Major League Baseball said goodbye to a legend on Saturday following news that Rickey Henderson has died at the age of 65.
The two-time World Series champion, who is widely considered the greater leadoff hitter of all-time, passed away after a battle with pneumonia.
More to follow
The year 2024 has been an exceptional one for American sports, as not only have leagues and teams generated great profits, but athletes, individually, have multiplied their earnings thanks to contracts and earnings off the field through their commercial arrangements.
When basketball player Caitlin Clark won TIME’s Athlete of the Year, many thought the title should have gone to Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani, but now it seems the two mega athletes have found common ground thanks to their earnings, according to essentiallysports.com.
Caitlin Clark shines in first workout with new Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White
Sports Business Journal (SBJ) published its list of the most influential people in the sports business and at the top are Clark and Ohtani, who SBJ describes as “newcomers”.
Others include Elliott Hill, Michele Kang, Pat McAfee, Egon Durban, Greg Mondre and Edward Rogers. SBJ makes it clear that no name is at the top and the list is not ranked.
Although Ohtani’s $700 million contract with the Dodgers was just surpassed by Juan Soto’s $765 million deal with the Mets, the Japanese star remains one of the highest-earning athletes in sports.
His net worth currently stands at $85.3 million, according to Forbes.
While Clark’s salary in the WNBA is $76,535 for 2024, as part of a four-year, $338,056 contract.
Shohei Ohtani: Raising the bar for american Baseball with Japanese culture
However, it is their sponsors and other deals that have helped propel their names onto this list.
Indiana Fever Gaurd, the WNBA team Clark plays for, currently sponsors brands such as Nike, Goldman Sachs, Wilson, Gatorade, State Farm, Gainbridge, and more.
However, despite all the attention she attracted to the WNBA this year, many thought that the TIME honor should have gone to the World Series-winning Dodgers baseball player.
After all, not everyone can sign a record-breaking contract never seen before in all sports, in addition to winning the MLB MVP, and then lead their team to the World Series.
In addition, Ohtani made history by inaugurating the 50/50 club in MLB (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases).
Shohei Ohtani is clearly in a league of his own and he wasn’t even pitching this year. However, it could be similarly argued that no one has had a better rookie season than the WNBA Rookie of the Year, nor has anyone singularly affected the sport quite like No. 22 has.
Since Ohtani burst onto the scene, he has been hyped and lived up to it spectacularly. An outstanding player in Japan in 2017, his arrival as a two-way player was sure to mark a shift in the way baseball was played in the United States, and so it proved.
But it’s been like this for more than eight years. In that almost decade, no one gets tired of talking about the Japanese marvel, while Caitlin Clark is slightly different, newer and her fame is not even half a decade old.
Before that, she was a collegiate sensation with Iowa and has just finished her first season as a professional athlete.
“I don’t know what athlete had a better year than her. What athlete? Tell me, I’m listening,” Ma$se said on the Come and Talk 2 Me podcast.
“She took a college team that didn’t have anybody to the NCAA Championship. Then she took a team that hadn’t been in the playoffs in years in Indiana to the playoffs. Then she broke all the WNBA rookie records along the way while doing it,” he added.
Leaving aside the overall success of the teams (because a player can only do so much for herself if her team does not help equally), the impact of Caitlin Clark has been singular for many observers, and she has just finished her first year.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have ignited excitement and buzz in the baseball world by auctioning off a unique piece of World Series history: Aaron Judge’s dropped fly ball from Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.
This pivotal moment became a memorable turning point in the game and has now become a coveted collector’s item, with bidding surpassing $25,000. During the top of the fifth inning, with the New York Yankees leading 5-0, Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman hit a routine fly ball to center fielder Aaron Judge.
Angry Yankees fans burn Juan Soto’s jersey
In a surprising turn of events, Judge was distracted by baserunner Kik Hernndez taking a significant lead off first base, causing the ball to bounce off his glove. This error initiated a cascade of defensive misplays by the Yankees, culminating in a five-run surge by the Dodgers and a dramatic 7-6 victory, leading to the championship.
