Rickey Henderson, MLB's greatest base stealer and widely considered its greatest leadoff hitter, has died at the age of 65.

Henderson was a 10-time All-Star, spending the majority of his 25-year career with the Oakland Athletics.

Henderson, who would have turned 66 Christmas Day, was reportedly battling pneumonia.

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Henderson is also the all-time leader in runs scored. He was named the American League MVP in 1990 after leading the AL with a 1.016 OPS, 65 stolen bases and 119 runs scored. 

He also played for the Yankees, Padres, Mets, Mariners, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Angels and Dodgers.

Henderson's wife, Pamela, confirmed her husband's death in a statement.

"A legend on and off the field, Rickey was a devoted son, dad, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a truly humble soul. Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount. Now, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and achievements he leaves behind," Pamela said.

"For multiple generations of baseball fans, Rickey Henderson was the gold standard of base stealing and leadoff hitting. Rickey was one of the most accomplished and beloved Athletics of all-time," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. 

"He also made an impact with many other clubs during a quarter-century career like no other. Rickey epitomized speed, power and entertainment in setting the tone at the top of the lineup. When we considered new rules for the game in recent years, we had the era of Rickey Henderson in mind. 

"Rickey earned universal respect, admiration and awe from sports fans. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest condolences to Rickey’s family, his friends and former teammates, A’s fans and baseball fans everywhere."

Henderson won two World Series, one with the A's in 1989 and another with Toronto four years later.

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Henderson became MLB's all-time stolen bases leader May 1, 1991, when he swiped third base in Oakland. He finished with 1,406 in his career, surpassing Lou Brock by nearly 500 bags. Henderson also retired with 2,295 runs scored, 50 more than Ty Cobb. His 3,055 hits are 27th all-time.

His 130 stolen bases in 1982 are the most in the live ball era. He and Vince Coleman are the only players since 1920 to have three seasons of at least 100 stolen bases. Henderson swiped 50-plus bags in 13 seasons, the most ever.

He made his debut in 1979 and hung up his cleats in 2003, accumulating 111.1 WAR in his 25 MLB seasons.

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The New York Yankees keep making moves.

The Yankees have signed first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year contract, according to the YES Network's Jack Curry.

Goldschmidt, 37, has spent the last six seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, winning the NL MVP in 2022. 

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Last season was a down year by Goldschmidt’s standards, as he hit just .245 with 22 home runs. 

However, over the last two months of the season, Goldschmidt hit better, batting .273 while getting on base more. 

Goldschmidt is a career .289 hitter with 362 career home runs and 1187 RBIs over his 14-year career. 

First base last year was a position where the Yankees did not get a lot of offensive production, as rookie Ben Rice and veteran Anthony Rizzo both struggled. 

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The Yankees first basemen in 2024 combined for an OPS (On-base plus slugging percentage) of just .619, the lowest in Major League Baseball.

The seven-time All-Star will slot into the middle of the Yankees lineup, deepening an already strong Yankees lineup despite losing Juan Soto to the New York Mets. 

Since losing Soto, the Yankees have turned to their "Plan B." The team signed starting pitcher Max Fried, acquired closer Devin Williams, acquired outfielder Cody Bellinger and signed Goldschmidt.

Goldschmidt is not the first MVP winner the Yankees have acquired this offseason, as Bellinger won the 2019 NL MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The Yankees have four MVP winners in their lineup with the addition of Goldschmidt, Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge.

Stanton won the NL MVP in 2017 with the Miami Marlins, while Judge has won the AL MVP in both 2022 and 2024. 

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Cody Bellinger was traded to the New York Yankees from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, as the 2019 National League MVP will look to add power to the lineup.

The trade comes with an interesting twist.

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Bellinger’s fiancée is Maxim magazine and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Chase Carter. The two have two daughters together and announced their engagement in 2023. MLB fans quickly noticed that Carter also dated Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton at one time.

The New York Post noted in 2018 that Stanton and Carter were spotted together in the Bahamas and that she posted a video on her Instagram Stories of the two running into the water together. They reportedly met at a softball charity event.

Carter was also in attendance as the Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins in the 2019 American League Division Series.

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Bellinger and Carter were then spotted together in 2020, and the relationship appeared to blossom from there.

Carter, who is from the Bahamas, started to model when she was 13 and has worked with Victoria’s Secret Pink, Maybelline New York, Urban Outfitters and others, according to People.

She also noted in an interview with Maxim she is a bit of a sports enthusiast and was at one point a highly touted javelin thrower in the Bahamas because she was the only one.

For Stanton, Page Six reported in May he was linked to hospitality worker Asiana Jayd Hung-Barnes.

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The New York Yankees are executing Plan B quite nicely.

Just a week after losing Juan Soto to their crosstown rivals, they acquired yet another All-Star, Cody Bellinger.

