With the NFL season nearing its end, that means Spring Training baseball is just around the corner.
Looking forward to watching your favorite MLB team return to action? Here is the spring training schedule, report dates and locations for every single team.
2025 Spring Training Schedule
When does Spring Training start?
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2025 Spring Training officially begins on Thursday, February 20, 2025. The Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the Chicago Cubs in the Cactus League opener.
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A day later, the New York Yankees will take on the Tampa Bay Rays for the Grapefruit League opener.
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All 30 Major League clubs will play in Cactus and Grapefruit League games on Saturday, February 22, and Sunday, February 23.
When does Spring Training end?
Spring training will continue throughout February and March. The final day of Spring Training is Tuesday, March 25, 2025. The MLB regular season will open with the Tokyo Series, a two-game series featuring the Dodgers and Cubs on Tuesday, March 18, and Wednesday, March 19. All 30 clubs will be in action for the traditional MLB Opening Day on Thursday, March 27, 2025. For a complete list of games, check out our Spring Training Schedule.
Los Angeles Dodgers: MINI-MOVIE of 2024 Postseason | MLB on FOX 🎥
Just a year after Shohei Ohtani signed an awe-inspiring $700 million contract that redefined what anyone thought possible, that record-setting deal was already shattered.
In light of Juan Soto’s $765 million contract with the Mets, we have a new benchmark and understanding for a superstar’s potential worth. With that comes a different appreciation for the value that some of baseball’s top talents are providing on the multiyear pacts they’ve signed.
Surely, Rōki Sasaki will soon be among MLB’s biggest discounts. For now, though, which team-friendly signings and extensions look like the top bargain deals?
The rankings below take into account the entire length of the contract, including the player’s performance to this point in the deal, how much value the player is expected to provide in 2025 and how the contract is likely to age. There’s some subjectiveness to it, but wins above replacement provide a good starting point. Unless otherwise indicated, the WAR totals provided below are from Baseball-Reference.
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A couple of ground rules: Only players who’ve received multi-year extensions or free-agent contracts were included (that means no arbitration-eligible players, no pre-arb players and no one-year deals), and players have to have already started their contract to be included (sorry, Cristopher Sánchez).
While there are a lot of star contracts that fans are surely thrilled with, these are the 25 biggest bargains entering the 2025 season.
Terms: Four years, $7.5M (2022-25) plus club options in 2026 ($6 million), 2027 ($8 million) and 2028 ($10 million) AAV: $1.9M 2025 salary: $2.5M 2024 WAR: 2.0 WAR accumulated through contract: 4.1 Age in 2025: 26
It’s understandable if you think relievers shouldn’t make this kind of list, but you’ll find two exceptions here. One just finished top three in Cy Young voting. The other is Muñoz, whose 4.1 WAR through the first three years of his deal are nearly equal to the $4.5 million he has earned in that time after signing an extension before the 2022 season. The contract covers his arbitration years, and if he remains one of the better relievers in the game, the Mariners can still get him at a discounted rate for his first three free-agent years.
Terms: Three years, $35M (2024-26) AAV: $11.7M 2025 salary: $11.5M 2024 WAR: 3.7 WAR accumulated through contract: 3.7 Age in 2025: 28
You have a pretty good idea what you’re going to get out from Hoerner — elite defense and base-stealing coupled with league-average offense. That’s been good enough for him to be a 3-6 WAR talent through his prime and well worth the $11.5 million he is set to earn in 2025 in what would have been his first free-agent year.
Terms: Seven years, $63.5M (2024-30) plus club option in 2031 ($23M) AAV: $9.07M 2025 salary: $4.2M 2024 WAR: 3.8 WAR accumulated through contract: 3.4 Age in 2025: 23
The reason players such as Bryce Harper, Fernando Tatis and Will Smith fell just outside this list is because those deals look like incredible bargains now, but might not look quite so advantageous once we reach the 2030s. Tovar, who just got down-ballot MVP votes in his age-22 season, should continue to get better as this deal progresses. His elite defense provides a solid floor and mitigates some of the concerns about his swing decisions. He would’ve been under club control through 2028. With this new deal, getting at least two free-agent years for an AAV under $10 million in his prime should be great value. And if he’s a star by 2030, that $23 million club option in 2031 will be worth the cost.
Terms: Two years, $30M (2024-25) plus player option in 2026 ($15M) AAV: $15M 2025 salary: $15M 2024 WAR: 5.3 WAR accumulated through contract: 5.3 Age in 2025: 35
The Royals took a chance on Lugo after a successful transition from the bullpen in San Diego, and the 34-year-old put together the most productive season of his career while making just $15 million. Considering the number of pitches in Lugo’s repertoire, and that he doesn’t rely on velocity to produce, he should remain productive through the short-term deal, even if he doesn’t finish second in Cy Young voting again.
Terms: Five years, $90M (2024-28) AAV: $18M 2025 salary: $12M 2024 WAR: 3.7 WAR accumulated through contract: 3.7 Age in 2025: 28
Since the start of the 2021 season, Webb and Aaron Nola are tied for fourth among all starting pitchers with 17.7 fWAR apiece. Nola, who is entering his age-32 season, signed a seven-year, $172 million extension ($24.6 million AAV) with the Phillies before the 2024 season. Webb, who is entering his age-28 season, signed a five-year, $90 million extension ($18 million AAV) and will only cost $12 million in 2025 in what would have been his final year of arbitration. He’ll make about double that every year for the last three years of the deal, but that still looks like a bargain compared to what most pitchers of his caliber would get in free agency.
Terms: Five years, $56M (2022-26) plus club option in 2027 ($21M) AAV: $11.2M 2025 salary: $17.3M 2024 WAR: N/A WAR accumulated through contract: 11.4 Age in 2025: 29
Alcántara has already missed one of the five seasons on this deal, and yet it still looks like one of the most team-friendly extensions in the sport, given how terrific his 8.0-WAR Cy Young season was to start the contract in 2022. Alcántara hoped to return from Tommy John surgery at some point late last year, and while that didn’t happen, he’ll be back on the mound in 2025. If he can get anywhere close to replicating his previous form, the $11.2 million AAV will look well worth the cost — whether it’s in Miami or with a contending club that would be thrilled to inherit the rest of that contract.
