Bernie Williams' Days with the New York Yankees May Be Numbered

The next time you criticize a major league baseball player for taking the money and running, remind yourself of the lack of loyalty the New York Yankees have shown to their elder statesman, Bernie Williams.

Instead of giving Williams a full-fledged major league deal, the Yankees offered only a minor league contract. To the surprise of some, including the Yankees, Williams turned it down, which means that No. 51 was absent when the Yankees opened training camp last week. And that had to feel strange since Williams has been a fixture in the Bronx since 1991, long before manager Joe Torre arrived on the scene. If this is indeed the end of the line for Williams, it means there are only four players left from the glory days of 1996-2001: Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte, who is back in pinstripes after three seasons in purgatory with the Houston Astros.

How many times, as fans, do we get angry when a popular player leaves our favorite team and signs with another club for more money? That is what free agency has wrought and that is the how the game is played. Of course it's about the money.

Look, I am not going to lose any sleep worrying about Bernie Williams and I'm certainly not going to start a collection for him. The point is, loyalty works both ways. If the Yankees really wanted to, they could have found a way to sign Williams to a one-year-contract because I believe he can still be productive, even in a limited role. It would have been their way of rewarding a player who has meant so much to the franchise fora decade and a half. Alas, such loyalty is rare because, after all, sports is a big business and the Yankees made a business decision, which is their right. But that's why I say the players should try to make all they can when they can. More power to them.