Just days after Soto left for Queens, they inked ace lefty Max Fried to an eight-year deal, and, on Friday, they acquired dominant closer Devin Williams.

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Now, it appears they have added Bellinger, who was named the NL Rookie of the Year in 2017 and the 2019 NL MVP.

It's been an up-and-down career for Bellinger, who was on his way to becoming one of the game's best early in his career. From 2017 to 2019, he hit .278 with a .928 OPS. Since then, he's a .244 hitter with a .731 OPS.

EIGHT MLB BURNING QUESTIONS/PREDICTIONS POST-WINTER MEETINGS

ESPN first reported the deal. The Yankees later announced it on social media.

His last two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, though, were better. In 2023, he hit .307 with 26 homers, but he took a step back with a .266 average and a .751 OPS in 2024. Analytics suggest Bellinger was lucky in 2023, because he's not nearly the hard hitter he used to be. So, the 2024 season could be seen as the lefty returning to reality.

The Yankees apparently plan on putting Bellinger in center field, although he has spent time at first base. If that's the case, it ensures that Judge goes back to his normal right field position, and they could now look at the first base market that includes Pete Alonso, Christian Walker, Carlos Santana and Paul Goldschmidt.

The Yankees will reportedly pay $45 million of the $50 million owed to Bellinger through 2026. He has a player opt out after the 2025 season. They sent reliever Cody Poteet back to Chicago.

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EXCLUSIVE: Johnny Damon still remembers when he first met Donald Trump. But just as much, Damon remembers how certain people have treated him for being friends with Trump. 

"Unfortunately, whenever you say you're friends with Donald Trump, we have a lot of people who just can not understand that," Damon told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview. 

The former MLB star met Trump during his time with the New York Yankees, and met him directly through the organization. After Damon left the Boston Red Sox for the Yankees in December 2005, Trump, who was then a New York City businessman and reality TV star, invited the baseball star to play golf in Mar-a-Lago. They were joined by former New York Mets captain David Wright on the green. 

And when Trump found out that Damon was coming to New York to play for the Yankees, a team Trump had been well-connected to over the years, he made a pitch to Damon to move into one of his buildings. But Damon had already moved into a place in the Bloomberg Building. 

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Ten years later, Trump may have gotten his revenge on Damon for not buying a place in his building. In 2015, Damon appeared in the seventh season of "Celebrity Apprentice," where Trump fired Damon in the sixth episode for writing a bad product jingle.

But none of that stopped the two from becoming close friends. For Damon, that friendship blossomed into staunch political support. It was a level of support that Damon had to be prepared to defend himself over.

"We've just been really good friends, and I'm glad that he's back in office and I'm glad we have somebody who's going to be out there, somebody who's going to answer questions, somebody who's going to do the work to make America great again," Damon said. 

"Unfortunately, this last administration, we can't see anything positive that they've done, and hopefully, Donald Trump doesn't get any backlash for anything he's doing because he's already done more than what President Biden has done in his four years and Trump's not even in office right now. So I'm very, very happy my friend is back in office."

Damon knows about the backlash to Trump because he has been on the receiving end of it too.

Damon famously endorsed Trump in 2016, and even spoke at one of his rallies in Orlando that November, igniting backlash from left-leaning baseball fans on social media at the time. 

"I disowned him when he sold his soul to the devil (Go Sox). Is there a way to double-disown him?" one disgruntled Boston Red Sox fan wrote on X (then known as Twitter) in a 2016 response to footage of Damon at the rally.

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Another user insulted Damon's intelligence, writing, "Stupid is as stupid does. No one said he was smart," in response to the 2016 footage.

But after Trump won in 2016, Damon's loyalty amid the backlash paid off with a chance to launch a career in politics. 

In December 2020, Trump appointed Damon to serve on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. Damon joined fellow Yankees World Series champion Mariano Rivera, former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, UFC fighter Colby Covington and NFL Hall of Famer Troy Vincent.

The appointment inspired Damon to consider a future in politics, but that ended after a run-in with police.

In February 2021, Damon was arrested in Florida for a DUI. Leaked bodycam footage of his arrest showed a drunk Damon claiming that he was being targeted for supporting Trump. It came just a month after Jan. 6. 

"Hey, bro, I'm a good f---ing guy. I know people are trying to target me because I'm a Trump supporter," Damon told a police officer in the video. The officer said Damon's support for Trump had nothing to do with the arrest, to which Damon responded, "Yeah... it does."

Damon, who has previously had to deal with backlash for supporting Trump, told Fox News Digital that he had three beers before he got in the car, and his mind was on politics the whole night.

"I was getting ready to run for politics, and thinking about it seriously, and then I get pulled over," Damon said, adding that he disagreed with what the police officer's breathalyzer test said about his blood alcohol level. 

"Unfortunately, people want to go after great citizens, and at the end of the day I'm going to continue to be who I am."

