Baseball

"That's for you, bitch!"

Those are the words CC Sabathia yelled at the Rays dugout after he was ejected in a game last season ... and now they're the words CC's autographed on baseballs you can own!!!

ICYMI ... the Yanks were in the middle of a blowout game last September -- when Sabathia retaliated after one of his teammates was nearly beaned in the head by a Rays pitcher.

Sabathia plunked Josh Sucre with a 92-mph dart square in the hamstring as payback ... and was immediately ejected.

On his way out, Sabathia pointed toward the Tampa dugout and famously yelled, "That's for you, bitch."

The craziest part of the story ... Sabathia only needed six more outs in the game to reach a $500,000 incentive in his contract -- but blew that off in order to have his teammate's back.

The Yanks later paid out the bonus anyway ... and to commemorate the whole incident -- Sabathia signed baseballs with the curse-word inscription for Steiner Sports.

CC only signed 52 of 'em (that's his jersey number) ... and they're going for $305 a pop.

Kyler Murray will be a GREAT NFL quarterback if he picks football over baseball ... so says Warren Moon, who tells TMZ Sports, "He'll just transition right into the NFL game."

Of course, Kyler's got a big decision coming up -- dude is the Oakland A's 1st-round draft pick AND the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner.

But, most reports have Murray leaning toward entering the NFL draft and actually playing for the team that picks him... and Moon tells us whatever team that is will be getting a future star.

"The game has changed and it's right up his alley," Moon says.

"They're doing the things that he did in college, and because they're doing those things, he'll just transition right into the NFL game."

Some draft experts disagree, saying Kyler's too small -- dude IS just 5'10", 190ish pounds ... but Moon doesn't see that as a problem for the ex-Sooners QB.

"He makes it happen. So, that's all that really matters."

Melvin Upton's wife likes "B.J." ... so now his name is B.J.

For real.

The ex-MLB star used to go by the initials -- it was an homage to his father, whose nickname was "Bossman" ... and therefore made him "Bossman Jr."

But, B.J. switched his name back to his birth name Melvin in 2015 -- 'cause it was his real name and what almost everyone close to him called him.

But now, Upton is back to B.J. ... and tells TMZ Sports it really wasn't his decision.

"My wife. She said Melvin didn't sound right."

She's kinda got a point ... Melvin Upton Jr. is a mouthful to say for a guy who's retired and is now trying to make a name for himself as a baseball analyst on television.

Plus ... when he was "B.J." -- the dude was a superstar ... hitting around 20 home runs and stealing around 40 bags with ease during seasons.

AND, as they say -- happy wife, happy life ... right, B.J.??

There's more ... Mr. Upton also tells us why he's retired FOR GOOD and won't attempt a comeback (his back's all jacked up).

Kacy Clemens -- son of MLB legend Roger Clemens -- seems to be recovering well after allegedly being beaten at a bar last month ... 'cause he hit the diamond Saturday and looked fine.

Kacy, his dad and his fellow baseball-playing brother, Kody, all took to UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Texas this past weekend for the University of Texas' annual alumni game.

The trio of Clemens' all played -- Roger pitched for an inning, while Kacy and Kody manned the rightside of the Longhorns' infield.

Neither brothers did much at the dish ... reportedly only reaching base once in four plate appearances -- but it's interesting Kacy was even out there regardless.

Remember, Kacy claims in a lawsuit filed just last week that he was roughed up by bouncers at a Texas bar during a New Year's event.

In fact, Kacy's lawyer claims the first baseman was beaten so badly, his throwing arm was injured ... but judging by the video, looks like Kacy's healin' up.

The 24-year-old was an 8th-round draft pick by the Blue Jays in 2017 ... and has batted .246 in his two-year minor league career.

BTW ... in case you were wondering -- Roger's still got it. Take a look at this filth he was throwing at 56 years old!!!!

Aaron Judge says he'd consider switching positions if the Yankees signed Bryce Harper -- telling TMZ Sports, he'll do whatever it takes to help his squad land the biggest fish in free agency.

