New York Yankees

Ex-World Series MVP John Wetteland is denying allegations he repeatedly sexually assaulted a little boy in his family ... with his attorney telling the media, "He is innocent."

Wetteland has been accused of forcing the family member (now an adult) to give him oral sex on three separate occasions between 2004 and 2006 when the boy was under the age of 14.

A grand jury indicted the former All-Star pitcher on 3 felony charges of child sexual assault in March ... and at his first court appearance Monday, his attorney strongly denied the allegations.

"What they've accused him of, the only thing worse is murder," Derek Adame told the Dallas Morning News ... "He was completely shocked [by the allegations]."

Adame said Wetteland intended to enter a not guilty plea ... and is planning on fighting the charges vehemently.

"We look forward to the opportunity to prove our innocence, which is what Mr. Wetteland is," Adame said ... "He is innocent and is looking forward to his day in court."

Wetteland is due back in court for another hearing in July.

CC Sabathia is hands down a slam dunk Hall of Famer, so says a guy who tried to beat him for YEARS ... 'cause Jake Odorizzi tells TMZ Sports the Yankee belongs in Cooperstown.

"He's a surefire Hall of Famer," the Minnesota Twins pitcher says ... "I really enjoyed watching him pitch."

It's a pretty big compliment from Jake ... considering the guy threw against CC PLENTY from 2013 to 2017 when Odorizzi was a Tampa Bay Ray and Sabathia was in NY.

But, game recognizes game ... and Odorizzi says CC is one of the best to ever do it.

And, why? Jake tells us the way Sabathia changed his approach from a flame-throwing lefty to a crafty pitcher is really impressive.

"He's the third lefty that's ever got 3,000 strikeouts," Jake says ... "So, I think that's pretty special."

38-year-old Sabathia has a pretty strong resume -- 6-time All-Star, 2009 World Series champion and he won the Cy Young in 2007.

Plus, he won the MLB in wins in 2009 and 2010.

A-Rod hit up his go-to lunch place Friday PM, and as he left our photog planted a seed in his mind for a wedding venue.

J Lo's fiance chowed down at Nello in NYC and laughed at our suggestion ... Yankee Stadium might be an awesome place for a wedding. Something tells us they could easily fill the stadium.

And, speaking of baseball, A-Rod's undaunted by the struggling Yanks and Red Sox, essentially saying it's a marathon and not a sprint.

Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Andujar, Luis Severino, Dellin Betances and CC Sabathia are ALL injured ... but don't panic, Yankees fans -- Alex Rodriguez says they'll have a GREAT year.

Yankees had high hopes for this year's squad -- the Yanks were the favorites to win the World Series in many places -- but the season has gotten off to a rough start ... with the NYY dropping 2 out of 3 to the terrible Orioles AND losing several key players to injury.

If that's got you all worked up, take it from a World Series champ, 'cause TMZ Sports saw A-Rod leaving The Mandarin Hotel in NYC, and he ain't worried at all.

"I think the Yankees will be great," Rodriguez says ... "It's gonna be a great year."

Forget rookie cards ... here's a WAY cooler piece of baseball memorabilia -- Mickey Mantle's SIGNED Trump casino gambling cards!!!

That's right, the player's cards Mantle personally used to throw down bets at Donald Trump's casinos in Atlantic City -- the Trump Taj Mahal and Trump Plaza -- are hitting the Robert Edwards Auctions block.

So far, bidding has passed the $1,000 mark ... and we're told the two pieces of plastic could fetch $2,000 when all is said and done.

The cards are DOPE -- they both display the baseball legend's name and card numbers on the front ... with one of the cards actually personally signed by Mickey on the back.

And, if you're wondering ... the signature is in great shape -- we're told it's graded out as a 9 ... while both cards are said to be in "Near Mint" condition.

One of the cooler parts of the pieces? One of them has an issue date of 11/90 -- which means Mickey was using these bad boys to gamble when he was 59 years old!!!

By the way, Mantle's had a few of these cool auctions in the past ... we're told his American Express card sold for $8,400 at auction several years ago.

Now if only we could get these cards to talk!!!

Alex Rodriguez proposed to Jennifer Lopez with a heavy hand ... quite literally.

A-Rod and J Lo just released pictures from his beachy proposal over the weekend ... with the former MLB star's World Series ring from 2009 with the Yankees damn near taking center stage. You can see in the pics Alex down on bended knee with his lone WS ring on his right hand.

But, J Lo's eyes were laser-focused on her new diamond ring and seemed surprised as hell. If you click on the picture slides ... you can see the happy couple embrace each other with a kiss while A-Rod's still down on one knee. And, BAM ... both A-Rod's World Series ring and her gigantic diamond are both on display.

But, ya gotta wonder ... which ring's bigger?

"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.

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!!!

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 ...

Great news for CC Sabathia ... the Yankees ace has been officially cleared to work out after undergoing heart surgery last month.

ICYMI --the Cy Young winner needed an angioplasty to unblock an artery back in December after experiencing acid reflux, heartburn and other symptoms.

At the time, team officials say Sabathia could have suffered a heart attack if he did not seek help.

The surgery was a success ... and after a follow-up stress test on Tuesday, the team announced Sabathia has been cleared to workout and resume baseball activities after.

Yankees star CC Sabathia underwent heart surgery earlier this month ... but New York GM Brian Cashman says, thankfully, the pitcher is expected to be okay.