Police reported that Damon had a blood-alcohol content of 0.30% – more than triple the legal limit in Florida. He was also charged with resisting arrest without violence. His wife, Michelle Mangan-Damon, was charged with battery on a law-enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence. 

Damon acknowledges that he made a "stupid" decision driving that night after drinking. But he believes at this point in his life he has overcome it by doing charity work and is now committed to raising his kids.

Still, Damon's support and fondness for Trump isn't going anywhere, no matter what anyone's response to it is.

"I'm going to continue to be friends with him," Damon said. "And I support my friends through the thick and thin, the good and the bad, so that's who I am and that's who I'm going to continue to be."

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The New York Yankees are going big game hunting after missing out on Juan Soto.

The Yankees acquired all-star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers, the teams announced Friday.

The Brewers are receiving starting pitcher Nestor Cortes and prospect Caleb Durbin in exchange for Williams. 

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Williams, 30, is a two-time All-Star and two-time Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year. 

Last season, in 22 games, Williams was 1-0 with a 1.25 ERA with 14 saves in 21⅔ innings after missing the first four months of the season with a stress fracture in his back.

Williams has a 1.83 ERA in 235⅔ career innings with 68 career saves. Williams is nicknamed "The Airbender" because of a wipeout changeup that strikes out over 14 hitters per nine innings. 

Williams will become the Yankees' new closer, and Luke Weaver will move back into a setup role. 

METS' JUAN SOTO REVEALS HE HASN'T TALKED TO ANY OF HIS FORMER YANKEES TEAMMATES SINCE WORLD SERIES LOSS

Cortes will immediately join the Brewers' starting rotation. Last season, Cortes was solid with a 3.77 ERA over 174.1 innings with a 9-10 record.

Cortes sustained a flexor strain at the end of the regular season and appeared out of the bullpen during the World Series in a limited role. 

The Yankees parted with Cortes due to a wealth of starting pitching the team had after signing Max Fried to the most lucrative contract given to a left-handed starting pitcher in MLB history. 

Durbin is a prospect who can play all over the diamond for the Brewers — second base, shortstop, third base and center field. 

The 24-year-old hit .269 with 110 stolen bases in four minor league seasons. Durbin struck out just 111 times in 1,216 minor league plate appearances.

The Yankees don’t appear to be done making moves yet and reportedly have interest in trading for outfielders Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger to replace Soto. 

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The New York Yankees seem to think they are doing everything possible to rebound from losing Juan Soto.

But their rivals, the Houston Astros, apparently think they are being low-balled for perhaps their best player.

It has become apparent the Astros are willing to trade Kyle Tucker this offseason as he enters the final year of team control. The lefty slugger figures to collect big bucks this time next year.

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With Soto on his way to Queens, the Yankees have a hole in their outfield to fill, and they are looking at Tucker.

The two sides have reportedly spoken, but they seem far apart.

According to NJ.com, the Astros think the Yankees have offered "crap" for the three-time All-Star.

"I talked to someone with the Astros’ front office and was told the Yankees didn’t offer anything the Astros wanted," NJ.com's Randy Miller wrote Thursday. "Nothing. They think the Yankees have offered crap."

The executive Miller spoke with apparently said the Yankees have only offered low-level prospects.

 The Astros apparently want a package to start with reigning Rookie of the Year Luis Gil.

JUAN SOTO'S RECORD-BREAKING METS CONTRACT INCLUDES SPECIFIC UNIFORM NUMBER REQUEST, AMONG OTHERS: REPORT

Houston has also been in discussions with the Chicago Cubs about outfielder Seiya Suzuki and infielder Isaac Paredes.

MLB's winter meetings are now over, but there are still roughly 10 weeks until spring training begins. So, there's plenty of time.

The Yankees pivoted to sign Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million deal, the most lucrative contract ever given to a lefty.

If the Yankees do get Tucker, it wouldn't be the first time they traded for a lefty outfielder who was entering a contract year. It's what they did with Soto last year.

Soto finished third in the AL MVP vote, two spots behind Aaron Judge, and signed a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets, the richest in sports history.

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Juan Soto was all smiles as he donned his newest pinstripes in New York.

The newest New York Mets superstar was introduced to the media and spoke about his excitement for the team's future, World Series aspirations and more. 

But while Mets fans are over the moon with their $765 million man, New York Yankees fans remain bitter, and seeing Soto in his No. 22 Mets jersey likely added fuel to that fire. 

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During a media scrum, Soto was asked if he had a message for Yankees fans who hoped he would return on a similar deal the Mets gave him. 

"I want to say thank you to them," Soto said, via SNY. "They really showed me all the love and everything they had last year. They were there day in, day out. They really have a spot in my heart at the end of the day. Tough that we couldn’t get it together and try to be back and stuff like that. But definitely I’ll always appreciate what they did for me in 2024." 

