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Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and rapper Too $hort are attempting to keep baseball alive in the Bay Area. The music icons are joining the ownership group of the Oakland Ballers, a new independent team attempting to keep baseball alive in the city.

The Oakland Ballers will be playing in the Pioneer League beginning in 2025.

“This is all about bringing families to a ball game,” Armstrong told The Hollywood Reporter. “After the A’s left, the town was heartbroken. The Ballers are going to bring good vibes back to Oakland and the broader East Bay.”

Armstrong even shared a photo on his Instagram account of an Oakland B’s symbol spray-painted over an Oakland A’s logo at the Rogers Center, home of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Which could be the next MLB team to get a new stadium? After Athletics, Rays, who’s ready to move?
Matt Snyder
Which could be the next MLB team to get a new stadium? After Athletics, Rays, who’s ready to move?
The Ballers will be playing in a newly built stadium in Raimondi Park, which the team is hoping will draw fans who have expressed their displeasure in the MLB’s Oakland Athletics leaving town. The venue will hold 4,000 fans and is located just a few minutes from the Oakland Coliseum.

The team was founded by television producer Bryan Carmel along with his childhood friend and entrepreneur Paul Freedman. Carmel and Freedman are offering fans an opportunity to join a $1.2 million financing round in 2024. An estimated 2,200 people joined, and a similar startup process is expected at some point this year.

“This isn’t a case of celebrities coming in to save the day,” Carmel said. “It’s a local team, and Billie Joe and Too $hort are just some better-known locals.”

The Pioneer League is viewed as a partner league of the MLB, but no franchise is affiliated with major league teams. However, several Ballers players have signed with MLB teams in the past.

Major League Baseball does not have a salary cap, but there’s a luxury tax (or competitive balance tax or CBT) with multiple penalty thresholds in an effort to discourage excessive spending. The final payroll figures and their corresponding luxury tax hits from the 2024 season have been released by the commissioner’s office (via Associated Press).

The total payroll figures are for the 40-man rosters and include buyouts of unexercised options, bonuses, cash considerations sent in trades and any other player compensation. As a reminder, the luxury tax hit for a player salary is the average annual value of his contract. As an example, if a player has a three-year, $30 million deal but is paid $5 million in the first year, $10 million in the second year and $15 million in the third year, the hit is still just $10 million all three years.

The Mets lead the list for the third straight year at just over $333 million, up from their own 2023 record of $319.5 million. Behind them are the Yankees ($310 million), World Series champion Dodgers ($271 million) and Phillies ($249 million). The biggest jump in payroll goes to the Diamondbacks, who raised their figures by $48 million between 2023 and 2024. The Padres, on the other hand, slashed payroll by $85 million.

The Oakland Athletics clocked in at No. 30 with a payroll of just over $66 million, less than Mets owner Steve Cohen will pay in luxury tax.

Spring training is a few weeks in and the 2025 Major League Baseball season begins in just under two weeks with the Cubs and Dodgers facing off for a two-game series in Tokyo. There is still a little player movement, though, so let’s do a quick rumor roundup.

Iglesias signs with Padres
Free-agent infielder Jose Iglesias has signed a minor-league deal with the Padres, reports the New York Post.

Iglesias didn’t appear in the majors in 2023, playing 28 games with Triple-A El Paso in the Padres system. He went to the Mets on a minor-league deal last season and had his career year at age 34 in only 85 games. He hit .337/.381/.448 (137 OPS+) with a career-high 3.1 WAR.

Though it’s unlikely he keeps up that sort of pace, the Padres are looking to catch the same sort of lightning in a bottle the Mets did with him. Their starting infield is set with Luis Arraez, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado, but any injury could open up a spot for Iglesias.

Royals, Mets talking Marte deal
The Royals recently “made a push” for Mets outfielder Starling Marte via trade, but it didn’t come to fruition. Yet? The New York Post reports that the two sides have “not totally extinguished the possibility” of a deal coming together.