Terms: Three years, $24M (2023-25) plus club option in 2026 ($12M) AAV: $8M 2025 salary: $10M 2024 WAR: 1.6 WAR accumulated through contract: 6.8 Age in 2025: 33
Díaz would have been a free agent in 2025 if not for the three-year extension he signed before the 2023 season. That year alone — he produced a 5.2-WAR All-Star 2023 season while leading the American League with a .330 batting average — made his $24 million contract worth it. If he can find that form again after taking a step back last year, the Rays (or whichever team ends up with him) can keep him for $12 million in 2026, a modest price for an above-average offensive talent.
Terms: Six years, $50M (2020-25) plus club options in 2026 ($20M) and 2027 ($20M) AAV: $8.5M 2025 salary: $15M 2024 WAR: 1.4 WAR accumulated through contract: 13.9 Age in 2025: 27
Robert’s production to this point, even after taking a disappointing 2024 season, already made his contract worth the price. While his $15 million salary this season doesn’t look like such a bargain anymore, his AAV is about half that amount, which makes the 27-year-old an attractive trade chip. If he can get his strikeout rate down to a more tenable level or get anywhere close to his 2023 All-Star form (whether for the White Sox or another team) again, the $20 million club options in 2026 and 2027 would be palatable. If he doesn’t, the team can just move on.
Terms: Six years, $75M (2023-28) plus club option in 2029 ($22M) AAV: $12.5M 2025 salary: $4M 2024 WAR: N/A WAR accumulated through contract: 3.2 Age in 2025: 26
We’ve reached the Atlanta rotation portion of the program. Strider was making $1 million in the first year of his six-year deal in 2023 when the All-Star went 20-5 with the highest strikeout rate among all qualified starters. He only got two starts into his 2024 season before requiring a UCL repair, so it’s hard to know exactly what to expect upon his return. Still, it’s reasonable to assume he should significantly outproduce the $4 million he is set to earn. There’s some risk here once his salary rises to $20-plus million in 2026, but a $12.5 million AAV for a potential Cy Young winner is a chance most teams would be thrilled to take.
Terms: Three years, $30M (2025-27) AAV: $10M 2025 salary: $8M 2024 WAR: 5.1 WAR accumulated through contract: 5.1 Age in 2025: 31
Technically, López’s reworked contract starts in 2025, but because it was a restructuring of the three-year, $30 million pact he signed before the 2024 season — the Braves guaranteed his club option in 2027 in exchange for taking less money next season — we’ll make an exception and include him here. Only two pitchers started more than 20 games with a sub-2.00 ERA in 2024. One was Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes. The other was López, who rewarded the Braves’ faith after they made him a starter again. He produced a 5.1-WAR season while making just $4 million in 2024. Considering he hadn’t been a full-time starter in five years, it’ll be interesting to see how he holds up after taking on that added workload.
Terms: Two years, $38M (2024-25) plus club option in 2026 ($18M) AAV: $19M 2025 salary: $22M 2024 WAR: 6.2 WAR accumulated through contract: 6.2 Age in 2025: 36
The best pitchers in baseball are going for more than $30 million per season. Sale, meanwhile, just won the pitching triple crown while making $16 million in 2024. Even as his contract calls for a raise to $22 million in 2025, teams would gladly pay that after watching what he did last year.
Terms: Eight years, $82M (2024-31) plus club options in 2032 ($25M) and 2033 ($25M) AAV: $10.3M 2025 salary: $4.3M 2024 WAR: 3.8 WAR accumulated through contract: 3.8 Age in 2025: 21
Now, to the promising young outfielders. Prior to Chourio’s extension, Robert held the record for the largest contract given to a player before his MLB debut. Chourio shattered it — and with good reason. The 20-year-old did not look overmatched while finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. Already an above-average hitter, fielder and runner, it looks like Milwaukee has a star for the next decade at a discounted rate.
Terms: 12 years, $209.3M (2023-29); including 2030-34 player options ($18M annual); conditional club options after 2029 (eight or 10 years) AAV: $17.4M 2025 salary: $20.2M 2024 WAR: 4.3 WAR accumulated through contract: 9.6 Age in 2025: 24
There are a number of different possible iterations to this deal, which will be determined by Rodríguez’s performance over the next decade. The Mariners have a club option after the 2028 season, for either eight or 10 years, worth anywhere from $200 million to $350 million based on his MVP finishes. If the Mariners turn that down, Rodríguez has a five-year player option worth anywhere from $90 million to $125 million based on All-Star appearances and Silver Slugger awards won in the first eight years of the deal.
To put it as simply as possible, the base deal is for $119.3 million for seven years, but he’s guaranteed $210 million with the possibility of maxing out as high as $470 million. If he does max that out, it’s likely because he has fulfilled his massive potential and is perennially one of the top talents in the game. It’s the most lucrative deal Seattle has ever given out, but the position-player-starved club should be thrilled to have a player of his caliber for a CBT hit of just over $17 million.
Terms: Eight years, $72M (2023-30) plus club options in 2031 ($15M) and 2032 ($20M) AAV: $9M 2025 salary: $8M 2024 WAR: 3.2 WAR accumulated through contract: 6.6 Age in 2025: 24
Other team-friendly contracts in Atlanta might get more attention, but this one shouldn’t get lost in the shuffle. Over the past three years, only four center fielders have been worth more fWAR than Harris, even after a down year offensively in 2024. While chase is part of his game, and he’s not going to walk much, the underlying numbers suggested some bad luck last season, and his elite defense provides a high floor. He’s already one of the best players at his position in MLB, and he won’t even be making $10 million for another four years. Any risk Atlanta assumed by inking him to a long-term deal just 71 games into his big-league career appears to be well worth it now. Expect better things ahead in 2025 and beyond.
