As the sweepstakes to sign free agent outfielder Juan Soto continue, rumors are percolating around the baseball world concerning the 26-year-old free agent. With fans looking for the latest information from insiders, various sports radio stations have had writers on to discussion the situation. Jon Heyman, insider for MLB Network and columnist at the New York Post, came onto the program to discuss the latest information surrounding Soto and the rest of Major League Baseball free agency.
Keith McPherson, who started hosting at WFAN approximately three years ago, asked Heyman about the situation, but he also ostensibly questioned his credibility as a journalist. McPherson cited Heyman’s reporting surrounding the free agency of Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in 2022, specifically citing when he tweeted that he appeared headed to the San Francisco Giants. In the post, Heyman misspelled Judge’s first name, writing ‘Arson’ instead of ‘Aaron,’ which continues to be referenced by social media users. Moreover, McPherson insinuated that Heyman is being paid by Scott Boras, the agent for Soto, to report certain information. In fact, he asked how much money from the Soto deal Heyman would get for breaking the story.
“Unfortunately, I get no money for anything,” Heyman said. “I have no financial stake.”
McPherson explained that Heyman probably would not break the Soto news since Boras is based on the West Coast, causing a three-hour time difference. In reply, Heyman explained that there is a lot of competition for the stories and that it is unknown where you can get them. Furthermore, Heyman explained that he is not represented by an agent and that those who are may have certain advantages.
McPherson elucidated that it would be good for Heyman to break the news regarding Soto in order to put the aforementioned Judge tweet in the proverbial rear-view mirror. This led him to question the difference between what Soto could potentially receive compared to the reported nine-year, $360 million deal that Judge received as a free agent.
“By the way, I don’t need to break this story,” Heyman said later in the interview. “I’ve broken a lot of stories. I think the reason that got such play is because people believe everything I tweet. I have 100,000 tweets, and you get one that was wrong – and it did say ‘appears’ – and I know I rushed it and it was a big mistake and I regret it, but two years later, at some point I think someone could probably drop it if they’re a nice person.”
Upon making this point, McPherson mentioned the way he introduced Heyman, stating that everyone in baseball knows who he is and respects his work. Heyman cut him off, seemingly taking umbrage towards what McPherson had stated amid the interview, and said that he would not be going on the radio with him again. In addition, he conveyed that the entire segment had been a disaster, prompting McPherson to laugh and say that it was okay. Heyman seemed nonplussed that McPherson would question his integrity, specifying when he asked if he was getting a portion of the contract just because he has a relationship with an agent.
“I know you’re not a journalist – you don’t know anything about this. I know you get it – you don’t – but that’s an outrageous comment. You should know that much – you should know that much, and I’m done with you, and I’m done with WFAN. Goodbye. I can’t even believe it. I can’t even believe it!”
As the segment ended, McPherson articulated that Heyman needed to get to bed and that he did not expect the interview to go that way. From there, he expounded on his perspective about the exchange and how some of his comments were in jest.
“I think if you heard my tone and the way that I am completely joking and kidding and having a lighter conversation, something that I spoke recently about too, with all of this Juan Soto genre is like we need some comic relief, man,” McPherson said. “I introduced you and gave credit to how everybody follows your words and your tweets and what you do, and if you felt some type of way about it, and even like you said you regret it, I said, ‘No regrets.’”
McPherson apologized to Heyman if the remark came off as being flippant, understanding that it may have been a sore spot after two years. Additionally, he assumed that Heyman may have something better to do regarding Soto’s free agency and was surprised that the interview went 10 minutes.
“If you were listening to my show earlier, I said some of those things,” McPherson explained. “I’m very lighthearted, I’m not a journalist, I’m not trying to be a reporter. I’m a radio host and a fan, and this is all fun and entertainment, and I’m sorry if you’re offended and you weren’t having fun on my show.”
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