Marte, a two-time All-Star, is entering his age-36 season. In 94 games and 370 plate appearances last season, he hit .269/.327/.388 (104 OPS+) with seven homers, 16 stolen bases and 0.7 WAR. He swings the bat right-handed and slashed .310./384/.460 against lefties last season, so not only could he be a productive full-time player, but he looks like a nice platoon option.

As things stand, the Mets are likely to platoon him with lefty Jesse Winker in the DH spot.

The Royals’ outfield right now looks like some sort of mix of Hunter Renfroe, MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel, Dairon Blanco and Nelson Velázquez. Isbel and Melendez both hit left-handed. Surely there would be an opening for regular starts for Marte, should a deal eventually happen.

García dodges major injury
Rangers outfielder Adolis García appears to have dodged a bullet in spring training. He underwent an MRI after suffering an oblique injury Tuesday. Manager Bruce Bochy told reporters Wednesday the oblique strain is “pretty mild” and he’s expected to be ready by Opening Day (via MLB.com).

García, 32, was an All-Star and finished 14th in MVP voting in 2023 before a breakout postseason, only to have it end prematurely due to injury in the World Series. He took a huge step back in 2024, hitting .224/.284/.400 with 0.3 WAR. Those of us bullish on the Rangers’ chances to return to the playoffs this season are counting on a bounce-back for García.

“Known for never shying away from sharing his thoughts, Snoop (Dogg) weighed in on Bronny James’ big-time performance during his road debut in the G-League on Thursday night with the South Bay Lakers,” Sullivan said.

“Many considered it a “breakout” performance, as it was easily his most impressive outing so far for the Lakers or during his time at USC. However, Snoop Dogg had a different take on the matter and didn’t seem as supportive as he usually is when it comes to his Lakers.”

“No such thing as a breakout in G-League.” Snoop Dogg said.

“Bronny James was selected as the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after a challenging season with the USC Trojans. He suffered a cardiac arrest during the preseason of his freshman year, which caused him to miss a significant portion of the first half of the season.”

“Despite many believing he should return to college for another year, James opted to declare for the draft. In doing so, he made history alongside his father, LeBron James, becoming the first father-son duo to ever play together on an NBA court.”

“However, despite the historic milestone, Bronny hasn’t seen much playing time with the Lakers since the opening games of the season.”

“The G-League, however, has become a prime opportunity for him to grow, showcase his skills, and prove what he’s capable of. Thursday night’s performance was a perfect example of what he can do when he has the ball in his hands and the chance to take 15-20+ shots. “

“Yet, despite the promising display, Snoop Dogg remains unsatisfied with the young Bronny James following his G-League outing.”

Do you agree with Snoop’s take on Bronny’s G League explosion?

That being said, LA might want to seriously consider adding a former Defensive Player of the Year currently playing well for the Memphis Grizzlies, as communicated by Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar on Saturday.

“Marcus Smart is an intriguing (trade target) for the Clippers, offering a blend of defensive toughness, leadership, and complementary playmaking,” Bitar said.

“Smart is averaging 9.3 points and 4.0 assists per game this season, proving he can still impact both ends of the floor at a high level. Smart’s willingness to take on the toughest defensive assignments would make him a valuable addition alongside Harden and Leonard.”

“For the Memphis Grizzlies, moving Smart for Terance Mann, Bones Hyland, and a first-round pick could be appealing if they decide to retool their roster. Hyland and Mann both have upside as young players, and the first-round pick provides additional draft capital for Memphis to build around.”

“While Smart has been a key figure for the Grizzlies, their crowded backcourt could make him expendable if the right offer comes along. For the Clippers, adding Smart would improve their two-way play and inject a championship mentality into their roster. As a more attainable target, Smart represents a practical option for the Clippers to enhance their roster without sacrificing their core pieces.”

Does this trade proposal benefit both sides?

Could Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat be that guy for San Antonio? Hoops Habit’s Zach Ciavolella outlined what a deal would look like.

“Year two of Victor Wembanyama’s career is off to a roaring start as he is already the unquestioned Defensive Player of the Year, and yet, the Spurs are a middling team, sitting in the playoff hunt rather than at the table,” Ciavolella said.

