The winningest team in professional baseball history with 27 World Series championships, the Bronx Bombers are partnering with one of the gaming industry’s most recognizable brands in MGM. Through the affiliation, the Bellagio and MGM Grand operator will offer its VIP players enrolled in MGM Rewards exclusive experiences like throwing out a ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium and taking in batting practice from the warning track.

Empire City can presently only offer slot-like video gaming terminals and electronic table games on behalf of the New York Lottery. A full license would allow MGM to bring Las Vegas-style slots, live dealer table games, and sports betting to the facility located about seven miles north of Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees deal expands MGM’s MLB team sponsorships to five. The casino and BetMGM operator additionally has club deals with the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Washington Nationals.

MGM has a casino in Detroit, in Springfield, Mass., and is soon deploying its BetMGM online sportsbook in the nation’s capital. Los Angeles is a major feeder market for MGM’s casinos in Las Vegas.

Iconic Team, Iconic Brand

Along with offering its highest rewards members exclusive opportunities at Yankee Stadium, MGM Resorts becoming a “Proud Partner of the New York Yankees” gives the casino company significant branding placement opportunities during Yankees’ games.

Empire City will host Yankees-themed fan activities and experiences involving both active and former MLB players.

“We remain committed to investing in the community, while collaborating with the New York Yankees to provide unparalleled experiences for baseball fans,” said Bill Hornbuckle, president and CEO of MGM Resorts. “As we continue working to secure a full commercial casino license at Empire City, this partnership allows us to further develop these properties to their potential, while providing the world-class hospitality guests have come to expect from the MGM Resorts brand.”

Longtime MLB Partner

Just five months after the US Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on single-game sports betting that had limited such gambling to Nevada, MGM Resorts in November 2018 struck a wide-ranging partnership with Major League Baseball to become its “Official Gaming Partner” and “Official Entertainment Partner.” The company has also been the “Official Partner of MLB Players, Inc.,” since 2022.

MGM was additionally the title sponsor of the league’s 2019 Opening Series played in the Tokyo Dome. MGM is building a multibillion-dollar integrated resort casino in Osaka and has held a significant brand presence in Japan since the country legalized up to three casino resorts in 2018.

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Cohen bought 1.56 million shares of Sphere Entertainment, which includes the spherical concert venue built for $2.3 billion by majority owner James Dolan, and opened last September.

The new investment came to light via a Schedule 13G filing, which is required for investment firms with an ownership stake in a company’s total stock exceeding 5%. Though the filing didn’t include Cohen’s purchase price, 1.56 million shares of Sphere Entertainment today is worth approximately $52 million.

Sphere Phishing

Cohen purchased the stock sometime in this year’s second quarter through his Point72 Asset Management hedge fund. It was the second time the Cohen-founded group invested in the Sphere. Last year, Point72 owned 262,102 shares, but sold them in the first quarter of 2024.

The Eagles will play only the Sphere’s third residency, following 24 shows by Dead & Company and 40 by U2.

It’s widely believed that the unprecedented offer made to U2 to serve as the Sphere’s guinea pigs — a reported 90% of ticket sales plus $10M to finance a dedicated video production — hurt the Sphere’s bottom line, not only at the time, but to this day because other A-listers feel deserving of identical terms.

Luckily for the Sphere, the bulk of its revenue derives from movie screenings, not concert performances. The Darren Aronofsky sci-fi opus “Postcards from Earth” reportedly grossed more than $1 million in average daily ticket sales, producing $100.5 million in revenue for 257 performances during the most recent quarter.

Two more Sphere films are reportedly in production. One will be a documentary about U2, the other a new spin on “The Wizard of Oz.”

Dolan and his family still own a controlling stake (6.9 million) in Sphere Entertainment. However, Cohen isn’t known for purchasing minor stakes in entities he’s not thinking of eventually controlling.

He first bought into the Mets via an 8% stake in 2012, for $40 million, and then purchased 89% more of the team in 2020, for $2.4 billion — one of the largest transactions in the history of professional sports.

The post NY Mets Owner Buys $50M Slice of Las Vegas Sphere appeared first on Casino.org.

The MLB on Friday announced its plans to discipline Hoberg for breaching Rule 21, which says any player, umpire, team or league official/employee shall not bet on any baseball game regardless of their involvement.

Persons under that condition who bet on baseball that they’re directly involved in face lifetime suspensions from the MLB. Those who bet on baseball games that they’re not participating in face a one-year ban.

During this year’s Spring Training, Major League Baseball commenced an investigation regarding a potential violation of MLB’s sports betting policies by umpire Pat Hoberg,” MLB said in a statement. “Mr. Hoberg was removed from the field during the pendency of that investigation. While MLB’s investigation did not find any evidence that games worked by Mr. Hoberg were compromised or manipulated in any way, MLB determined that discipline was warranted.”

Hoberg, 37, has been a full-time MLB ump since 2017. He has not called a game this year because of the ongoing probe.

Call Challenged

Hoberg has been one of the most accurate umps in calling balls and strikes behind home plate and baserunners safe or out.

During Game 2 of the 2022 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros, Hoberg called a perfect game, with the MLB’s review concluding that the ump called all 129 pitches that were not swung at correctly.

Hoberg said he will appeal the league’s planned disciplinary action. Because of that decision, the league said it cannot at this time detail specifics of the investigation that led to the conclusion that disciplinary action was warranted.

Mr. Hoberg has chosen to appeal the determination. Therefore, we cannot comment further until the appeal process is concluded,” the MLB statement explained.

The Hoberg scandal comes a week after the MLB announced a lifetime ban against San Diego Padres player Tucupita Marcano. A league investigation found that Marcano bet at least $150,000 on baseball games from October 2022 through July 2023, with some of the bets being on games he participated in while a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Three minor league players were handed one-year bans for betting on baseball games that they weren’t playing.

Reputation Demise

Hoberg has been a banner ump for the MLB but the sports betting scandal jeopardizes his reputation. Along with having the honor of working the 2022 World Series, Hoberg was the home-plate umpire for the 2021 Field of Dreams game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees played in Iowa.

Donaghy spent 11 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting wagering information through interstate commerce.

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That’s more than double the number of “neutral-site home games,” as they are called, agreed to by other Major League Baseball clubs in their non-relocation agreements. No more than three were stipulated in the agreements struck to construct the three newest MLB ballparks in Atlanta, Miami, and Arlington, Texas.

A’s President David Kaval told the Independent that holding eight games away from Las Vegas will be necessary to help the newly relocated team attract new players and sponsors.

Foul Ball

Before voting to approve $380 million in public funding for the A’s Vegas stadium last June, members of the Nevada Legislature were told by Applied Analysis, a? Vegas-based economic impact analytics firm hired by the A’s, that the stadium would attract 405K visitors to the Strip each year and generate an additional $36.5 million in tax revenue and $900 million in economic activity.

That estimate was based on the A’s playing 81 home games at the stadium.

Though the A’s have offered no compensation for the lost revenue, Kaval told the Independent that other events, including concerts, could make up the revenue gap while the A’s are away.

The Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board is expected to vote on whether to approve the agreement at its July 18 meeting.

The A’s have agreed to play in Sacramento for three years until their new Vegas stadium opens in 2028. The stadium is expected to be built on the site of the Tropicana, which is currently being demolished, though some critics, including Casino.org’s own Vital Vegas blogger Scott Roeben, argue that the stadium will never get constructed due to an obvious lack of financing.

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Three minor league players and MLB pitcher Michael Kelly of the Oakland Athletics were given one-year suspensions for also betting on baseball, though their bets were on games they weren’t directly involved in.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred released the following statement on the punishments:

“The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules and policies governing gambling conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans. The longstanding prohibition against betting on Major League Baseball games by those in the sport has been a bedrock principle for over a century. We have been clear that the privilege of playing in baseball comes with a responsibility to refrain from engaging in certain types of behavior that are legal for other people. Since the Supreme Court decision opened the door to legalized sports betting, we have worked with licensed sports betting operators and other third parties to put ourselves in a better position from an integrity perspective through the transparency that a regulated sports betting system can provide. MLB will continue to invest heavily in integrity monitoring, educational programming, and awareness initiatives with the goal of ensuring strict adherence to this fundamental rule of our game.”

Major League Baseball (MLB) is investigating five players who allegedly breached the league’s rules on sports betting. The probe is highlighted by Tucupita Marcano, an infielder with the San Diego Padres who is accused of betting on baseball during his time last year on the Pittsburgh Pirates roster.

MLB players, as well as coaches, team personnel, front-office staff, umpires, and others employed by the league, are explicitly barred from gambling on all forms of baseball, from the minors to the pros. Those who have “no duty to perform” found to have broken the rule face one-year suspensions, while players and others with a duty to perform on the field face lifetime bans for violating the sports gambling condition.

The league is additionally reviewing whether four other players bet on baseball while competing in the minor leagues. Their names weren’t disclosed.

Marcano Facing Lifetime Ban

If MLB determines that Marcano bet on games while in Pittsburgh, the infielder could face a lifetime ban. He would become only the second active player to be banned indefinitely from Major League Baseball and the first in 100 years.

Pete Rose, the most notable man to be banned by MLB, had already retired in 1989 when he agreed to a lifetime prohibition from the game for betting on Cincinnati Reds games he managed.

Marcano has yet to play a game this year, as he continues to recover from a torn ACL he suffered last July. He was claimed off waivers in November by the Padres. The team says it’s aware of MLB’s investigation into Marcano’s suspected sports gambling.

We are aware of an active investigation by Major League Baseball regarding a matter that occurred when the player in question was a member of another organization and not affiliated with the San Diego Padres. We will not have any further comment until the investigative process has been completed,” a team statement read.

Marcano made his pro debut in April 2021. His career stats include a .217 batting average, five dingers, 34 runs batted in, and seven stolen bases in 149 games. He’s made more than $2.7 million during his three-year career and is set to be paid $746K in 2024.

Sports Betting Scandals

Marcano facing a lifetime ban is yet another baseball betting scandal for MLB.

While the story rocked baseball, there’s been no proof that Ohtani, one of the league’s biggest superstars, had any knowledge of his interpreter’s betting activities.

The post MLB Bans San Diego Padres Player for Life After He Bet on Baseball appeared first on Casino.org.

David Fletcher, who like Ohtani, used to play for the Los Angeles Angels, placed bets with California-based bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, ESPN reported on Friday.

Fletcher bet on various sporting events but not on baseball, the report revealed.

Fletcher and Ohtani were described by sources as close friends, the report revealed. Both played for the Angels between 2018 and 2023.

Fletcher is currently playing for the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affiliate Gwinnett Stripers.

In 2021, Fletcher, an infielder, was given a $26M, five-year contract extension by the Angels. But in December he was traded to the Braves.

Colby Schultz Bets

It also was reported that Colby Schultz, who has played for a minor league team affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, wagered on Angels games and other sporting events via Bowyer.

Schultz had played as a shortstop, leftfielder, and second baseman.

Schultz and Fletcher were close friends, ESPN reported.

MLB players can’t make wagers on pro baseball games under league rules. Pro baseball players and MLB employees can make wagers on non-baseball sporting events. But they can’t place these wagers via illegal bookies, ESPN reported.

Mizuhara Scandal

A scandal recently unfolded after Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, became heavily in debt and stole about $16M from Ohtani to cover gambling losses, authorities said. Mizuhara has pled not guilty in a California criminal case but is reportedly planning to agree to a plea deal in connection with the theft.

He faces up to 33 years in prison if he’s convicted, according to ESPN.?Mizuhara was charged with single counts of bank fraud and submitting a false tax return.

