Blog

The New York Yankees flaunt one of the most reputed farm systems in MLB.

With the latest reactivation of interest in pitcher Dylan Cease, there’s mixed interest among the Yankee fans On one hand, they are worried for Gerrit Cole, and on the other. On the other, these names have made the headlines in the Bronx.

The Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, went in for an MRI due to a “discomfort” in his throwing elbow on Monday. The club seems to be waiting for news. In the meantime, the rekindling of interest in the RHP Cease has given rise to questions about which prospects would be involved in the “new proposal for ace Dylan Cease”.

USA Today via Reuters

New York Yankees’ Farm System – The Next Big Thing

Well apart from names such as Spencer Jones, Austin Wells, and Jasson Dominguez, there are others. While they might be less-spoken-of prospects in the farm system, they can be considered untouchables.

To begin with, outfielder Ben Rice wouldn’t be the flashiest name, yet his well-rounded skillset has scouts raving. Evaluators praise his advanced hitting approach, with a knack for generating consistent line drives and gap power. At 6′ 1″/215, Rice has the frame to eventually add even more pop to his swing.  Going forward, he might grow into an All-Star. Let th enumbres do the talking here. He hit 20 homers with a 68 RBI and stole 11 bases. His slash line .342/.434/.615/1.049 is allthe more a reason not to trade him.

Next up is TJ Rumfield who defensively is way ahead of the curve. Teams have their eyes on about his receiving skills. Boasting stats in the likes of 17 homeruns, RBI 58 and an AVG .222, OBP .320, OPS .757, he remains an attractive prospect. But guess what, he’s a keeper too.

Another keeper in the list is perhaps the most intriguing name on this list – Henry Lalane. 19-year-old left-hander is the No. 4 prospect in the Florida Complex League and the ace of a Yankees minor-league team. The  6-foot-7 boasts a 4.57 ERA in just 21.2 innings in 2022. Will all “glowing” reviews, he could be one of MLB’s best in 2024.

Spencer Jones, Jasson Dominguez and Austin Wells Continues to Be Hold the Untouchable Spot Amid Trade Talks

While the underdogs continue to remain on the radar particularly after interest in Dylan Cease, there are some names which have to be mentioned – Jasson Dominguez, Spencer Jones and Austin Wells. These three fill the positions of significant need for the Yanks. Jones is an unmatched power-hitting outfielder.  Dominguez on the other hand is an impressive center fielder and Wells another highly-touted backstop. In an age where finding top-tier talent at these positions through the draft or free agency is challenging, these players must be protected at all costs. With that, circling back to the situation at hand becomes super important.

Amid the growing tension within the New York Yankees about what happens with Gerrit Cole, this idea of bringing Cease to the Bronx might come with a hefty trade. But only time will tell if any of these untouchable prospects would be forced out of the Pinstripes.

Mike Stanton reveals the scary nature of Yankees ace Gerrit Cole’s injury, and how it might cause some issues with the depth of the current rotation.

The New York Yankees are set to start their season against the Boston Red Socks, and they are likely to be without their ace pitcher, Gerrit Cole. Cole is dealing with an unspecified elbow injury that is being looked at via an MRI.

The Yankees have seemingly been downplaying the situation, and Cole’s injury could be far more devastating to the current rotation. Despite its talented players, depth could become the biggest handicap for the team should Cole not be able to play for an extended period.

Reigning American League. Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole is going for an MRI on that very expensive right elbow of his. The Yankees are doing a pretty good job of staying calm and downplaying this, but we know that this rotation already has some issues. It’s very talented. But there’s not a whole heck of a lot of depth.”

Cole went 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA and 222 strikeouts last season, which would be sorely missed. The reigning Cy Young Award winner is also getting up there in age and has not bounced back from his injury in the way that he had hoped.

What makes this situation a bit scarier is both Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes are also returning from injuries. Should they aggravate those injuries again, it could spell trouble for the Yankees.

