A Pitch for Honesty in Sports Transactions The Toronto Blue Jays' trade of Jeff Hoffman on Monday was a stark reminder that professional athletes are often treated as commodities rather than human beings with emotions and interests.
Hoffman's public request to stay with the team, made just hours before his departure, was a rare moment of candor in an industry known for its opacity.
Hoffman's plea highlighted the tension between short term gains and long term relationships in professional sports.