us better or makes us more disciplined.”
Some players weren’t thrilled when the policy was instituted in spring training. Mattingly himself seemingly admits that it doesn’t have any sort of impact beyond keeping up appearances.
What appearances, exactly, are the Marlins hoping to keep up? As though no facial hair might somehow signify an air of moral superiority, or behavioral cleanliness? Let’s remember that the man who came up with this policy for the Yankees was basically as crooked as anyone, but he wasn’t wearing a beard when he paid a gambler to find dirt on his own player, resulting in a subsequent suspension from baseball.
The Marlins have a lot to overcome when attempting to court free agents. There’s the long and storied history of cheap and dishonest ownership. There’s the circus tent of a stadium in which they play (which ties in with the cheap and dishonest ownership.) And, of course, there’s the fact that they’re just not that good, having not been to the playoffs since their World Series win in 2003, and all but eliminated from contention this year.
Why in the world would you want to handicap yourself further by instituting a meaningless policy that is only going to hurt your organization, all because Don Mattingly either hates beards or loves George Steinbrenner? Those aren’t good enough reasons.