It may not be an answer Yankees fans want, but Soto at least acknowledges what they did for him in 2024. 

JUAN SOTO'S RECORD-BREAKING METS CONTRACT INCLUDES SPECIFIC UNIFORM NUMBER REQUEST, AMONG OTHERS: REPORT

Fans showered the right fielder with "Re-sign Soto!" chants every game, fake blank checks were brought into the stadium and Soto had a career year statistically, helping the Yankees return to the World Series. 

The love Yankees fans had for Soto was palpable, and they wanted him to remain with a long-term deal.

But the Mets outbid the Yankees, who reportedly had a 16-year deal worth $760 million on the table. Soto chose to go across town to Queens.

Soto revealed at his news conference he hadn't spoken to a single Yankees teammate since the World Series ended in a crushing defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

"I think we have the best chance to win here," he added when asked about his choice of the Mets over the Yankees. 

The Mets, always considered a "little brother" to the Yankees, have a new identity with owner Steve Cohen. 

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The New York Mets introduced their new superstar, Juan Soto, Thursday after outbidding the New York Yankees for his services.

During his introductory press conference, a reporter asked if Soto had talked to his former Yankees teammates throughout the free agency process.

"I haven’t talked to any of those guys. We talked to them through (the) playoffs, end of the playoffs. But, after that, I made this process. I haven’t talked to any of those guys," Soto said. 

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In his press conference after winning the AL MVP, Aaron Judge said he hadn’t spoken to Juan Soto since the end of the World Series.

"The best thing is to really give those guys space," Judge said, according to Fox Sports. "I talked to him all season, and he knows how we feel about him. And I think the most important thing is now let him do his thing with his family, pray about it, talk with people and come to the right decision for him and his family."

The bidding for the 26-year-old came down to the crosstown rivals, and the Mets won the prize of free agency. 

The Mets gave Soto the most lucrative deal in professional sports history, a 15-year, $765 million contract that includes escalators that can take it over $800 million. 

YANKEES SIGN ACE PITCHER TO HISTORIC CONTRACT AFTER LOSING JUAN SOTO SWEEPSTAKES: REPORTS

There is a player opt-out after the fifth season that the Mets can void by paying Soto $55 million per season for the remainder of the contract should Soto choose to opt out. 

The jump to $55 million annually would be a $4 million raise from the $51 million Soto will receive annually for the first five years of the deal. 

In addition to becoming the highest-paid player in baseball history, Soto will also receive a ballpark luxury suite for his family, four premium seats for home games and security for him and his family, according to the New York Post.

Last season, Soto finished third place in the AL MVP voting after having a career-best year hitting in front of Judge. 

The four-time All-Star hit .288 with 41 home runs and 129 walks, second only to Judge.

During the Yankees' run to the World Series, his performances were crucial in the ALDS and ALCS, which was highlighted by his game-sealing, go-ahead extra-inning home run against the Cleveland Guardians. 

Now Soto will take his talents crosstown and anchor the top of the Mets' lineup alongside Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos.

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Juan Soto is the richest athlete in sports history.

However, $765 million apparently wasn't enough for the newest New York Met.

Soto and the Mets made their record-breaking 15-year deal official Wednesday.

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There had been reports earlier this week that the Yankees "wouldn't budge" on giving Soto a suite at Yankee Stadium, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman seemed to all but confirm that. But the Mets gave a suite to Soto.

The New York Post says that, along with the suite, Soto will also have four premium seats for home games and security for him and his family both at home and on the road.

His uniform number was another issue.

Since his MLB debut in 2018, Soto has worn No. 22 with the Nationals, Padres and Yankees. He will do the same with the Mets, and it is a part of his contract, the Post notes.

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Brett Baty had worn the number with the Mets since 2022. It is common for stars who join new teams to give a hefty gift to whomever was wearing a preferred number. It's unknown if Soto is giving Baty anything.

Either way, Baty doesn't have a choice in the matter.

The Yankees said their reported 16-year, $760 million offer was "above and beyond our comfort level." Cashman also noted that "some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites, they buy them."

But Cashman said the Yankees' reluctance to give Soto a complementary suite did not factor into the team losing Soto to the Mets. 

Soto finished in third place in the 2024 AL MVP vote. Aaron Judge, Soto's teammate last season with the Yankees, won the 2024 AL MVP.

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The New York Yankees' pivot is on.

The Bronx Bombers lost Juan Soto to their crosstown rivals earlier this week, but the show must go on, and the Yankees made a big splash.

The Yanks and Max Fried are reportedly in agreement on an eight-year deal worth $218 million, the most lucrative deal ever given to a left-handed pitcher.

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Fried has been an ace for the Atlanta Braves in recent years alongside Spencer Strider. Fried pitched to a 3.23 ERA in 29 starts in 2024, and his career ERA is 3.07. His 2.81 ERA since 2020 is the lowest in the sport among pitchers with at least 90 starts in that span.