“Making a move, consolidating some young, but aging talent, could make sense for San Antonio and questions about matching timelines could be answered in part by pointing out that the team added Chris Paul this offseason. But is doubling down on aging vets really the best path forward for the Wembanyama-led squad?”

“The offer (for Butler): Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Blake Wesley, Chicago’s top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick.”

“Keldon Johnson’s inclusion seemed like a foregone conclusion. If there’s an odd man out in San Antone, it’s likely Johnson. Where the deal begins to lose its legs is in the inclusion of Harrison Barnes.”

“Barnes has been a reliable three-point threat through the early going of the season. While his salary is borderline necessary to help a deal go through, the Spurs would be better off pursuing a star, potentially a young one at that, whose cap hit isn’t quite so high.”

“For the Heat, the pieces are fine, and they fit well enough, but it’s a far from inspiring deal. The highlight is Chicago’s 2025 first-round pick, which is top-10 protected in 2025, top-9 protected in 26 and 27, and drops off altogether in 2028. Again, the pieces are fine but far from inspiring, and with Chicago signaling an upcoming tank, it could be a while, if ever, until Miami collects on that pick.”

The problem with Bitar’s proposal is that Powell is the best player in the trade, and he’s being packaged with a first-round pick in exchange for a lesser asset: Julius Randle.

“Randle … is a versatile power forward who could provide the Clippers with scoring, rebounding, and secondary playmaking,” Bitar said.

“For the Timberwolves, moving Randle for Norman Powell, Nicolas Batum, and a 2031 first-round pick aligns with their long-term strategy. Since trading Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota has pivoted towards a more defensive and youth-oriented approach.”

“Acquiring Powell would give them a proven scorer, while the first-round pick adds value to their draft capital, allowing them to focus on building for the future. Batum’s expiring contract could also create additional financial flexibility.”

“Randle’s presence would give the Clippers a more balanced offensive attack and help alleviate the scoring load on Leonard and Harden. This trade is a realistic scenario that strengthens both teams in the short and long term, making it a win-win for both franchises.”

On the contrary, this would be a very bad trade for the Clippers!

“The Warriors, currently holding a 14-10 record and sitting fourth in the Western Conference standings, are aiming to strengthen their defensive prowess and add shooting depth,” Kumar said.

“They already boast the fourth-best defensive rating in the league, a testament to their commitment on that end of the floor. By targeting players known for their defensive capabilities and versatility, Golden State is looking to build on this foundation.”

“Donte DiVincenzo has struggled to find his rhythm with the Minnesota Timberwolves since being included in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. He is averaging just 8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, shooting a disappointing 35.0% from the field and 32.3% from beyond the arc. A move back to Golden State, where he previously thrived, could rejuvenate his career. DiVincenzo still has three years left on his $46.8 million contract, making him a feasible long-term addition for the Warriors.”

Would DiVincenzo make a significant impact on the current Warriors?

Bitar believes the Clippers could pry LaMelo Ball away from Charlotte by offering a package of Powell, Bones Hyland, Terance Mann, Kevin Porter Jr., and a 2031 first-rounder.

“Clippers acquiring LaMelo Ball would be a blockbuster move that instantly elevates their championship hopes,” Bitar said.

“Ball is currently having the best season of his career.”

“His ability to score, facilitate, and operate as a dynamic playmaker would make him the perfect fit alongside James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. Ball’s youth and versatility would also provide the Clippers with a long-term cornerstone, a significant asset for a franchise lacking high-end young talent.”

“For the Hornets to even consider trading Ball, the Clippers would need to offer a monumental package that would mortgage their future. Norman Powell, Bones Hyland, Terance Mann, Kevin Porter Jr., and a future first-round pick are solid pieces, but it’s doubtful they’d be enough to pry LaMelo from Charlotte.”

“Even if Ball were to request a trade, the Clippers would face stiff competition from other suitors with stronger asset pools. While it’s unlikely, it’s a scenario the Clippers should keep in mind should circumstances shift in their favor.”