Max Willner-Giwerc, ’24, Writes About Accountability in Baseball and Corporate Crime

Why do cheaters prosper? What the Mets’ free agency pursuit reveals about corporate crime

New York Mets owner Steven Cohen aims to continue his offseason spending spree by signing shortstop Carlos Correa to a long-term contract. Although negotiations are ongoing, the parties initially agreed on a 12-year, $315 million contract. Infamously, Correa was a member of the 2017 Houston Astros team that cheated its way to a World Series trophy, and Cohen was involved in one of the most notable insider-trading scandals in history. This lucrative potential contract left me with a nagging question: Why do cheaters prosper?

Both in baseball and the corporate world, it seems as if cheaters rarely get their just desserts. Whether it’s former Major League Baseball star and chronic doper Alex Rodriguez landing cushy television gigs, or Wells Fargo maintaining a stable stock price despite serially abusing consumers, those who break the rules seem to be doing well, even when they face some sanctions such as suspensions or fines.

The response to cheating in baseball can tell us much about how corporate crimes are handled.

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