In total, Mizuhara racked up gambling debts estimated at $40.7M. He was fired by the Dodgers after the theft was revealed.

Ohtani was never accused of wrongdoing, but was seen as the victim of a crime.

Money from Mizuhara made its way into accounts both at Resorts World Las Vegas and Pechanga Resort Casino, a tribal gaming property in Southern California.

Mizhuhara was never a customer at Resorts World Las Vegas, according to an internal casino memo. However, Bowyer was a frequent guest of Resorts World Las Vegas and is rumored to have lost almost $8M at the integrated resort between June 2022 and October 2023.

Bowyer hasn’t been charged with a crime, but he’s being investigated by federal officials, according to NBC News.

Mizuhara initially met Bowyer at a 2021 poker game in San Diego where Fletcher was also present, ESPN reported.

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In a 5-2 decision, the state’s highest court upheld the District Court’s judgment over Schools Over Stadiums, a political action committee tied to the Nevada State Education Association (NSEA) teachers union.

Last June, state legislators?passed Senate Bill 1 (SB1), allocating $380 million in publicly financed bonds and tax credits to help defray the stadium’s $1.5 billion projected cost.

Swing and a Miss

Schools Over Stadiums sought to undo the legislation with a ballot measure. Arguing five different ways that SB1 violates the Nevada Constitution, it gathered the required number of signatures (102K) by the deadline to make the November election (June 26).

The Court disagreed, however, ruling that the measure itself violated the Nevada Constitution, and that it presented a “legally inadequate description of effect.”

The ballpark is scheduled to be built on 9 acres of what will, by October,?be the former site of Tropicana casino-resort.

It is scheduled to open in time for the 2028 major-league baseball season.

There’s Always Next Year

Schools Over Stadiums has vowed to organize again in 2026, releasing the following statement:

“Schools Over Stadiums remains committed to stopping Nevada tax dollars from paying for a stadium for a California billionaire, and we are disappointed Nevada voters will not have their say in 2024. With this guidance, Schools Over Stadiums plans to refile our petition next year and win in 2026. Nevada voters deserve the opportunity to decide where their money goes.

“Nevada ranks 48th in per-pupil funding with the largest class sizes and highest educator vacancy rates in the nation,” the statement continued. “We will never lose sight that our campaign is about Nevada’s misplaced priorities, and we will not stop fighting until we ensure Nevada commits to delivering a high quality education to every student.”

The post TEACHERS STRIKE OUT: Court Rejects Ballot Measure to Undo Public Funding for Las Vegas A’s Ballpark appeared first on Casino.org.

Ryan Boyajian, who appears in the show as the fiancé of “RHOC” star Jennifer Pedranti, is allegedly the mystery figure to whom Mizuhara wired millions of dollars to pay his gambling debts from Ohtani’s account.

Boyajian was simply referred to as “Associate 1” in a federal criminal complaint against Mizuhara that accuses him of stealing at least $17 million from Ohtani.

Mizuhara Takes Plea Deal

On Wednesday, Mizuhara agreed to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. The interpreter has admitted wiring “at least $15 million” to an account in Boyajian’s name, per court documents. The reality star received the money on behalf of California-based illegal bookmaker Matthew Bowyer, who is referred to as “Bookmaker 1” in the complaint.

Boyajian would then forward the money to marker accounts at Resorts World and California’s Pechanga Casino. The men withdrew the funds in chips, gambled with them, and cashed out what was left.

Bowyer lost $7.9 million gambling at Resorts World from June 2022 to October 2023, according to ABC News sources.

The bookie was the target of a wider investigation by federal agents in Southern California into illegal sports betting and the possible washing of profits at Las Vegas casinos.

Another target was Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player who provided illegal bookmaking services for pro players of several sports.

Sibella Sentenced

On Wednesday, former Resorts World and MGM Grand president Scott Sibella was sentenced to one year’s probation and a $9,500 fine for violating the Bank Secrecy Act, an anti-money laundering statute. Sibella failed to write out a suspicious transaction report when Nix paid a marker at the MGM Grand with $120K in cash. He also allowed the bookie to gamble despite knowing the source of his funds came from illegal bookmaking.

Nix is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to federal tax and gambling charges. Bowyer is yet to be charged with any crime.

“He is not a bookmaker or a sub-bookie,” Katzman added.

Mizuhara faces up to 30 years in prison, despite his plea deal.

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Appearing this week at the 2024 Associated Press Sports Editors Commissioners Meetings where top officials from MLB, the NBA, the NHL, NASCAR, the WNBA, MLS, and the NWSL discuss relevant topics affecting their sports, Manfred made a statement that left some perplexed. During a discussion about recent sports betting scandals, most notably the case involving Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter stealing millions of dollars from his boss to illegally gamble on sports, Manfred declared it wasn’t baseball’s intent to embrace sports betting.

We were kind of dragged into legalized sports betting as a litigant in a case that ended up in the Supreme Court,” Manfred said. “Having said that, I recognize that when we were involved in that litigation, that one of the advantages of legalization is it’s a heck of a lot easier to monitor what’s going on than it is with an illegal operation.”

Manfred was referencing MLB’s involvement in Christie/Murphy, et al. v. NCAA, et. al, the legal challenge brought by New Jersey that reached the US Supreme Court. In May 2018, the high court ruled that a federal law called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) violated anti-commandeering interpretations of the US Constitution.

The landmark ruling paved the way for states to determine their laws on sports gambling. Since then, nearly 40 states and Washington, DC have authorized gambling on professional and college sports.

Game Integrity

For years, the NCAA and the Big Four pro sports leagues fought to keep single-game sports betting confined to Nevada. After the 2018 decision, the leagues and the governing body of college sports embraced such wagering after it was determined to increase fan engagement and overall interest in their respective sports.

Manfred acknowledges that sports betting has helped television and streaming ratings. The league has invested heavily in integrity and compliance monitoring to assure fans that its games remain free of outside influence.

A major hurdle in that goal is player props, bets that involve a single player’s performance. Manfred says MLB has joined the NCAA in opposing player prop bets.

“When we lobby in states, there are always certain types of bets that we have lobbied against,” Manfred explained.

Manfred says legal sports betting allows the league to more easily monitor betting activity for suspicious wagering. To date, no MLB player has been found or accused of having thrown a game.

Dragged Into All In

MLB might have been “dragged in” to the sports betting case, but the league has certainly embraced sports gambling since 2018. Most teams today have official betting sponsors, and the league itself does too.

In November 2018, just months after the SCOTUS decision, MLB inked its first gaming industry deal with MGM Resorts for it to become its “official gaming partner.” MLB later named FanDuel and DraftKings as the league’s two “official sports betting partners.”

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The cash was put into gaming accounts at the two casinos and then turned into gambling chips, the recent report said. After the chips were cashed, the money went to California-based bookmaker Mathew Bowyer or his associate, according to ESPN.

Pechanga Resort Casino, a tribal gaming property in California, also was used in the operation, the report said.

The role of these casinos came to light after now ex-translator, Ippei Mizuhara, allegedly stole $16M from Ohtani’s bank account to cover massive gambling debts.

Mizuhara faces bank fraud charges after racking up gambling debts estimated at $40.7M. He often paid his bookie $500K, money that would wind up at the two casinos before being turned into chips.

Ohtani is seen as an innocent victim in the unfolding story.

Bookmaker Was a ‘Whale’

Bowyer frequently gambled at Resorts World and lost $7.9M at the property between June 2022 and October 2023, ESPN reported. Due to his frequent visits to Vegas casinos and numerous losses, Bowyer was described by ESPN as a “whale.”

Bowyer also frequented such Vegas casinos as The Cosmopolitan and the Aria Resort & Casino, and Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino, the report revealed. At times, he also gambled at the MGM Grand, the Palazzo, and the Venetian, sources told ESPN.

Since a federal raid of his residence, Bowyer was ordered not to enter multiple US gaming properties.

So far, Bowyer and the unidentified associate weren’t named in publicly available indictments, the report revealed. When reached by ESPN, lawyers representing the two men chose not to release statements on the scandal.

The feds presented Resorts World a subpoena in August for various documents including those related to anti-money laundering, the Nevada Current has reported.

Resorts World ‘Cooperating’

In a recent statement to ESPN, Resorts World Las Vegas said it “takes any suggestion of violations seriously and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.”

Nix is to be sentenced for operating an illegal gambling business and filing a false tax return.

Casino.org reached out to Resorts World for a comment on the allegations. No immediate statement was provided.

The post Resorts World Casino Reportedly Linked to Cash Stolen from Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani appeared first on Casino.org.

According to a report in the L.A. Times, team owner John Fisher has just hired a firm called Galatioto Sports Partners to help attract one or more private investors.

The goal is to help Fisher raise $500 million of the $1.1 billion he’s expected to pony up for the $1.5 billion new stadium he wants to build for his team on the Las Vegas Strip. The ballpark would sit on 9 of the 35 acres that will be available once the historic Tropicana casino resort gets demolished in October.

Galatioto Sports Partners has brokered more than 100 sports financing deals, including the Walt Disney Co.’s sale of the Los Angeles Angels (to advertising magnate Arte Moreno) in 2004 and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (to Broadcom co-founder Henry Samueli and his wife) in 2005.

Field of Dreams?

In March, Forbes released its annual list of MLB valuations, which estimated the Athletics’ worth at $1.2 billion. A $500 million slice of the franchise, at that valuation, amounts to 42% of the team.

Fisher may have to give investors a discount off that valuation, however, one that could come perilously close to a majority share. That’s because his team has since committed to spending at least the next three years earning less revenue by playing in a minor league ballpark in a secondary market.

Also coming into play is a “flip tax” written into the relocation agreement, which would force Fisher to pay a 20% tax on the total sale price if he were to sell the team before 2028.

Fisher already secured $380 million from the Nevada legislature last June, but the security of that public financing is under attack from the Nevada State Education Association. The teachers union is attempting to place a referendum on November’s ballot that would invalidate the approved bill, SB1, and place the question of the stadium’s public funding into the hands of the actual public.

Construction on the new A’s ballpark is expected to start later this year, according to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, and finish in time for the A’s to start their 2028 season there.

That’s if it happens.

The post Oakland A’s Seek $500M Investor to Finance Vegas Stadium appeared first on Casino.org.

Last June, state legislators passed Senate Bill 1, allocating $380 million in publicly financed bonds and tax credits to help defray the stadium’s $1.5 billion projected cost. The ballpark is scheduled to be built on nine acres of what will, by October, be the former site of Tropicana casino-resort.

It is scheduled to open in time for the 2028 major-league baseball season.

Teachers Take a Swing

A petition from Schools Over Stadiums (SOS), a political action committee tied to the Nevada State Education Association (NSEA), seeks to disapprove the public funding. It requires 102K signatures by June 26 to make the November ballot.

Stadium backers take legal issue with the petition’s language, however, claiming that it inadequately describes its goal.

The rub is that Nevada law limits the explanation of a ballot referendum to no more than 200 words.

The state’s highest court is now hearing arguments on whether to overrule Russell’s decision or let it stand.

“People need to be informed of what this excision would do,” Bradley Schrager, the attorney arguing on behalf of stadium supporters, said during a hearing on Tuesday, as reported by the Nevada Current.

John Fisher does not pay Bradley Schrager because he cares about the finer points of constitutional law in Nevada,” the NSEA’s Chris Daly told the Current after the hearing. “That’s not what’s happening here. What this has been about from the beginning is delay, driving up our bills, and keeping this off the ballot,” Daly continued, framing the real issue as whether the PAC will have enough time to collect the required signatures.

