Category: MLB

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Soto breaks the bank signs an MLB record 15 year $765 million deal with Mets

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Juan Soto models his New York Mets uniform as he joins the Mets on a 15 year, $765 million contract he signed on Sun Dec 8, 2024 (photo by SNY)

Soto breaks the bank

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

On Sunday, December 8, 2024, Juan Soto, a free agent, signed a 15-year deal with the New York Mets for $765 Million. Soto, born in the Dominican Republic, now has the most significant contract in professional American sports, more than the previous holder of that distinction, Japanese two-way star LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani, who recently won the NL Most Valuable Player for the third time.

Juan Soto beat Ohtani by $65 million. To put Juan Soto’s contract/salary in perspective, the Dominican Republic, where Juan Soto was born 26 years ago, on an island of 11 million people. The average salary in this Caribbean nation is $7,272 per year or about $606 per month.

However, if you think the Dominican Republic is the poorest island in the Caribbean, you are mistaken. Cuba, which is the largest island in the Caribbean, according to all available data, the average salary of a Cuban citizen is around $30 to $40 US dollars per month or roughly 4,000 Cuban Pesos per year.

The reason is straightforward: Cuba’s government is a communist system where the communist leaders set the wages, they put the prices, and they distribute the wealth. This was not the case for Cuba until 1960 when the island was one of the most prosperous and advanced countries in the Caribbean and all of Latin America.

Unsurprisingly, the Mets, not the Yankees, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Giants, or any other baseball team, signed Mr.Soto. It was the New York Mets, whose owner, Steven A. Cohen, is considered one of, if not the wealthiest, MLB owners, with an estimated net worth of $16 to 20 billion.

The news of Soto signing this incredible contract hit the Dominican Republic like a thunderbolt, and all the media reported it as Breaking News with great pride and admiration. One colleague from the Dominican Republic told me “Nos sentimos muy orgullosos de ser el pais con el pelotero con el salario más grande en la historia” Trans: “We feel very proud to be the country with the baseball player with the largest contract in history”

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com weekly

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Shovels scheduled to be in the ground by Spring 2025 for Vegas ballpark

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Athletics owner John Fisher visits with guests at a private party following the controlled implosion of Tropicana Las Vegas on Oct. 9, 2024. The site will be the home of a $1.75 billion baseball stadium. (Jeff Scheid/The Nevada Independent)

On the Sacramento A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel A’s executive Sandy Dean produced four documents that the Las Vegas Stadium Authority needed to see to approve moving forward with sewing up the deal that would finance the A’s ballpark on the Las Vegas strip. The A’s have pledged up to $1.5 billion for their share of the construction costs. The cost had increased to $1.75 billion.

# 2 A’s owner John Fisher and his family will be responsible for $1.4 billion of the cost. Dean said that the Fisher family will be able to pay and be committed to meeting those costs.

#3 The Las Vegas Stadium Authority have approved lease, non-relocation, development and community benefits agreements.

#4 Since June 2023 when the A’s announced that they had a binding deal with the Rio in Las Vegas and later relocating to the Tropicana this had been tumultuous relocation for all involved. It’s not the outcome that Oakland fans would have wanted but none the less the A’s have got that much closer to getting shovels in the ground.

#5 Ironically the agreements with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority came on the same day the A’s signed one of their biggest deals with former New York Mets pitcher Luis Severino to a three year $67 million deal.

#6 Daniel looking back on this deal what made it interesting for the A’s was it MLB waving the relocation fee that help persuade the A’s to leave Oakland and the fifth largest market in exchange for moving to baseball’s smallest TV market Las Vegas?

Join Daniel Dullum for the A’s relocation podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Giants get the Willys again sign Adames to whopping 7 year, $182 M deal

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Former Milwaukee Brewer Willy Adames signed one of the biggest contracts in San Francisco Giants history seven years for $182 million on Sat Dec 7, 2024 (AP file photo)

#1 The San Francisco Giants who are famous for their players named Willie like in Willie Mays and Willie McCovey made one of their biggest deals signing shortstop Willy Adames to a seven year $182 million deal Saturday afternoon.

#2 The Giants had their sights on signing Adames. With Juan Soto most likely ready to sign with another club Adames was a player the Giants were focused on.

#3 The Giants have to feel fortunate to have signed Adames as other ball clubs were also bidding for his services what attracted Adames most to signing with San Francisco.

