American League Cy Young Award winner Sparky Lyle told George Steinbrenner that he want to be traded. Lyle, who signed a three year contract for 1977-1979 worth about $420,000, was pivotal in the Yankees becoming 1977 World Champions, which prompted the Yankees' owner to reward Lyle with a $35,000 bonus as well as a one year extension on his contract worth $140.000. The Yankees then signed relief pitchers Rich "Goose" Gossage for $2, 748.000 and Rawly Eastwick for $1,100,000.
Lyle, realizing that his deal paled in comparison to his new teammates and that he would pitch a lot less, has requested that the Yankees trade him to a team where he would pitch often. Lyle said that Steinbrenner asked him where he wanted to go, since as a player with ten years in the majors and five years with the same team, Lyle can reject any proposed trades. The left handed relief ace responded that he would go to any team that would renegotiate his contract.
"Why shouldn't I go to another club and pitch the way I want to? Then I'll get the money and pitch like I want to. Money is what it's all boiling down to." Steinbrenner pointed out that Lyle had a contract and that a contract is a contract.
After Lyle and Steinbrenner spoke, the Yankees' owner met with catcher Thurman Munson, who has been unhappy. Over the winter, Munson has expressed a desire to be traded to Cleveland in order to be closer to home. At a dinner both Steinbrenner and Munson attended, Steinbrenner expressed his displeasure at Munson's request.
Once again it is money. Munson wants more. He has four years left on his contract at salaries of $165,000, $195,000, $260,000, and $275,000. When asked if giving Munson more money would help ease the problem, Steinbrenner said that remains to be seen. So much for team loyalty.
COMMENTS:
Fans, especially intense fans, do not want to face reality. They live in their own fantasy world, a world in which nothing is more important than helping their team win, but the reality they refuse to confront is quite different. There is no team loyalty.
Take Sparky Lyle, and he hopes that some team will. The Yankees acquired his contract from the Boston Red Sox. Now, this was in 1972. Younger fans probably think that going from the Red Sox to the Yankees was a big deal but at that time, the Red Sox were just another team the Yankees tried to beat. In 1967, the Yankees, who were out of the pennant race, sent Elston Howard to the Red Sox in August in the hopes that Ellie would get into another World Series. The fact that it would be with the Red Sox was irrelevant.
