MLB

Joe Girardi loves the Juan Soto trade for the New York Yankees ... saying this week acquiring the outfielder from the Padres "is pretty big" for his old team.

The Pinstripes officially snagged the 25-year-old on Wednesday -- sending a bevy of players to San Diego in return -- and Girardi said on Friday that Yankees fans should have zero concerns about their new star going forward.

As for why ... the former NY manager said it's simple -- "He's just really good."

Soto, of course, has only played in small markets during his career -- suiting up for Washington for 4.5 seasons before his 1.5 years in SoCal -- but Girardi, again, said he's got no qualms about the New York lights affecting the slugger's play.

"I think he'll fit great," Girardi said.

One Yankees fan who clearly has no issues about the addition is "NYPD Blue" star Nick Turturro ... who tells TMZ Sports he's "very happy" and "overjoyed" with the signing.

"The direction of the Yankees has been so lame lately," he said. "Our lineup has been pathetic. Now we have a real left-handed threat."

"He's a bonafide star, this guy," he added.

One of the brightest young stars in the MLB is on his way to wearing pinstripes in 2023 ... the Yankees are reportedly finalizing a trade for Juan Soto!!

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi ... in addition to the Padres outfielder, New York's deal with San Diego for Soto will also include utility man Trent Grisham.

Morosi added that as part of the pact, the Yanks are planning to send the Padres five players, including pitcher Michael King.

The move will give the Yankees arguably the most talented outfield in the league -- as Soto, a 25-year-old three-time All-Star, will join Aaron Judge as well as newly acquired slugger Alex Verdugo at Yankee Stadium.

Soto was just traded to San Diego from Washington in 2022 ... and after a lackluster first year in SoCal, he bounced back this past season, piling up a .275 batting average with 35 home runs, 109 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.

In his career, Soto has played the Yankees nine total times -- and has gone off in almost every game, hitting .310 with five home runs.

Parece que Morgan Wallen está persiguiendo a Josie Canseco. La superestrella fue vista entrando a un hotel en Londres y yendo a un restaurante con la hija del ex slugger de MLB esta semana y TMZ Sports tiene las fotos.

El cantante de "Last Night" y la modelo llegaron al Chiltern Firehouse alrededor de la 1 AM la noche del martes y las fuentes dicen que se quedaron allí durante unas dos horas antes de salir en la misma camioneta Mercedes Sprinter.

Nos dicen que los dos estaban pasándola muy bien, riendo y sonriendo durante su visita.

Morgan se presentó en el lugar con una chaqueta verde, sombrero de camionero y botas de vaquero de la firma y la hijo de José Canseco se puso un conjunto totalmente negro.

No está claro si los dos están realmente "saliendo", ya que ninguno sigue al otro en Instagram, pero tal vez estaban tratando de evitar tener un rastro de papel.

Morgan tiene un hijo, Indigo Wilder, con su ex-prometida, Katie Smith y ha sido bastante discreto en el mundo de las citas después de su separación, fuera de breves relaciones con Paige Lorenze y Megan Moroney.

En cuanto a Josie, es famosa por haber salido con chicos como Mike Stud, Brody Jenner y Logan Paul, pero parece estar soltera por el momento.

It appears Morgan Wallen is chasing Josie Canseco like a shot of whiskey -- the country superstar was spotted entering a London hotel and restaurant with the ex-MLB slugger's daughter this week ... and TMZ Sports has the pics.

The "Last Night" crooner and model arrived at the Chiltern Firehouse around 1 AM Tuesday morning ... and sources say they stayed there for about two hours before leaving in the same Mercedes Sprinter van.

We're told the two were having a great time ... laughing and smiling throughout their visit.

Morgan showed up to the venue in a green jacket, trucker hat and signature cowboy boots ... and Jose Canseco's kid donned an all-black ensemble.

It's unclear whether the two are really "dating," as neither follow each other on Instagram ... but perhaps they were trying to keep from having a paper trail.

Morgan has a son, Indigo Wilder, with his ex-fiancée, Katie Smith ... and has been pretty lowkey in the dating world following their split, outside of brief relationships with Paige Lorenze and Megan Moroney.

As for Josie, she famously dated guys like Mike Stud, Brody Jenner and Logan Paul ... but appears to be single at the moment.

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes ... the Laker game!!

Fresh off exchanging "I Dos" in Mexico over the weekend, newlyweds Vanessa Hudgens and MLB player Cole Tucker decided to stop by Crypto.com Arena to catch the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns game on Tuesday ... and the married couple looked as happy as ever!!

