New York Yankees

The Yankees will head into next season without Juan Soto, but fear not, New York fans ... Johnny Damon tells TMZ Sports they might just be better without the star slugger!!

We caught up with the 51-year-old former Pinstripes outfielder on Thursday -- just hours after the Mets introduced Soto to their fanbase -- and he said straight up, his former team might come out of this situation just fine.

His reasoning? Damon says the Yankees can now take the $750 million they had earmarked for Soto -- and spend it on a bunch of key pieces that'll make them perhaps even more formidable in 2025.

Juan Soto joining the Mets marked a major shift in the New York baseball landscape ... at least that's what Dwight Gooden thinks, 'cause he tells TMZ Sports his former team can no longer be considered the Yankees' "little brother!!"

We caught up with the Gooden -- who spent time with both clubs during his career -- after Soto inked a 15-year $765 million deal with the Metropolitans ... and he says the narrative about the team in Queens is about to be a thing of the past.

"The first time I heard it, Reggie Jackson said it," Gooden said. "I have nothing against the Yankees, but I was somewhat offended by it. I understood what he meant by that, saying that the Mets are little brother, but now things are starting to change."

Juan Soto is a Met ... and actor/diehard New York fan Nick Turturro is summarizing how Yankee supporters are handling the news -- going absolutely nuts on the MLB superstar in a passionate video reaction.

Turturro posted the nearly minute-long clip to his X account Sunday night ... saying he had two words for Soto after his record-breaking $765 million deal was reported -- "F*** you!!!"

"I'm taking it personal," he said. "We gave you our love. We f***ing gave you our heart and soul. It wasn't enough! You turned your cap around after the World Series, I saw that f***ing move."

Baseball fans can now get their hands on some John Elway Yankees cards -- Topps has just put the NFL legend in a new set ... and it announced the move with a hilarious Larry David commercial!

Elway, of course, was drafted by New York way back in 1981 -- but despite initially playing for the org.'s minor league affiliate ... he bailed on the team for a Hall of Fame NFL career.

He never quite got a baseball card to commemorate the brief time in the MLB -- but Topps is changing that now ... throwing cards of him donning Pinstripes in its new 2024 Bowman Draft set.

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.

The Dodgers hosted an epic World Series parade Friday ... and some of the players' wives and girlfriends were certainly dressed for the occasion -- getting hooked up with some one-of-a-kind jackets in honor of the team's eighth World Series celebration!!!

Michelle of Custom Bling tells TMZ Sports she got right to work the moment the champs defeated the New York Yankees Wednesday night in the Bronx -- saying she hustled to get the project done in time for the celebration through the streets of DTLA.

The denim jackets -- requested by the wives of Will Smith, Chris Taylor, NLCS MVP Tommy Edman and Walker Buehler -- are decked out with blue and gold Swarovski crystals in the shape of the Commissioner's Trophy.

Fat Joe became the butt of all jokes at the Los Angeles Dodgers championship parade day when Enrique Hernández credited him with helping the New York Yankees LOSE the World Series!!!

Kiké took the podium Friday and had no shame in his game sizing up the effectiveness of Ice Cube's performance in comparison to Joe's Timberland'ed time on the mound 😬

Game 2 featured the former N.W.A. leader even impressing a few Yankees with his performance of "Bow Down" and "It Was A Good Day" -- and Kiké says the Blue Crew had the game in the bag.

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.

One of the most iconic landmarks in Los Angeles is joining in on the Dodgers' World Series party -- with the Hollywood sign lighting up its "D" after the home team beat the New York Yankees!!

Shortly after Walker Buehler struck out Alex Verdugo to clinch the team's eighth title in franchise history ... the sign that attracts around 50 million visitors a year lit up the night sky with the last letter glowing in Dodger blue!!!

The team was also celebrated with a movie-inspired Nike ad ... which rolled the credits on L.A.'s impressive season, which included earning the best record in baseball.

Clayton Kershaw put his dadbod on full display Wednesday night -- ditching his top after the Dodgers' World Series win ... and the future Hall of Famer's shirtless championship celebration was nothing short of epic!!

Take a look at some of the images from the aftermath of Los Angeles' Game 5 victory over the Yankees in New York ... shirtless Kershaw was everywhere, sucking down booze while letting his belly hang.

The 36-year-old father of four, of course, did not pitch in the playoffs -- he's been on the injured list with a toe issue -- but that didn't stop him from raging.

Fans celebrated the L.A. Dodgers winning the World Series Wednesday night by turning the streets into chaos and committing crimes as police scrambled to bring it under control.

Witnesses shot video footage of crowds fanning out across L.A. after the Dodgers 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series, propelling the team to their 8th championship.

The situation quickly dissolved into turmoil when people — some holding Dodger flags -- started lighting fireworks, smashing windows and reportedly looting at least one store in the downtown L.A. area.

2:20 PM PT -- Awesome gesture from the Yankees -- the team just announced the two fans' tickets will be redistributed to a pediatric cancer patient and his family.

10:35 AM PT -- The Yankees just confirmed it -- the two fans involved in the Betts incident will not be allowed inside the stadium for Game 5 of the World Series ... the last home contest of the year.

The team said in a statement to TMZ Sports the fans' actions were "egregious and unacceptable" ... and emphasized the safety of players, spectators and staffers at every game is something that can't be compromised.

"Tonight marks the final home game of year, and we want every ounce of our fans’ passion on display," the team said. "Yankee Stadium is known for its energy and intensity, however the exuberance of supporting one’s team can never cross the line into intentionally putting players at physical risk."

If the MLB had things its way, the two New York Yankees fans who interfered with Mookie Betts on Tuesday night would NOT be allowed back for Game 5.

Sources over at the league's offices tell TMZ Sports ... MLB officials are actively working with the Yankees to ensure the team bars the men from the World Series in New York on Wednesday night in wake of their Game 4 behavior toward Betts.

In fact, we're told the league's even willing to refund the two guys' ticket costs to make sure the ban happens.

An unidentified fan chose a poor time to heckle Dodgers star Freddie Freeman ... shouting "You Suck!" at the first baseman during a moment of silence at the World Series, honoring people afflicted with cancer.

The Dodgers slugger was honoring his mother ... whom he lost to cancer at the age of 10.

Major League Baseball carved time out of the broadcast to allow players, fans, umpires, and others to pay tribute to those either battling cancer, cancer survivors, or sadly the people lost to the horrible disease, teaming up with "Stand Up To Cancer" for the powerful moment.

Two New York Yankees fans with great seats to Tuesday night's World Series Game 4 were forced to watch almost the entirety of the action on a TV ... after they were ejected for trying to rip a ball from Mookie Betts' glove.

The bizarre scene unfolded in the first inning of the Pinstripes' matchup with the Dodgers at Yankee Stadium ... when Gleyber Torres hit a pop fly down the first-base line.

As the ball came crashing down, it landed in foul territory, though Betts was still able to snag it with his glove before it hit fans' hands. Yet right after he secured it in his webbing, two Yanks supporters attempted to wrestle it away from him.

Yankees fans hate David Ortiz's guts -- and they haven't been shy about letting him know it,  relentlessly booing the Hall of Famer -- who tells us he loves the Bronx cheers!

TMZ Sports caught up with the Sox legend in NYC Tuesday morning, just hours after the Yankees lost their third straight game to the L.A. Dodgers in the World Series.

We asked Ortiz -- a studio analyst for FOX Sports' MLB coverage (along with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez) -- whether he "enjoyed" the playful hate.