Connect with us

Published

on

Major League Baseball is investigating whether the New York Mets and New York Yankees violated the collective bargaining agreement after a story explaining the Mets’ hesitancy to pursue Yankees star free agent Aaron Judge prompted the MLB Players Association to request an inquiry.

Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed the investigation Thursday after The Athletic first reported on it Wednesday night.

The investigation, sources confirmed, centers on a paragraph in a story on the website of the Mets’ television station, SNY, which discusses the “mutually respectful relationship” between Mets owner Steve Cohen and Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and how they “do not expect to upend that with a high-profile bidding war” for Judge.

The union asked MLB to investigate communications between Cohen, who purchased the Mets in 2020, and Steinbrenner, whose father, George, bought the Yankees in 1973, sources said. The league plans to request records of phone calls, texts and emails between the two, according to sources.

Manfred, when asked Thursday about the reported investigation, told reporters he is “absolutely confident that the clubs behaved in a way that was consistent with the [CBA].”

“We will put ourselves in a position to demonstrate credibly to the MLBPA that this is not an issue,” Manfred said. “I’m sure that’s going to be the outcome. But obviously we understand the emotion that surrounds that word [collusion] and we’ll proceed accordingly.”

Similarly alarming to the union, sources said, were comments made by Houston Astros owner Jim Crane to league-run MLB.com, which after an interview with Crane wrote that he said free agent ace Justin Verlander “is seeking a deal similar to Max Scherzer, who signed a three-year, $130 million contract with the Mets a year ago.”

Nobody involved in the free agent process, according to past CBAs, “can make comments to the media about the value of an unsigned free agent, regardless of whether discussions have occurred.”

The MLBPA’s fear of collusion dates to the 1980s, when arbitrators ruled owners had created an information bank to suppress free agent salaries. Owners agreed to pay $280 million to players for three separate violations of the CBA.

Five years ago, the union considered filing a collusion grievance but declined to do so. The similarity of free agent offers in recent seasons left agents believing collusion still existed, but the lack of firm evidence kept the union from pursuing such a claim.

The last successful collusion case for players came in 2006, when MLB paid $12 million from claims in the 2002-03 offseason. Any successful collusion case would pay triple damages.

The union could file a grievance on behalf of Judge, but winning it would necessitate evidence that any communications between Cohen and Steinbrenner hindered his market — a difficult burden of proof to reach. Judge is expected to sign a deal for more than $300 million, with the Yankees and San Francisco Giants seen as his likeliest suitors.

The Mets, who ran a pre-luxury-tax-penalty payroll of nearly $288 million in 2022, currently have commitments nearing $230 million for 2023. Their co-ace with Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, is a free agent, as is center fielder Brandon Nimmo. The combined annual salaries of deGrom and Nimmo could approach $70 million. Signing Judge has not been a priority for the Mets since he turned down a $213.5 million contract extension offered by the Yankees this past spring training, according to the SNY story.

Astros general manager James Click left the organization last week after his contract expired and he rejected Crane’s one-year offer with a minimal raise. In his absence, Crane negotiated a free agent contract for reliever Rafael Montero and, according to sources, has taken an increasingly large role in baseball operations.

Crane told MLB.com he did not plan to hire a new GM until at least the new year.

In the most recent accessible CBA — the one negotiated in March remains in review by the parties and is not yet publicly available — an eight-point list of comments prohibited by owners and players includes: “Player X is seeking more than Player Y received.” In addition to suggesting Verlander is looking for a Scherzer-level deal, Crane told MLB.com that the 39-year-old right-hander is “looking at the [comparable player], which I think there’s only one or two.”

Proving collusion, between teams, via an information bank or through knowledge distributed by the media, can be challenging, although isolating specific individuals does help satisfy one portion of the CBA standard, which says: “A violation of this agreement will be established only if the grieving party identifies the specific individual at the Club, Commissioner’s Office, Players Association, or the specific player agent or player who was the source of the comment.”

ESPN’s Buster Olney contributed to this report.