Terms: Five years, $15.5M (2020-24) plus $8M club options in 2025 (exercised) & 2026 AAV: $3.1M 2025 salary: $8M 2024 WAR: 2.6 WAR accumulated through contract: 9.8 Age in 2025: 29
Whatever Peralta does this year, his deal is already one of the biggest bargains in MLB. From 2020 to 2024, the only pitcher to throw 500 innings with a higher strikeout rate than Peralta was Blake Snell. Throughout that time, the Brewers paid a total of $15.5 million for Peralta’s services. Needless to say, Milwaukee picked up the $8 million club option on Peralta for 2025 after he hit the 200-strikeout mark for the second straight season and recorded a sub-4.00 ERA for the fifth straight year.
Terms: Five years, $20M (2022-26) plus club options in 2027 ($10M) & 2028 ($10M) AAV: $4M 2025 salary: $4.9M 2024 WAR: 4.4 WAR accumulated through contract: 7.8 Age in 2025: 27
You can debate whether relievers should be put in the top 10, but I’m making Clase an exception. He just finished third in Cy Young voting while tallying a 0.61 ERA and leading the American League in saves for the third straight season. Over those three years, the Guardians have paid $6.7 million for 7.8 WAR. If we’re strictly talking about the value a player provides, it doesn’t get much better than that. Most teams would be happy to pay him a total of $20 million over two seasons. The Guardians are paying that amount over five, then have the option of keeping him in Cleveland for $10 million apiece in 2027 and 2028, which would have been his first two free-agent years. Even as a reliever, this is one of the best pitching bargains in baseball.
Terms: Five years, $76M (2023-27) plus club option in 2028 ($13M) AAV: $15.2M 2025 salary: $16.6M 2024 WAR: 6.8 WAR accumulated through contract: 11.7 Age in 2025: 31
In March 2018, coming off a season in Arizona in which he hit below league average, the Diamondbacks displayed their belief in Marte by giving the 24-year-old a five-year, $24 million extension. Marte rewarded general manager Mike Hazen’s faith then — he was an All-Star in 2019 when he launched 32 homers and accumulated 6.9 WAR — and now he’s doing so again. At 30 years old last season, Marte barreled the ball more consistently than ever before while posting career highs in homers and RBIs and finishing third in MVP voting. He has been one of the best second basemen in baseball the past two years, yet his AAV is about $10 million cheaper than the going rate for that kind of a player.
Terms: Eight years, $111M (2023-30) plus 2031 club option ($28M) AAV: $13.9M 2025 salary: $5.6M 2024 WAR: 3.4 WAR accumulated through contract: 8.8 Age in 2025: 24
Carroll’s extension was the largest contract ever given to a player with fewer than 100 days service time, buying out his arbitration years plus at least two free-agent seasons and breaking the record the Braves gave Harris. For the first year, it looked like one of the biggest steals in the sport. The 2024 season was more inauspicious, however, and you have to wonder if his balky shoulder will continue to impact his offensive output.
Still, his second half was encouraging, his speed and defense give him a high floor, and the potential is there for Carroll — who has 47 homers and 89 steals the past two seasons — to be one of the top position players in the sport for the next decade. If he fulfills those expectations, having what would have been those first couple free-agent seasons for less than $30 million per year will be a bargain.
Terms: Six years, $53M (2023-28) plus club option in 2029 ($21M) AAV: $8.8M 2025 salary: $6.3M 2024 WAR: 6.3 WAR accumulated through contract: 7.2 Age in 2025: 25
The first two years of Greene’s big-league career were all about potential. In 2024, he began to fulfill it. By bWAR (6.3), he was the most valuable pitcher in the National League, and he was only making a tick over $3 million. There are performance escalators that could max this contract out at closer to $95 million, but Greene is due to make less than $10 million until 2027 when his contract balloons to $15 million, a number teams would gladly pay for a player of his caliber. Greene would have been a free agent in 2028 if not for the extension — the largest the Reds have ever given to a player before he reaches arbitration. To now have him that year for $16 million and have the option to keep him in 2029 for $21 million looks like a prudent call before Greene stands to cash in again.
Terms: 11 years, $288.8M (2024-34); opt-outs after 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033; club option 2035-37 ($89M) AAV: $26.3M 2025 salary: $7.7M 2024 WAR: 9.4 WAR accumulated through contract: 9.4 Age in 2025: 25
Soto just put together a career-best 7.9 WAR season and will now carry a $51 million AAV for the next 15 years. Witt, meanwhile, just compiled a 9.4 WAR season in one of the best all-around years from a shortstop ever, will make $7.7 million in 2025 and will carry an AAV that’s about half of Soto’s. He was worth 3.4 WAR for every $1 million he earned last season. It’s tremendous value right now, and it should continue to be, even as his salary rockets up to more than $30 million per season starting in 2028, which would have been his first free-agent year.
It’s possible this only ends up a seven-year, $148-million pact — Witt has a flurry of opt-outs available to him after the 2030 season — but even if he doesn’t stay for all 11 years, the largest contract in Royals franchise history has made Kansas City relevant for the foreseeable future and looks well worth the cost to keep the superstar in town through his 20s. There are five MLB shortstops with a higher AAV than Witt in 2025. There are none with a brighter future.
Terms: Seven years, $141M (2022-28) AAV: $20.1M 2025 salary: $19M 2024 WAR: 6.8 WAR accumulated through contract: 17.9 Age in 2025: 32
Here’s a deal that didn’t take much projecting. Everyone knew Ramírez was leaving tens of millions on the table when he decided to stay in Cleveland with his most recent extension, which was the largest in franchise history and still a massive bargain. Now, the Guardians continue to reap the rewards of employing one of the best baseball players on the planet. While it remains to be seen if he can continue to play this way through his 30s, the six-time All-Star is showing no signs of slowing down and is consistently one of the top superstars in the game. Ramírez has produced between 5-7 WAR each of the past four years, and by fWAR, has been one of the five most valuable position players in baseball since 2017.