The Yankees could look to Blake Snell, who has yet to be signed—but can they afford his contract right now? The best and easiest option here is to allow Cole to rest his elbow further, and no surgery will be required for whatever injury he has sustained.

Credits: IMAGO / PanoramiC

Mercedes driver Doriane Pin delivered an outstanding performance at the F1 Academy season opener in Bahrain on Thursday as she recorded a double pole position. With two stunning laps, she got the better of Abbi Pulling and PREMA Racing teammate Maya Weug. After Pin’s fantastic display, a fan has dug into how she studied Lewis Hamilton’s pole position lap at the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP to deliver such a performance.

Advertisement

Hamilton himself has been a great role model for all the young women aspiring to make it big in motorsport. Despite witnessing a lack of diversity in most of the teams he has competed for over the years, the Briton has made it his mission to promote more inclusivity via his different initiatives.

Advertisement

As a result, he is also one of the first drivers to congratulate others when they put in the effort to promote more diversity and inclusivity. Hamilton once expressed pride for the efforts F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff has been putting in to promote more female racers.

Speaking of the same, Hamilton said, “I just spent some time with her in the garage. It is really impressive to see the growth within that organization and then to see the other teams in the sport actually really embracing it”.

After lauding Wolff, Hamilton then also praised Doriane Pin. He explained how impressed he was to see a young driver like her perform and revealed some of the suggestions he gave to her.

Hamilton had advised Pin to carry out notetaking, something which she presumably did to grab the double pole for the race in Jeddah. Even expert Ted Kravitz has appreciated Hamilton for being one of the only F1 drivers who has genuinely wanted to encourage more young female racers to take up motorsports.

Advertisement

Ted Kravitz once praised Lewis Hamilton for his efforts to promote female racers

While speaking on one of the episodes of Sky F1’s podcast last year, Ted Kravitz revealed how Lewis Hamilton was the only driver who ever visited the W Series (now F1 Academy) paddock. Since W Series were facing financial difficulties to carry on, Hamilton contacted several companies to reach out for funds to support the initiative.

Speaking of the efforts Hamilton put in, Kravitz added, “There wasn’t too much money that was still needed. Lewis was talking about that – there just needs to be this commitment, ‘put your money where your mouth is’, all these people who want to carry on the cause of female drivers in F1. Maybe it’ll take five years, maybe it’ll take 10, but we will get a female Formula 1 driver”.

Hamilton’s efforts do indeed seem to have paid off as F1 have taken the female racing series under their own wing, with the launch of the F1 Academy. Moreover, with all 10 F1 teams having signed a female driver for the F1 Academy, there is a clear sign that more efforts have been put in recently to promote women racers.

UFC star Sean Strickland was seen using a sick homophobic slur during yet another foul-mouthed rant on social media.

The American MMA fighter has become synonymous with controversy after his volatile diatribes both online and in his post-fight press conferences.

On this occasion, Strickland has caused offence with a post onto his account on X, formerly known as Twitter, as he produced a bizarre rant on Tuesday.

The former UFC champion wrote: ‘I just look at gays like a form of r*****ation.. but I fully accept them

‘Could you imagine if we seen any species on this planet wake up one day and all chose to be gay

+5

UFC star Sean Strickland produced a bizarre foul-mouthed rant on social media on Tuesday

+5

+5

Strickland claimed that being gay is ‘like a form of r*****ation’ in a post on social media

‘We would all think “wow there is clearly something wrong with that species. Why are humans exempt? Come on’.

As many fans questioned the post by Strickland, it didn’t take long for the UFC star to return to the platform and suggest that users online ‘can’t take a joke’.

He continued: ‘All can’t take a joke. ARE YOU ALL F***ING HIGH OR JUST WOKE STUPID?!

‘Why is it so difficult to admit that being gay is an abnormality. Be gay, be happy, we accept you

‘BUT You’re a mammal that is human and you fail to do the one thing all mammals want to do. Lmao!! Come on!!’