Continue Reading

Sports

Suit accusing BYU QB Retzlaff of rape dismissed

Published

on

By

Suit accusing BYU QB Retzlaff of rape dismissed

A civil lawsuit accusing BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff of rape has been dismissed, according to court records.

The parties jointly agreed to dismiss with prejudice, ending the case which was filed last month. None of the parties was immediately available for comment.

Retzlaff now plans to transfer from BYU as he faces a possible seven-game suspension for violating the school’s honor code by admitting to premarital sex during the legal proceedings, sources told ESPN. He has begun informing staff and teammates of his intention to leave, sources said.

Retzlaff had been working out with the squad and participating in summer workouts and practices. The team is on break until July 7.

The BYU staff has been ramping up the preparation of the three backup quarterbacks — McCae Hillstead, Treyson Bourguet and Bear Bachmeier — in anticipation that Retzlaff might not be available.

The woman alleged Retzlaff raped, strangled and bit her in November 2023. In a response to that lawsuit filed Friday, a lawyer representing Retzlaff denied those allegations but said Retzlaff had consensual sex with the woman.

The response indicated Retzlaff and the woman traded lighthearted text messages for months after the encounter and characterized the lawsuit as an extortion attempt based on the idea that Retzlaff developed into an NFL prospect roughly a year later.

The lawsuit described the encounter much differently.

Both the complaint and the response agree that Retzlaff and the woman connected through social media, which led to her visiting Retzlaff’s apartment to play video games on or around Nov. 22, 2023. The woman arrived with a friend, and friends and teammates of Retzlaff also were present.

Later that evening, the woman’s friend left, after which Retzlaff and the woman started watching a movie and began to kiss, the lawsuit states. While “Retzlaff began escalating the situation,” the suit says, “Jane Doe A.G. tried to de-escalate the situation and attempted to slow things down, trying to pull away, and saying ‘wait.’ She did not want to do anything sexual with him.”

The lawsuit says the woman told Retzlaff “no” and “wait, stop,” but he continued to force himself on her. After she tried to get up out of the bed, the lawsuit alleges, in graphic detail, that Retzlaff put his hands around her neck and proceeded to rape her.

A few days later, the woman visited a hospital, where a rape kit was performed and pictures of her injuries were taken. The lawsuit says she was connected with Provo, Utah, police but did not initially share Retzlaff’s name.

No criminal charges have been filed against Retzlaff.

After the lawsuit was filed, BYU issued a statement, saying: “The university takes any allegation very seriously, following all processes and guidelines mandated by Title IX. Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment.”

Retzlaff is not the first high-profile BYU athlete who faced a lengthy suspension for an honor code violation related to premarital sex. In 2011, basketball player Brandon Davies was dismissed from the team — which at the time was 27-2 and ranked No. 3 in the country — and suspended from school. He was reinstated that fall. In 1999, running back Reno Mahe was suspended from school and forced to leave the football team. He transferred to a junior college and later reenrolled at BYU.

Retzlaff, who has graduated from BYU, is expected to enter his name in the transfer portal in the coming days. He started 13 games for the Cougars in 2024, his first year as the starter, leading the team to an 11-2 record. He passed for 2,947 yards and 20 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.

Continue Reading

Sports

Pac-12 welcomes Texas St. ahead of ’26 relaunch

Published

on

By

Pac-12 welcomes Texas St. ahead of '26 relaunch

Texas State has officially joined the Pac-12, the conference announced Monday, becoming the league’s ninth member ahead of its relaunch in 2026.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12,” commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement. “It is a new day in college sports and the most opportune time to launch a new league that is positioned to succeed in today’s landscape with student-athletes in mind.”

Texas State’s board of regents voted to authorize a $5 million buyout to the Sun Belt Conference early Monday. The Bobcats will remain in the Sun Belt through the 2025-26 season before joining the Pac-12 in all sports for the 2026-27 school year.

The Pac-12 needed to reach eight football-playing schools to meet the NCAA minimum for an FBS conference prior to the 2026 season.

