Former World Series champion A.J. Pierzynski doesn't believe how the New York Yankees have changed as an organization. A two-time All-Star catcher who debuted during the Yankees' dynasty days, Pierzynski reacted to Hall Steinbrenner's recent comments about spending with sarcasm – and nostalgia.
Steinbrenner, in an interview with the YES Network's Meredith Markovitz, lamented that it was "hard" for teams to keep up with the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Pierzynski, now a host of the Foul Territory podcast, can't believe this is where the Yankees are now.
"Is this why the Yankees didn't resign (Tommy) Kahnle? They couldn't afford him at $7.75 million," Pierzynski asked sarcastically. "I mean, it's just weird to me, but some of these rich teams that are crying poor right now……but Hal Steinbrenner knows better than I do and anybody else what his finances are. And I just don't get it because I don't know, man, like you're the Yankees. You used to be the Dodgers, and now you don't want to spend it.
"If George (were) alive right now, after what happened in the World Series last year, George would have bought everybody."
Pierzynski, like many Yankees fans, remembers the days when George Steinbrenner was the one other teams complained about for dominating the free-agent market. The elder Steinbrenner signed the first free agent (Catfish Hunter) and set a precedent in the first year of free spending. After losing the 1976 World Series, Steinbrenner went out to sign pitcher Don Gullet and outfielder Reggie Jackson, earning the Yankees the nickname "The Best Team Money Could Buy."
Things have changed under The Boss' son.
Hal Steinbrenner has said that he wants the Yankees to stay under last year's payroll of $313.8 million, according to Spotrac.com.
Heading into the 2025 season, the Yankees' payroll is $273.3 million, the fourth-highest in the majors, behind the Dodgers' $303.8 million and the Philadelphia Phillies ($279.3 million) and New York Mets ($275.6 million).