Of course, Harper is currently shopping for the right fit -- and with the Yankees willing to write huge checks, they're still in the running.

Judge is excited about the possibility -- explaining, "Anytime you can add an MVP to a team, it's going to make them better."

There could be one slight issue ... both Judge and Harper play right field -- so, we asked Aaron who would have to switch positions if Harper signed with NY.

Short answer -- Judge is willing to do whatever it takes to get Bryce in pinstripes.

"Wherever he wants to play, wherever he wants to play -- we'll make it work."

The Yanks have a pretty stacked outfield already -- Judge in RF, Aaron Hicks in CF, Giancarlo Stanton in LF and Brett Gardner backing 'em all up -- but, Aaron says there's definitely room for Harper.

Judge also wouldn't mind being future teammates with another mega-free agent, Manny Machado ... and tells us, he hopes both guys "make the right choice."

There's more ... Aaron also has predictions for the Knicks -- saying, now that Kristaps Porzingis is gone -- he's expecting at least TWO superstars to head to the Big Apple next summer!!!

There's no need for Bryce Harper's free agency tour to continue ... 'cause Phillies legend Ryan Howard says Philadelphia is the PERFECT landing spot for the MLB superstar!!!

We got Ryan out at Jay Glazer's Merging Vets & Players Super Bowl Party on Wednesday when he explained to us why the X's and O's just make sense for both Bryce and the Phils.

In fact ... Howard says it's so clear the fit works -- he tells us he'd prefer Philly inks Bryce to a deal if it came down to Harper or other mega free agent Manny Machado.

Of course ... Ryan is biased -- the dude was a left-handed power bat who starred for the Phils -- but he tells us he actually has a great relationship with Bryce on a PERSONAL level.

Howard says he's talked with Bryce before ... and his message to him during this free agency period remains the same, "Bryce, man. Do your thing. You know what it is."

Kacy Clemens -- son of MLB legend Roger Clemens -- says bouncers at a Houston bar beat him so badly during a New Year's Eve event, they may have destroyed his pro baseball career.

Clemens and his pal, Conner Capel, have sued the Concrete Cowboy in Texas -- claiming they were just hanging out when bouncers singled them out and ordered them to move out of a spot in the bar while they were trying to order their first drink of the night.

Both men are minor league baseball players -- Kacy is a 1st baseman in the Blue Jays organization and Conner is an outfielder with the Cardinals organization.

The guys claim they complied with the bouncers' orders -- but the hired muscle manhandled them anyway, eventually beating them so ferociously they sustained serious damage to their faces and bodies.

In fact, Conner says he suffered a fractured skull -- and took photos of the bloody aftermath.

A lawyer for the alleged victims has suggested Kacy may have injured his throwing arm in the incident. He also claims Conner will have to see a neurologist for at least 5 years.

According to the lawsuit, cops showed up at the bar that night and determined neither Kacy nor Conner were intoxicated. One of the bouncers was arrested for assault.

How do you make a 6'2", 240-pound man look SMALL?

Stand him next to Joel Embiid ... because that's exactly what happened when Yasiel Puig ran into the 76ers star in Beverly Hills and TMZ Sports cameras caught the whole thing.

Embiid was eating a meal at Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills when we got Puig walking up to him to say hi. But, it was when Embiid stood up to take a picture that the size became an issue.

To be fair to Puig, Embiid is 7'0" tall, so it would basically take Yao Ming to make him look small -- but still, it's pretty funny when you see the two guys next to each other.

BTW ... Puig's car is ridiculous ... and he showed it to the cameras after he was done making a new friend ... it's a Dodger blue Lambo, which now that he's been traded to Cincy, makes us all sad.

The Dodgers DON'T need to make a splash and re-sign Manny Machado ... so says their ex-GM, Ned Colletti, who tells TMZ Sports the team already has enough talent!!

Ned -- who oversaw the Dodgers' baseball ops from 2006 through 2014 -- says with Corey Seager at shortstop and Justin Turner at third base -- Manny ain't necessary.