“If the ruling is in our favor, we have maybe three weeks,” Daly told the website. “If it’s against us, we need it very soon.”

This week, Emerson College Polling reported that 52% of likely Nevada voters oppose the use of public money for the baseball stadium, with 32% supporting and 16% uncertain.

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The five-time World Series winner and two-time World Series MVP shared his distaste for his former team on the New York Post’s “The Show” podcast this week.

“I feel terrible for the city,” he told hosts Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, referring to Oakland, going on to say that, though he doesn’t know current team owner John Fisher personally, he thought that when he bought the team, he did so to save it for the city.

“I’m so disappointed in the way the family has interacted with the city and just let the team go to shambles,” Mr. October said. “They’re a 4-A team. They’re not a Major League team.

“They’ve abandoned the city.”

Jackson also noted that he spoke with Fisher, whose wealth derives from his parents’ co-founding of the GAP chain, in person about purchasing 20%-25% of the team for $300 million. That offer would have purchased Jackson a stake in the team, but no decision-making clout.

This was while Jackson was in Oakland helping the team celebrate the anniversary of its 1973 World Series win against the New York Mets.

Jackson said Fisher’s rebuff of his fair valuation for the team, which Forbes says is worth $1.2 billion, hurt. But it didn’t hurt as much as learning later on that, by this time, Fisher already knew the team was abandoning Oakland for Las Vegas and didn’t let on.

Fisher is currently fishing for investors to fork up half a billion for a team share that would help finance its proposed $1.5 billion ballpark on nine acres of the soon-to-be imploded Tropicana resort casino site on the Las Vegas Strip.

Fisher has said that in a worst-case scenario, he and his family can pony up that amount themselves.

The post Reggie Jackson ‘Embarrassed for Baseball’ by A’s Vegas Plans appeared first on Casino.org.

Plans are for the A’s to share the little-known ballpark with the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A farm team, while waiting for a new stadium to be built for them on the site of the Tropicana casino-hotel. The historic Las Vegas Strip casino resort, which closed for good on Tuesday, is set to be demolished in October.

While the A’s play in Sacramento, they will drop the “Oakland” from their name, but not become the Sacramento A’s either. According to TMZ Sports, the team will be the city-less “Athletics” before moving to their permanent home in Las Vegas.

We look forward to making Sutter Health Park our home through our move to Las Vegas,” A’s owner John Fisher said in a statement. “We extend our appreciation to the Kings and the City of West Sacramento for hosting the A’s while we work to complete our new ballpark in Las Vegas.”

Reportedly, the Giants were unwilling to share their Oracle Park with their regional rivals, and so offered the A’s their farm team’s stadium instead.

Hedge Your Bets

Bally’s, the Rhode Island-based gaming company that operated the Tropicana, has repeatedly stated its intention to build a 30K-seat, $1.5 billion baseball stadium?for the A’s on nine of the Tropicana site’s 35 acres.

Mortenson-McCarthy, the construction firm hired by the A’s, told the Las Vegas Stadium Authority last year that construction would start on the ballpark in April 2025, and finish in time for the start of the 2028 season.

Should the Vegas construction project get delayed or even canceled — a real possibility feared by many knowledgeable Las Vegas observers – the A’s will have the option to extend their Sutter Health Park tenancy for a fourth year.

Fisher’s fellow Major League Baseball team owners unanimously approved the Athletics’ relocation in November.

The current A’s lease at Oakland Coliseum expires after this season, and the acrimonious relationship between Fisher and the city of Oakland has reportedly ruled out extending it.

The post A’s to Play in Sac-Town for 3 Years Before Vegas Move appeared first on Casino.org.

The team’s loyal, decades-strong, hometown fan base does not support the A’s plan to relocate to Las Vegas.

One tent at the rally was staffed by Schools Over Stadiums, a political action committee of the union representing Nevada’s teachers, which is attempting to stop the allocation of $380 million in public funding for construction of a ballpark on the site of the soon-to-be-demolished Tropicana Las Vegas.

Major League Baseball owners in November voted unanimously to approve the Athletics’ move to Las Vegas. And Bally’s, the Rhode Island-based corporation that operates the Tropicana casino hotel, has repeatedly stated its intention to build the team a new, $1.5 billion baseball stadium on nine acres of its 35-acre site.

Mortenson-McCarthy, the construction firm hired by the A’s, told the Las Vegas Stadium Authority last year that they would begin building the ballpark in April 2025, and finish it in time for the start of the 2028 baseball season.

If their new stadium gets built, the A’s still need to decide where to play in the three-year interim. Salt Lake City and Sacramento are two options that have been floated if an agreement can’t be reached with the city of Oakland to extend its lease on the Coliseum beyond this season.

Rally Big Reaction

Reaction to Thursday’s rally posted to an Oakland A’s subreddit drew deep emotion from the team’s longtime supporters.

“Looks like you bastards pulled it off,” wrote Reddit user padres4me. “I freaking love it. Anyone who truly knows or even cares about baseball knows the blame is on that POS and not the fans. Keep baseball in Oakland and force a sale!”

That parking lot action was so legit,” wrote Ok-Ad-445. “Props to everyone out there. Such a positive for A’s fans and Oaktown. Makes one feel better about the family around this team, regardless of what happens next.”

“This is beautiful,” added Dadalorian76. “It’s also fucking sad and makes me want to cry.”

Another protest event was held last June 13, but it was markedly different. To demonstrate their continued capacity for team support, fans staged a “reverse boycott” that spiked the stadium’s average nightly attendance of 4K to a nearly half-full 27K.

Fans attending Thursday’s rally had at least one reason to feel better about not watching the game. The A’s lost, 8-0, to the Cleveland Guardians.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar also told reporters he has never wagered on athletics and was unaware the interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, had debts until the interpreter told the entire team in a meeting.

In a 12-minute press briefing on Monday, Ohtani, 29, told more than 70 reporters, through a new interpreter, that he never made payments to an alleged illegal bookmaker used by Mizuhara.

Mizuhara Told ‘Lies’

“Up until a few days ago, I didn’t know this was happening,” Ohtani said. “In conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies.”

I’ve never bet on baseball or any other sports or asked someone to do it on my behalf,” Ohtani added. “I’ve never asked a bookmaker to do it on my behalf.”

Last week Mizuhara told ESPN that Ohtani sent money to the betting operation to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debt. Mizuhara owed at least $4.5M. But within hours, Mizuhara changed his story and told ESPN Ohtani didn’t pay off the debt.

“I never agreed to pay off the debt or make payments to the bookmaker,” Ohtani repeated on Monday.

In a meeting between the two men, Mizuhara eventually told Ohtani that “he was sending money, using my account, to the bookmaker,” Ohtani said on Monday, according to MLB.com.

“When I was finally able to talk to my representatives, that’s when my representatives found out Ippei has been lying the whole time, and I started contacting the Dodgers and my lawyers,” Ohtani said. “My lawyers recommended that since this is fraud, that we have the proper authorities handle this matter.”

Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers when the controversy came to light. Major League Baseball has launched its own investigation and another inquiry is underway by the feds, targeting Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, who was identified as the operator of the gambling operation.

Ohtani is currently under a 10-year, $700M contract with the Dodgers. That is a record amount for North American professional sports. Originally from Japan, the two-time MLB MVP formerly played for the Los Angeles Angels.

Las Vegas Connection

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Tuesday that Bowyer has a history of placing “large wagers” in Las Vegas. Bowyer has also been banned from gaming properties in Las Vegas, according to The Washington Post.

Bowyer was previously reported to have lost $425K at the Aria and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The Aria attempted to collect $250K after an alleged bounced check was presented for payment.

Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, meanwhile, is still trying to collect $1.2 million in casino markers from Bowyer, according to news reports.

Pete Rose Jokes

Commenting on the controversy, former MLB star Pete Rose posted a video to Instagram joking about his own gambling history.

Well, back in the 70s and 80s, I wish I’d had an interpreter. I’d be Scott-free,” Rose joked.

The one-time Cincinnati Reds player was banned from baseball for betting on 50 of his team’s games.

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It was claimed that the interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, 39, was facing massive sports gambling debts totaling at least $4.5M, owed to an allegedly illegal operation.

Based on an initial report on Tuesday, Ohtani wired money to cover his friend’s mounting losses. But as more details were revealed, a law firm representing Ohtani said he was, in fact, the victim of a theft.

We discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities,” West Hollywood-based law firm Berk Brettler LLP said in a statement released on Wednesday afternoon.

The allegations came to light after reporters asked about wire transfers that displayed Ohtani’s name. The transfers include two $500K payments that were made in September and October.

Mizuhara told Ohtani that he would eventually pay him back, according to Mizuhara’s statements on Tuesday.

Ohtani “wasn’t happy about it and said he would help me out to make sure I never do this again,” Mizuhara initially told ESPN.

Two-time MLB MVP Ohtani, 29, is currently under a 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers. That’s a record amount for North American professional sports. Originally from Japan, he formerly played for the Angels.

Story Quickly Changes

Mizuhara’s version of events changed by Wednesday afternoon.

Mizuhara reportedly wagered on soccer games and other athletic events since 2021, according to ESPN. The other sports were NBA and NFL games, as well as college football. There was no betting on MLB games.

‘All My Fault’

“Obviously, this is all my fault, everything I’ve done,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “I’m ready to face all the consequences.”

I want people to know I did not know this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never do sports betting ever again,” Mizuhara said.

Mizuhara also said this week that he has a gambling addiction.

Mizuhara’s salary from the team is between $300K and $500K a year.

It was also revealed that Bowyer’s bookmaking operation is under federal investigation. Sports betting on credit is illegal in California. But Mizuhara thought wagers made through Bowyer’s operation were legal, ESPN reported.

Mizuhara had made wagers earlier through another legal operation.

In response to the controversy, Diane Bass, a California attorney representing Bowyer, issued a statement to ESPN on Wednesday.

Mr. Bowyer never met or spoke with Shohei Ohtani,” she said. She did not provide details.

During a search of Bowyer’s residence last October, federal agents confiscated cash, casino chips, a money-counting machine, computers, and other items, ESPN reported.

Mizuhara first met Bowyer in 2021 during a San Diego poker game.

Las Vegas Connection?

The federal investigation into Bowyer is reportedly also looking into illegal sports betting linked to Wayne Nix. Nix, a former minor league baseball player, pleaded guilty to running an illegal sportsbook out of Costa Rica. He has yet to be sentenced.

The Nix case is also connected to Scott Sibella, ex-president of Resorts World and MGM Grand. He pleaded guilty in January to charges of failing to file suspicious activity reports in connection with federal anti-money laundering laws. Sibella admitted he knew that Nix operated an illegal bookmaking operation, but permitted him to gamble at MGM Grand and other properties with money from the illegal operation.

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According to the accompanying news release, the ballpark will have a fixed roof, seat 33K people, and provide “an outdoor feel with views of the city’s skyline.”

Bally’s Corp. plans to close its Tropicana casino hotel on April 2, followed by a year-long demolition process before construction on the stadium is scheduled to begin in April 2025.

The stadium will occupy nine of the site’s 35 acres, three of which will be shared with a plaza, with the remaining 26 hosting a new casino hotel built and operated by Bally’s.

“The A’s have created a remarkable design that adds to the rich fabric of must-see attractions in Las Vegas,” Bally’s Corp. Chair Soo Kim said in a statement. “This is a once-in-a-generation project, and we are thrilled for the opportunity to develop a comprehensive site plan at this iconic location.”

According to their timeline, the Athletics’ ballpark will be finished by 2028.

