Dodgers' Anthony Banda I'm Hoping For Juan Soto Signing!!!

112024-anthony-banda-kal
FINGERS CROSSED
TMZSports.com

Anthony Banda sure wouldn't mind it if his Dodgers squad boasted a lineup that featured Shohei Ohtani AND Juan Soto in 2025 ... telling TMZ Sports he's hopeful it goes down!!

Soto, of course, is a free agent after spending this past season in New York ... and Los Angeles is reportedly one of just a few teams that's in play for his services for the foreseeable future.

In fact, according to MLB.com, the Boys in Blue were expected to meet with him just this week to deliver their recruiting pitch.

Tim Wakefield Florida Mansion Hits Market ... 13 Months After His Death

Late Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield's Florida estate is up for sale ... TMZ has learned.

Tim's waterfront mansion hit the market Friday ... and it's listed for $3.3 million.

Tim lived in the 4-bedroom home in Indian Harbour Beach, FL when he died from brain cancer.

Livvy Dunne, Pittsburgh Pirates We Want Skenes' Rookie Card!!! ... Offer King's Ransom

Forget tens of thousands of dollars ... the lucky baseball fan who scores the ultra-rare, MLB Debut Paul Skenes card just got an offer for the piece from Livvy Dunne and the Pittsburgh Pirates that's going to be very tough to refuse.

In a statement released Friday, the Pirates said they're willing to fork over two tickets behind home plate for Pittsburgh games for the next THIRTY YEARS, a meet-and-greet with Skenes himself, a bunch of autographs and several other experiences ... in exchange for the 1-of-1 card.

Livvy -- Skenes' famous girlfriend -- added minutes later that she'd sweeten the pot ... by offering up a seat next to her at one of the pitcher's games next season.

Tampa Bay Rays Get New 2025 Home ... After Hurricane Destroys The Trop

The Tampa Bay Rays have a new home for the 2025 season ... the team just announced it'll be playing in a minor league ballpark next year -- after Hurricane Milton ravaged Tropicana Field in October.

Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement Thursday that he, the MLB, and the Yankees reached an agreement this week that will allow his squad to move into the Pinstripes' Steinbrenner Field in Tampa for the foreseeable future.

Sternberg thanked the Rays' rival org. for the hospitality ... calling New York's helping hand gracious.

Fernando Valenzuela Cause of Death Revealed

Fernando Valenzuela's cause of death has been revealed -- the Los Angeles Dodgers legend died of septic shock.

TMZ Sports has obtained the 1981 World Series champion's death certificate ... which listed decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis as underlying causes.

The medical examiner also suspects Valenzuela suffered from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease ... a rare brain disorder.

Francisco Lindor Touches Down In L.A. ... Ready To Recruit Juan Soto?!?

111224_francisco_lindor-kal
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE
BACKGRID

Francisco Lindor has arrived in Los Angeles ... and given Mets boss Steve Cohen is slated to meet with Juan Soto in Southern California this week -- it sure appears the NY shortstop is now in town to help recruit the star free agent.

The 30-year-old NL MVP finalist flew in to LAX on Sunday evening ... just a few days after multiple reports stated Cohen, Soto and Soto's super agent, Scott Boras, would sit down in the L.A.-area to talk about a potential future with the Mets.

Lindor was mum with a photographer at the airport on whether or not he would be a part of this week's efforts to get Soto in the Blue and Orange ... but he did say he wished "nothing but the best" for the outfielder.

MLB's Wander Franco Arrested In Dominican Republic ... After Alleged Parking Lot Altercation

Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco has found himself in even more trouble -- the shortstop was reportedly arrested in the Dominican Republic on Monday ... after an altercation in an apartment complex parking lot.

The alleged incident took place in San Juan de la Maguana on Sunday ... and according to ESPN, guns were drawn during the dispute.

Purported footage of the altercation is circulating on social media showing a woman screaming, people running and an unidentified man holding a gun ... although it is unconfirmed if it is in relation to the Franco incident.

Steve Garvey Not Done W/ Politics ... ' I Was A Rookie This Year!'

110824_steve_garvey_kal
GOOD ROOKIE SEASON
TMZSports.com

Steve Garvey grounded out during his run for public office in California ... but the Dodgers legend tells TMZ Sports there are only positives to take away from his first at-bat in politics!!

We caught up with the former MLB star shortly after the AP called his race against Adam Schiff for a seat in the United States Senate ... but despite the outcome, the World Series champ was proud of the work his campaign did.

"We're gonna end up with six to seven million votes, new platform in California for moderates," he said. "I'm very proud of the people for standing up. We've registered more people in 58 counties there. All the good things."

Shohei Ohtani Out & About After Shoulder Surgery ... Slinging For The Fences

The MLB's best two-way player is down to just one arm for the time being ... Shohei Ohtani had shoulder surgery this week -- and as you can see, one of his wings is now immobilized by a sling.

