MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is interviewed on Roberto Clemente Day...

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is interviewed on Roberto Clemente Day at Citi Field on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

The Mets and Yankees are under investigation by Major League Baseball for potentially improper discussions regarding the free agency of Aaron Judge, but commissioner Rob Manfred dismissed the likelihood of any wrongdoing Thursday.

The origin of the dispute, raised by the Players Association, stems from an SNY.tv article citing Mets’ sources that suggested owner Steve Cohen would not engage in a bidding war with his Yankees’ counterpart Hal Steinbrenner over Judge, the free-agent outfielder expected to command a contract over $300 million this winter.

Part of that reason, according to the Nov. 3 SNY.tv article, was the “mutually respectful relationship” between Cohen and Steinbrenner as the two owners reportedly did not want to fracture that crosstown dynamic over Judge. The Players Association maintains that such behavior would be a violation of the current CBA, as teams are prohibited from such communication regarding free agents, and collusion between owners is a very explosive allegation, especially given MLB’s checkered history in that area.

“Let me say two things,” Manfred said Thursday at the conclusion of MLB’s owners meetings in midtown Manhattan. “Obviously, I was a labor guy first. Labor rule one is you want to make sure that when you make an agreement, you live up to the agreement. I’m absolutely confident that the clubs behaved in a way that was consistent with the agreement.

“This was based on a newspaper report. We will put ourselves in a position to demonstrate credibly to the MLBPA that this is not an issue. I’m sure that’s going to be the outcome. But obviously, we understand the emotion that surrounds that word and we’ll proceed accordingly.”

The article in question is the from the Mets’ TV network web site, not a newspaper. But Manfred’s implication seemed to point to the lack of concrete evidence, or any on-the-record commentary, that would support the union’s claims of collusion. According to the article, at the time Judge turned down the Opening Day offer of $213.5 million, “Mets sources said that they did not plan to fight the Yankees this offseason for Judge” and the feeling in Flushing had not changed this month because “the team in Queens sees Judge as a Yankee, uniquely tailored to be an icon in their uniform, stadium and branding efforts.” Also, the relationship between Cohen and Steinbrenner was such that the two “do not expect to upend that with a high-profile bidding war.”

Both the Yankees and Mets declined comment when contacted Thursday afternoon, as did the Players Association. Any communication between teams that would affect the market for a free agent is a violation of the CBA, and this sort of language is a red flag for the Players Association, especially as it pertains to the most coveted free agent and two of the three highest-spending teams in the sport. While there is no timetable for the investigation, MLB has only begun gathering information, and upon completion of the case, it will be turned over to the union to decide whether or not to pursue a grievance against the owners.

MLB has been accused of collusion numerous times in the past, paying nearly $300 million to the players in damages as a result. Judge, who received his first career MVP award Thursday night after hitting an AL-record 62 home runs, is expected to earn this offseason’s biggest contract.

Shortly after Judge was announced as the AL MVP Thursday night, he was asked on the conference call about his level of concern regarding the possible collusion between the Yankees and Mets.

“Not too much,” Judge said. “I just saw the reports really today, kind of reading a couple articles on it. I’m going to let the PA and MLB kind of figure that one out. When you get to be a free agent, you look forward to the opportunity to talk to every single team, and kind of have an opportunity to see whatever team wants you, you can go there, so I got nothing on it right now. Kind of a developing story for me, but I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with that.”

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