“The collaboration between BIG’s creativity and HNTB’s technical expertise allows for a truly innovative and bold design while ensuring an unmatched fan experience,” A’s owner John Fisher said in the statement. “We hope to add to the dynamic atmosphere and liveliness of the Las Vegas Strip, creating a welcoming environment for all of Southern Nevada.”

Park & Deride

The biggest criticism of the plan is its lack of ample parking. The design provides only 2,500 parking spots. Even assuming that a third of every game’s attendees will walk, Uber, or hire cabs from elsewhere on the Strip — and another third will carpool four to a vehicle — that still leaves no parking for 11,250 fans.

This is likely to be a huge bone of contention. Unless the A’s, currently the worst-playing team in the majors, are conceding that they never expect their new stadium to be more than two-thirds full.

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“I keep thinking there’s something wrong here, and maybe they’re just waiting it out,” Carolyn Goodman told Front Office Sports Today. “I’m not sure the funds are there. So, how do you find and make the funds happen?”

The outgoing and outspoken mayor said she’s troubled by the location chosen by the A’s, the site of the soon-to-be-demolished Tropicana, a vintage Vegas icon.

To come here and take down an old hotel and put it right at the heart of the Strip and more congestion?” she said. “We have enough congestion right now.”

Goodman said she much preferred the Athletics’ first choice of stadium site: 49 acres centered on Red Rock Casino’s demolished Wild Wild West Gambling Hall & Hotel. That was also slated as the original site for Allegiant Stadium.

When they said no, I thought, this doesn’t make sense,” she said. “Here’s a great site. They want to get closer to the Strip with all the congestion and everything. And I thought, this does not make sense and so why is it happening?”

It needs to be noted that the mayor of the city of Las Vegas has no authority over the Las Vegas Strip, the entirety of which is not included in the city. Nor does the current mayor need to approve any decisions affecting the Oakland A’s or Tropicana’s current owner, Bally’s Corp., which plans to demolish the Tropicana in the coming months.

However, three casinos owned by Red Rock Casinos — Palace Station, Wildfire Fremont, and Wildfire Rancho — do operate in the city of Las Vegas.

Do They Even Want to Come Here?

More than any particular location in Las Vegas, however, Goodman claims she objects to the ballclub’s heart apparently not being into the move.

“I know in the back of both of their [Athletics’ owner John Fisher and president Dave Kaval’s] minds is ‘If we could just get Oakland to go ahead and build us what we need here because certainly, you have the fan base there.’ I run into people from Oakland all the time; they want to keep the team, and it’s just the government up there,” Goodman continued. “I love the people from Oakland, and I think they deserve to have their team.

I personally think they’ve got to figure out a way to stay in Oakland and make their dream come true.”

On Tuesday, Mayor Goodman issued a?statement on Twitter, which was a blatant attempt at damage control for this unfiltered interview.

“I want to be clear that I am excited about the prospect of Major League Baseball in Las Vegas, and it very well may be that the Las Vegas A’s will become a reality that we will welcome to our city,” she wrote.

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On Monday, an NSEA political action committee called Strong Public Schools sued in Carson City’s First Judicial Court to invalidate SB1 on technical grounds. That bill passed in June, allocated $380M in tax money to fund a Las Vegas stadium for the Oakland Athletics.

The lawsuit also alleges that the bill doesn’t meet cost calculation requirements and forces the state to wrongly assume debts from Clark County.

“This is around the A’s and (owner) John Fisher’s efforts to get the financing for the balance of the roughly $1.1 billion dollars that he needs to put together,” union spokesperson Chris Daly told The Athletic, which broke the story. “We’re doing everything we can to make the road harder for them. Because our ultimate goal is to fund Nevada schools, and we think SB1 and the stadium deal goes in the wrong direction.”

The A’s weren’t named as a defendant in the suit.

Second at Bat for A’s Opponents

Though another NSEA PAC, Schools Over Stadiums, lost its bid in court in November to turn SB1 into a referendum, that decision is currently being appealed. If the appeal succeeds, the NSEA would need to collect over 100K? signatures by June. That process would likely cost more than $1 million, which the group would need to raise in an almost impossibly short time frame.

We’re going to need institutional players to step up in order to help us qualify this,” Daly told The Athletic. “Some of the (A’s) fan groups, some of the leaders seem committed to soldiering on and trying to raise a million dollars. And I say, ‘Thank you, I don’t want to tell you you can’t do it, because you’ve done a lot of things that I have never seen before already.’”

The A’s have said they will build a 30K-seat ballpark in place of the Tropicana, the classic Strip casino whose owner, Bally’s Corp., plans to implode it later this year.

The ballclub hopes its stadium will be ready for the 2028 baseball season.

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A’s execs this week toured the site of a new baseball stadium under construction in South Jordan, Utah for the Salt Lake Bees, the Los Angeles Angels’ AAA affiliate. If that stadium opens on schedule in 2025, it could host the A’s for all 81 home games of their 2025-27 seasons.

The’s Athletics’ new $1.5B ballpark on the current site of the Tropicana Hotel won’t be ready until at least 2028, and the team’s lease with the Oakland Coliseum expires this year.

“We hosted team officials on Thursday, and demonstrated we can accommodate their ballpark needs,” read a statement on Friday from Steve Starks, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Company, which owns the Bees and is building the new stadium. “Our organization and the state are excited and able to welcome the Athletics until their new stadium in Las Vegas is completed.”

It was originally thought that the A’s would wait out their new stadium’s construction by sharing the Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin with their own Triple-A team, the Las Vegas Aviators.

That option is still on reportedly on the table, as are others. They include a move to the San Francisco Giants’ Oracle Park, the Reno Aces’ Greater Nevada Field, or the Sacramento River Cats’ Sutter Health Park — the last of which A’s officials also reportedly toured on Thursday.

However, all of these options would require the A’s to share a stadium with another ballclub, a recipe for scheduling headaches.

No Double Playing

If the team were to temporarily move to Utah, Starks said, the Bees would stay in their current home (the 14.5K-seat Smith’s Ballpark) while the A’s have the run of the new stadium.

“Our unique, two-stadium solution would ensure that baseball stays in the Salt Lake market as the Salt Lake Bees return to Smith’s Ballpark for additional seasons,” Starks’ statement read.

Though plans originally called for the new Bees stadium to seat only 7.5K, the Larry H. Miller Company said that it would add temporary structures that raise the capacity to 11K — and would deck the stadium out in A’s colors to boot.

“This new ballpark will support the A’s needs and has been the focus of their interest,” Starks said.

The A’s could also decide to extend their lease at the Oakland Coliseum. However, at this point, that option might feel like a married couple continuing to live together after an acrimonious divorce.

Whatever the A’s decide, they need to do it before July, which is when MLB draws up its schedule for the 2025 season.

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Apparently, the A’s gave some of that money back. Not to the public, but to the campaigns of the individual politicians who voted “yes” on the bill.

Of the 38 “yes” voters, 30 received at least $1,000 in campaign contributions.

Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas) and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas) were the top recipients, each receiving the maximum allowed contribution of $10K from the team. Assembly Minority Leader Phillip P.K. O’Neill (R-Carson City) and Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui (D-Las Vegas), received $5,000 each, as did Budget Committee Chair Sen. Marilyn Dondero Loop (D-Las Vegas).

Play Ball & We Will Reward You

In total, it appears that the A’s donated $67K to legislators who voted to publicly fund their stadium, and another $20K to Clark County Commissioners William McCurdy II and Michael Naft.

Sooner or later, the A’s are likely to return to the state with proposals for additional funding and other matters.

In fairness to the A’s, they also contributed between $1K-$2K to nine of the 23 legislators who voted “no” on SB1. Those contributions totaled a meager $11K, but they did occur.

Notably, however, the A’s made no contributions to the handful of senators and Assembly members who aggressively opposed the bill.

Some politicians missed the deadline and are expected to file their disclosures by the end of this month.

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Yamamoto, 25, is the top pitcher from the Japanese Pacific League, and he’s widely considered one of Japan’s all-time greatest hurlers. The right-handed ace turned pro at age 18, and has pitched lights-out the last several seasons. He won the Eiji Sawamura Award three times, which is Japan’s equivalent of the Cy Young Award for best pitcher.

During his tenure with the Orix Buffaloes, Yamamoto posted a 75-30 record with a 1.72 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.

In 2023, Yamamoto posted eye-popping stats. He went 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA and a 6-to-1 strikeout ratio. He allowed only two home runs in 164 innings.

Yamamoto is only 5-foot-10, but relies on a six-pitch arsenal including a nasty splitter and knee-buckling curveball.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Fastball & Curveball, Overlay.
Also see his unique curveball release.
One of the prettiest RHP curveballs in the world!

Yamamoto: 16-5, 1.42 ERA (170 innings) and has won his last 13 decisions.
Leads NPB in nearly every major pitching category. pic.twitter.com/GgeQul7q27

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 2, 2021

Dodgers Outbid Teams for Yamamoto

More than half the league wanted to sign Yamamoto. But the field narrowed to the Dodgers and six other teams. The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays all met with Yamamoto.

Over the last week, the Mets emerged as potential front-runners to sign Yamamoto. Team owner Steve Cohen flew to Japan to persuade Yamamoto to become the Mets’ next ace.

The Dodgers have now spent more than $1 billion on two of the most talented Japanese players from their generation. They also inked two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year deal worth $700 million.

The Los Angeles Angels missed out on a chance to retain their All-Star pitcher/designated hitter when he decided to remain in the City of Angels, but instead joined the Dodgers via free agency.

Ohtani won’t pitch next season while he recovers from elbow surgery. But he’ll perform designated hitter duties and hopes to return to the mound in the 2025 season.

Yamamoto joins a projected pitching staff that includes Walker Buehler, Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller, and Emmet Sheehan. Meanwhile, former ace Clayton Kershaw is a free agent and could return to the Dodgers, but he’s also mulling retirement.

Dodgers Now +400 Odds to Win World Series

Moments after the Texas Rangers won the 2023 World Series, oddsmakers released odds for the 2024 World Series. The Atlanta Braves were the outright favorite at +650, followed by the Dodgers at +700, and the Rangers at +850 odds to repeat as World Series champions.

On the morning after the Yamamoto news broke, the Dodgers’ World Series odds narrowed to +400 at DraftKings.

The Braves are currently the second favorite on the board at +700, followed by the Yankees (+900), Houston Astros (+1000), and the defending champion Rangers (+1100).

The Dodgers are +210 odds to win the National League pennant. The Braves (+360) and Phillies (+550) are their closest competition.

The Dodgers are the betting favorite to win the NL West at -285 odds, and they’re ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks (+550), San Diego Padres (+800), Giants (+850), and Colorado Rockies (+12000).

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Soto hit 35 home runs and drove in 109 RBI with the Padres last season. He had a slashline of .275/.410/.519. During his first six seasons in the MLB, Soto hit 160 home runs with 483 RBIs. He’s also a career .284 hitter.

Soto, 25, has one more year on his contract. The Padres made the tough but wise decision to trade Soto to strengthen their pitching staff.

It’s very difficult to make a deal where you’re trading a player the caliber of Juan Soto,” said San Diego general manager A.J. Preller. “We wanted to make sure we shored up a bunch of needs. We were able to get some depth with quality.”

The Yankees sent four pitchers to the Padres in the Soto trade, including Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Drew Thorpe. Backup catcher Kyle Higashioka. will also join the Padres in the deal. In addition to Soto, outfielder Trent Grisham heads to the Bronx to complete the trade.

Soto Joins Judge and the Bronx Bombers

Soto smacked a career-high 35 home runs last season with the Padres, despite a slow start. As a left-handed hitter, he’s expected to possibly reach 40 home runs thanks to the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.