The deal is a risk for the Yanks. Fried turns 31 next month. However, their rotation is without a doubt one of the best in baseball, and it also keeps Fried away from the Boston Red Sox, who were also interested in Fried.

Fried will now be the co-ace alongside Gerrit Cole. The Yankees also boast Rookie of the Year Luis Gil. Carlos Rodon also had a bounce-back year, while Clarke Schmidt's 2.85 ERA, albeit in only 15 starts, was the best of his career.

The Yankees figure to move on from either Marcus Stroman or Nestor Cortes. Fried will make a tick over $27 million a year.

Fried ranks near the top of the league in average exit velocity allowed as well as ground ball rate. While he's not much of a swing-and-miss guy, weak contact on the ground is a good combination.

The Yanks reportedly offered Soto $760 million over 16 years, but Soto took the Mets' deal of 15 years and $765 million, which could reach over $800 million when it's all said and done.

The Yankees still have other holes to fill, most notably at the infield corners and in left, but they have been linked to Nolan Arenado, Christian Walker and Teoscar Hernandez.

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New York Yankees fans are still reeling over Juan Soto's decision to sign with the New York Mets, and while money talks, one report has perhaps an additional reason why he wanted Queens over the Bronx. 

It was expected that Mets owner Steve Cohen would do anything possible to get Soto to wear blue and orange next season, and it wasn't just about the money, as the New York Post reported. 

According to The Post's Jon Heyman, Cohen didn't think twice when it came to giving a suite to Soto's family to help sweeten the $765 million deal he agreed to. 

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Heyman adds the Yankees, though, "wouldn't budge on the suite," noting the team felt they couldn't do so when Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter – the past two Yankees captains – paid for their family's suite. There would've been a discount, but not a freebie like Cohen offered. 

Of course, the main piece of this was Soto getting a historic contract that smashed Shohei Ohtani's $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

There are no deferments, so he's scheduled to receive $51 million per season. He gets a $75 million signing bonus, whereas the Yankees didn't have one, and there are escalators in the contract that could take the deal to $805 million. 

YANKEES GM BRIAN CASHMAN DEFENDS PURSUIT OF JUAN SOTO AFTER LOSING TO METS: ‘ABOVE AND BEYOND OUR COMFORT’

Soto also has a fifth-year opt-out clause, when he will be 30 years old. 

The Yankees' deal was comparable, though, as they reportedly offered $760 million over 16 years, which GM Brian Cashman admitted was "above and beyond our comfort level" when speaking to reporters at the MLB Winter Meetings on Monday. 

And even Cohen understood his best offer might not have beaten the Yankees, considering Soto already had a year with the team and a World Series appearance to boot. 

"I was being logical," Cohen told The Post about his negotiations with Soto and super agent Scott Boras. "When you have [Aaron] Judge, it’s tough to beat that. Juan was great. But what they had… I didn’t know how to solve that." 

But Cohen, GM David Stearns and the rest of the organization found a way, ultimately checking the boxes Soto wanted for his long-term future in MLB. 

Meanwhile, the Yankees are pivoting to Plan B, which appears to be going after top names in the starting pitching market, including Max Fried and Corbin Burnes. 

How the Yankees respond to life without Soto remains to be seen, but the fallout from going crosstown still weighs heavy on the minds of fans.

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Juan Soto isn't leaving New York, but he isn't a Yankee either, as reports say the 26-year-old slugger is heading to the Mets on the biggest contract in professional sports history. 

Soto agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal that smashes Shohei Ohtani's $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers this past offseason. 

With no deferrals like Ohtani's, Soto is set to make $51 million per year, and it could move to $55 million per season depending on what happens with his opt-out in five years.

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But while all is right in Queens after Steve Cohen outbid the Yankees in historic fashion, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was asked about his and owner Hal Steinbrenner’s pursuit of Soto, which was a very competitive offer. 

The Yankees reportedly offered Soto $760 million over 16 years with no deferments, just like the Mets. And Cashman said at the MLB Winter Meetings on Monday that it was "above and beyond our comfort level" to do so, per MLB.com. 

WHAT YANKEES REPORTEDLY OFFERED JUAN SOTO BEFORE HE SIGNED WITH METS

"It’s not a deal we regret," Cashman said, adding his understanding that Soto could’ve always been a one-and-done player after trading for him last offseason. "He impacted us in a heavy way. I’m just sorry we fell short in the World Series."

"There's a lot of different ways to figure this out," Cashman said about adding talent not named Soto to reach the World Series again in 2025.

Now, the question is what the Yankees have in store for their "Plan B," or life without Soto.

MLB.com reported the Yankees were "hosting virtual calls" with top free-agent starters Max Fried and Corbin Burnes. Starting pitching is always something World Series contenders look to upgrade, a prime example being the Dodgers already adding Cy Young winner Blake Snell.

