Here’s some evidence about how baseball is a hard nosed business. Phil Rizzuto is a Hall of Famer who was a wonderful player many years ago for the Yankees. He was voted top major league shortstop by The Sporting News four consecutive years. Rizzuto was voted the American League’s Most Valuable Player by a large margin in 1950, after having been the runner-up for the award behind Ted Williams in 1949. In 1950 he hit .324 with 200 hits and 92 walks, and scored 125 runs. At the same time he was a terrific shortstop.

Rizzuto was released by the Yankees on August 25, 1956. Rizzuto often talked about the unusual circumstances of his release. Late in the 1956 season, the Yankees re-acquired Enos Slaughter, who had been with the team in 1954–55, and asked Rizzuto to meet with the front office to discuss adjustments to the upcoming postseason roster. They then asked Rizzuto to look over the list of Yankee players and suggest which ones might be cut to make room for Slaughter. For each name Rizzuto mentioned, a reason was given as to why that player needed to be kept. Finally, Rizzuto realized that the expendable name was his own.

Baseball is a sport I love but I also recognize that for at least half a century, it is ruthless from a practical business standpoint. Carlos Beltran’s departure from the Mets will be dealt with by the front office in an efficient but impersonal way, just like Rizzuto’s exit was by the Yankees.