The conference’s board of directors, which includes representatives from all current and future members, voted unanimously to admit Texas State following the university’s formal application. Texas State joins Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah State and Washington State as members of the rebuilt league.

Texas State president Kelly Damphousse called the move “a historic moment” for the university.

“Joining the Pac-12 is more than an athletic move — it is a declaration of our rising national profile, our commitment to excellence, and our readiness to compete and collaborate with some of the most respected institutions in the country,” Damphousse said.

Athletic director Don Coryell echoed that sentiment, calling the opportunity “a new era” for Texas State, which has been in the Sun Belt since 2013 after making its FBS debut with one season in the WAC in 2012.

“This historic moment belongs to our coaches, staff, student-athletes, fans, alumni and students,” Coryell said. “As the Pac-12’s flagship school in Texas, we proudly embrace the opportunity and responsibility that comes with it.”

The long-awaited announcement comes on the heels of the Pac-12’s announcement last week that it had finalized a five-year agreement with CBS for a portion of the conference’s football and men’s basketball media rights, including both sports’ championship game. Additional media partners are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Texas State is located in San Marcos, which is only about 35 miles south of the University of Texas in Austin. Texas State has more than 40,000 students, with one of the 25 largest undergraduate enrollments among public universities in the U.S.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Continue Reading

Sports

Alabama lands top 3 OLB Griffin for 2026 class

Published

on

By

Alabama lands top 3 OLB Griffin for 2026 class

Alabama’s 2026 recruiting class landed another significant late-June recruiting boost Saturday when four-star defender Xavier Griffin, ESPN’s No. 3 outside linebacker, announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide over Florida State, Ohio State and Texas.

Griffin, a versatile, 6-foot-4, 205-pound prospect from Gainesville, Georgia, is the No. 30 overall recruit in the 2026 ESPN 300. A former longtime USC commit, Griffin took official visits with each of his finalists in June. He now stands as the top-ranked prospect among 14 commits in Alabama’s incoming class, joining days after the program secured top 300 pledges from running back Ezavier Crowell (No. 31 overall) and tight end Mack Sutter (No. 138) on Thursday night.

Griffin told ESPN that the Crimson Tide’s pedigree and vision laid out by Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer and outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson were driving factors in his decision.

“Growing up, just seeing them, all the draft picks and stuff that they’ve had — all the guys they’ve put in the league — it speaks for itself,” Griffin said. “They have history and they’re really clear about what they’re trying to build with this new staff.”

A physical defender capable of dropping into coverage, Griffin has cemented his status as one the nation’s top linebackers at Gainesville (Georgia) High School, where he’s recorded 97 total tackles and 21 sacks across his sophomore and junior seasons.

He initially committed to USC last July and remained one of the Trojans’ top prospects over next 10 months before Griffin pulled his pledge from the program on May 14. Sources told ESPN at the time that Griffin’s decommitment stemmed from his intention to schedule official visits with programs this spring, bucking against USC’s policy against committed players taking official trips to other campuses.

Upon reopening his recruitment, Griffin locked in official visits with Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State and Texas for this month, closing with a trip to the Crimson Tide from June 20-22. Despite his lengthy USC pledge, Griffin told ESPN that no program recruited him more actively than Alabama across the past two years, led by Robinson, the program’s second-year assistant.

“He’s been one of the most consistent with me throughout my whole process,” Griffin said. “He’s just a really, really good guy.”

The highest-ranked of seven ESPN 300 pledges bound for Alabama in 2026, Griffin now leads an increasingly talented Crimson Tide defensive class forming in the current cycle.

Alongside Griffin, Alabama holds commitments from top-10 cornerbacks Jorden Edmonds (No. 38 overall) and Zyan Gibson (No. 65) in 2026. Defensive end Jamarion Matthews, Griffin’s teammate at Gainesville High School and ESPN’s No. 92 overall recruit, has been pledged to the Crimson Tide since February, and Alabama’s latest defensive class could get even deeper over the next month as priority targets including top-60 prospects Jireh Edwards, Anthony Jones and Nolan Wilson approach the final stages of their recruiting processes.

Continue Reading

Trending