Even before news of Soto’s choice, the Yankees were expected to be involved in infield upgrades, especially at first base, while another outfielder was also in the cards.

Among the options for both infield and outfielder are Teoscar Hernandez, Cody Bellinger, Anthony Santander, Alex Bregman and former Met Pete Alonso.

Cashman & Co. will need to move on quickly so they don’t miss out on the other top talent, but the franchise and its fan base never wanted to think about a world where Soto wasn’t a part of the 2025 roster and beyond.

He had a career year in his lone season in the Bronx, hitting a career-high 41 homers with 109 RBI and a .288 average and .419 on-base percentage in front of AL MVP Aaron Judge in the lineup.

Soto’s efforts, which led to a plethora of "Re-sign Soto!" chants from fans during the 2024 season, played a large part in the team’s first World Series appearance since 2009. They weren’t able to beat the Dodgers, but it was expected the Yankees would do everything in their power to bring him back because of how lethal the combination of Soto and Judge were in the lineup.

The Yankees tried, but Soto will explain why he chose their crosstown rival instead.

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The New York Yankees swung for the fences but came up short in the sweepstakes for prized MLB free agent Juan Soto.

Soto agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets, according to multiple reports. The 26-year-old phenom will go from the Bronx to Queens in one of the biggest and shrewdest moves the Mets have made in several years.

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It apparently was not for lack of trying.

The Yankees offered Soto $760 million over 16 years, according to multiple reports. The deal would have lowered his average annual value if he decided to stick around in pinstripes.

Soto ultimately turned down the Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays to sign the richest contract in professional sports, the New York Post reported.

The MLB world also weighed in on the Yankees apparently missing out on the star player.

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The Yankees acquired Soto in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres last winter for Jhony Brito, Kyle Higashioka, Michael King, Drew Thorpe and Randy Vasquez. He was paired with Aaron Judge on a star-studded roster that also featured Giancarlo Stanton.

He hit .288 with a .989 OPS with a career-high 41 home runs. He led the American League with 128 runs scored and was an All-Star for the fourth time in his young career.

New York fell just short in its World Series hopes – losing in five games to the Dodgers.

With the Mets, he will join a lineup that features another perennial MVP candidate, Francisco Lindor.

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Juan Soto’s free agency has driven national headlines this MLB offseason, and considering both New York teams are in the thick of negotiations, the "Saturday Night Live" crew had some fun with it. 

A dig thrown the way of the New York Mets came as a result. 

Dana Carvey was once again in his role as "Church Lady," who had a "Church Chat" with Soto, played by Marcello Hernandez. 

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Playing Soto, Hernandez wore a question mark on his white T-shirt while also sporting a Celsius hat, an ode to the teased announcement the 26-year-old superstar had last month as baseball fans were clamoring for his free agent decision. 

During their conversation, the New York Yankees were the team that "Soto" hoped would "make me the best offer."

However, Church Lady’s next comment ultimately led to a jab at the Mets. 

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"Well, as a Christian, I have to ask you: Why not spend your time and money helping the needy and less fortunate?" Church Lady asked. 

"You’re right," the fake Soto replied. "Maybe, I’ll sign with the Mets."

With Soto reportedly getting offers with $700 million on the table, Church Lady said to the fake Soto that "money is the root of all evil."

"Well, if that’s true, then I’m going to become the most evil baseball player in the world," the fake Soto said, which led to raucous laughter from the crowd. 

As of Saturday night, the New York Post reports both the Yankees and Mets upping their offers to Soto into the "$710-730 million range," which would top what the Los Angeles Dodgers gave Shohei Ohtani this past offseason. 

Ohtani’s record contract was worth $700 million with $680 million in deferrals, changing the entire landscape of how MLB stars could be signed moving forward.

But it isn’t just the Yankees and Mets interested in Soto for next season and beyond. 

The Dodgers, who already made a splash after their World Series victory over the Yankees by adding Blake Snell to the starting rotation, are reportedly interested. The Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, divisional foes of the Yankees, remain in the mix as well.

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Two-time MLB All-Star pitcher Luis Severino and the Athletics have reached an agreement on a three-year contract, according to multiple reports.

The deal is reportedly worth $67 million, which would represent the most lucrative contract in the history of the typically budget-minded franchise. 

The deal exceeds the $66 million contract third baseman Eric Chavez signed for 2005-10. 

Severino had a strong 2024 campaign with the New York Mets, starting 31 games and posting a 3.91 ERA. He also struck out 161 batters in what became his first full MLB season since 2018. Severino has battled a number of injuries over the past five years.

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Severino made his big league debut with the New York Yankees in 2015. 

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It didn't take long for the veteran right-hander to find success at the MLB level. He recorded 230 strikeouts and was named to the All-Star team in 2017, his first full season in a big league rotation.