Terms: Six years, $115M (2023-28) AAV: 19.2M 2025 salary: $15.8M 2024 WAR: 5.4 WAR accumulated through contract: 10.0 Age in 2025: 28
Given all he’s accomplished already, it’s easy to forget Álvarez is only 27 years old. Over the past three years, he has hit 88%, 70% and 72% better than league average by OPS. In that time, he ranks in the top 10 in WAR, top three in OPS and second behind only Aaron Judge in wRC+. Assuming he stays close to those marks in 2025, when he’ll make just $15.8 million — a sum that’s less than teammates José Altuve, Christian Walker, Josh Hader, Framber Valdez and Lance McCullers Jr. — a massive payday would have awaited.
Instead, the Astros prudently extended him and bought out what would have been his first three free-agent years for less than $27 million per year. (How many teams would line up at the door to pay Álvarez three years and $80 million in free agency?) Now, the Astros have one of the most feared hitters in baseball at an AAV under $20 million. That production is all the more important, too, with Kyle Tucker now in Chicago. As long as he can stay on the field, this should represent extraordinary value throughout the entirety of the deal.
Terms: Seven years, $35M (2019-25) plus club options in 2026 ($7M) and 2027 ($7M) AAV: $5M 2025 salary: $7M 2024 WAR: 1.6 WAR accumulated through contract: 16.3 Age in 2025: 28
This deal was such an obvious coup from the start that it almost felt cruel. And even though Albies has been unable to consistently stay on the field or perform to the level of others on this list, he has still (to no one’s surprise) far outplayed the contract he signed. Albies would have been eligible for arbitration after the 2020 season and for free agency after the 2023 season, when he was a 4.7-WAR player and an All-Star for the third time. A nine-figure sum would almost certainly have awaited him.
Had Albies let that process play out rather than signing this extension, it’s more than reasonable to think he would now be making three times as much as he will be in 2025. Instead, the Braves paid him $7 million in 2024 and will do so again this coming season. They have the option to continue paying him that amount in 2026 and 2027. Even after a down year for Albies, the cost is absurdly low and the risk is minimal.
Terms: Eight years, $100M (2019-26) plus club options in 2027 ($17M) and 2028 ($17M) AAV: $12.5M 2025 salary: $17M 2024 WAR: 0.0 (played 49 games) WAR accumulated through contract: 21.9 Age in 2025: 27
The majority of this list could have just been the Braves roster. Before the 2024 season, Acuña’s contract would have ranked No. 1. And if we’re strictly talking about value on the field, it might still be, although there’s at least more of a question now about how he will perform going forward after his unusually poor start to the 2024 campaign was cut short due to his second ACL tear in three years. Still, even if he doesn’t get back to his previous record-setting combination of speed and power, this contract is already arguably the biggest steal in the game. If he does return to peak form, the Braves get to keep (another) one of the most talented players in the sport at a significant discount through his 20s.
Terms: 10 years, $700M (2024-33); $680 million deferred until 2034 AAV: $46M 2025 salary: $2M ($70M with $68M deferred) 2024 WAR: 9.2 WAR accumulated through contract: 9.2 Age in 2025: 30
How does a $700 million contract take the top spot on a bargains list? When less than 3% of it will be paid over the next 10 years. Ohtani just became the first 50/50 player in MLB history and was worth almost 10 WAR despite exclusively being a designated hitter, and he made only $2 million in 2024. The massive deferrals in his contract — $68 million per year — lowered the present-day value of his deal to $460 million, which dropped his AAV to $46 million and helped the Dodgers build a championship roster around him. Given his unrivaled influence, his unprecedented contract provides unparalleled value in both the baseball and business sense.
Assuming the Dodgers invest all of his deferred money wisely (and taking into account the numerous sales, marketing and sponsorship revenue streams he creates with his global appeal), the deal should ultimately pay for itself. The Dodgers announced eight different multiyear partnerships with Japanese-based companies within the first two months of the 2024 season after signing Ohtani, and companies were even buying ad space in visiting stadiums when the Dodgers hit the road to get in on the money machine. Taking everything into account, Ohtani already looks well worth what was, for one year, the largest contract in MLB history. And he hasn’t even pitched yet.
Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.
Two NFL legends will be sharing the big screen this February.
Former All-Pro running back Marshawn Lynch will have a role in a new action-comedy film titled Love Hurts (releasing Feb. 7) alongside FOX Sports analyst and Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson. Golden Globe and Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan plays a realtor who is pulled back into his past life of crime after his former partner resurfaces with a menacing message.
This made us think, which athletes have had the best cameos ever?
We took on the task of answering this question, diving into movies over the last couple of decades and ranking the 10 best athlete cameos of all-time.
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A cameo is typically defined as a “small theatrical role usually performed by a well-known actor and often limited to a single scene.” What the athlete did in their respective scene – along with how big the movie was – were the main factors used in determining the list.
Athletes who played a major role in a movie will be included in our next edition of the Daily Ranker. Stars such as Anthony Edwards in Hustle, Michael Jordan in Space Jam, Ray Allen in He Got Game, Shaquille O’Neal in Kazaam, etc. will get their shot there.
While there are some obvious choices near the top, there are also some surprising names that made our list.
Where does your favorite athlete rank?
Let’s take a look:
10. Derek Jeter (The Other Guys)
In a 2010 comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell as two New York cops whose careers are lacking, Derek Jeter is only in this film for a moment, but his role is an important one in relation to the plot. Jeter is mistakenly shot by Wahlberg’s character (Terry Hoitz), preventing him from playing in Game 7 of the World Series. Hoitz is then branded the “Yankee Clipper,” sending his NYPD career down into the dumps.
9. Brett Favre (There’s Something About Mary)
In this 1998 romcom starring Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon and Ben Stiller, Brett Favre plays the ex-boyfriend of Diaz’s character (Mary Jensen). What makes his appearance so great is that he is repeatedly referenced as “Pac-Man” throughout the movie, but there were zero hints of him being a professional football player — let alone the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. In the end, Mary chooses “the good guy” and dumps Favre.
