The Miami Marlins have a strict policy on facial hair, and it may cost them any chance they have of retaining at least one of their players.
Pitcher Andrew Cashner, who was acquired from the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline, said that the Marlins’ no facial hair policy would impact his decision when he becomes a free agent at season’s end.
“That is a big deal to me in free agency,” Cashner told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, adding that he hates the policy.
Manager Don Mattingly, who was a member of George Steinbrenner’s famously beard-free Yankees, has been strictly enforcing the policy.
“It’s just who we want to be as an organization,” Mattingly said. “It’s nothing like it makes us better or makes us more disciplined.”
Some players weren’t thrilled when the policy was instituted in spring training. Mattingly himself seemingly admits that it doesn’t have any sort of impact beyond keeping up appearances. Now, while the Marlins likely wouldn’t have caved to Cashner’s financial demands anyway, it’s just another reason for certain players to disregard their overtures. It doesn’t seem to benefit anyone inside or outside the organization, and while the Yankees had the allure of simply being the Yankees to win over unconvinced players, the Marlins have no such luxury.
