New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler has revealed that he and his family have received death threats ahead of his Fenway Park debut against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.

The Massachusetts native grew up supporting Boston in Walpole, located just 40 miles away from the iconic stadium.

However, his association with the Bronx Bombers has made him a target for severe online abuse from his former fanbase.

Speaking to the New York Post, the American admitted he has not yet felt the need to involve the police despite the severity of the messages.

“Most normal fans could care less, right? It’s just those diehards that just have nothing else in their lives other than baseball or sports that really care about this, and the fact that I play for the Yankees makes it worse for them,” he explained.

Preparing for a hostile reception

The visiting player anticipates a highly aggressive atmosphere when he finally takes the mound.

He suggested that hostile supporters might attempt to throw objects or physically reach him near the bullpen.

“It’s gonna be bad, it’s gonna be bad. I’m not nervous about it, but it’s gonna be loud,” he added.

“That’s kind of what I expect. So I know the guys are excited for it and I’m excited for it.”

A bitter postseason history

This vitriol is firmly rooted in last season’s American League Wild Card Series, where the dominant hurler eliminated his boyhood club.

He delivered a spectacular performance in Game 3, throwing eight scoreless innings and striking out 12 batters to end Boston’s campaign.

The standout talent has carried that exceptional form into the current season, boasting a 2-1 record alongside a stellar 1.95 earned run average.

Following that pivotal playoff victory last year, the Yankees star described the triumph as personal due to earlier familial harassment.

“There’s a line and I think they crossed it a little bit. I’m a competitor, and I’m gonna go out there and make sure I shut them down,” he remarked at the time.

“You know Boston fans, that’s just how it is. We’re aggressive back home and we’re gonna try to get under people’s skin.”

Fuelling the rivalry

The highly-rated pitcher acknowledged to The Athletic that his previous post-match comments had only served to escalate the tension.

“[You’d] think after last time, how much they were talking before, that they might be trying to quiet it down a little bit,” he noted.

Despite the intense pressure and ongoing abuse, the resilient athlete remains entirely unapologetic about the situation.

“If you’re going to dish it out, you’re going to have to take it,” he concluded.

The San Diego Padres are on the verge of being sold to Chelsea co-owner Jose E Feliciano and his wife Kwanza Jones for a Major League Baseball record of $3.9bn (£3.1bn).

The proposed transaction will comfortably surpass the previous benchmark of $2.4bn set by Steve Cohen’s acquisition of the New York Mets in 2020.

Completion of the historic agreement requires formal approval from 75% of team owners across the league.

A decisive ratification vote is expected to take place at the next scheduled executive meetings in June.

Expanding a sports portfolio

Feliciano is the co-founder and managing partner of the Santa Monica-based private equity firm Clearlake Capital.

The 53-year-old already possesses significant experience in elite sports ownership following a prominent investment in the English Premier League.

Clearlake Capital previously partnered with Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly to lead a consortium that purchased Chelsea for $5.24bn (£4.25bn) in 2022.

Under the terms of this latest acquisition, the businessman will be officially designated as the controlling owner of the Californian baseball franchise.

Beating rival bidders

The successful proposal overcame strong competition from several prominent figures across the American sporting landscape.

Rival bidders reportedly included Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob, Detroit Pistons chief Tom Gores and businessman Dan Friedkin.

The Major League Baseball club was initially made available on the market last November.

This organizational shift followed the passing of former chairman Peter Seidler, whose family ultimately initiated the comprehensive sale process.

Former Los Angeles Angels outfielder and 2002 World Series champion Garret Anderson has died at the age of 53, the Major League Baseball franchise has announced.

No cause of death has been disclosed for the three-time All-Star, who spent 15 of his 17 major league seasons with the California-based club.

The Angels confirmed they will honour their Hall of Fame inductee with a memorial jersey patch for the remainder of the current campaign.

A moment of silence and a video tribute are also planned prior to Friday’s home fixture.

A cornerstone of World Series success

Entering the majors in 1994, the prolific left-handed hitter quickly established himself as a vital component of the Angels’ lineup.

His crowning collective achievement came in 2002 when he helped guide the franchise to its first and only World Series title, while also finishing fourth in the American League Most Valuable Player voting.