8. Lance Armstrong (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story)
Lance Armstrong’s scene in this movie is unexpected and hilarious, as he gives Vince Vaughn’s character (Peter) a legendary speech when he learns that Peter is about to quit his team after running into him at the airport. The speech makes Peter realize his wrongdoing, and he rejoins the team and leads them to a sudden-death victory in the final. Dodgeball was released in 2004 and grossed $30 million in the U.S. on its opening weekend, and went on to make $168 million worldwide according to IMDB.
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby)
In this 2006 classic comedy starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as two immature NASCAR drivers, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s scene is so quick but so good. In a crowd of fans begging Ferrell’s character (Ricky Bobby) for an autograph, Earnhardt Jr. plows his way to the front of the mob and asks him for an autograph. He states that he is a huge fan, and asks him “not to tell any of the other drivers.” Truly hilarious.
6. Michael Irvin (The Longest Yard)
In this remake of a 1974 classic, Michael Irvin plays a freak athlete who initially refuses to join a football team of inmates looking to play against the guards of the prison. After the guards continue to harass the inmates, Irvin’s character — Deacon Moss – decides to join and brings his gang along with him. Irvin is unstoppable, and the movie does a great job portraying him as the star receiver he was in real life. The Longest Yard was released in 2005 and grossed over $191 million worldwide, according to IMDB.
5. Hines Ward (The Dark Knight Rises)
Hines Ward has no lines in this classic, but his scene is one of the most incredible and memorable movie scenes ever. When Tom Hardy’s character (Bane) is destroying Gotham City, Hines Ward and Co. are playing a football game wearing colors that resemble the Steelers. He returns a long touchdown and outruns the entire defense. But as he outruns the defense, an explosion erupts and the field collapses. Ward turns around only to find that everyone has fallen into the pit, and the stadium has been nearly destroyed. The Dark Knight Rises grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide, according to IMDB.
4. Lee Trevino (Happy Gilmore)
Happy Gilmore is considered one of the greatest sports movies of all-time, with Adam Sandler’s character being one of the signature comedic roles of his career. But Lee Trevino is also fantastic in this film, despite only having one line. He is constantly shaking his head when reacting to Happy’s actions on the golf course, having been one of the greatest golfers of his generation. And his one line in the film is truly great, as he responds to Happy’s nemesis by saying, “Grizzly Adams did have a beard.” Happy Gilmore had a $12 million budget and grossed over $41 million worldwide, according to IMDB.
3. Mike Tyson (The Hangover)
Mike Tyson is incredible in this film. He delivers his signature knockout punch to one of the characters in the film; he has a pet tiger with him, and he even sings Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” with Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms’ characters. Oh, and by the way, the three stooges in the movie steal his tiger, hence the aforementioned punching. His presence in the movie is surprising but incredibly funny. The 2009 hit grossed over $469 million, according to IMDB.
2. Dan Marino (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective)
In this iconic Jim Carrey vehicle, Marino plays himself in the story of a quirky pet detective (Carrey) whose goal is to recover the missing mascot of the Miami Dolphins. He ends up not only saving the mascot, but also saves Marino in the process, as Marino was kidnapped by the villain in the movie, Ray Finkle (played by Sean Young). The legendary quarterback returns in time to lead the Dolphins in Super Bowl XXVII. Ace Ventura was released in 1994 and grossed over $107 million worldwide, according to IMDB.
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Airplane!)
It’s funny that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was often called “The Captain” during his NBA career, because in this 1980 movie he plays a co-pilot. In the movie, the entire flight crew of a plane falls sick due to food poisoning, and Cap is forced to help pilot a plane when Robert Hays’ character (Ted Striker) cannot overcome his prior war trauma. Imagine seeing arguably the greatest NBA player of the time land a plane! Airplane! was released in 1980, only had a budget of $3.5 million and grossed a whopping $83.4 million worldwide according to IMDB.
Additionally, the New York Mets are also not expected to land Sasaki, per SNY. The Chicago Cubs were also among the teams to meet with Sasaki.
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As for the teams still in the hunt for Sasaki, the Padres hosted him over the weekend, The Athletic reported. He also visited with the Toronto Blue Jays in their home city, The Athletic added in its report. Both teams had previously met with Sasaki in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers talked with Sasaki at least once during the process. General manager Brandon Gomes told reporters that he was still hoping to secure a second meeting with Sasaki as of Jan. 7.
The Dodgers have been considered one of the favorites to acquire Sasaki for much of the offseason. They, along with the Padres, have reportedly told other international prospects to possibly reclassify and sign with the team as part of the international class of 2026. The expectation is that Sasaki will take up the vast majority of the available international bonus pool money with whichever team he signs with.
Because Sasaki is under 25 and has not played six seasons in NPB, he is classified as an international amateur and limited to a minor league contract subject to international signing bonus pools, which range from $7,555,500 to $5,146,200. Starting Wednesday, teams may make trades to increase their signing bonus allotment by up to 60% from their initial figure.
Sasaki was officially posted by his NPB team, Chiba Lotte Marines, on Dec. 9, opening the 45-day window for him to sign. So, he’ll have to make a decision on his MLB future by Jan. 23.
The Dodgers have already addressed their rotation this offseason, signing Blake Snell to a six-year deal. While they lost Walker Buehler in free agency, Shohei Ohtani will return to the mound in 2025 and Clayton Kershaw is expected to return at some point during the season.
If Los Angeles lands Sasaki, it’d have one of the most formidable rotations on paper in recent memory. Sasaki’s fastball tops 100 mph and he went 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 games last year, striking out 129 hitters in 111 innings in a season limited by shoulder inflammation. He has a 29-15 career record with a 2.10 ERA over four injury-shortened seasons with the Marines.
The Padres, meanwhile, haven’t made any notable signings or trades this offseason. Adding Sasaki would further solidify the Padres’ rotation as one of the best in baseball, joining the likes of Dylan Cease, Joe Musgrove, Michael King and Yu Darvish.
The Blue Jays have been in the mix for several marquee free agents this offseason, but they’ve missed out on many of them. Still, they’ve added reliever Jeff Hoffman and traded for standout second baseman Andrés Giménez this offseason.