The 2023 Yankees seriously lacked hitting across the board, aside from 2022 MVP Aaron Judge and infielder Gleyber Torres. Judge battled a toe injury and missed 56 games, but the rest of the lineup struggled. The Yankees had a lopsided lineup that was dominated by right-handed hitters. They were desperate to add left-handed hitters, particularly power hitters.

General manager Brian Cashman addressed one of their biggest issues with the acquisition of lefties Soto and outfielder Alex Verdugo. The Yankees acquired Verdugo on Tuesday in a rare trade with the Boston Red Sox.

Designated hitter and part-time outfielder Giancarlo Stanton has been plagued with injuries over the last few seasons. His power has drastically diminished since he hit a career-high 59 home runs with the Miami Marlins in 2017. The Yankees hoped Stanton and Judge would provide the Bronx Bombers with a pair of monstrous “bash brothers,” but injuries slowed down Stanton. Since 2019, Stanton hit only 49 home runs.

The Soto trade reestablishes a dangerous power duo with Soto and Judge. Soto is in the final year of his current contract, but if the Yankees can ink Soto to a long-term deal, then the Bronx Bombers will have one of the most exciting home run tandems in baseball for the remainder of the decade.

The Yankees have one of the most superstitious fan bases in all of sports. But the Soto trade has already lifted the spirits of downtrodden fans after the Yankees missed the playoffs during a disappointing 82-80 season.

Soto Boosts: Prop Bets and Futures

The Yankees were +1600 odds to win the 2024 World Series when the futures market opened in early November after the Texas Rangers won the 2023 World Series. At the start of the week, the Yankees moved to +1200 odds, based on the rumor that the Yankees and Padres were negotiating a potential deal for Soto.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the consensus favorite to win the 2024 World Series at +700 odds. The Dodgers are also the betting favorite to sign two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who is the top available free agent on the market.

The Atlanta Braves are +700 odds to win the World Series, and just ahead of the Yankees (+850), Houston Astros (+1000), and defending champion Texas Rangers (+1000).

The Yankees are now the betting favorite to win the AL pennant at +450 odds after the Soto trade. The Rangers are +500 odds to win the pennant in back-to-back seasons.

DraftKings released a prop bet: “Will Juan Soto reach 45+ home runs in the 2024 regular season?” There is only one payout, with “Yes” at +180 odds.

Judge is the betting favorite to become next season’s “Home Run King” at +350 odds, followed by Matt Olson (+600), Pete Alonso (+700), Kyle Schwarber (+750), Soto (+1000), and Ohtani (+1100).

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Whichever team lands, Ohtani will see a huge boost in their World Series futures. The public tends to overreact to free-agent signings, and Ohtani is recovering from Tommy John surgery. The two-way star from Japan isn’t expected to pitch next season, but he will handle designated hitter duties until his elbow heals.

Shohei Ohtani Next Team Odds

The defending World Series champion Texas Rangers are +2900 odds to add Ohtani in free agency. The Rangers were a huge underdog to win the championship heading into last season. But they’re +900 odds to run it back and win the World Series in consecutive seasons. The Rangers could become the outright favorite if they can persuade Ohtani to play baseball deep in the heart of Texas.

Dodgers, Angels, Giants, Mariners, Padres

According to Ohtani’s agent and representation, teams will be penalized if they discuss the negotiating process with the media, so Ohtani’s pursuit has been shrouded in secrecy.

Ohtani has hinted that he’d like to remain on the West Coast because of its proximity to Japan. If that’s the case, five teams are in contention to sign him.

Ohtani spent six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and won the AL MVP twice. The Angels could have traded Ohtani at the deadline since they were long shots to make the postseason. Yet the Angels stood pat and were buyers at the deadline. They missed the playoffs but hoped the sentiment demonstrated their willingness to resign Ohtani.

The Angels are +700 odds and the third-highest team on the prop betting board.

If Ohtani wants to remain in California but leave L.A., then the San Francisco Giants (+800) and San Diego Padres (+400) are potential options.

The Seattle Mariners have an outside shot at adding Ohtani at +2500 odds. Seattle has a thriving Japanese expat scene. Ohtani gushed about his love of Seattle when he appeared at the July 2023 All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park.

Oh Canada, Ohtani

Ohtani to the Blue Jays has gathered the most momentum over the last few days, even with the talks shrouded in secrecy.

General manager Ross Atkins has been trying to work out a deal that could be worth more than $500 million.

Anything that we share about meetings that have occurred or haven’t occurred only hurts our chances to acquire talent,” Atkins said in a recent interview. “So we’ll follow the lead of the stakeholders in cases of free agents on what’s the most comfortable, what is best, what gives us the best possible chance to make our team better.”

The Blue Jays advanced to the playoffs as an AL wild-card team three times over the last four seasons. They were quickly eliminated and swept all three times. The Blue Jays averaged over 90 wins in the last three seasons and went 89-73 last season but still clinched an AL wild-card berth.

The Blue Jays saw the biggest jump in their odds to sign Ohtani over the last week, and they’re now +160 odds to become Ohtani’s new team, according to Bet365.

Ohtani Not So Keen on the Big Apple

The New York Yankees have deep pockets, and the Bronx Bombers are always in contention to sign a big-time free agent. And ever since renowned hedge fund manager Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets, he’s been willing to splurge in free agency.

The Mets had a big off-season last winter and signed multiple free-agent pitchers. After a disastrous season, the Mets shipped out Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander before the trade deadline. The Mets want to add another top hurler like Ohtani, even if he’s not ready to pitch for another season.

Ohtani and slugger Pete Alonso would make a dangerous duo in the heart of their lineup, but the Mets are +2800 odds to add Ohtani in free agency.

The Yankees signed Hideki Matsui, the former superstar from the Yomiuri Giants, in 2002. Matsui spent seven seasons in pinstripes and was named to two All-Star teams. In 2009, Matsui helped lead the Yankees to a championship and was named the World Series MVP. The Yankees haven’t won a World Series since Matsui left the team in 2010.

The Yankees would love to add another Japanese star like Matsui. But word on the street is that Ohtani is skittish on heading to the Big Apple and prefers the West Coast to the East Coast. Ohtani is +2800 odds to sign with the Yankees.

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That unanimous vote seals the fate of the Tropicana, confirming the venerable Strip venue will be demolished so that a new MLB stadium can be built and readied in advance of the 2028 season. In April 2021, Bally’s acquired Tropicana’s non-real estate assets from Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ: GLPI) in a transaction valued at $308 million.

Reeves and Papanier combined to purchase 40,000 of those shares. Buying Bally’s stock on Nov. 3 proved to be a shrewd move, because it closed at $9.32 that day before surging to $11.23 yesterday. The stock is up 21.93% over the past month, but still down 42% year-to-date.

A’s Move Could Lift Bally’s

With Las Vegas gaining an MLB team — the city’s fourth professional sports franchise, and second coming from Oakland — Bally’s clarifies how to proceed with the Tropicana.

In our view, this is a positive development, as it provides clarity for BALY with regard to the plans for the Tropicana, as BALY had opted not to implement operational changes until after the MLB vote,” wrote Macquarie analyst Chad Beynon in a new report to clients.

Bally’s has options. It could develop a new casino resort adjacent to the new stadium, or it could sell its lease on Tropicana to another gaming company. Gaming and Leisure will compensate the regional casino operator as part of the MLB stadium deal.

“We believe clearing this hurdle will now allow management to assess the various paths forward for the redevelopment of the property, which could include building a large resort, finding a partner, etc. We are holding our valuation for now, but overall, we believe this solidifies a better runway to deleverage and grow the company,” Beynon added.

Other Beneficiaries of A’s Move

Beynon has an “outperform” rating on Bally’s with a $15 price target, which implies upside of 33.5% from the Nov. 17 close. The Macquarie analyst also sees other Strip operators benefiting from the A’s moving to Las Vegas.

That group includes MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR) — the largest Strip operators — along with Golden Entertainment (NASDAQ: GDEN) and Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN).

“In addition, we believe this news represents an incremental catalyst for Las Vegas as a whole that will bolster the entertainment draw of the city, which would benefit operators such as MGM, CZR, WYNN, and GDEN,” Beynon concluded.

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A new stadium, which is expected to open in advance of the 2028 MLB season, is slated to sit on nine acres of land owned by GLPI that currently serves as the home of the Tropicana Las Vegas casino hotel. That integrated resort is operated by Bally’s (NYSE: BALY). While the decision to bring the A’s to Las Vegas seals Tropicana’s demolition fate, something Bally’s may have done anyway, it’s possible another gaming venue will eventually appear near the ballpark.

The arrival of the A’s, as well as the new stadium and adjacent entertainment and casino resort, both of which are expected to open in 2028, represents a transformational project for Las Vegas, baseball fans, the local community and local employment, which will build on the city’s reputation for delivering unrivalled world-class entertainment options,” according to a statement issued by the real estate investment trust (REIT).

In April 2021, Bally’s acquired Tropicana’s non-real estate assets from Gaming and Leisure in a transaction valued at $308 million. As part of that deal, the gaming company sold the property assets of venues in Colorado and Illinois to the GLPI real estate investment trust (REIT). They agreed to lease back those properties. Bally’s has a 50-year lease for Tropicana, starting at $10.5 million annually.

GLPI Long Bullish on Stadium

Gaming and Leisure executives previously said that if the A’s move to Las Vegas became a certainty, resulting in a tear-down of Tropicana, the REIT would provide some compensation to Bally’s. Related points weren’t mentioned in the statement. But it’s clear that barring an acquisition, Bally’s will be left without a Las Vegas integrated resort for some time.

For its part, GLPI has long been bullish on the stadium project. The REIT already committed $175 million in financing to the endeavor, and last month, an analyst noted the company could up that amount.

Perhaps coincidentally, the casino landlord on Wednesday announced the sale of $400 million worth of corporate debt maturing in 2033. Those senior notes sport a coupon of 6.750%. But GLPI didn’t say if that transaction is related to stadium financing.

“Bally’s and GLPI have agreed to transfer the stadium site after the satisfaction of various conditions in exchange for the benefits that the stadium is expected to contribute to a new integrated casino and entertainment resort that will be developed at the site, Las Vegas, and surrounding areas,” according to today’s statement.

Las Vegas Now Has Four Pro Teams, NBA Missing

With the addition of the A’s, Las Vegas will be home to four professional sports teams, three of which moved to the city from other regions. The A’s and the NFL’s Raiders both came to Sin City from Oakland, while the two-time WNBA champion Aces moved to Las Vegas from San Antonio.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights are the city’s lone “organic” professional franchise.

With the A’s on their way and with the Knights and Raiders already in town, the NBA is looking all the more conspicuous by its absence from Las Vegas. However, it could be another couple of years before there’s any movement on expansion by that league.

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The A’s will now become the first MLB team to relocate since the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals in 2005. They will also become the fourth professional sports team in Las Vegas, following the establishment of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, the relocation of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces’ in 2018, and the Raiders’ move in 2020.

The ball club’s bid to build a new stadium at Oakland’s Howard Terminal was its fourth failed attempt to remain in the Bay Area.

From A’s to Z

Las Vegas will be the fourth city to host the A’s. From its 1901 inception until 1954, the team played in Philadelphia, where it won five World Series. It then moved to Kansas City for 13 championship-less seasons before, in 1968, ending up in Oakland, where it won four more World Series.

In recent seasons, the A’s have been considered one of the worst teams in baseball. They last won a World Series in 1989, and last made it to one a year later.

In June, the Nevada Senate approved $380M in public financing for the construction of a 30K-seat ballpark estimated to cost $1.5 billion.

