The Yankees finally ditched their no-beards policy last week, ending nearly five decades of clean-shaven tradition.
Owner Hal Steinbrenner made it official Wednesday, acknowledging that the rule might be hurting the team’s chances with potential free agents.
“If I ever found out that a player we wanted to acquire…did not want to be here, would not come here, because of that policy, that would be very, very concerning,” Steinbrenner said.
While Steinbrenner didn’t name names, the timing suggests this might help the Yankees keep one of their newest bullpen arms beyond 2024.
Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media wrote Saturday that scrapping the beard ban could significantly boost the team’s chances of re-signing Devin Williams, the two-time NL Reliever of the Year acquired from Milwaukee in December.
Williams, who’ll be a free agent after this season, made his feelings about the policy pretty clear. He showed up to spring training still sporting his beard and waited until the absolute last minute to shave it off.
“Williams is a case study of a player who loved his facial hair and hated ditching it. The NL’s best closer might’ve been intrigued to be a Yankee after six seasons with the Brewers, but he wasn’t thrilled at the surcharge for wearing Pinstripes,” Klapisch wrote.
“It was no coincidence that Williams arrived in camp without having shaved. He finally did – grudgingly – but the point was made. Williams would’ve held the Yankees grooming policy against them as a free agent.”
Williams apparently took his concerns straight to the top. He told The Athletic Saturday that he discussed his displeasure with the policy directly with Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman, which likely played a role in the change.
Let’s put it this way: if dropping an outdated grooming policy helps the Yankees keep an elite closer like Williams, it’s a no-brainer. The “tradition” wasn’t worth losing top talent over.