#4 Adames had been a huge piece of the Milwaukee Brewers line up the last four years and the Brewers have been a successful ball club was it the money or the idea to come to San Francisco for Adames or both?

#5 Adames hit .251, with 152 hits, 32 home runs, and 112 RBIs could wind up being San Francisco’s clean hitter with those numbers. Talk about how much of a difference he makes as a new addition to the line up?

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants analyst at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Orlando Cepeda Day in Puerto Rico  (Exclusive to Sports Radio Service)

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Orlando Cepeda Day in Puerto Rico on Fri Dec 6, 2024 was an opportunity for the people of Puerto Rico to pay tribute to the former St Louis Cardinal and San Francisco Giant who passed away on Jun 28, 2024 (photo image by Multinacional de Seguros)

Orlando Cepeda Day in Puerto Rico  (Exclusive to Sports Radio Service)

Amaury Pi-González

December 6, 2025 —Orlando Cepeda Day

Hiram Bithorn Stadium San Juan, Puerto Rico

Orlando’s family and friends, and thousands of fans will gather to honor one of the greatest players to ever play in the Major Leagues. Orlando “Peruchín”Cepeda

Orlando Cepeda   “Success is not given to you, it is earned, you have to work very hard to achieve it”.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s most expensive player; Severino signs 3 year deal worth $67 million

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Former New York Mets pitcher Luis Severino signs with the Sacramento A’s for three years in a deal worth $67 million on Thu Dec 5, 2024 (AP file photo)

A’s most expensive player

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Ex-New York Yankee pitcher Luis Severino agreed to a 3-year, $67 million contract with the Oakland A’s. The A’s made franchise history with their most expensive signing. This surpasses Eric Chávez’s 2004 contract of 6 years and $66 million in 2004.

Severino, a nine-year veteran born in the Dominican Republic, will become the number one starter for the A’s rotation in 2025. Luis Severino’s best season with the Yankees was 2018, when he ended with a 19-8 record and 3.39 ERA, starting 31 games and 191 innings.

Other popular Latino players with the A’s,(Cubans both) José Canseco had a five year contract with Oakland A’s for $23 million and Yoenis Céspedes, who began his career in Oakland, but made all his money later with other teams specially signing a $110 million deal with the New York Mets. He was a very popular player with Oakland A’s fans, but for some inexplicable reason(maybe money) the A’s let him go.

Severino is an  established pitcher who the team hopes can help other younger pitchers to support a good nucleus of young players. Some of those younger position players have been mentioned by other teams, but the A’s want to keep them as a winning group.

The A’s were interested in pitcher Walker Buehler from the LA Dodgers, but according to manager Mark Kotsay, Buehler did not show much interest leaving the World Champion Dodgers going to Sacramento. The deal would surpass the club’s previous most lucrative contract it gave out to Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez in 2004

A’s have financial house in order, ready to come up with $1.75 billion for ballpark construction costs

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Las Vegas ballpark rendering. A’s are hoping for completion of stadium in April 2028 opening day. (AP file photo)

By Stephen Ruderman and Jerry Feitelberg

In a meeting Thursday with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority the Sacramento A’s soon to be the Las Vegas A’s in 2028 have come up with the financing of their share of the construction costs to pay for their Tropicana Las Vegas Strip ballpark which should be ready to go opening day 2028.

The Las Vegas Authority is expected to approve a 30 years lease on the A’s non relocation and development that consisted of four documents that should be the last step to clear the way to get shovels in the ground at the intersection of Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd.

Clark County will continue to discuss a develop agreement otherwise the target to begin groundbreaking in spring 2025. Both Clark County and the State of Nevada are going forward with SB1 public funding for the ballpark at the cost of $380 billion, the A’s say they will spend $350 million to build the 30,000 seat armadillo looking ballpark.

The State of Nevada will not spend the $380 million until the A’s have put in $100 million. So for the A’s have invested $40 million. The deadline to meet the construction costs for the A’s share was due Thursday which they cleared in their meeting with the Stadium Authority.

Sandy Dean an A’s executive whose been a spokesman for owner John Fisher at previous Stadium Authority meetings said that Fisher’s family have increased their construction pledge to $1.1 billion. Dean said that Goldman Sachs and U.S. Bank will loan the A’s $300 million towards the development.