The ballpark won’t open until the 2028 season. Where the A’s will play after their lease with the Coliseum expires at the end of the 2024 season hasn’t been announced. Most experts expect the team to share Las Vegas Ballpark, in the town’s Summerlin suburb, with its Triple-A franchise, the Las Vegas Aviators.

Dropicana

Thursday’s relocation vote also cements the doom of the Tropicana, which sits on the 9 acres of the 35-acre Bally’s site where the stadium is planned.

When the Tropicana opened on April 4, 1957, as a Cuban-themed property, it became the Strip’s 12th resort.

Since the Riviera was imploded in 2016, it has been the Strip’s third-oldest continually operating casino resort, after the Flamingo and Sahara. All three resorts have been extensively gutted and remodeled over the decades, however.

Demolition of the Tropicana is expected to be completed by late 2024.

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That timeline coincides with the expiration of the team’s lease on its current ballpark in Oakland. Earlier this week, Ross Edwards, senior vice president of operations at Mortenson McCarthy, spoke to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority. He said construction on a new Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium in Las Vegas would need to commence by April 2025 at the latest to have the venue ready before the start of the 2028 season. Mortenson McCarthy was hired by the A’s to manage the development of the new ballpark.

The MLB team previously had a binding agreement with Red Rock Resorts about approximately ?40 acres at the intersection of I-15 and the Tropicana. It’s believed that the accord fell through because the amount of public financing needed to build a stadium on that site is $500 million, compared with $395 million for the same project on Tropicana’s land.

Tropicana Fate Driven by A’s, Bally’s

On the company’s third-quarter earnings conference call yesterday, Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ: GLPI) COO Brandon Moore noted, “Tropicana is a process largely driven by the A’s and Bally’s at the moment.”

However, GLPI is the owner of the real estate, making its perspective on the matter relevant to all stakeholders. The real estate investment trust (REIT) already committed to $175 million in financing for a stadium project there but recently noted it could up that amount.

I think we already have disclosed that we’ve committed to a minimum investment number to help demolish and clear the site and to do a little bit of shared infrastructure as to whether or not we decide to invest more into that project,” said Moore on the conference call.

He added that there could come a time when GLPI decides to boost its investment in the stadium project, but added: “it’s way too early in the process for us to make any sort of commitment on that now.”

Development costs on the stadium are estimated to be $400 million, the bulk of which will be paid for by the A’s. However, the team is in the process of trying to procure financing for the remaining $1.1 billion needed to bring the project to life.

Tropicana Could Be Revived in the Future

GLPI previously said it would work with Bally’s to potentially resurrect Tropicana in updated form at the stadium site when the ballpark is completed. Demolition of the venue isn’t surprising and likely would occur without the A’s moving to Las Vegas because Bally’s promised a major overhaul of the venue.

In the late 1970s, Tropicana was the target of a cash-skimming operation perpetrated by the Civella crime family of Kansas City. That crime ring was part of the plot inspiration for the 1995 hit film Casino, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone.

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The World Series begins on Friday in Arlington, Texas, as the Rangers’ regular-season record of 90-72 topped the Diamondbacks’ 84-78 campaign. The best-of-seven Fall Classic will mark the first time in MLB history that the Rangers and Diamondbacks meet in the postseason.

Few saw this matchup coming. After the Rangers went 68-94 and the Diamondbacks 74-88 in 2022, with both teams missing the postseason, oddsmakers had a Texas-Arizona World Series before the first pitch of the 2023 regular season extraordinarily long.

BetMGM put a Rangers and Diamondbacks World Series at 1,750/1 (+175000). The line implies a likelihood of 0.06%. A $10 bet on that long shot line would have netted $17,500.

According to sports betting tracking platform SportsOddsHistory, the 2023 World Series is the second most unlikely matchup in MLB history, behind only the 1991 series between the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves. Each team had finished dead last in their divisions in the previous season.

World Series Odds

Oddsmakers opened their World Series odds with the Rangers, the series favorites.

Arizona is the preseries underdog at around +150. A winning $100 wager on that line would net $150. The odds represent a forecast outcome of 40%.

As for the World Series MVP, Rangers’ star shortstop Corey Seager, who has hit .333 this postseason with three home runs and six RBIs, is the betting front-runner at +500.

Rangers,Diamondback Stats

After winning the first two games of the American League Championship Series, the Rangers lost the next three to the Houston Astros to force a game seven. Seager led Texas to an 11-4 rout of the defending champs by going three for five with a solo dinger in the third.

We never lost confidence in what we do,” Seager said after the decisive game seven that sent his team to the World Series for the first time since 2011.

Texas lost the 2011 World Series in seven to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rangers also went to the World Series in 2010 but lost that Fall Classic, too. The Rangers have never won the World Series.

The Diamondbacks are making their first trip to the finale since the 2001 World Series, in which Arizona won the MLB championship in seven games over the New York Yankees. The 2001 title came just four years into the franchise’s existence. MLB awarded Phoenix an expansion franchise in 1995 to begin play during the 1998 regular season.

Arizona’s game seven win on Tuesday night in Philly was a big night for the books, as most of the action was on Philadelphia.

Game 1 Matchup

Friday’s first pitch is slated for 8:03 p.m. EST. Though neither club has confirmed starting pitchers, Arizona will likely send one of its aces, Zac Gallen or Merrill Kelly, to start game one.

Texas will presumably start Jordan Montgomery, who has emerged as the team’s ace after veterans Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer suffered regular-season injuries.

Though Scherzer is back — he started Monday’s game seven against the Astros — he’s reportedly dealing with a new thumb injury after lasting just two and two-thirds innings. deGrom is done for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June.

Caesars Sportsbook has Texas favored at -170 to win game one. The over/under is at 8.5 runs.

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McIngvale, a well-known furniture store magnate in Houston, made headlines last year when he won $75 million on his beloved Astros after they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2022 World Series.

Four teams remain in the hunt for the 2023 World Series title. The Astros are the betting favorite to win back-to-back championships +185 odds, according to DraftKings.

The Phillies, last year’s runner-up, are currently +210 odds to win the World Series. The Texas Rangers are +295 odds, and the Arizona Diamondbacks are the long shot on the board at +475 odds.

The Phillies and Diamondbacks meet in the National League Championship Series. The Phillies are the favorite to win the NLCS at -170 odds, and the Diamondbacks are +145.

The Astros and Rangers, AL West division foes, will square off in an all-Texas showdown in the American League Championship series. The Astros are -140 odds to win their third-straight AL pennant, and the Rangers are +120 odds to win their first pennant since 2011.

Texas Two Step: Astros vs. Rangers in ALCS

The Astros advanced to the ALCS for the seventh consecutive season. They won the ACLS four times since 2017, and are seeking a third-straight trip to the World Series under manager Dusty Baker.

The Astros lost to the Atlanta Braves in the 2021 World Series, but they prevailed in the October classic in 2022 against the Phillies.

Under Manager A.J. Hinch, the Astros won the 2017 World Series and were a runner-up in the 2019 World Series. When the Astros were embroiled in a sophisticated cheating scandal, Hinch and numerous front office executives were fired.

The New York Mets had a disastrous season and sold off some of their highest-paid players at the trade deadline. The Astros acquired ace Justin Verlander from the Mets, and the Rangers added pitcher Max Scherzer at the deadline.

Scherzer sustained a muscle injury at the end of the season, and the Rangers shut him down for the start of the playoffs. After several weeks off the mound, Scherzer hopes that he can pitch at some time in the ALCS.

Astros on Verge of Rare Title Repeat

The Astros are attempting a rare repeat as the World Series champion. In the last 50 years, there have only been a handful of teams to win consecutive championships.

The New York Yankees are the last team to win a World Series crown in consecutive seasons. The Bronx Bombers pulled off a three-peat with three championships in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

The Toronto Blue Jays won back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993, thanks to Joe Carter’s heroics with a walk-off home run.

Slugger Reggie Jackson led the Yankees to consecutive crowns in 1977 and 1978.

The Cincinnati Reds, during the Big Red Machine era, snagged back-to-back titles in 1975 and 1976.

In the early 1970s, the Oakland A’s won the World Series in three straight Octobers between 1972 and 1975.

Mattress Mack Bet $6.9 Million to Win $43.4 Million

McIngvale founded Gallery Furniture, a chain store in the Houston metropolitan area. He runs a special promotion where customers can earn free furniture if they spend more than $3,000 and if the Astros win the World Series. His large futures bets will go toward refunding his customers.

This is all about promoting Gallery Furniture, promoting the business, and having fun with the Houston Astros,” McIngvale told Casino.org last year.

ESPN initially reported that McIngvale has more than $6.9 million in play on the Astros on various bets at different sportsbooks. If the Astros pull off a repeat victory in the World Series, he’ll win more than $43.4 million.

During spring training, McIngvale backed the Astros to win the World Series at +600 odds via Caesars Sportsbook. His initial $1.9 million wager would pay out $11.4 million.

In mid-September, McIngvale bet $2 million on the Astros at +600 odds at DraftKings.

Before the ALDS began, McIngvale fired away another $2 million on the Astros. But the odds had shrunk to +450.

McIngvale made additional headlines for nongambling issues over the last week. He was banned from throwing out the first pitch in the ALDS when a competing mattress company and corporate sponsor made a big stink about it.

Former Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Mary Lou Retton is in the ICU while she battles a rare form of pneumonia. Her daughter posted details via social media about a crowdfunding campaign to assist with medical bills. McIngvale donated $50K to help Retton with her medical expenses.

Check out an exclusive Q&A that Mattress Mack did with Casino.org last year.

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McIngvale’s post-season pitching skills are proven. Last year, he threw out the first pitch before Game 6 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

And nobody alive has shown more support for the Astros — at least monetarily. A $3 million bet at 10-to-1 odds on his hometown Houston Astros to win the World Series, placed on May 13, 2022, made him the largest winner of a single sports wager ($30 million) in US history.

Why Mattress Mike Was Put to Bed

According to a video McIngvale posted to Twitter on Saturday, a competing mattress retailer complained. It seems they had an official sponsorship with Major League Baseball, and McIngvale’s Gallery Furniture didn’t.

I got a call from the Astros a couple of minutes ago saying that Mattress Firm is a national sponsor of Major League Baseball, which is fine good for them, and they said that they weren’t going to let me throw out the first pitch,” McIngvale said in the video.

According to McIngvale, the ballclub called him on Thursday, asking their biggest fan to do the honor.

Even better, yesterday, Reggie Jackson — who’s a consultant to the Astros and Mr. October, (and) a great friend of mine — called me and said I’m going to need to get there early and warm up so I wouldn’t bounce the ball and embarrass myself, and I said, ‘Good idea, Reggie,'” McIngvale continued.

But the Astros took back their offer on Saturday, a few hours before McIngvale was slated to take the mound.

Not the First Time

This is the second time the same mattress company supposedly put the kibosh on a McIngvale promotional appearance. Last year, he was ousted from a judge seat at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo by a complaint from the same company.

McIngvale had a direct message for his antagonist at the end of his video.

“There’s plenty of business out there for all of us,” he said. “What we need to do is promote better sleep, not snipe at our competitors. I’m sure that my endless advertising has sold lots of mattresses for Mattress Firm, and all I gotta say is let’s all be better than that and Go ‘Stros.”

In a statement issued about the controversy on Oct. 10 by Major League Baseball, chief revenue officer Noah Garden absolved Mattress Firm of all blame.

“Promotional opportunities, like sponsor first pitches, during the post-season are reserved for national partners,” Garden said in the statement. “As a result, MLB independently requested a change to the first pitch. Mattress Firm was not involved in that decision and did not ask for the communication between MLB and the Club.”