Ohtani went under Dr. Neal ElAttrache's knife on Tuesday in L.A. to repair the labrum he tore while trying to steal a base in Game 2 of the World Series -- and on Thursday, he appeared in OK spirits.

Rockin' a burnt-orange cap and a pair of sweats, Ohtani's left arm was held close to his body by a big ol' brace -- but he didn't seem to be too hindered.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Sparks Dating Rumors W/ Model ... After Rodeo Drive Visit

Los Angeles Dodgers star Yoshinobu Yamamoto appears to be off the market -- the ace was spotted moseying around Beverly Hills with Japanese model Niki Niwa.

The new World Series champ hit Rodeo Drive with Niwa -- who also starred on the popular reality show, "Terrace House" -- earlier this week ... when TikTok content creator Jack Banana ran into the two potential love birds.

26-year-old Yamamoto and Niwa, 28, seemed to be mid-shopping spree ... which is well deserved after helping bring home a Commissioner's Trophy to the City of Angels.

L.A. Dodgers W.S. Firework Mishap Cost Fan Two Fingers

The L.A. Dodgers fan who had a firework explode in his hand during a viral World Series celebration-gone-wrong last week has lost two of his fingers, his dad announced this week.

Kevin King Sr. told Fox 11 Los Angeles his 25-year-old son, Kevin King Jr., is now without the pointer finger and the middle finger on his left hand ... and has already undergone two surgeries to repair the damage the firework caused.

Unfortunately, King Sr. said King Jr. will require a third procedure soon.

Dodgers' Kiké Hernandez Addresses Team's 'DGAF' Moment

110424_kike_hernandez_kal
WE BELIEVED IN EACH OTHER
TMZSports.com

Kiké Hernandez's viral postgame interview of the team's "Don't give a f***" mindset took Dodger Nation by storm ... but the star utility player said it wasn't a spur of the moment comment -- 'cause that was L.A.'s motto throughout their World Series run!

TMZ Sports caught up with the newly crowned World Series champ as he worked an honorary shift at Raising Canes ... and he explained how the clubhouse didn't let any outside talk affect how they went about their business.

"We were gonna do whatever it took to win a game, to win a series," he said. "I think it showed throughout the whole postseason that we didn't really care about what anybody thought about us. We didn't really care about the outside noise."

Dodgers' World Series Parade Buehler Slugs Beer, Roberts Dances On Cube ... Epic L.A. Party!!!

110124_dodgers_parade_kal_v2
CELEBRATING IN STYLE
MLB

The Dodgers just wrapped up their World Series parade ... and it was epic -- as it featured Walker Buehler slugging beer, Dave Roberts dancing on Ice Cube ... and even Shohei Ohtani addressing fans in English!

Buehler's chug got all the festivities kicked off on Friday afternoon ... as just after the team's championship busses got going down their parade route through downtown Los Angeles, he whipped out a beer bong and guzzled a cold one.

For the next hour or so, around an estimated two million people cheered on the newly minted champs as they made their way through the roadways.

Freddie Freeman Takes Kids Trick-Or-Treating ... One Day After World Series!

Freddie Freeman is proving to be a prime example that no matter your profession, daddy duty always comes first ... 'cause the World Series MVP took his kids trick-or-treating just one day after winning the title!

Freddie, who raked 4 home runs while clobbering the Yankees game in, game out, along with his wife Chelsea Freeman, took to social media to document the adorable moment ... only hours after the team landed back in L.A. after winning the W.S. Wednesday night in NYC.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

The Freemans showed off the costumes their kids spent the holiday in ... with Brandon wearing the Hulk, Charlie with Iron Man and Maximus in the Spiderman gear!

L.A. Dodgers Strip Clubs Hook Up Team After W.S. ... Lifetime VIP Access!!!

The World Series title has come with an added bonus for the Dodgers ... TMZ Sports has learned two strip clubs in Los Angeles are now offering them free VIP access for LIFE following the big win!

Frankie, the owner of 4Play The Gentlemen's Club and Plan B in West L.A., tells us ... following the Boys in Blue's takedown of the Yankees in Game 5 of the Fall Classic -- he's giving them an epic hookup at his two joints.

Frankie says every player on the team will get an exclusive Black VIP card that will allow them free admission and free VIP booth seating for as long as they live.

L.A. Dodgers Fan Blows Off Hand With Firework ... World Series Celebration Gone Wrong

A World Series celebration Wednesday night turned tragic for one Dodgers fan ... who blew off their hand while lighting a firework in the streets of L.A.

The horrifying incident happened in downtown just minutes after the Dodgers beat the Yankees in Game 5 -- and it was all, unfortunately, captured on video.