"It's not like the team is missing great players. They've got great players in the same spot."

Of course ... the new Dodgers' leadership seemed to try anyway -- they were reportedly in at least SOME talks with the superstar about a new deal earlier this offseason.

But, after L.A. signed outfielder A.J. Pollock to a monster $55 MILLION deal last week ... Manny seems destined for a new team -- perhaps even to the rival Padres.

BTW ... we also spoke with Seager about his elbow AND hip surgeries and if they're healed enough for him to be ready for Opening Day -- and he says he "hopes" so.

Walker Buehler got the best welcome-back-to-L.A. surprise at the airport Thursday ... he learned from our camera guy his Dodgers squad signed A.J. Pollock!!!

"We signed him today?! We signed him while I was on the plane?!"

The 24-year-old pitching phenom took the breaking news with a smile ... and said he was stoked to have yet another All-Star on the team.

"That's cool, man. He's a good player. That's cool, man. I'm excited!"

As for if Pollock is the missing piece the Dodgers need to finally get them a World Series ring ... ya gotta hear what Buehler has to say about that.

BTW ... Walker's been away from L.A. for the past couple months -- and says he's done nothing but relax with his girlfriend (who he introduced us to!) since the World Series.

But, pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 12 ... sooo, time to get back to work!!!

Roy Halladay was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the MLB announced Tuesday -- a little more than 1 year after he tragically died in a plane accident.

The ex-Phillies and Blue Jays ace -- who won the Cy Young twice and was selected to the All-Star Game eight times -- made it in with 85.4 percent of the vote (you need 75% to get in).

Roy passed away in November 2017 after he crashed his ICON A5 light-sport aircraft 10 miles west of St. Petersburg, shocking the entire baseball world. He was 40.

Halladay's widow, Brandy, issued a statement saying ... "Being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame is every boy's dream. To stand on that stage in Cooperstown and deliver your acceptance speech in front of baseball's most enthusiastic fans is something that every baseball player aspires to achieve, and Roy was no exception."

"But that was not Roy's goal. It was not his goal to have those three letters after his signature. His goal was to be successful every single day of his 16-year career. Tonight's announcement is the end result of that effort."

"If only Roy were here to personally express his gratitude for this honor, what an even more amazing day this would be. I would like to extend special thanks to the baseball writers for the overwhelming percentage of votes that Roy received in his first year on the ballot. It means so much to me, Braden and Ryan."

Halladay is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all-time ... compiling a 203-105 record, a 3.38 ERA and 2,117 strikeouts in his 16-year career.

Jackie Robinson's contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers -- one of the most important documents of all time -- is hitting the auction block and it's expected to fetch MILLIONS ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The 1947 contract -- which made Robinson the first black player to sign with an MLB team -- will be sold along with Jackie's 1945 contract with the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers minor league team.

Bidding on the items, hosted by Goldin Auctions, began on Monday ... starting bid was $5 MILLION.

We spoke with Ken Goldin who tells us he's had the items appraised by a rare documents expert who valued the pair at $36 million. Goldin says 10% of the final sale price will be donated to the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

The contracts have been on the auction block before -- most recently in 2017 -- but it did not hit the $15 million reserve, so it went back to the consignor.

Now, the seller is giving the sale another shot ... with a lower reserve.

Jackie's 1947 contract with the Dodgers specifies the team will pay him $5,000 for the '47 season.

The contract states Robinson will "keep himself in first class physical condition" and will "obey the club's training rules."

Robinson also agreed to pledge himself to "the American public and to the Club to conform to high standards of personal conduct, fair play and good sportsmanship."

The contract was signed by Robinson and Dodgers president Branch Rickey on April 11, 1947 ... along with National League president Ford Frick.

Of course, Robinson went on to break the color barrier and crushed the league during his rookie season -- winning N.L. Rookie of the Year honors. The Dodgers went to the World Series that year but lost to the Yankees.

As for Robinson's minor league contract ... it stipulates he was paid $600 per month during the season.