The duo showed up to the venue in pretty casual 'fits ... with Tucker rocking a white crew neck and snapback, and Hudgens electing for a long coat and red ball cap.

As we previously reported, the actress and athlete had their closest friends in Tulum for the occasion ... with the whole crew celebrating their vows on the beach.

There were a ton of other celebrities in attendance for the Lakers' In-Season Tournament win over the Suns ... including Kim Kardashian, Flea, Druski, Rich Paul and Floyd Mayweather.

The A-listers picked a good one, as the home team won, 106-103 ... eliminating Phoenix from the tourney.

Vanessa Hudgens and Major League Baseball player Cole Tucker are officially Mr. and Mrs. after marrying in Mexico ... and the newlyweds hit the beach with family and friends to celebrate.

TMZ confirmed the news ... the former Colorado Rockies shortstop and the actress said their I Do's in Tulum, Mexico over the weekend, months after we broke the news Tucker and Hudgens got engaged.

The couple hasn't released any photos from the actual wedding ... but there is a photo floating around social media of Hudgens in a white gown.

Hudgens continued with the all-white after the nuptials as the "High School Musical" actress wore a white one-piece bathing suit on the beach with her hubby, family, and friends.

You can also see Tucker -- a longtime MLB player -- wearing a wedding ring.

Hudgens said she knew Tucker was "the one" after their first weekend together ... but was still surprised when Tucker popped the question.

"We had definitely talked about it, but I did not expect it to happen the way that it happened and the moment that it happened," Hudgens said. "It definitely caught me off guard and I was bawling my eyes out."

2:53 PM -- TMZ Sports spoke with Ike about his big pitch to Shohei Ohtani ... and while he hasn't heard from the athlete just yet, he said he's been getting a ton of positive feedback from Giants fans for his efforts.

Ike says if he really does sign with S.F., he's fully willing to change EVERY Ike's location in America in honor of the Shohei ... which he estimates would cost him around $500k, but would be totally worth it.

Ike also spoke more about Kevin Durant's current status with his chain ... and he said the Phoenix Suns hooper STILL gets free sandwiches to this day even though he no longer plays for the Warriors -- so keep that in mind, Shohei!!

San Francisco fans are desperate to get Shohei Ohtani to sign with their beloved team ... with one supporter going as far as offering the MLB superstar free sandwiches for life AND a complete rebranding of his shop if he joins the Giants in free agency!!

Ike Shehadeh -- diehard Giants fan and founder of the Ike's Love & Sandwiches chain -- laid out his terms in a social media post this week ... saying if the two-time MVP ditches the Los Angeles Angels for S.F. this offseason, he'll hook him up with unlimited grub and his own signature menu item.

Ike -- who made similar offers to guys like Kevin Durant and Aaron Judge in the past -- took it one step further for the Japanese sensation ... saying he will also change the naming rights of his establishment to "Shohei's Love & Sandwiches" if he takes his talents to the Bay Area.

The sandwich guru even started the brainstorming process on what Ohtani's own item would look like ... taking inspiration from the Giants' orange and black colors to create a tasty steak and barbeque combo.

The Giants are among the possible realistic landing spots for Ohtani ... with the Dodgers, Mets, Cubs, Rangers and pretty much any other team that can afford him expected to enter the race.

Ohtani is reportedly slated to get at least half a billion dollars with his new deal, so he may not be worried too much about the sandwich offer ... but hey, ya can't knock the dude for trying!!

You may not ever be able to throw like Sandy Koufax, but you can now catch like him -- 'cause one of his game-used gloves has just gone up for sale!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... a mitt the former Dodgers star wore during his second MLB season way back in 1956 hit the Grey Flannel auction block on Monday -- and bidding has already reached over $48,000.

A lofty price tag, for sure ... but the glove is certainly worth it -- as the ultra-rare, 67-year-old piece helped Koufax and the Dodgers win the '56 N.L. pennant.

The Rawlings mitt has some cool markings that show it belonged to the legendary pitcher ... including his No. 32 near the wrist strap -- as well as his nickname, "Koo Foo," written in faded black marker on the glove's pinky.

"This is a rare find indeed, one that stretches back to Sandy's earliest days in Major League Baseball," Grey Flannel exec Michael Russek said. "His career speaks for itself and we're confident this glove will generate plenty of action."

The Oakland A's are now one step closer to becoming the Las Vegas A's ... MLB owners just gave their resounding stamp of approval on the team's potential move to Sin City.