As for the teams that are now out on Sasaki, the Yankees already brought on another big-name pitcher. They signed left-handed starter Max Fried to a seven-year, $218 million deal in December. The Mets re-signed Sean Manaea to go along with adding Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes to bolster their pitching staff. The Giants added Justin Verlander to their rotation earlier in January after losing Snell. The Rangers re-signed Nathan Eovaldi in December.
Philles outfielder Nick Castellanos believes that Mets second baseman Jose Iglesias should have been crowned MVP of the National League instead of superstar Shohei Ohtani, who earned all 30 first-place votes after becoming the first member of MLB‘s 50/50 club and setting the Dodgers up nicely for a deep postseason run.
“If you’re looking at the MVP as having the most weight on creating wins for your team, there’s no other player that has had that much weight as Jose Iglesias,” Castellanos said of his former Tigers teammate. “With him being able to come in and bring that Latin spark, knocked the ice off of [Francisco] Lindor, finally got [Mark] Vientos probably comfortable to be able to be an everyday third baseman. And now a bunch of guys that looked like they had no direction … in the beginning of the year — they made the playoffs [and] got to where they did while the whole Mets organization had the ‘OMG’ signs everywhere from in the city to [in] the stadium.
“The way I look at baseball, Jose Iglesias is [the] unanimous National League MVP.”
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Castellanos went on to add that Ohtani is the player he’d choose to build a franchise around and that he’s the superior overall player — just not the most valuable.
“Shohei Ohtani played a huge part in the Dodgers winning,” Castellanos said. “I don’t know if he’s the sole purpose of the Dodgers moving in one direction. That doesn’t mean that what Shohei did isn’t record-book worthy and he’s not an amazing baseball player. If I’m starting a team, I pick Shohei over Jose. There’s no doubt about it. I’m not stupid.
“But the way that I saw baseball last year, with my eyeballs, Jose Iglesias is the National League MVP.”
Ohtani earned 423 points in the voting, while Mets shortstop Lindor finished second with 263 points.
The Dodgers clinched the NL West and finished with the best record in the league at 98-64. Ohtani, 30, posted a .310 batting average (the fifth-best in MLB) and racked up a career-high 54 home runs (second-most) in 159 games. He hasn’t pitched since Aug. 23, 2023, when he was still the ace of the Angels. Since then, he had elbow surgery and accepted a monster 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. Ohtani has unanimously won MVP three times, twice in the AL and once in the NL, in a four-year span. The one season he didn’t win MVP, he finished second.
Iglesias, 35, posted a .337 batting average with four home runs while playing in only 85 games this season, producing 3.1 bWAR. The Mets finished with an 89-73 regular-season record, clinching a wild-card berth in the NL East.
Castellanos, 32, appeared in 162 games for Philly this season, finishing with a .254 batting average and 23 homers. The Philles clinched the NL East after finishing 95-67.
They were immediately ejected from the stadium following the incident, which occurred during the bottom of the first inning of New York’s eventual 11-4 win, and later had their tickets for Game 5 revoked.
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According to MLB.com, they were notified of the ban this week via a letter that read, in part: “You interfered with play by intentionally and forcefully grabbing a player. Your conduct posed a serious risk to the health and safety of the player and went far over the line of acceptable fan behavior. Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball (‘MLB’) is banning you indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices, and other facilities. You are also hereby banned indefinitely from attending any events sponsored by or associated with MLB.”
The report also stated that they’ll be removed from the premises and subject to arrest for trespassing if they violate this latest punishment.
The pair attended the game after getting the first-row seats from an unnamed season ticket holder, who has held his seats since 1990 and was not present at the game. He’ll be allowed to keep his tickets.
Brian Matusz, the left-handed pitcher who spent eight seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the Baltimore Orioles as they returned to prominence a decade ago, has died. He was 37.
The Orioles and the University of San Diego announced Matusz’s death Tuesday night, with USD saying it received word from Matusz’s family. No cause of death was announced.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole Brian Matusz,” the Orioles said. “A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate, and always had a smile on his face.”
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The Orioles drafted Matusz with the fourth overall pick in 2008 out of San Diego.
“Brian was one of the best players to ever wear a Torero uniform,” San Diego coach Brock Ungricht said. “His dedication to the USD community and passion for the game of baseball were evident to all who knew him. Brian’s unexpected passing leaves a void in our hearts, but his legacy will continue to inspire us, both on and off the field. We will forever be grateful for his friendship and unwavering support of San Diego baseball.”
Matusz made his major league debut in 2009 and was a starter until shifting to the bullpen down the stretch in 2012. That was the season Baltimore earned a wild card berth for its first postseason appearance in 15 years.
In 2014, Matusz went 2-3 with a 3.48 ERA in 63 relief appearances as the Orioles won the AL East.
Baltimore traded Matusz to Atlanta early in the 2016 season, and he eventually caught on with the Chicago Cubs, making one start for them that year in what would be his final big league appearance.
Justin Verlander and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $15 million, one-year contract, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the deal was pending a physical.
It’s the latest big move by new Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey since he was hired in September to replace Farhan Zaidi.
This will be the 20th major league season for Verlander, a three-time AL Cy Young Award winner who turns 42 next month. He would join a Giants rotation led by Logan Webb.
Verlander went 5-6 with a 5.48 ERA in 17 starts for the Houston Astros last year. He opened the season on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. He also was on the IL from June 18 to Aug. 21 because of neck discomfort.
The right-hander had a 9.26 ERA in five September starts and was left off Houston’s postseason roster when the team was swept by Detroit in an AL Wild Card Series. He became a free agent after he failed to pitch 140 innings, a total that would have triggered his ability to exercise a $35 million conditional player option.
There is no denying it: The sports world was an incredible roller-coaster of a ride in 2024.
It was filled with a host of surprises, dazzling individual performances, stunning hiring and firings, and an endless supply of epic moments on the field.
So before we look ahead to 2025, let’s look back and celebrate an unforgettable year.