The following year proved to be a pinnacle individually, as the California native claimed both the All-Star Game MVP award and the Home Run Derby crown.

Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success.

Arte Moreno, Los Angeles Angels owner

Record-breaking franchise legacy

The revered slugger departs holding numerous all-time records for the Angels organization.

Across his entire professional career, the former television analyst maintained a .293 batting average, hitting 287 home runs and driving in 1,365 runs.

Following his departure from Anaheim, he concluded his playing days with brief, single-season stints at the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Detroit Tigers have secured the long-term future of rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle by agreeing an eight-year contract extension worth $150m.

The lucrative new deal will commence next year and commits the 21-year-old to the franchise through the 2034 season.

Financial terms include performance-related escalators that could see the total value of the agreement rise to a staggering $160m.

Rapid rise to the major leagues

The highly-rated American has enjoyed a meteoric ascent since being selected in the first round of the 2023 draft.

Following an impressive spring training campaign, the organisation opted to promote him directly to the major leagues.

That bold decision allowed the infielder to bypass Triple-A entirely, having played just 46 games at the Double-A level last year.

Making history on Opening Day

McGonigle is widely regarded as one of baseball’s brightest talents and was recently ranked as a premium prospect by analysts.

He immediately justified his rapid promotion by becoming the youngest Detroit player to make an Opening Day roster since Omar Infante in 2003.

The dynamic youngster then etched his name into the record books during his debut appearance.

He became only the third-youngest player in the past century of major league action to register four or more hits on Opening Day.

Providing a crucial spark

The standout rookie has continued his scintillating form into the regular season.

He is currently boasting an impressive .311 batting average, alongside one home run and eight runs batted in.

His consistent offensive production will be vital for a Detroit side looking to improve upon an 8-9 record.

They face an important test in their upcoming clash with the Kansas City Royals.

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge and Los Angeles Angels counterpart Mike Trout both hit two home runs before a wild pitch handed the hosts a dramatic 11-10 victory in the Bronx on Monday.

Trent Grisham also homered twice for the home side, including a vital tying shot in the ninth inning.

Jose Caballero then scored the winning run on Jordan Romano’s game-ending wild pitch to conclude a pulsating series opener.

The walk-off win importantly snapped a five-game losing streak for the American League East franchise.

Historic clash of former MVPs

The matchup marked the first time two three-time Most Valuable Players have hit multiple home runs in the same game for 70 years.

Brooklyn Dodgers legend Roy Campanella and St. Louis Cardinals great Stan Musial last achieved the rare feat at Ebbets Field in June 1956.

The 34-year-old Trout, who has battled persistent injuries over recent seasons, nearly hit a third but flied out to Cody Bellinger at the warning track with the bases loaded.

Record-breaking distance in the Bronx

The highly anticipated duel saw seven total home runs travel more than half a mile in combined distance.

Judge recorded the hardest-hit strike of the season with a 116.2 mph blast that travelled 456 feet into the left-field bleachers.

“He’s the greatest of all time,” Judge said of his illustrious opponent.
“It’s been fun to watch his whole career, coming up at such a young age and instantly just putting yourself at the top of the list.”

‘What fans want to see’

The visiting centre-fielder was equally appreciative of the historic contest that captivated the Yankee Stadium crowd.

“That’s baseball for you. It’s what fans want, and to be able to see something like that, pretty cool,” Trout remarked.

Four of baseball’s top active home run hitters featured in Monday’s heavyweight contest.

Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton currently leads all active players with 454 career home runs.

Trout trails in second place with 408, while Judge’s double moved him to 374, edging past teammate Paul Goldschmidt.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets begin the most expensive series in Major League Baseball history on Monday, with combined expenditures exceeding $1.07bn for the 2026 season.

The matchup features the sport’s two biggest financial powers going head-to-head in a highly anticipated regular-season spectacle.

The Californian franchise boasts an MLB-high competitive balance tax (CBT) payroll of $413.5m.

Meanwhile, the Queens-based club carries a CBT payroll of more than $375m into the fixture.

Unprecedented luxury tax bills

When factoring in the competitive balance tax both organisations must pay, the financial scale becomes even more stark.