Recognizing the historical significance, the Dodgers listed the ball on their official auction site, starting the bidding at $100. The enthusiasm quickly escalated, with fans vying for the chance to own this extraordinary piece of baseball memorabilia.
The proceeds from the auction will benefit the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, supporting various community initiatives and charitable causes. This adds a philanthropic dimension to the auction, making it a win-win situation for both the team and the winning bidder.
For Yankees fans, the ball serves as a poignant reminder of what might have been, while Dodgers fans treasure it as a symbol of their triumphant season. The auction highlights how a single play can become an enduring artifact in sports history, cherished and remembered for generations.
In a major offseason move, the Boston Red Sox have made a huge move to help their pitching staff in a step towards competing in the American League East, after they acquired left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox.
This trade marks a significant shift for the Red Sox bolstering their pitching rotation and the White Sox gaining promising prospects in return. Garrett Crochet, known for his blazing fastball and impressive strikeout ability, had a breakout season with a 3.58 ERA and 209 strikeouts, making a name for himself as a reliable starter.
Angry Yankees fans burn Juan Soto’s jersey
The Red Sox are excited to bring his talent to their roster, hoping he will strengthen their pitching staff and contribute to their championship aspirations. In exchange, the White Sox have received a package of highly-regarded prospects.
Kyle Teel, a top-catching prospect, heads the list of players heading to Chicago. Teel is known for his strong defensive skills and powerful bat, making him a valuable addition to the White Sox’s future lineup. Alongside Teel, the White Sox also acquired outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth, and right-handed pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez, each of whom brings unique strengths and potential to the organization.
For the White Sox, this trade represents a strategic move to rebuild and invest in their future, focusing on developing young talent that could shape the team’s long-term success. Meanwhile, the Red Sox hope that Crochet’s powerful pitching will help them make a deep postseason run.
However, all eyes will be on Crochet to see if he can handle himself in a bigger market after wanting a long-term deal with the White Sox and then evidently not being happy because he did not get one, by not wanting to pitch a huge load of innings towards the end of the season.
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen took control of the franchise in 2020, and since then began the transformation of the team with his financial power, which in his fifth season will be launched with everything as a contender for the World Series, with Juan Soto as a pillar, after convincing him with a 15-year deal for $765 million, the largest in MLB history.
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But it was not easy to convince Soto to choose the Mets, even though he was determined to have him in Queens. Steve Cohen thought he could stay with the Yankees despite all the effort and according to Jon Heyman of The Post, a secret lunch was necessary to give the final push.
Cohen and his chief Mets representative David Stearns met with Juan Soto, his agent Scott Boras and other close members of the Dominican player at Cohen’s home in Boca Raton, Florida, which was key to tipping the scales in his favor.
Even though the two meetings were productive, Cohen confessed to Heynman in a telephone interview that he had doubts about Soto’s decision until he gave them the “yes”, because he felt that he would choose to stay with the Yankees.
“I was being logical. When you have Judge, it’s hard to beat that… Juan was great, but what they had… I didn’t know how to solve it,” Cohen told The Post.
Cohen’s doubts with his inner circle remained throughout the weekend until Sunday night and continued with how he experienced his bid: “There was a lot of emotion and a lot of ups and downs, not knowing where I stood.”
In the end, he shared with The Post that after learning the final verdict and that the Mets were keeping the big star of the offseason, he had a brief call with Soto to thank him for believing in the Mets
When he finally won the day and got the player he so desperately wanted, Cohen and Soto had a brief phone conversation. Cohen thanked his new superstar for believing in the Mets
“Juan is going to be very happy with the Mets,” said Steve Cohen, who not only gave him the best offer with a $75 million signing bonus, but also included a free suite at Citi Field to pamper him and his family.
Yesterday was a historic day for Juan Soto, MLB, and sports in general, as the Dominican star signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, making it the largest contract in history. This contract surpassed Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million windfall from last offseason. Soto spent last season with the Yankees, where he helped lead them back to the World Series for the first time since 2009. The Bronx Bombers offered him a 16-year, $760 million contract, but he chose to take his talents to the other team in town. All eyes will be on him next season when he returns to Yankee Stadium in what promises to be a must-see event.