Here is a summary of the best sports storylines of 2024.
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NFL: Surprising stars, a wild MVP race … and the Chiefs just keep winning
In some ways, 2024 began and ended in the exact same spot, with Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on top of the football world. They were the road warriors in January as they muscled their way to their second straight Super Bowl championship. And as the clock ticks down on the calendar year, they sure look like good bets to win their third.
But while the Chiefs hovered over the league all year long, they didn’t always dominate the headlines across the country. The last 12 months were full of surprises (Sam Darnold can still play?), disappointments (everything about the New York Jets), and a fascinating MVP race (could Saquon Barkley pull it off? Ralph Vacchiano breaks it all down with his Top 10 NFL Storylines of the Year.
Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Saquon Barkley: MVP race HEATS UP
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College football: Two big stars — and one coaching legend — take center stage
From a host of stunning upsets to dazzling individual performances from generational stars like Ashton Jeanty, and Travis Hunter, the 2024 college football season has been filled with memorable moments — and that doesn’t even take us to the coaching changes, like Bill Belichick signing up to lead North Carolina! But what was the single biggest storyline in college football this year? Laken Litman, RJ Young and Michael Cohen answer that questionas we get set to flip the calendar to 2025.
Can Bill Belichick do in 2 years what Deion Sanders has done in 2 years at Colorado?
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MLB: Yankees vs. Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani, and so much more …
Historic performances in 2024 generated record increases in viewership and MLB’s highest attendance in seven years. It all culminated in a classic and unforgettable World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers. But while the storied franchises entertained us in late October, there were several other fascinating developments throughout the year and across the league. Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar look back a the 10 biggest MLB storylines of 2024.
USWNT: Emma Hayes leads USA to gold, but loses several star players
They were Concacaf W Gold Cup champions, SheBelieves Cup champions and Olympic champions. Emma Hayes took over as the new manager and made an immediate and powerful impact. The “Triple Espresso” emerged and several legends retired. Laken Litman looks back at how it all unfolded, then turns to preparations for the 2027 World Cup.
USMNT: How the roller coaster of 2024 shook out
A Nations League three-peat, a catastrophic major tournament failure and a high-profile coaching change. For the U.S. men’s national team, 2024 provided no shortage of drama. Before looking ahead to what should be a fascinating 2025, FOX Sports’ Doug McIntyre details the wild ride that was 2024.
Alexi Lalas’ wishlist for USMST in 2025
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NASCAR: Big wrecks, thrilling finishes and off-track drama!
From close finishes to big wrecks to drama on the track and off of it, NASCAR produced several captivating storylines in 2024. Bob Pockrass counts down some of the top stories (not always the happiest but based on significance and impact on the sport) of the year!
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LeBron James is now a 40-year-old man, making more history just by getting a year older.
The all-time great will become the first player in NBA history to have ever played a game both as a teenager and as a 40-year-old the next time he takes the court. He’s still going strong in his 22nd season, too, averaging 23.5 points and nine assists per game as of his birthday on Dec. 30.
As if that weren’t impressive enough, James has also exceeded the hype following him around since he entered the NBA in 2003, playing at an All-Star level essentially since he entered the league. But there are other stars who’ve also lived up to the tremendous weight put on their shoulders before they became professionals. Just in the last 14 months, Victor Wembanyama, Paul Skenes and Caitlin Clark have started to meet the sky-high expectations that have been placed on them.
Those three still have a lot of their respective careers to play out, though. So, let’s take a look at James and nine other 21st century professional athletes who’ve made good on, or even surpassed, the expectations surrounding them.
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Before entering the WNBA, Parker’s high school accolades included being named the 2003 and 2004 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, the only two-time award winner of the USA Today High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American. The dunking forward-center then attended Tennessee from 2004-2008. She led the Lady Vols to two consecutive national championships in 2007 and 2008 while also being named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in both.
Parker was taken with the first pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, and broke the WNBA record for points by a rookie in her debut game, knocking down 34 points and adding 12 rebounds and eight assists. Parker was the first WNBA player to be named Rookie of the Year and win the MVP award in the same season, and the seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA MVP hoisted the championship trophy three times in her career with the LA Sparks (2016), Chicago Sky (2021) and Las Vegas Aces (2023).
Harper might be the closest thing to baseball’s equivalent to James this century, at least in terms of hype. In fact, Sports Illustrated gave Harper similar treatment that it gave James when he was in high school, putting Harper on the cover of an issue with the “Chosen One” text.
While Harper might not be in the GOAT conversation in his sport like James is, he’s been among the handful of top players in MLB since he made his debut in 2012. Two years after the Nationals selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Harper won NL Rookie of the Year and turned into one of the game’s biggest sensations. At 19 years old, he became the youngest position player to ever be named to an All-Star roster. Three years later, he won his first MVP.
Why Bryce Harper’s David Beckham quality is good for MLB playoffs
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Harper remained one of the major league’s best hitters throughout his time with the Nationals before leaving ahead of the 2019 season. He then signed the largest contract in MLB history at the time to join the Phillies. He went on to win his second MVP in 2021 and has helped Philadelphia make the postseason in three straight years.
Messi began his career as a member of Newell’s Old Boys youth team, scoring nearly 500 goals with the club before joining Barcelona’s youth team at 13 in 2000. He impressed the professionals he practiced against, totaling 36 goals in 30 games during the 2002-03 season.
Messi was called up to Barcelona’s top squad in 2004 and quickly asserted himself as the best player in the club’s history. He scored a record 474 goals in 520 caps with Barcelona before adding another 43 goals in 83 caps between PSG and Inter Miami over the last two years.
Lionel Messi: best of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
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Of course, Messi has also had a remarkable international career, too. He reached the mountaintop when he led Argentina to a World Cup title in 2022, which was sandwiched between two Copa America wins. He’s won the Ballon d’Or eight times as he’s scored 850 goals between club and country, further displaying his all-time excellence.