"We are thankful that CC was smart enough to convey his symptoms to our medical staff ... We are also encouraged that the procedure CC underwent was performed as planned."

Sabathia reportedly needed an angioplasty -- a procedure where docs unblocked an artery in the former ace's heart -- after experiencing acid reflux, heartburn and other symptoms.

It's good news for the pitcher that he caught the signs early ... 'cause The Athletic reports Sabathia could have been in danger of suffering a heart attack if his blockage had gone undiscovered.

Cashman says the team expects Sabathia to make a full recovery and report in time for the team's 2019 spring training in Tampa.

Billy Corben -- the acclaimed director behind "Cocaine Cowboys" and "The U" -- is about to debut his new film about Alex Rodriguez ... and warns the MLB star he ain't gonna like it.

The movie is called "Screwball" -- a no-holds-barred look at Alex's role in the Biogenesis scandal, when several players were accused of using performance-enhancing drugs.

A-Rod was banned for the entire 2014 season after an MLB investigation.

Corben tells TMZ Sports he's spent years working on the documentary -- and was actually contacted by Alex at one point in the process.

But, A-Rod allegedly wanted Corben to only tell his side of the story and things just didn't work out.

"He pitched us the idea," Corben said ... "But, then kind of ghosted us over the course of 2014, and then he realized he didn't have to tell anybody anything."

The movie is loaded with shocking claims and stories that Corben insists are 100% true.

Gotta think A-Rod will have a bone to pick with some of it -- but we'll see how this whole thing plays out.

Alex Rodriguez's ex-wife, Cynthia, says he has NO business calling her out for not working because he's the one who demanded she leave the workforce in the first place.

Cynthia is firing back after A-Rod griped about her refusal to put her master's degree in psychology to work. It's just one of the reasons he wants to drastically reduce the $115k/month in child and spousal support he's been paying since their divorce in 2008.

Cynthia thinks the former MLB superstar is way off base with his claims, telling TMZ, "To ensure that our daughters had a stable upbringing, and given his extensive traveling, Alex requested that I discontinue working and make parenting my primary focus."

Our sources say Alex is pissed because he claims Cynthia now has millions in the bank, 3 homes and multiple cars. With his income reduced by 90 percent, due to retirement, A-Rod doesn't think he should have to bankroll Cynthia any longer.

In the statement, provided by her attorney, Maurice Kutner, Cynthia throws some shade at A-Rod too, telling us ... "I find it terribly disheartening, shocking and disappointing that Alex has resorted to reporting falsehoods. Why he seeks sympathy from the press and public baffles me."

As a diehard Yankee fan -- Michael Rapaport has a message for Red Sox nation before Game 1 of the World Series ... "KISS MY ASS!"

Here's why ...

"Listen, I grew up a Yankee fan hating the Dodgers, hating Rick Monday, hating Steve Garvey and his butt nose. That being said, I can not stand the Boston Red Sox. I want the Dodgers to kick their ass."

"I can't stand Big Papi, Pedro Martinez, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice -- they can all kiss my ass," Mike added.

So, in conclusion ... Rap says he's "rocking with the Dodgers and Magic Johnson 150 percent."

One last shot -- "They should knock down Fenway Park and rebuild it!"

Alex Rodriguez says enough is enough -- he's been paying his ex-wife a king's ransom for a decade, his income has plummeted, she's now rich and he wants his support payments drastically reduced.

Sources connected to A-Rod tell us, the former Yankee has been locked in a spousal/child support war with Cynthia Scurtis for months. He's been paying $115,000 a month tax free in combined spousal and child support since the couple divorced in 2008. They have 2 daughters, 13-year-old Natasha and 10-year-old Ella.

We're told the agreement was always meant to be adjusted when A-Rod retired from the Yankees. A-Rod claims his income has dropped by 90% ... from $30 million a year, while he was on the Yankees, to around $3 million a year.

Our sources say Alex is especially vexed because he claims Cynthia is now a rich woman with millions in the bank, 3 homes and multiple cars. He grouses she has a master's degree in psychology yet chooses not to work. He also says she has a new child and a fiance, and he feels he's now bankrolling all of them.

A-Rod says the expenses for his 2 kids are somewhere between $7k - $12k a month, yet he's willing to pay $20k a month plus expenses for the kids, including tuition.

We're told Cynthia is negotiating, but wants nearly $50k a month so the ex-couple is at an impasse.

We attempted to reach Cynthia ... so far, no luck.

Derek Jeter ain't got time to sit on a throne anymore -- dude DOES have a baseball team to run these days -- so now you can ... if you've got NEARLY $15 MILLION LAYING AROUND!!!

The Yankees legend is parting ways with an 11,000-square-foot castle in New York that he used as a summer vacation home when he was a kid.

It used to belong to his grandpa ... but Jeter bought the Greenwood Lake place way back in 2002 -- 'cause, well, it's a dope castle.

Jeets is pretty busy now as a part-owner of the Miami Marlins ... and he says he just doesn't have time for the 6-bedroom, 4-kitchen palace anymore -- so it can be all yours, for a pretty penny.

Derek's asking for $14.75 MILLION, according to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com ... and if you wanna know what you get for that -- it comes with a game room, a sunroom, a gym, a bar -- AND A TURRET!!!