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The Houston Astros won the 2022 World Series and began the season as the consensus favorite to repeat at +650 odds. There hasn’t been a repeat champion in MLB in 23 years since the New York Yankees won three-straight titles between 1998 and 2000.

The Astros (+650), Braves (+750), Yankees (+750), Los Angeles Dodgers (+850), New York Mets (+950), and San Diego Padres (+950) were the top six favorites to win the World Series at the end of spring training.

Three of those early betting favorites,? the Yankees, Mets, and Padres, failed to qualify for the playoffs, while having some of the highest payrolls in baseball this season.

The Yankees went off the rails during one of their worst losing streaks in 28 years, and the Mets gutted their team and dealt pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander at the trade deadline.

Braves Hope to Avoid Another Early Exit

The Braves advanced to the playoffs in six consecutive seasons under manager Brian Snitker. But they won the World Series only once, in 2021.

In the 2021 playoffs, the Braves ran the table with an 11-5 record and defeated the Astros in the World Series to win their first championship since 1995.

The Braves are seeking a fifth championship and have been a popular pick to win the World Series for most of the season.

The Braves ended spring training at +750 odds to win the World Series as the second co-favorite on DraftKings’ futures board with the Yankees.

The Braves passed the 100-win mark in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 20 years. They won 104 games this season and surpassed last year’s total of 101 wins.

With 104 wins, the Braves tied a franchise mark for the second-most wins in team history. The 1993 squad won 104 games, but were eliminated in the NLCS. The 1998 Braves won 106 games, yet lost in the NLCS that year.

This year’s Braves had identical home and road records at 52-29, and they are tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the best away record this season.

The Braves are the #1 seed in the National League and have a bye. They’ll meet the winner of the NL wild-card round between the #5 Miami Marlins and #4 Philadelphia Phillies.

Hotlanta’s Big 3: Acu?a, Olson, and Strider

Right fielder Ronald Acu?a Jr. posted an MVP season with 41 home runs and 106 RBI. The speedster led the major with 73 stolen bases. He also slashed at .337/.416/.596.

First baseman Matt Olson was an ironman who played every game this season. He was the home run king, leading the majors with 54 home runs and 139 RBIs. Olson finished the season with a slashline of .283/.389/.604.

Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna bashed 40 home runs and had 100 RBI, and second baseman Ozzie Albies contributed 33 home runs and 109 RBI.

On the mound, ace Spencer Strider posted a 20-5 record with a 3.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 32 starts. He led the majors with 20 victories and 281 strikeouts. Strider anchors a dinged-up rotation with starters Max Fried and Charlie Morton both nursing injuries.

Set-up man AJ Minter and closer Raisel Iglesias are a dangerous combo late in the game for Snitker. Iglesias saved 33 games and has a 2.75 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Minter has 21 holds and 10 saves with a 3.76 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.

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A lawsuit filed in Carson City, Nev., on Thursday by two individuals with strong ties to construction unions seeks to derail a ballot initiative that would put the issue of public funding for the stadium to a vote in 2024.

That initiative is being spearheaded by a campaign group called Schools Over Stadiums. It is also backed by the Nevada State Education Association (NSEA).

The statewide teachers’ union is aghast that taxpayers are being asked to put up at least $380 million for the stadium, which starkly contrasts Nevada’s poor education spending record.

Teachers Up in Arms

If voters pass the ballot measure, it will nullify Nevada’s agreement with the A’s, which was ratified when Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signed a law granting the team public funding in June.

The lawsuit claims Schools Over Stadiums’ petition is unlawful and “deficient because it is confusing, deceptive and misleading, omits essential information regarding the Petition’s effects, and flatly misstates important factual matters.”

It also claims the petition doesn’t include the full text of the law it’s trying to change, which the state constitution requires. Voters won’t know what they’re voting for, it asserts.

‘Terrible Tone’

The plaintiffs are Danny Thompson, former leader of the Nevada AFL-CIO, and Thomas Morley, the former political director of Laborers Local 872. Morley is officially now retired but does consultancy work for Local 872.

They want the court to declare the petition invalid, block its placement on the ballot, and call a halt to the signature-gathering campaign.

Suing educators trying to put schools first sets a terrible tone for an organization claiming to now care about our community,” said Alexander Marks, a spokesperson for the NSEA and Schools over Stadiums.

“Educators overcome challenges every day. Schools over Stadiums is confident our referendum will move forward, and we will be gathering signatures to fix Nevada’s misguided priorities in the coming weeks,” he added.

‘F’ is for Funding

The A’s proposed move to Las Vegas would be MLB’s first club relocation since 2005 when the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals. But the A’s will have to wait as their ballpark isn’t expected to be completed until 2028.

Nevada consistently ranks near the bottom in national education rankings. It’s the only state to receive an “F” grade for education funding from the Education Law Center. Statewide, there is estimated to be a shortage of 28K teachers.

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The Tampa Bay Rays (97-62) locked up the first AL wild-card spot, but they won’t have ace Shane McClanahan in the postseason after he underwent Tommy John surgery.

The AL West title is still up for grabs, but the first-place Texas Rangers (89-70) control their own destiny. They hold a two-game lead over the Astros and a three-game lead over the Mariners. The winner of the AL West secures an automatic berth to the playoffs. There’s a scenario in which the AL West sends three teams to the playoffs if the Blue Jays falter and the Mariners win their weekend series against the Rangers.

Blue Jays Sitting Pretty

The Blue Jays finish out the season hosting a three-game homestand against the Rays in an AL East divisional throwdown. Both teams have a 5-5 record against each other this season.

The Blue Jays are currently in the second AL wild-card spot. They have a one-game lead over the Astros and a two-game lead over the Mariners. The Blue Jays also hold a tiebreaker edge over the Astros with a 4-3 record against them this season.

The Blue Jays can clinch the wild card with a combination of two victories or two losses by the Mariners.

In AL pennant odds, the Blue Jays are one of the long shots on the board at +800 odds to win the ALCS. The Blue Jays are +1800 odds to win the World Series. They’re seeking their first championship since securing back-to-back championships in 1993 when they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies courtesy of a walk-off home run by Joe Carter in Game 6.

Astros Seek to Defend World Series Title

The Astros occupy second place in the AL West, and they trail the first-place Texas Rangers (89-70) by two games. The Rangers, who lost veteran pitcher Max Scherzer to a muscle injury, can lock up a division title with a combination of two victories or two losses by the Astros.

The Rangers are the betting favorite to win the AL West at -750 odds, and the Astros are +900 odds to clinch a third-straight division crown.

The Astros head to Arizona to play a three-game series against the Diamondbacks (84-75) this weekend. The Diamondbacks currently hold down a National League wild-card spot, which isn’t guaranteed, so they’re also in the middle of a fierce NL wild-card race.

The Astros are +650 odds to win the AL pennant. They appeared in the ALCS in each of the last six seasons. They’re seeking a third-straight AL pennant, and won the AL pennant four times in the last six postseasons.

The Astros are +1300 odds to win the 2023 World Series and FanGraphs projects they have a 9.8% chance to repeat. The Astros are the defending champions and won the World Series twice since 2017. They were also a runner-up in 2019 and 2021.

Winning the World Series in consecutive seasons is a difficult task, and the New York Yankees were the last repeat champion when they pulled off a three-peat in 2001.

Mariners Still Have a Glimmer of Hope

The Mariners blew a three-game lead in the AL West, and find themselves on the postseason bubble after a dismal September. They headed into the final weekend of the season just one game out of the AL wild card. They trail the Astros by one game and the Blue Jays by two games.

The Mariners host the Rangers for a three-game series to end the season, but the Rangers dominated the Mariners with an 8-2 record in 10 divisional games this season.

The Mariners are +150 odds to make the playoffs. You can fade them at -180 odds. FanGraphs projects that the Mariners have a 32.9% chance to make the playoffs.

The Mariners joined the AL as an expansion team in 1977. In their franchise history, they advanced to the playoffs only five times including last year as a wild-card squad.

The Mariners are a long shot to win the World Series at +3000 odds, and they’re +1500 odds to win the AL pennant. The Mariners have never won an AL pennant, and they’re the only team in MLB history that never appeared in the World Series.

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The Rangers have not qualified for the playoffs since the 2016 season. They currently occupy one of the three Wild Card spots in the American League but lost one of their most reliable pitchers during the season’s final stretch.

The Rangers have won five games in a row and are also in the hunt for a division title with 17 games remaining in the regular season. Only 1.5 games separate the top three teams in the AL West.

If the season ended today, the Tampa Bay Rays would lock up the top AL Wild Card spot. The Rangers and Mariners would also advance to the postseason as a Wild Card team. The Toronto Blue Jays (80-66) are on the postseason bubble, but they’re only one game behind the Mariners and 1.5 games behind the Rangers.

Sharp Scherzer 4-2 Before Injury

Scherzer, a right-handed starter, turned 39-years-old in July. He has a 13-6 record while pitching for two teams this season. He posted a 3.77 EA and 1.12 WHIP and struck out 174 batters.

Scherzer joined the Rangers in a trade with the New York Mets before the trade deadline at the end of July. Scherzer went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in eight starts with the Rangers.

Scherzer will not require surgery, according to team doctor Keith Meister. His injury can only improve with rest and treatments.

Similar teres major muscle injuries take at least four weeks to heal, so Scherzer is out for the rest of the regular season. He’s expected to miss the start of the postseason,if the Rangers can hold off the Blue Jays and retain their Wild Card spot.

“I don’t want to rule it (playoffs) out at this point,” added Young. “We’ll see where the next two weeks go and how he’s feeling. That said, it’s probably unlikely.”

Next Man Up: Andrew Heaney or Martin Perez

The Rangers were desperate to restock their rotation after ace Jacob deGrom sustained an elbow injury at the start of the season. DeGrom underwent Tommy John surgery, and the Rangers targeted Scherzer at the trade deadline.

Scherzer began the season with the Mets and even served a 10-game suspension for using an illegal substance.

After stocked their roster with high-end free agents, the Mets had huge expectations entering this season. They stumbled out of the gate with a slow start, and they never meshed together as a team.

The Rangers were buyers at the trade deadline and added left-handed starter Jordan Montgomery in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Rangers’ current rotation includes Montgomery (9-11), Nathan Eovaldi (11-4), Dane Dunning (10-6), and Jon Gray (8-7). Manager Bruce Bochy will have to decide who will replace Scherzer in the final 17 games and the postseason. Andrew Heaney (10-6, 4.10 ERA) and Martin Perez (9-4, 4.74) are both left-handed pitchers vying for the final spot in the rotation.

Betting the Rangers Down the Final Stretch

The AL West division title could come down to the final series of the regular season. The Rangers and Mariners square off seven times in the last ten games of the season, including a four-game home stand in Texas in the final weekend.

Meanwhile, four teams battle for the final three AL Wild Card spots. The AL East and AL West each have three teams within striking distance of a postseason spot. However, only one of those two competitive divisions will send three teams to the postseason.

The Astros are the betting favorite to win the AL West at -175 odds, followed by the Mariners (+300) and Rangers (+400).

The Rangers are +700 odds to win the AL pennant and +1500 odds to win the 2023 World Series as the eighth favorite on DraftKings’ MLB futures board. FanGraphs estimates the Rangers have a 2.9% chance to win the World Series.

The Rangers are one of six MLB franchises that have never won a World Series. They began their existence in 1961 as an expansion team, the Washington Senators, before relocating to the Dallas suburbs in 1971 and rebranding as the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers advanced to the World Series in back-to-back seasons under manager Ron Washington in 2010 and 2011 but were the runner-up both years.