Moore gained notoriety as a savvy power forward at the University of Connecticut from 2007-2011, where she led the Huskies to back-to-back national championships in 2009 and 2010. Before her reign at Storrs, Moore led her high school team to four straight Georgia state championship appearances, including three wins. The dual-sport athlete (track and field) was named to the 2006 Sports Illustrated All-America Team and also won the McDonald’s All-America Player of the Year in 2007.
Moore went on to score 678 points in her debut season with the Huskies, which is the most by a freshman in UConn history. The 10-time Big East Freshman of the Week went on to earn Big East Player of the Year honors three times (2008, 2009, 2011), Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player twice (2009, 2011) and also guided Connecticut to its second straight 39-0 season in 2010.
In 2011, Moore was drafted first overall by the Minnesota Lynx, and earned the Rookie of the Year award on the way to her first WNBA title. The six-time All-Star went on to win three more championships (2013, 2015, 2017) and was also named the WNBA MVP in 2014.
Historically, the highest-regarded quarterbacks haven’t fared too well in the 21st century. Andrew Luck’s career was cut short due to injury, while Trevor Lawrence and Caleb Williams are still in the early years of their respective careers. Additionally, many of the best quarterbacks drafted since 2000 haven’t had a great deal of buildup surrounding them, either.
However, Peterson garnered a lot of attention before the running back entered the NFL. He finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy as a freshman in 2004, leading Oklahoma to the national title game that same year. After he continued to excel in Norman for the next two seasons, the Vikings took Peterson with the seventh overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
That decision wound up being one of the smartest in Vikings history. Peterson had a wildly productive rookie season, rushing for a record 296 yards in one game as he went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Five years later, he rushed for 2,097 yards, finishing just 9 yards short of breaking the single-season record. That performance, which came after he had torn his ACL late in the previous season, helped him win 2012 MVP honors, making him the last non-quarterback to win the award.
Peterson was also the third-fastest player to rush for 10,000 yards in NFL history. His 14,918 rushing yards are also the fifth-most in NFL history as he led the league in rushing three times and was named a Pro Bowler on seven occasions.
“Sid the Kid” became a prodigy in Canada when he was literally just a kid. In his minor hockey years as a young teenager, Crosby appeared on “Hockey Day in Canada” before he dominated the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to the point that it retired his No. 87 in 2019.
After a dominant junior career, Crosby was drafted with the No. 1 pick by the Penguins in 2005. He helped Pittsburgh reach the postseason just two years into his career and led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Final a year later. He won his first of three Stanley Cups in 2009, while adding two MVP wins over his career.
Internationally, Crosby scored one of the most memorable hockey goals ever when he netted the game-winner for Canada in the gold medal match against the USA in the 2010 Olympics. He won his second Olympic gold in 2014.
Hailing from Syracuse, the 6-foot-4 power forward returned to her New York roots in 2023, and with it added another WNBA championship trophy under her belt with the New York Liberty. The two-WNBA MVP was selected by the Seattle Storm with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, after a dynamic career at UConn (2012-2016) during which she collected four consecutive NCAA championship titles and four NCAA Tournament MOP awards.
Ahead of her college years, “Stewie” was a must-watch high school player, earning the 2012 Gatorade Player of the Year and Naismith Prep Player of the Year in her senior year, while also being named to the McDonald’s All-American team. The three-time USA Basketball Player of the Year has also won three WNBA championships (2018, 2020, 2024), two Commissioner’s Cup championships and an Olympics MVP award (2021).
You know you’re a special player when you’re nicknamed “McJesus” well before playing your first professional game. McDavid was the most decorated player in the history of the Ontario Hockey League, winning five individual awards as he was just the third player in the league’s history to be granted eligibility before turning 16.
While McDavid tore up the OHL, there was great anticipation over who’d land him in the 2015 NHL Draft. The Oilers won the lottery that year and took McDavid, which changed the course of their franchise. They’ve been a playoff mainstay since the 2019-20 season, and McDavid has won the Art Ross Trophy for the most points in the league five times and MVP on three occasions.
McDavid nearly led the Oilers to a title in 2024, when they lost the Stanley Cup Final in seven games to the Panthers. As the Oilers came back from a 3-0 deficit to force a Game 7, McDavid became the sixth player on the losing team to ever win the Conn Smythe Award.
Ohtani was a two-way sensation in Japan for several years before joining the Angels in 2018, winning Pacific League MVP in his penultimate season in the NPB.
At 23, Ohtani’s salary was maxed out due to international signing rules. But he immediately met the expectations thrust upon him. He won AL Rookie of the Year in 2018 despite playing through a UCL injury for part of the season.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery following his rookie season, Ohtani was finally able to put it all together as a pitcher and hitter starting in 2021. In a four-year span, he unanimously won MVP three times, twice in the AL and once in the NL. The one season he didn’t win MVP, he finished second.
Shohei Ohtani founds 50/50 club, Is he the greatest baseball player ever?
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Most recently, Ohtani also won a World Series in his first season with the Dodgers in 2024. That came as he wasn’t able to pitch, but he was still dominant at the plate. He became the first player in MLB history to record at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.
“The Kid from Akron” has more than lived up to the hype that began even before the 18-year-old basketball phenom was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. In his 22 seasons in the league, James has earned four NBA championships and Finals MVPs (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020), as well as four NBA Most Valuable Player awards (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013). The 2024 Olympics MVP has become the NBA’s all-time scoring champion and leads the league in minutes played with over 57,000.
Has LeBron James matched Michael Jordan’s greatness in year 22 of his career?
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Before he broke records in the NBA, James took the basketball world by storm as the standout player at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in his hometown. He was named the 2003 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year and was a two-time National High School Player of the Year and three-time Ohio Mr. Basketball. The Fighting Irish won the state championship three times in James’ four high school years, and the star made national headlines, most famously on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
During his first season in the NBA, James was named Rookie of the Year with final averages of 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. During his second season, the now-40-year-old earned his first NBA All-Star Game selection on his way to a record 20 appearances and three All-Star Game MVPs. He has also won the NBA Cup championship and Cup MVP in 2023.