The 26-year-old slugger, who already has a World Series ring with the Washington Nationals in 2019, will team up with Pete Alonso and Puerto Rican star Francisco Lindor to try and defeat the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets haven’t won the World Series since 1986, though they have reached the Fall Classic twice this century, losing both times in 2000 and 2015. For now, Soto and his family are likely celebrating this monumental moment, and his brother, Elian Soto, shared a glimpse of it in a video posted to his Instagram Stories yesterday, where they appeared to be enjoying themselves.
The Soto family must be ecstatic after Juan Soto signed the record $765 million contract with Mets. His brother playfully celebrated by drenching Juan with drinks in a hot tub, but the real celebration Soto probably dreams of is a locker room shower after winning a championship. He came close last season, but fell short in the World Series. In his lone year with the Yankees, Soto was outstanding, hitting 41 home runs, driving in 109 runs and posting a .989 OPS. Most notably, his game-winning home run secured the Yankees’ first World Series appearance since 2009.
To put Soto’s massive contract into perspective, comparisons have been made to other notable sports deals. His $765 million exceeds the NFL’s $255 million salary cap for 2024, Tom Brady’s all-time NFL earnings of $332 million, LeBron James‘ NBA career earnings of $531 million, and Patrick Mahomes‘ $450 million contract through 2031. Soto’s skills and accomplishments clearly justify his record contract, as the Dominican slugger remains one of the most consistent and patient hitters in baseball.
Soto’s accolades include being a four-time All-Star, a five-time Silver Slugger, and winning the batting title in 2020. He has led all hitters in on-base percentage (.421) since his 2018 debut, and has been first in walks from 2021 to 2023. His decision to leave the Yankees may stem from a desire to escape Aaron Judge’s shadow, but his absence will undoubtedly be felt in the Bronx. Meanwhile, the Mets will look to capitalize on his talent alongside Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor as they strive to return to the NLCS and finally overcome the Dodgers.
The soap opera surrounding the signing of Juan Soto could come to an end this weekend, as the player and his agent, Scott Boras, have announced that the agreement will be announced before the winter meetings that start next Monday in Dallas.
With that said, some people have a strong feeling that he will stay in New York and despite what many say that he can be a part of the New York Mets, the hope is that it will be the Yankees.
Juan Soto says Yankees don’t have edge as he heads into free agency: Available to all 30 teams
On The Michael Kay Show, Jack Curry said that he’s always had a “gut feeling” that the Dominican player will be in a Yankees uniform in 2025 if the offer they make is competitive enough.
At the moment there are no mystery teams in the mix, this week insiders have mentioned the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Toronto Blue Jays, the New York Mets and of course their latest team, the New York Yankees.
According to various reports, there are already teams that have been rejected by Juan Soto and Scott Boras, but they are unknown to the general public although many have a good idea who they are.
While the Toronto Blue Jays made very interesting offer, it seems they could be on the outside looking in and people have thrown the Boston Red Sox in the mix as well, so still a lot to be decided before next week for the player and the teams involved.
For years, Major League Baseballteams have sought ways to outmaneuver their rivals, from the analytics revolution of Moneyball to innovations in player development and scouting. Now, the Los Angeles Dodgers may have unlocked the next market inefficiency: deferred money. This creative financial strategy, allowing the team to pay players over extended periods, has propelled the Dodgers into uncharted territory-while leaving other franchises in their wake.
The latest example of this approach came on Tuesday, when the Dodgers introduced Blake Snell as their newest acquisition. Snell, fresh off winning his second Cy Young Award, signed a five-year, $182 million deal. What raised eyebrows wasn’t just the hefty price tag-it was the $66 million in deferred money embedded in the contract, set to be paid out in the 2030s. This deal pushes the Dodgers’ deferred money obligations past an astounding $1 billion, with payouts stretching into the 2040s.
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At the heart of the Dodgers’ financial strategy lies the willingness to postpone immediate costs in favor of long-term payments. Much of this deferred money is tied to Shohei Ohtani’s massive contract, which the team has justified as profitable thanks to the global marketing dollars and brand recognition he generates. Even after accounting for Ohtani, the Dodgers still owe over $320 million in deferred salaries to other players-a number that dwarfs the commitments of most other MLB teams.