The four documents that Dean presented to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority are: #1 A loan commitment from both banks. #2 Fisher and his family have the ability to meet their financial pledge. #3 The commitments to Athletics StadCo LLC, an entity created to handle the private capital investment. #4 U.S. Bank’s review of the owner’s finances backs up that Fisher has the money in place.

Stephen Ruderman and Jerry Feitelberg cover A’s baseball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Jim”Catfish” Hunter led the Way

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The author Amaury Pi Gonzalez (left) and New York Yankees pitcher Jim Catfish Hunter (right) in 1975 at the Oakland Coliseum (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Jim”Catfish” Hunter led the Way

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Today, rumors that New York Yankee superstar Juan Soto is getting offers of a $600 million contract continue to swirl around the baseball world. Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, recently said in Los Angeles that they are in the process of selecting which team Soto will sign with.

The favorite teams for Juan Soto are the Dodgers, Mets, Blue Jays, and Red Sox. The first multi-million dollar contract in baseball was signed by pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter with the New York Yankees. It was for $3.25 million over five years, plus he received a $1 million bonus, a $150,000 per year salary, and deferred compensation.

This control specialist was one of the players responsible for opening the door to other free agents to follow and one of the first who helped usher the Free Agency as we know it today. Hunter began his career with the Kansas City Athletics in 1968 and pitched until 1975 with the New York Yankees.

He won five World Series championships, three with the Oakland A’s during their 70’s dynasty and two with the New York Yankees. He made Oakland history by hurling the first perfect game in A’s history in 1968, and, the first then since 1922.

Won the American League Cy Young Award with the A’s in 1974. Selected eight times to the All-Star Game.From 1971 to 1975, no pitcher in baseball had his type of control (almost a la Greg Maddux). A’s catcher Ray Fosse told me there was nobody even close to Catfish of all the pitchers he worked with.

His signature season was 1974, when he helped the Oakland A’s win the World Series in five games against the LA Dodgers. That season, he ended with a record of 25-12 with a league-leading 2.49 ERA, started 41 games, and completed 23.

If Juan Soto has already signed that monstrous contract, which would be only second to Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million with the Dodgers, by the time you are reading this, the baseball world could look to Jim “Catfish” Hunter as one of the key players who paved the way for Free Agency. Back then, it was a scandalous $3.25 million contract; today, it is an obscene $600 to $700 million.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Higashioka signs 2 year $13.5 million deal with Rangers; Cubs sign Boyd for two years, $29 million; plus more news

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FILE – Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, right, collides with San Diego Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka as he scores on a single by Teoscar Hernández during the fourth inning in Game 1 of baseball’s NL Division Series, on Oct. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. Higashioka Mark J. Terrill – staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury how big is it that the Texas Rangers signed catcher Kyle Higashioka for two years at $13.5 million with a mutual option for the 2027 season. Higashioka played for the San Diego Padres in 2024 hit .220, with 54 hits, 17 home runs and 45 RBIs.

#2 The Chicago Cubs signed pitcher Matthew Boyd. Boyd will join the Cubs starting rotation. This was the Cubs first big deal in the off season. Boyd who came back from Tommy John surgery was 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA last season. Boyd signs with the Cubs for two years at $29 million. Boyd 33, could earn up to $1 million in performance bonuses.

#3 In a letter to the Tampa Bay Rays from Pinellas County (Fla.) the cost to build a new ballpark would run $1.3 billion in a letter from the county. The Rays presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman said in a letter to the county that they would not agree to a deal for the new stadium. The Rays said they have spent more than $50 million on the new stadium but the county had suspended work on the entire project. The park was scheduled to be completed by 2028. The Rays are without a ballpark after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof of the Tropicana and will play their regular season games at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Bay.

#4 Should the Tampa Bay Rays move out of Tampa Bay since the county and the owners can’t come to an agreement and where could they move to Nashville, Montreal, Charlotte, San Antonio, Vancouver or Mexico City?