Los Angeles faces an estimated tax bill of $161.9m this season.

That staggering penalty alone is higher than the total tax payrolls of 12 other major league teams.

New York is burdened with a $120m tax penalty of their own, which comfortably exceeds the entire payroll of six rival franchises.

Star-studded rosters and record contracts

The series will showcase some of the most lucrative individual contracts in the history of North American sports.

Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani anchors the Dodgers’ lineup on a heavily deferred 10-year deal worth $700m.

He is joined by outfielder Kyle Tucker, whose recent four-year contract carries an unprecedented $57m average annual value for CBT purposes.

On the opposing side, the Mets recently secured outfielder Juan Soto on a monumental 15-year, $765m agreement.

The sheer spending power of these two heavyweights completely dwarfs the rest of the league.

In fact, the combined salaries of Ohtani, Tucker, Soto and Bo Bichette exceed the total payroll of 14 different MLB franchises.

Former Houston Astros manager and three-time All-Star infielder Phil Garner has died at the age of 76 following a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Garner’s family confirmed the sad news in a statement on Sunday, revealing he passed away the previous day.

Nicknamed “Scrap Iron” for his relentless and blue-collar approach to the game, the Tennessee native enjoyed a 16-year playing career in the major leagues.

World Series glory in Pittsburgh

The versatile infielder played a pivotal role in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1979 World Series championship campaign.

He batted an astonishing .500 during the Fall Classic as the Pirates overturned a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Baltimore Orioles.

His performances earned him immense respect, with Pirates chairman Bob Nutting paying tribute to his lasting legacy.

“Phil Garner was a fierce competitor, a respected leader, and a cherished part of the Pirates family,” said Nutting.

Across 1,860 regular-season games, he amassed 109 home runs and 225 stolen bases while representing the Oakland Athletics, Houston, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the San Francisco Giants.

Managerial success in Houston

Transitioning to the dugout, the former second baseman compiled nearly 1,000 victories across a 15-year managerial career.

He previously held the record for the most managerial wins in Milwaukee Brewers history until Craig Counsell surpassed his tally in 2022.

“He was a very highly respected and beloved individual who was known for his caring nature, wisdom and sense of humor,” read a statement from the Brewers.

However, his most notable achievement as a skipper came after taking charge of Houston midway through the 2004 season.

The passionate leader successfully guided the franchise to their first-ever World Series appearance the following year, where they were eventually swept by the Chicago White Sox.

“Phil never lost his signature spark of life; he was so well known for his love for baseball, which was with him until the end,” said his son, Ty Garner.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman and four-time All-Star Davey Lopes has died at the age of 80 in Rhode Island following a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

The organisation was informed of his passing on Wednesday by his former wife, Lin.

He formed a crucial part of a historic infield quartet alongside Steve Garvey, Bill Russell and Ron Cey during the 1970s and 1980s.

The group started together for a remarkable eight and a half consecutive seasons in California.

A prolific threat on the basepaths

The record-setting infielder established himself as one of baseball’s premier base stealers after making his major league debut in September 1972.

He stole 418 bases during a decade-long spell with the franchise, sitting second in their all-time history behind only Maury Wills.

The Rhode Island native holds the club record with an 83.1% career success rate for players with at least 100 steals.

In 1975, the lightning-fast leadoff hitter recorded a then-MLB record of 28 consecutive steals without being caught.

World Series glory and managerial career

The four-time All-Star appeared in four World Series, culminating in a championship victory over the New York Yankees in 1981.

His finest postseason performance came during the 1978 showcase, where he launched two home runs in the opening game and later secured a Gold Glove award.

After departing Los Angeles, the versatile veteran spent time with the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros before retiring.

He finished his playing days with 557 career stolen bases, a tally that ranks 26th in Major League Baseball history.

Transitioning to the dugout

Following his retirement from playing, the former champion managed the Milwaukee Brewers for three seasons from 2000.

He subsequently enjoyed an extensive coaching career across the league, including spells with the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals.

A second World Series ring followed while operating as the first-base coach for the Philadelphia Phillies.

He eventually returned to the Dodgers as a baserunning coach, spending five seasons helping to develop the next generation of talent before stepping away in 2017.