Severino, who turns 31 Feb. 20, was a free agent for the second straight offseason after going 11-7 in his only season with the Mets. He left the Yankees last offseason to sign a one-year deal with the Mets guaranteeing $13 million, and he earned an additional $2 million in performance bonuses.

Severino is 65-44 with a 3.81 ERA in 156 starts and 16 relief appearances for the Yankees and Mets.

Severino turned down a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Mets, who will receive an extra pick after the fourth round of next July’s amateur draft. The A's will forfeit their third-highest selection.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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"What might have been could be yours," Topps says of its new trading card featuring an NFL legend who could have been a baseball star. 

Topps announced Wednesday the release of a new John Elway card that shows him as a member of the New York Yankees.

Before becoming a Pro Football Hall of Famer, Elway was drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the 1981 MLB Draft, six spots ahead of Tony Gwynn, who became one of the greatest hitters of all time.

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To kick off the release, Topps got some help with one of the most infamous television characters of all time.

Topps' ad starts with Stephen A. Smith interviewing Elway, asking him how the Yankees drafted him over Gwynn. Elway reminisces that "it was all [George] Steinbrenner." That notion is somewhat true because Steinbrenner wanted Elway to be the team's right fielder in 1985.

The ad then flashes back to "Steinbrenner's office" ahead of the 1981 MLB Draft, where scouts are trying to convince The Boss, played by Larry David, to take Gwynn. David was the voice of Steinbrenner on "Seinfeld." Steinbrenner never actually appeared on the show himself, but George Costanza worked for the owner in the show.

"The basketball player?" David asks, referring to Gwynn, who played basketball at San Diego State. "It's gotta be Elway. I want him out in right field with that cannon of an arm."

The scouts reply that Gwynn will be better than Keith Hernandez, who made a well-known appearance on "Seinfeld."

"I don't like that big mustache," David responds.

David then pictures kids lining up for Elway’s baseball card and his name in lights at Yankee Stadium.

"DiMaggio, Mantle, Ruth — it's gotta be Elway," David says again.

The ad closes with the card of Elway in a Yankee uniform playing the outfield, saying, "What might have been could be yours."

It's essentially the next version of "What Ifs" that Topps is producing. It did the same with Tom Brady and the Montreal Expos.

Elway played for the Yankees' minor league system in 1982 before being the first pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts.

Elway, though, was openly against playing for them, even threatening to stick with the Yankees if the Colts didn't trade him. 

They did eventually trade him to the Denver Broncos, and the rest is history.

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Arguably the most coveted free agent in MLB history has signed a deal… but not the one we're all waiting for.

Juan Soto is a free agent, and at just the age of 26, there is speculation that he could be signing a record-breaking contract.

But before that, Soto announced on Tuesday that he has inked a partnership with the energy drink company, CELSIUS Live Fit.

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The announcement came on Soto's Instagram account with a video that featured him stepping in front of multiple microphones.

Soto captioned the video, "The announcement you’ve been waiting for."

"This wasn't an easy decision, but after meeting with the team, it's become clear what I want to be," Soto said in the video. "With that said…"

Soto then puts on a CELSIUS hat and finishes, "Team CELSIUS," before cracking open a beverage and taking a sip.

Then, he put on his trolling cap.

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"What? You were expecting a different announcement?" he joked.

The video surely got the fans talking.

"I will drink nothing but Celsius for the rest of my life if that’s what It takes for you to play in The Bronx the next decade," one Yankee fan commented on the post.

"Stop playing [with] us," added another.

Wrote one more, "the way my heart stopped when i read the caption."

One user, though, wasn't as amused, commenting, "Go to the Mets."

Even some of his 2024 Yankees teammates, who could soon be former teammates, couldn't help but laugh – both Anthony Rizzo and Jasson Dominguez commented several laughing emojis.

As for Soto, the deal is a no-brainer.

"I’m thrilled to join Team CELSIUS, a brand that aligns with my values and has a premium product that continues to support my personal performance and wellness," Soto, the first MLB athlete to sign with the brand, said in a statement. 

"Together, we can motivate and inspire individuals to push their limits and LIVE FIT. I can’t wait to share my journey with fans and show them how CELSIUS can help them achieve their goals."

Five teams have reportedly made offers to Soto: the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox and Blue Jays. The speculation is he wants to have a deal at around the time the Winter Meetings take place from Dec. 9-12.

Soto spent the 2024 season with the Bronx Bombers after they traded for him around this time last year – he finished in third in the AL MVP voting, as fellow outfield mate Aaron Judge took him his second award. The Yanks lost to their fellow Soto suitor in the Dodgers, though, in the Fall Classic.

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Let the bidding war for Juan Soto begin. 

Five teams have offers on the table for the superstar outfielder, according to multiple reports.

Those five teams are the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.

