Mets & Yankees Left At Alter as Yamamoto Picks Dodgers
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 20: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of Team Japan pitches in the eighth inning against Team Mexico during the World Baseball Classic Semifinals at loanDepot park on March 20, 2023 in Miami, Florida.
For weeks we have heard that Japanese pitcher Yoshinubo Yamamoto was going to pick between the two New York teams for his first MLB destination.
Instead in the wee-hours of Friday morning word came down that Yamamoto had spurned both the Mets and Yankees, signing a $325 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The move pairs Yamamoto with fellow countryman Shohei Ohtani, who just inked a $700 million deal with LA last week.
According to Andy Martino of SNY, the Mets also offered a $325 million deal for Yamamoto. The Yankees offered $300 million.
Give a lot of credit to the Mets and Steve Cohen, they went all in to get Yamamoto, even though many believed they were third in the race for Yamamoto, as the Dodgers and Yankees were the perceived favorites.
Meanwhile the Yankees, reportedly felt they made a good offer for Yamamoto at $300 and were unwilling to go higher.
Both the Yankees and Mets have a lot of work to do. It feels however with the way this off-season has gone that the Yankees are going for it a lot harder than the Mets are. The Yankees already added Juan Soto, and have a dire need for starting pitching.
Former San Diego Padre ace Blake Snell is still available, as is one-time Yankee Jordan Montgomery. Either one would help bolster a staff that needs help behind staff ace Gerrit Cole.
As for the Mets, they have been making small moves all offseason. Their biggest move was trading for back-end starting pitcher Adrian Houser and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the Brewers earlier this week. They have not made a big splashy move this offseason, which is very unlike the Mets under Steve Cohen.
Perhaps the Mets were betting on Yamamoto or bust?
It will be interesting to see if the Mets join the Snell/Montgomery sweepstakes, or if they pivot toward what feels like a rebuilding year.
MORE FROM THE YANKEES: Yankees Acquire Juan Soto from Padres in Blockbuster Trade
Celebrate Muhammad Ali's Birthday With These Highlights
Muhammed Ali would have celebrated his 82nd on January 17th.
Very few athletes can boast the title of undisputed GOAT in their sport. One boxer, however, left no room for debate over who is the best. Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., aka Muhammad Ali, is not only the greatest boxer of all time but one of the best athletes in history and one of the most recognizable figures in American culture. Born in 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky Ali came from humble beginnings. Ali began his boxing career at just 12 years old on the advice of coach Joe E. Martin.
From there he found immediate success, with an amateur record of 100 wins and 5 losses Ali won Olympic gold in 1960 just before making his professional debut. Ali faced the toughest competition in his professional bouts. High-profile opponents include George Foreman, Joe Frazier, and Sonny Liston. With an impressive record of 56 wins and 5 losses, he went undefeated for the first decade of his career. Only two athletes hold wins over Ali that were not avenged in rematches, Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick. Despite a few losses Ali was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight title three separate times, and defended his title 19 times.
Lesser known bouts include three entertaining exhibition bouts that Ali partook in. Two of which here against former NHL and NFL players. One of Ali’s least known but most influential bouts was a 1976 exhibition match against Antonio Inoki. Inoki was a Japanese wrestler and martial artist. Although Ali was not happy with the match and it ultimately ended in an uninteresting draw, it foreshadowed the rise of mixed martial arts. While today major organizations such as the UFC feature mixed-style bouts, Ali was a boxing wrestler nearly 50 years ago!
In addition to his impressive boxing resume, Ali is also remembered as a cultural icon and activist. He was even awarded the Philadelphia Liberty Medal for his lifelong contributions to philanthropy and activism.
Check out five of Ali’s greatest highlights below!
Michael Cohen is the News and Sports Director at Fox Sports Radio New Jersey and Magic 98.3 FM, as well as a radio production assistant with Fox and Magic in New Jersey. He started his career in Somerset in 2018 initially as a news fill-in at WCTC 1450 AM, and soon moved up to higher responsibilities in the ensuing years, assuming News & Sports Director title in 2021Prior to his time with Fox Sports New Jersey, Michael was play-by-play voice for New Jersey Jackals baseball, and as well as play-by-play and color for the College of Staten Island basketball (men and women), softball and baseball. Michael began his career as a news and sportswriter with the Jersey Journal of Hudson County.
