MLB fans criticize Jeff Passan for comparing Astros to Clippers penalties
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 3, 2026, 10:13 AM
Last updated Sep 3, 2026
Baseball fans are challenging MLB analyst Jeff Passan after he compared the league’s 2020 and 2021 draft pick penalties against the Houston Astros for sign-stealing to recent NBA sanctions against the Los Angeles Clippers. The NBA investigation into salary-cap circumvention resulted in a $30 million fine for the Clippers, player fines, and significant front-office suspensions. Passan cited the Astros' 2017 sign-stealing scandal to provide context regarding league penalties, but the comparison prompted social media backlash from fans who demanded similar scrutiny of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The criticism coincides with ongoing fan concerns regarding the payroll management and salary deferral strategies employed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. While the club maintains a large payroll, it utilizes extensive salary deferrals to comply with league luxury tax regulations.
- •Jeff Passan compared NBA Clippers penalties to past MLB sanctions against the Houston Astros.
- •The NBA disciplined the Clippers for salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard.
- •MLB docked the Houston Astros first- and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021.
- •Fans responded to the social media post by questioning the payroll practices of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- •The Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred over $1 billion in player salaries to manage luxury tax compliance.
- 10:13 AMYahoo Sports — “Now Do The Dodgers” – MLB Fans Lash Out At Insider For Comparing Astros’ Sign-Stealing Punishment To Clippers Penalty
"Baseball fans criticized senior analyst Jeff Passan for singling out the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing incident in a reply on X. He compared the NBA’s heavy penalties for Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers following its investigation into salary-cap circumvention to those imposed by Major League Baseball on the Astros.
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