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Those contracts were made late last week, according to the report. The next step in the process will be negotiations between the teams and Soto’s agent, Scott Boras. 

Soto, 26, is reportedly believed to be seeking a 15-year contract that is worth more than Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal. Ohtani’s deal is 10 years, and he deferred the majority of his contract, whereas Soto apparently is not interested in deferring money. 

The four-time All Star is coming off the best season of his already remarkable career, batting .288 while slugging a career-high 41 home runs, finishing third in AL MVP voting while batting in front of the MVP in Aaron Judge. 

During the Yankees' run to the World Series, Soto was even better, hitting .327 while having an on base percentage of .469 while hitting four home runs. 

The Blue Jays tried to trade for Soto last offseason but could not get a deal done with the San Diego Padres. The Blue Jays also tried to sign Ohtani but fell short in their pursuit of adding a superstar.

AARON JUDGE DOESN'T CARE IF JUAN SOTO GETS BIGGER CONTRACT FROM YANKEES: 'IT AIN'T MY MONEY'

Some are questioning whether the Dodgers can afford to sign Soto after handing out over $1 billion dollars of total money in contracts last offseason, but with Ohtani deferring a lot of his contract, they have enough money to at least make an offer.

The Red Sox met with Soto for three hours in California in their hopes of luring the five-time Silver Slugger away from their bitter rival, according to MLB.com.

The Mets have the richest owner in the sport in Steve Cohen and may need every penny they can muster to steer Soto away from the Bronx and over to Queens, where he and star shortstop Francisco Lindor would form a dynamic duo atop the lineup. 

Soto met with the Yankees last Monday, when the team sent owner Hal Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, special assistant to the general manager Omar Minaya and manager Aaron Boone to California, according to NJ.com.

Soto posted a video on Instagram on Tuesday with the caption "The announcement you’ve been waiting for (eyes emoji)," teasing fans about his free agency, but instead announced a brand deal with Celsius.

"What, you were expecting a different announcement?" Soto said with a smile at the end of the video. 

Soto is expected to sign with a team during MLB’s winter meetings, which take place Dec. 9-12.

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Just hours after voting to finance repairs to the home stadium of the Tampa Bay Rays, the St. Petersburg City Council reversed course. 

The Rays will now pay the division rival New York Yankees $15 million to play their home regular-season games at New York's spring training ballpark. That is now the only certain home the Rays will have until further notice. 

The stadium's fiberglass roof was ripped clean off Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton swept ashore just south of Tampa Bay. Then came the destructive water damage inside the venue, causing an estimated $55.7 million in damage. The extensive repairs cannot be finished before the 2026 season, city documents show.

The city at least would have supplied some funding and started the process with its initial vote, which was a 4-3 decision.

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The initial vote Thursday was to get moving on the roof portion of the repair. Once that was done, crews would begin working on laying down a new baseball field and fixing damaged seating and office areas and a variety of electronic systems, which would require another vote to approve money for the remaining restoration.

Members who opposed it said there wasn’t enough clarity on numerous issues, including how much would be covered by the ballpark’s insurance and what amount might be provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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The reversal on fixing Tropicana Field came after the council voted to delay consideration of revenue bonds for a proposed new $1.3 billion Rays ballpark. Just two days earlier, the Pinellas County Commission postponed a vote on its share of the new stadium bonds, leaving that project in limbo.

"This is a sad place. I’m really disappointed," council Chair Deborah Figg-Sanders said. "We won’t get there if we keep finding ways we can’t."

The Rays say the lack of progress puts the new stadium plan and the future of Tropicana Field in jeopardy.

"I can’t say I’m confident about anything," Rays Co-President Brian Auld told council members.

The reversal now means the city and Rays must work on an alternative in the coming weeks so that Tropicana Field can possibly be ready for the 2026 season.

"I’d like to pare it down and see exactly what we’re obligated to do," council member John Muhammad said.

Several council members said before the vote on the $23.7 million to fix the roof that the city is contractually obligated to do so.

"I don’t see a way out of it. We have a contract that’s in place," council member Gina Driscoll said. "We’re obligated to do it. We are going to fix the roof."

The team's planned new stadium would be ready for the 2028 season, if that project advances, the team said Tuesday.

Rays top executives said in a letter to the Pinellas County Commission that the team has already spent $50 million for early work on the new $1.3 billion ballpark and cannot proceed further because of delays in approval of bonds for the public share of the costs.

"The Rays organization is saddened and stunned by this unfortunate turn of events," a letter, signed by co-presidents Auld and Matt Silverman, said. They noted the overall project was previously approved by the County Commission and the City of St. Petersburg.

Asked if Major League Baseball can survive long term in the Tampa Bay area, Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg said the outlook is "less rosy than it was three weeks ago. We're going to do all that we can, as we've tried for 20 years, to keep the Rays here for generations to come."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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