According to the inflation calculator, $600 back in 1945 is worth about $8,374 now.

Robinson passed away in 1972 at the age of 53.

1:33 PM PT -- TMZ Sports obtained court docs explaining the allegations ... and they're graphic and disturbing.

The accuser is a male family member who claims Wetteland engaged in oral sex with him on 3 separate occasions between 2004 and 2006 ... while he was a young child.

Wetteland has been booked for 1st degree felony continuous sex abuse of a child -- and if convicted, he faces up to LIFE in prison.

John Wetteland -- the former closer for the New York Yankees -- was arrested in Denton County, Texas on Monday on suspicion of child sex abuse ... official records show.

Details surrounding the alleged incident are unclear -- but the charge specifies that the alleged victim is under the age of 14.

The 52-year-old right-hander was booked and posed for a mug shot. He was later released on $25,000 bond.

We're reaching out to law enforcement to find out more.

Wetteland was a star back in the day -- he was the MVP of the 1996 World Series, helping his Yankee squad defeat the Atlanta Braves. He posted all 4 saves for the Yanks during that series.

He was also a 3-time All Star during his 12-year MLB career ... during which he played for the Dodgers, Rangers and Expos.

During his Yankees career, Mariano Rivera was his set-up guy.

He later went on to serve as a bullpen coach for the Washington Nationals.

Story developing ...

One of the greatest hitters in MLB history says Kyler Murray can play BOTH football and baseball ... with Adrian Beltre saying he actually WANTS to see it happen!!!

Of course, tons of ex-athletes say there's just no way in hell Kyler can suit up as a QB for an NFL team and then manage to successfully hit the MLB diamond in the offseason.

But, Beltre ain't buyin' all that talk ... telling TMZ Sports, "He can do both. Why not??"

If there's anybody that knows the rigors of baseball ... it's Beltre -- dude played 21 years in the league and logged over 11,000 at bats.

And, in his opinion, it's clearly possible Kyler can do all of that and also help a team on the gridiron on Sundays.

"If he's comfortable with it, he can do whatever he wants."

Kyler's put his name in for the NFL Draft ... but still has time to decide if he wants to spurn the Oakland A's for whatever team picks him in April.

Kyler Murray won't succeed if he tries to play both football AND baseball at the same time ... so says Drew Henson, who tells TMZ Sports the two tasks are just too tough.

Don't get it twisted ... Drew clearly thinks Kyler's got the talent -- he just knows, as a guy who played both on the diamond and under center, that it just wouldn't work.

"The position of quarterback, it's a year-round job," Henson says ... "Any team that's going to invest that type of money in you isn't going to want you to be away in the offseason."

"As far as baseball, developing as a hitter is a constant thing. Getting in at-bats year after year ... so to be the best baseball player you can be, you really need that time and those reps."

So, how would Drew handle it if he were in Kyler's shoes now??

Henson picked the Yankees over an NFL career after his days at Michigan were done ... but bounced back to the NFL just a couple years later.

Drew says if he could do it all over again, he woulda stuck with baseball longer ... and advises Kyler to pick the one sport he ENJOYS more -- not just the one he's got more potential at.

"If there's a sport you like better, that'd be my first choice."

We also talked to Brian Jordan -- who was an NFL player and an MLB All-Star -- and he says he thinks Murray CAN do both ... under 1 condition.

Kyler's got to make a final decision on the NFL draft by Sunday.

Tim Tebow is one step closer to swiping that V-card ... he just got engaged to his insanely attractive beauty queen girlfriend, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters!!!

"Thank you for saying YES and making me the happiest man in the world," Tebow posted.

"You’re the love of my life, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

Demi-Leigh -- the 2017 Miss Universe winner -- also commented, saying, "Any dreams I’ve ever had, you’ve exceeded them all! I love you and I can’t wait to spend forever with you!"

Demi-Leigh is 23 years old. She's from South Africa. The two have been dating for a while and she recently went home to Florida with him to celebrate the holidays ... a big sign a ring was on the way.

Congrats!!!