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The petition would put the deal to a vote in November 2024.

Filed by “Schools Over Stadiums” — the political action committee (PAC) formed by the Nevada State Education Association in June specifically to scuttle the deal — the petition seeks to nullify Senate Bill 1, which passed the Nevada Legislature in a special session and was signed by Gov. Joe Lombardo in June.

The petition seeks to make the state’s $180 million portion of the $380 in public funding a referendum on the next statewide election ballot. (It does not dispute the $200 million promised by Clark County.)

If the petition succeeds and the referendum passes, it would force the A’s to find another funding source or foot the bill themselves. The stadium is planned for nine acres of land cleared by the demolition of the Tropicana casino hotel.

Crying Foul

“Schools Over Stadiums has been committed to pursuing every possible path to stop the use of public funds to subsidize a billionaire’s stadium, and that has always included putting the question to Nevada voters who were effectively shut out of the process,” said Dawn Etcheverry, a music teacher and president of NSEA and Schools Over Stadiums, in a news release.

According to a 2023 survey of public education looking at student success, student safety, and school quality, the website scholaroo.com ranked Nevada 48th of 50 U.S. states, only ahead of Louisiana and Arizona.

“Nevada’s priorities are misguided,” Etcheverry said.

While beating the Oakland A’s hasn’t been very difficult this season — they’re dead last in their division with 42 wins and 97 losses — defeating the team’s plans to relocate to Las Vegas by 2028 is a long shot.

What’s Next

Schools Over Stadiums must get at least 102,362 verified signatures — more than 25,590 from each of Nevada’s four congressional districts — to get the petition on the ballot. If it even gets that far, language in the petition is likely to be challenged in court.

At a recent Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority meeting, CEO Steve Hill called the efforts to derail the stadium “misguided,” noting the thousands of jobs and billions in future tourism that the proposed stadium would generate.

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The Angels have yet to decide on whether Ohtani will continue this season as a designated hitter.

In 126 games as a left-handed DH, Ohtani slashed at .304/.405/.664. He leads the majors with 44 home runs and has driven in 91 RBI.

As a right-handed pitcher, Ohtani was 10-5 in 23 starts with a 3.14 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. He’s also struck out 167 batters this season. Batters hit only .184 against Ohtani this season, and he boasted one of the best opposing batting averages in the MLB.

Ohtani Has UCL Injury

Ohtani missed several pitching starts this season with blisters on his pitching hand and a cracked fingernail injury. He most recently missed multiple starts due to arm fatigue.

Ohtani recorded one more out in the top of the second inning but then exited the game after only 26 pitches. The Angels initially reported arm fatigue as his issue. He didn’t remain in the game as the DH.

Ohtani cited pain in his right elbow and underwent an MRI, which revealed a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).

Obviously disappointing news,” said general manager Perry Minasian. “I feel terrible for him. But it is what it is. If anybody can bounce back, it’s him.”

Ohtani appeared in the second game of the doubleheader as the DH and went 1-for-5.

Another Tommy John Surgery for Ohtani?

Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 to repair his right elbow. He didn’t pitch in 2019 while recovering from surgery, but he appeared in 106 games as a DH.

During the pandemic, there were legitimate concerns about whether Ohtani would ever pitch again and would abandon pitching to become a full-time DH. He appeared in only two games as a pitcher in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Ohtani erased everyone’s concerns when he returned to the mound as a regular starter in the 2021 season. He posted a 9-2 record in 23 appearances with a 3.18 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. In 155 games as a DH, Ohtani hit 46 home runs and drove in 100 RBI. He won the 2021 AL MVP due to his dual success as a pitcher and batter.

The elbow injury could impact the next contract that Ohtani signs. Ohtani is in the last year of his original contract and was rumored to fetch a new contract worth $500 million in free agency.

There’s no guarantee Ohtani will re-sign with the Angels. If the Angels traded Ohtani, they could at least receive some compensation in return. If the Angels keep him and he bounces, then they would get nothing.

Angels Headed for Another Losing Season

The Angels had a tough decision to make in July. They were on the AL wild-card bubble without All-Star outfielder Mike Trout in the lineup. Trout fractured his wrist in July and might not return until September.

The Angels are currently 61-67 and six games under .500. They’re in fourth place in the AL West and 12 games behind Max Scherzer and the Texas Rangers in first place.

With 34 games remaining, the Angels are 10.5 games out of the AL wild-card race with three teams ahead of them on the bubble, including the New York Yankees, who imploded after Aaron Judge suffered a toe injury.

If the Angels lose Ohtani as a hitter for the rest of the season, they’ll have a difficult time avoiding their eighth-straight losing season.

DraftKings removed the Angels from their “make the playoffs” prop bets. However, the Angels still appear on the futures board as a moon shot to win the AL West at +80000 odds. The AL West is the closest divisional race in baseball right now with 1.5 games separating the Rangers, the surging Seattle Mariners, and the defending World Series champion Houston Astros.

Ohtani was so far ahead in the AL MVP race that most sportsbooks pulled that prop bet off their MLB awards page. Even if Ohtani misses the last 34 games this season, he is still a heavy favorite to win his second MVP since 2021.

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The Yankees sunk to 60-64 this season during their recent skid. They occupy last place in the American League East and trail the first-place Baltimore Orioles by 17 games. They’re now 9.5 games back in the American League wild-card race.

The Yankees are 24-39 since Aaron Judge, last year’s AL MVP, injured his toe after he collided with the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium in early June.

The Yankees were plagued with their inability to score runs all season. Their starting pitching has been disastrous aside from ace Gerrit Cole (10-4, 3.03 ERA, 1.07 WHIP). Less than a month after Domingo German tossed a perfect game, he entered a rehab facility for alcohol abuse.

Other rivals bolstered their rosters with huge trades. The Toronto Blue Jays strengthened their bullpen with Jordan Hicks. The defending champion Houston Astros brought back former Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, and the Texas Rangers added Max Scherzer in a fire-sale trade with the New York Mets.

Out Bombed: Red Sox Sweep Yankees

During their eight-game losing streak, the Yankees were swept by the Atlanta Braves and by the Boston Red Sox.

The Yankees were outscored 20-9 during the three-game series against the Red Sox over the weekend. The Bronx Bombers failed to live up to their moniker and saw their team batting average slip to .230, which is the second lowest in the MLB.

They’ve kicked our ass,” said manager Aaron Boone.

The Yankees hosted a rare team meeting after losing six games in a row, but they failed to end the skid, which is now eight games and counting. It’s the longest losing streak since the Yankees dropped eight straight in August 1995 under Buck Showalter. The Yankees are on pace to finish this season with their first losing campaign since 1992 when they were 76-86.

“We’ve got to figure out a way to play better,” said infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Manager Aaron Boone isn’t one to give up so easily, and he thinks that the Yankees can turn around their season.

“We’ve got to be unbelievable the rest of the way,” added Boone.

The Yankees host the Washington Nationals in a three-game series starting on Tuesday in hopes of ending their losing streak. Struggling lefty starter Carlos Rodon returns to the mound after spending the last two weeks on the IL with a hamstring injury.? Starting this weekend, the Yankees hit the road for a 10-game road trip against the Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers, and Astros.

Will the Yankees Fire Brian Cashman?

Cashman has been the general manager of the Yankees for 25 years. Only one team that Cashman assembled won a World Series in 2009. For some unknown reason, the Yankees treat their general manager position as a lifetime appointment.

Steinbrenner’s son, Hal, runs the Yankees these days. While the elder Steinbrenner lived and died by every win and loss, the Yankees scion takes a more relaxed approach than his father.

Hal Steinbrenner seems more concerned with running the franchise as a profitable business, and less concerned about the Yankees as a baseball team that has won just one championship in the last 23 years.

Even though the Yankees only won the World Series once this century, Forbes estimates the Yankees are worth more than $7.1 billion.

There was speculation that Hal Steinbrenner would fire Cashman last offseason, but he stood by his long-time general manager. Even with the current status of the Yankees, Steinbrenner hasn’t changed his mind and firmly believes in Cashman.

The Final Days of Aaron Boone

Boone cemented his legacy with the Yankees during a short, one-season stint as their third basemen. Boone hit a walk-off home run in extra innings against the Red Sox in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS that will forever be burned in the minds of fans.

Twenty years later, Boone’s days as a manager are slowly coming to an end. He was brought in to replace Joe Girardi as the manager in 2018. He won two AL East titles, but hasn’t produced a single trip to the World Series or won a championship. The Houston Astros knocked the Yankees out of the ALCS twice under Boone, including an embarrassing sweep last October.

However, Boone chastising umpires has become a tired act and his antics have become easy click-bait on social media. Some fans and former players think Boone constantly riding the umpires hurts the Yankees in the long run.

All signs suggest the Yankees will retain Cashman, but fire Boone. Someone has to be held accountable for the Yankees’ downfall, even though Cashman is the one who assembled a team filled with overpaid veterans and a pitching staff that’s constantly injured.

The only way Boone can save his job would be a miraculous turnaround in the final 38 games.

Moon Shots on the Futures Market

With the playoffs out of reach, this is a chance to see the team’s future stars and showcase minor league prospects such as infielder Oswald Peraza, outfielder Everson Pereira, and catcher Austin Wells.

The Yankees called Peraza and Pereira up to the big leagues on Monday, and they also promoted Jasson “The Martian” Dominguez from Double-A to their Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

FanGraphs estimates the Yankees have a 0.5% chance of making the playoffs. If you think the Yankees have a shot at a postseason berth, then there’s a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you.

The Yankees are +3000 odds to qualify for the playoffs, according to a prop bet by DraftKings. They are -20000 odds to miss the playoffs.

Before the season began, the Yankees were second co-favorites to win the 2023 World Series at +750 odds. The Yankees are now an astronomical long shot to win the World Series at +40000 odds. They’re also a long shot to win the AL pennant at +25000 odds.

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A joint venture of Minneapolis-based Mortenson and national builder McCarthy Building Companies, Mortenson-McCarthy built the $2 billion Allegiant Stadium for the Las Vegas Raiders, the first professional team to defect from Oakland to Las Vegas.

“The Raiders’ project was a model of tremendous success, including a 31-month-long construction schedule, industry-leading workforce diversity that exceeded local, small, and women and minority-owned business goals, and establishing new benchmarks in sports construction for Southern Nevada,” A’s president Dave Kaval said in the press release.

Vegas Kingdom

McCarthy also built the Palms, Virgin, and Circa casino resorts. Mortenson managed the construction of Truist Park for the Atlanta Braves, Target Field for the Minnesota Twins, U.S. Bank Stadium for the Minnesota Vikings, Chase Center for the Golden State Warriors, and the Climate Pledge Arena for the Seattle Kraken.

“The Mortenson-McCarthy joint venture is grateful for the opportunity to partner together with the Las Vegas community to deliver another landmark project,” Ross Edwards, senior VP at McCarthy, said in the A’s statement.

“It is a tremendous opportunity for Mortenson-McCarthy to build the new home for A’s baseball in Las Vegas,” Logan Gerken, Moretnson’s VP and general manager, said in the A’s statement.

Next Steps

The Athletics’ latest hire still must be approved by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority to become official. Its board meets next on Thursday, August 24.

Before construction begins, MLB must approve the A’s relocation plan, and the Tropicana casino resort must be demolished. If these hurdles are cleared, Las Vegas will become the fourth home for the Athletics.

They played in Philadelphia from 1901-54 and Kansas City from 1955-67 before moving to Oakland in 1968.

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