All 30 of the league's bosses voted on the Athletics' relocation plans in Arlington, Texas on Thursday morning ... and not a single one disapproved -- paving the way for the team to now pack its bags and send them to Nevada.

Of course, there are plenty of other hoops the team must jump through in order to officially relocate ... namely, the org. must secure funds to build a $1.5 billion stadium on the Vegas Strip. But, it seems all of that is mere formality at this point.

The news is a crushing one for Bay Area fans ... who did all they could to try to sway MLB owners before Thursday's vote, including flying a plane over the owners' meeting earlier this week with a banner that read "A's belong in Oakland - #VoteNo."

The at least somewhat good news for Oakland supporters? The team could still remain in its current city for a while.

A Vegas stadium is not expected to be erected until January 2028 -- meaning staying in the Coliseum for the next four seasons is an option on the table.

If and when the A's officially move, however, it'll be historic ... only one other team has relocated in the last five or so decades -- the Montreal Expos, who bolted to D.C. in 2005.

San Diego Padres chairman and owner Peter Seidler has sadly died at 63 years old ... the team announced Tuesday.

Padres CEO Erik Greupner shared the heartbreaking news on social media .... saying in a statement Seidler was "beloved" in the org.

A cause of death was not revealed ... however, Seidler -- a two-time cancer survivor -- had undergone health issues recently, revealing in mid-September he had needed a medical procedure in August that would force him to miss the rest of his team's 2023 games.

"Today, our love and prayers encircle Peter's family as they grieve the loss of an extraordinary husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend," Greupner said.

"Peter was a kind and generous man who was devoted to his wife, children, and extended family."

Seidler bought the Padres back in 2012 with his uncle, Peter, and Ron Fowler after they created the O'Malley Group.

Fowler was named the ownership group's executive chairman ... but in 2020, he transferred his role to Seidler. Fowler still remains as Padres vice chairman.

Outside of baseball business, Seidler was big on helping the homeless in San Diego ... joining the Lucky Duck Foundation as one of the board of directors.

"His impact on the city of San Diego and the baseball world will be felt for generations," Greupner said. "His generous spirit is now firmly embedded in the fabric of the Padres."

"Although he was our Chairman and owner, Peter was at his core a Padres fan. He will be dearly missed."

The Padres will allow fans to pay respect to Seidler at Petco Park's Home Plate Gate on Tuesday afternoon.

There's another Fielder making his way to the MLB ... and this one's father, Prince Fielder, tells TMZ Sports the youngster could turn out to be the best in the family!

We got Prince and his 19-year-old son, Jadyn Fielder, out at LAX this week ... and when we asked if the young Fielder had potential to be better than Dad and Grandpa (three-time All-Star Cecil Fielder), Prince didn't mince words.

"He sure does!" Prince said.

As for why ... Prince told us his kid has been "practicing every day" -- while spending years in MLB clubhouses soaking up knowledge from him and other Big Leaguers.

While Prince is certainly a proud dad, he also clearly isn't blowing smoke ... Jadyn -- a 6-foot infielder who plays high school baseball in Florida -- is regarded as one of the best prospects in the 2024 class.

And, get this ... Prince says his other son, 17-year-old Haven Fielder, has a chance to make a name for himself on an MLB diamond one day too!!

It's all quite the sight ... considering it was just a few years ago that the boys were little tykes watching Prince mash in playoff games and Home Run Derbys -- something that's obviously not lost on Prince.

Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe is hoping to share a dugout with Shohei Ohtani next season ... telling TMZ Sports he believes New York should go after the former MVP in free agency.

"Yeah!" he said emphatically while out at the MLB Flagship Store in NYC on Thursday. "Of course!"

Ohtani is eligible to leave the Angels this year ... after he spent the last six seasons with the team turning himself into one of the biggest superstars the sport's ever seen.

In his time in LA, he racked up three All-Star appearances, a .274 batting average, a 3.01 ERA and 171 home runs.

And, despite undergoing a second surgery on his throwing elbow in September, Volpe made it clear to us he really wants to see the 29-year-old in pinstripes.

"I mean, I think he's the best of the best," Volpe said.

Ohtani is expected to stay off the mound in 2024 while rehabbing, but he is slated to be healthy enough to hit at the dish -- and many in the MLB believe he's now poised to land the biggest contract in the history of the sport.

The calls for Brian Cashman's job have never been louder, but the Yankees general manager ain't goin' down without a fight ... the longtime baseball exec got feisty with reporters on Tuesday while defending his team!

"I think we're pretty f***ing good, personally, and I'm proud of our people," Cashman told a horde of reporters at the GM meetings in Scottsdale, AZ.