The question many are asking isn’t why the Dodgers are doing this, but rather, why isn’t everyone else following suit? Deferred money agreements are entirely legal under the MLBcollective bargaining agreement (CBA) and must be mutually agreed upon by players and teams. Yet few franchises have embraced the tactic to the same extent.
The Dodgers’ ownership group, Guggenheim Partners, has a unique advantage. As a global investment firm, Guggenheim can strategically reinvest the money saved by deferring payments. By leveraging those funds over the coming years, they expect to generate returns that will more than cover their future financial obligations. Essentially, the team is betting on their ability to grow wealth faster than inflation and future payroll commitments-a luxury many other MLB owners are hesitant to risk.
For other teams, the hesitancy often comes down to ownership structure and long-term planning. Many team owners prefer to maintain financial flexibility to facilitate potential sales of their franchises. Long-term deferred obligations can complicate valuations and limit suitors. By contrast, the Dodgers’ ownership appears committed to maintaining control for decades, allowing them to invest boldly in their roster today.
Critics argue that the Dodgers are using deferred money to construct a “superteam,” creating an unfair advantage. Yet this strategy is available to all MLB teams-it simply requires vision and a tolerance for financial complexity. “It’s not about breaking the rules; it’s about playing smart within them,” said a front-office executive to The Athletic.
As the Dodgers continue to dominate both on and off the field, other teams may eventually follow their lead. For now, LA’s bold approach to building and retaining talent could set the standard for a new era in baseball finance.
Juan Soto is one of the most important players currently in Major League Baseball and if it wasn’t for Shohei Ohtani, he would be the clear face of baseball. After spending last year with the New York Yankees, it is unlikely that he will stay.
After a lot of uncertainty on where he will be playing in 2025, it seems that by next week there could be an answer, as the Winter Meetings will be taking place in Dallas and according to MLB insider Andy Martino everyone will know soon.
Juan Soto says Yankees don’t have edge as he heads into free agency: Available to all 30 teams
“I can’t sit here and guarantee. But I can say this: Everyone I talk to who’s involved in this at any level believes that the news will drop this week, before Dallas,” Martino said. “We’ll see if that actually plays out.”
While the New York Yankees made their push, there is a small chance he returns to the team, however he could stay in the city, as the Mets have been pursuing him strongly.
With that said, the Boston Red Sox are also in the mix but there is one team that seems to have the edge over the rest. “There is also widespread skepticism that Soto would go to the Blue Jays,” Andy Martino said.
“But a source pushed back on that, saying that if a team is involved in the final bidding, Soto is willing to play there,” Martino said. Still a lot to be figured out but Toronto could be the frontrunners in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.
Alex Rodriguez’s girlfriend, Jaclyn Cordeiro, never ceases to amaze all her followers on her social media accounts, and now she has done so with a post of an aquatic yoga routine.
But that’s not all, Jaclyn showed off her routine looking stunning in a tiny bikini that will leave more than one person speechless.
The former nurse and now fitness influencer also sent several self-esteem messages throughout her video, which is just under two minutes long.
Phrases such as “a self-care Sunday, active rest day”, or “take a minute to create a moment, 10 minutes of water yoga, try to disconnect from the outside world, use your breath to slow down the movement”, accompany the 1:40 minute video.
Rodriguez and Cordeiro, a former New York Yankees player, began their relationship in 2022, and announced it in December of that year.
A-Rod posted a family photo in which he was next to Cordeiro and the former baseball player’s two daughters, Natasha and Ella. Cordeiro is the mother of two girls, Bella and Savanah.
The Canadian family descendant is a life coach and fitness instructor, and describes her mission as: “I help women become the best versions of themselves”.
The influencer has 138,000 followers on her Instagram account, where she continuously shares fitness content.
In the same video, Cordeiro posted: “What is an active rest day like?” before ending it with a motivational message.
“Invest equally in your mind, body and soul. Add passive training to your routine. Celebrate the small victories along the way.”
The couple was in Las Vegas this weekend to attend the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and they also took the opportunity to visit a car exhibition, and Cordeiro took the opportunity to show a video with luxury cars in the place.