#5 This coming Thu Dec 5th is the big Las Vegas Stadium Authority meeting regarding the financing for the A’s share of the construction costs for the ballpark at the Tropicana. The A’s said they would present four documents that would outline how the financing would proceed. Dec 5th is the drop dead date to come up with the financing for the Vegas A’s park as the A’s took one year to try and get their financing together. A’s owner John Fisher was reportedly getting financing together from his family to pay the $1.5 billion joined with the State of Nevada’s in put from SB1 at $380 million. Can the A’s make it happen on Thursday?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s to present four letters showing they have financing for $1.5 billion Vegas ball park Thursday

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Artists rendering of Athletics Armadillo ballpark at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana in Las Vegas which is scheduled for completion for April 2028 (from artist A’s rendering)

Sacramento A’s relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, the A’s are making a presentation at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority on the due date Thu Dec 5th when they are supposed to come up with their share of construction costs at the tune of $1.5 billion. The A’s will present four letters showing they have the financing available.

#2 This meeting is a big step for the A’s relocation process in their move to Las Vegas this will be the A’s fourth meeting with the Stadium Authority and noted the most important to date.

#3 Amongst the discussions are how the stadium will be constructed, how many years the team will be committed to the park, and what happens if the A’s want to get out of their deal before the 30 years runs out.

#4 The ballpark plans have the A’s constructing their stadium on nine acres of the 35 acre Tropicana on the Las Vegas strip located at the one of the busiest intersections in the world.

#5 The Stadium Authority will reviewing the documents to decide if they can move forward with the project what they will be looking forward as stated, “adequate financial security for the performance of the financial obligations of a developer partner (A’s) for the development and construction of the Major League Baseball stadium project.”

Join Daniel Dullum for the A’s Relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Gambling is Baseball’s Mortal Sin

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Former Cincinnati Red Pete Rose seen here playing against the Atlanta Braves Aug 2, 1978 at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta. Rose who died this year 2024 has a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for gambling on baseball. (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

It was in September 1919 that several Chicago White Sox players agreed to receive a $100,000 payment from Arnold Rothstein to underachieve during that year’s World Series. This allowed professional gamblers of that time to make tremendous profits by favoring the underdog Cincinnati Reds.

Movies have depicted this moment in baseball; one of the most famous American movies was Godfather II, where actor Lee Strasberg played Hyman Roth, the fictional character for Arnold Rothstein, but that was just a scene in that movie, unlike the 1988 film Eight Men Out, where the whole film deals with baseball’s biggest scandal.

When Major League Baseball banned Pete Rose in 1989, that story became the most famous in baseball history, as far as gambling, especially for those of us who have seen Mister Charlie Hustle play the game. Ironically, the Cincinnati Reds, the team Rose managed, was involved in the scandal, the same franchise as in the 1919 World Series and one of the oldest franchises in the game.

Going back to 1919, during the “Black Sox Scandal,” the owner of the Chicago team was considered a cheapskate and was involved in bribes with players and all kinds of corruption regarding salaries and money issues.

In today’s game, players and managers gambling on games is very unlikely, and one main reason was 1953. That year, the Major League Baseball Players Association was established, and the MLBPA became a labor union with Marvin Miller as the executive director. Unlike the days of Mr.Comiskey, when the owners controlled the game and players; today it’s a ‘players’ game.

In 2024 the minimum salary for a Major League Baseball player (rookie) is $740,000, increasing to $760,000 next season and $780,000 in 2026.

In 1976, Free agency in Major League Baseball became a reality, and today, baseball players are among the wealthiest athletes in the world.

Before the 2024 season, Japanese mega-star Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and today, Juan Soto of the New York Yankees could soon sign a contract just as rich as Ohtani’s or maybe “just” $100 million short of that.

Note: On June 4, 2024, Shohei’s Ohtani interpreter pleaded guilty to two counts related to the transfer of nearly $17 million from the Dodgers star to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debts. Shohei Ohtani is considered a victim in this case,

Note: 2012 Draft Kings, the company was initially launched, competing principally with the New York-based FanDuel. In May 2018, amid the widening legalization of sports betting in the United States, DraftKings expanded into online and retail sportsbooks to leverage its brand awareness and customer base. Many fans love participating as gamblers, and Major League Baseball even promotes it. Hypocrisy? of course, but in the end, everybody loves money.

Gambling is an addiction, just like drugs and alcohol, and they all could leadto serious consequences. The American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines gambling disorder as a behavioral addiction: A persistent pattern of gambling that causes significant distress or impairment A behavior that leads to problems for the individual, families, and society A behavior that involves an increasing tolerance, requiring more gambling to feel satisfied A behavior that can cause withdrawal and irritability when someone tries to quit.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com