Today's media sesh with Cash was highly anticipated... it's the first time Brian spoke since the end of an incredibly disappointing season that saw the Bronx Bombers finish in second to last place, just 2 games over .500, despite their near-$279 million payroll.

Cashman also addressed the perception that he's made a bunch of bad trades ... bringing up Sonny Gray and Joey Gallo, two former Yankees who struggled mightily in NYC, but have had success since leaving, with BC saying he "gets a kick out of" people criticizing the moves.

"Since Joey Gallo's left us, who's picked him up? Two playoff teams. Sonny Gray, he's currently in the competition for a Cy Young Award."

Cashman touched on a bunch more ... including the perception that the Yanks are overly dependent on analytics, something Brian says is flat-out untrue.

"No one is doing their deep dives, they're just throwing bulls*** and accusing us of being run analytically. To be said we are guided by analytics as a driver is a lie," Brian said.

Team owner Hal Steinbrenner also talked to the media during a virtual press conference, promising "big changes" to come.

The question is, as another season passes without a World Series win, will any of those changes involve Cash or skipper Aaron Boone losing their jobs as much of the fanbase wants?

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez had nothing but great things to say about Bruce Bochy following his World Series victory this week ... telling TMZ Sports there's absolutely no doubt in his mind the Texas manager will be inducted in Cooperstown one day.

"Hall of Famer," the former Rangers catcher said. "Hall of Famer, obviously."

With a 5-0 win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Bochy became just the sixth manager ever to earn four World Series championship rings. Unlike the other five, though, he's not yet secured a place in baseball's HOF.

Pudge, however, clearly thinks that will happen sooner than later ... calling the 68-year-old one of the greatest big-game coaches of all time.

"When you start to play in the playoffs, it's a different monster," said Rodriguez, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017. "It's always a different game. It's a different ball game. And he's the best doing that. He's the best manager in that situation. And we all see it."

Pudge -- who's been working as a special assistant to the general manager of the Rangers -- said Bochy deserves a ton of credit for leading Texas to its first-ever title, adding that his calming presence made a huge difference in the dugout.

"As a player," he said, "you feel comfortable that, 'Hey, he's going to put all the pieces together to bring this game back and win for us.'"

Pudge also had high praise for the Rangers' World Series MVP, Corey Seager ... calling him straight up "one of my favorite players."

Nathaniel Lowe was so giddy during the Rangers' World Series parade Friday, he straight-up downed a fan's beer in seconds -- and then ripped off his shirt in celebration of the achievement!!

The 2022 Silver Slugger award winner was being driven around in the back of a pickup truck to soak in love from Texas fans when the hilarious moment happened.

You can see in video from the scene in Arlington, a Rangers supporter tossed Lowe a Modelo -- before the first baseman cracked it open and drank it 'til the last drop.

But, he wasn't done there ... he then ripped off his jersey and his undershirt -- much to the crowd's delight.

Thousands of people showed up to celebrate Lowe and his Rangers after they won the title over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday ... and one supporter was so thrilled by his team's performance, he actually climbed to the top of a light pole to pump his fists.

Thankfully, he reportedly made it down unharmed.

Following the jaunt around the city ... the Rangers then took the stage to address their fans -- and Series MVP Corey Seager delivered an epic drop-the-mic moment.

The Texas Rangers won the World Series and then they dominated the postgame celebration ... sucking down a ton of beers and bubbly -- all while they blared Creed on the sound system!!

Corey Seager, Nathan Eovaldi and the rest of the guys threw the epic locker room party just a few minutes after they beat up the Diamondbacks, 5-0, at Chase Field in Arizona.

Manager Bruce Bochy got everything kicked off with a congratulations speech -- praising his team for its 4-1 Series win ... and then for a while, the guys got after it.

They dumped bottle after bottle of champagne and Budweiser on each other ... pausing only to make sure they sang Creed's "Higher" -- their unofficial postseason anthem -- as loud as possible.

The fiesta got so rowdy that at some points the guys filled buckets full of beer ... and then they doused each other in the suds.

Eventually, the dudes packed it in to fly back home to Texas ... and you can see in a video of the aftermath of their celebration, it looked like dozens -- if not hundreds -- of bottles of alcohol were spilled during the party.

As for the on-the-field action, Seager made history ... becoming just the second position player ever to win World Series MVP honors. Bochy, meanwhile, logged his FOURTH W.S. title with the victory.

And, Creed made sure to shout out the guys following the dub ... writing on X, "Congratulations Rangers!"