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LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani has already notched a win for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The two-time AL MVP’s video pitch helped recruit pitcher Tyler Glasnow to reach a $136,562,500, five-year deal with the team. Ohtani agreed to his own record-breaking $700 million, 10-year contract last week.

“It definitely added a lot of points for me to go to the Dodgers,” Glasnow said Monday in a video interview. “It was awesome. He just said he wants me to come on the team and hopes to hit some home runs for me and join me on the pitching staff the following year.”

Ohtani won’t be a two-way player next season after undergoing elbow surgery. Instead, he’ll be the Dodgers’ designated hitter.

“I just want to pick his brain and know what he’s learned,” Glasnow said. “He just seems like such a cool dude and probably one of the best baseball players to ever live. I want to be on a field with that guy.”

As part of the deal that sent Ryan Pepiot and Jonny Deluca to Tampa Bay for Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot, the Rays will send the Dodgers up to $4 million. The Rays pay $2 million on Aug. 2 and have a $2 million payment due Dec. 1, 2026, that is conditioned on Margot’s 2025 option not being exercised and would cover the buyout.

Glasnow gets a $10 million signing bonus payable by Dec. 31 and salaries of $15 million next year and $30 million in each of the following three seasons. Glasnow has a $21,562,500 player option for 2028, and if he declines the Dodgers can exercise a $30 million team option. He will make a 1% charitable contribution as part of the deal.

Like Ohtani, Glasnow has his own injury history.

He had forearm issues in 2019 that limited him to 12 starts for the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2021, he had partial tears in the ulnar collateral ligament and a flexor strain of his right elbow. He opted for rehab, but that didn’t work and he missed the rest of the season before having Tommy John surgery. He returned late in the 2022 season.

“We feel good he’s going to go out and be able to take the ball as much as we need him to,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said. “We’re expecting full-go from Tyler.”

Last season, Glasnow missed a couple months because of an oblique injury. He ended up making 21 starts, going 10-7 with a 3.53 ERA.

“The majority of the innings I’ve missed have been related to the same injury,” he said, speaking from a vehicle with the sunroof open to reveal a blue sky, sunglasses dangling from his T-shirt and wearing a seat belt. “Ever since I got it fixed it’s never really been something that I’ve thought about. I’m looking forward to having some healthy seasons for sure.”

In 2020, Glasnow started Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers in Texas, where the postseason was held because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He lost, and the Dodgers went on to win their first championship since 1988.

“It’ll be an awesome experience to play for my dream team,” he said. “It’s always been one of my favorite places to play, so I’m excited to go back there and soak it all up again.”

Growing up, Glasnow would battle the “pretty crazy” traffic on the 32-mile drive from his home in Santa Clarita to attend Dodgers games and watch his favorite player, three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.

“I remember sitting in the stands and looking at the players in the dugout and having overwhelming jealousy,” he said. “It’s like I have to go to school tomorrow and you guys get to play baseball.”

Glasnow had one season remaining at $25 million with the Rays and would have been eligible for free agency after next season.

“I guess it’s never really been about making as much as I possibly can,” he said. “It’s been a lot more about being somewhere I want to be and the life I guess I could live. For me, it was plenty of money. I’m super happy with the money and it’s somewhere I’m super happy to be.”

Glasnow said he called former Dodgers and quizzed them about playing for the franchise.

“It’s such a similar feel to the Rays. I guess the only difference is that the Dodgers have a lot more money,” he said, smiling. “It’s very winning is everything, but not at the expense of a personality. Everyone just seems very cool.”

Glasnow will wear No. 31 for the Dodgers in a nod to his old Little League jersey number. He wore No. 20 with the Rays.

“I’m going back home,” he said. “It definitely gives me like the butterflies.”

He hopes his return gives him a ring, too.

“The only thing that matters to me is winning a World Series,” he said.

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D-backs star Marte’s home robbed during break

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D-backs star Marte's home robbed during break

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A home belonging to Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte was burglarized during the Major League Baseball All-Star break, according to police.

Scottsdale, Arizona, police confirmed that the department is investigating a “high-dollar residential burglary” that is believed to have happened on Tuesday night, which is when Marte was playing for the National League in its All-Star game win in Atlanta.

Numerous personal items and jewelry were stolen. No one was at home when the burglary occurred.

Police said the home is “reportedly” owned by Marte. Maricopa County Assessor’s Office records show Marte owns a home on the block near the investigation.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

Marte hit a two-run double in the first inning of the NL’s win, which was secured after a home run contest at the end of the game after the score was tied after nine innings.

The burglary is the latest in a series of thefts from the homes of high-profile athletes across the country this year. Players have been targeted because of the high-end products believed to be in their homes and sometimes the thefts occur when they are away with their teams for road games.

The FBI has warned sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to athletes.

A Seattle man was charged last month in connection with a string of burglaries at the homes of prominent active and retired professional athletes in the area.

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Cubs icon Sandberg ‘continuing to fight’ cancer

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Cubs icon Sandberg 'continuing to fight' cancer

Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg said Wednesday he is “continuing to fight” cancer and is prioritizing time with those closest to him.

He posted a letter addressed to his fans and extended baseball family on Instagram.

“I wanted to share an update regarding my health,” wrote Sandberg, 65. “It’s been a challenging few months as I have been going through treatment on a regular basis.

“While I am continuing to fight, I’m looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.

“I haven’t been to Wrigley Field as much as I hoped in the first half but I’m watching every game and am excited for the second half.”

He threw out the first pitch, surrounded by fellow Cubs greats, before the home opener on April 4.

In January 2024, Sandberg announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, then last August announced he was cancer-free. In December, he said the cancer had recurred and spread. He vowed to “continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this.”

Sandberg spent 15 of his 16 major league seasons with the Cubs, along with 13 games at the start of his career for the Philadelphia Phillies (1981).

Sandberg was the 1984 National League MVP, when he batted a career-high .314 with a major-league-leading 19 triples and 114 runs scored as well as 19 home runs, 84 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.

The second baseman also earned the second of his nine career Gold Glove awards that year. He was a 10-time All-Star selection and a seven-time Silver Slugger honoree, batting .285 with 282 home runs and 1,061 RBIs in his 2,164-game career.

Sandberg, who was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, also spent parts of three seasons (2013-15) as the Phillies’ manager.

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Rangers give All-Star bonus to snubbed Eovaldi

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Rangers give All-Star bonus to snubbed Eovaldi

Despite an excellent first half to the season, Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi wasn’t selected as an All-Star this year, but the team made sure that he’ll be paid like one.

Despite the snub, Eovaldi was given the $100,000 All-Star bonus in his contract by the Rangers after he posted a 1.58 ERA with 94 strikeouts over 91 innings. Teammate Jacob deGrom, who was selected as an All-Star, also received a $100,000 bonus.

Eovaldi, in his 15th major league season, would lead the majors in ERA, but after missing a month due to a triceps injury, he fell six innings short of the necessary 97 innings to qualify among leaders for individual statistical categories.

Eovaldi, a two-time All-Star, won his third straight game on Sunday to improve to 7-3, giving up five hits and a run with eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros.

The right-hander ranks second only to Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal among MLB starting pitchers in WHIP (0.85) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.71). Opposing batters are hitting a paltry .194 with a .237 on-base percentage, .286 slugging percentage and .523 OPS against Eovaldi.

Eovaldi is scheduled to make his first start of the second half at home on Sunday against Skubal and the Tigers at Globe Life Field.

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