Back in January, Strickland unleashed a sexist, homophobic and anti-transgender tirade at the pre-UFC 297 media day, rounding on the journalist who asked about him a tweet he wrote in 2021.

+5

The former middleweight champion has never been far from controversy during his career

The post said: ‘If I had a gay son I would think I failed as a man to create such weakness….. If I had a w**** for a daughter I’d think she just wanted to be like her dad lol!!’

Strickland was being asked about his tweet when he interrupted, asking: ‘Let me ask you, are you a gay man?

The reporter Alex Lee, replied: ‘I am an ally of the community.’

Strickland said: ‘If you had a son and he was gay you wouldn’t want a grandkid?’

Lee said: ‘It wouldn’t be a problem.’

+5

Strickland went on a wild and offensive rant at a journalist in Toronto ahead of UFC 297

The UFC champion then ranted: ‘Then you’re a weak f*****g man, dude. You’re probably the f*****g problem, you elected Justin Trudeau. He seized the bank accounts, you’re just f*****g pathetic.

‘You have no backbone while he shuts down your country and shuts bank accounts you ask me stupid s**t like that, go f**k yourself, move the f**k on, coward.’

Shortly after that passionate rant, Strickland was dethroned as the UFC middleweight champion after defeat in his fight with Dricus Du Plessis.

The American was beaten via split decision after their five-round bout and is yet to step foot in the octagon since then.

I was at that fight. It was unplanned. We happened to be partying that weekend in AC and found out about the fight. We paid $500 for crappy balcony seats the day of the fight. The sound of that knockout was clear and loud from where I was sitting. I was in shock that you could hear that from so far away. Mike was definitely one of the greatest punchers of all time. I also remember a guy that had paid $1K for front row. He went to buy a hotdog and missed the whole fight. LoL

 

I love how aggressive Tyson was. He wasn’t just throwing wild punches around. He put all of his body and mind into each and every punch, and he could deliver them SO FAST. He knocked Frazier out cold with one blow and had already punched him in the face 3 more times by the time Frazier actually hit the ground.

“Standing in the shadow of Joe Frazier, to me it was like standing in the light.”
That is genuinely the most beautiful sentiment I have ever heard a son say about his father. Maybe instead of a boxer, he should have been a poet.

Mike Tyson’s conqueror, Danny Williams, lands tenth as World Boxing News charts the top ten oldest active heavyweight boxers.

Last month, Williams lost for the 33rd time in his professional career, having continued competing into his fifties.

This startling fact urged WBN to look at other boxers who currently ply their trade over the half-century of years. It turns out there are nine others in Williams’ shoes.

The oldest currently active heavyweight is Jeff Holcomb of the United States. America has four of the top ten, including two of the top three.

Holcomb returned from a fifteen-year layoff in 2022 only to be knocked out in the first round by Onoriode Ehwarieme.

Undeterred, Holcomb returned to the ring in May of this year for the same treatment. Having retired at the end of the first round against Ehwarieme, the glutton for punishment lasted only 98 seconds against Keith Mayes.

Second place sees 53-year-old Serbian Martin Rovcanin on the list. Rovcanin is one of two fighters who carry undefeated records in their twilight run at pugilism.

Rovcanin is 8-0 with three stoppages to his name. However, he’s fought the same opponent twice and spread his career over a decade.

At three is Florida-based Puerto Rican Moises Droz. The 52-year-old is on a three-bout winning streak and last fought in December.

Coming in at number four is the most hapless of the ten. Kenyan James Obui enjoyed a less-than-impressive 0-1o run in the paid ranks between 2010 and 2015.

Returning this year, it was the same story for Obiu as he went zero for eleven against debutant Louis Olivier in January.

Williams

The fifth position sees journeyman Jeremiah Williams enter the fold. Williams, 51, has 33 pro fights and has shared the ring with Notorious Deontay Wilder opponent Dustin Nichols.

Williams stopped Nichols in three rounds. He drew with Cruz Sarmiento in Tijuana, Mexico, in his last bout.

At six is Engin Solmaz. Unlike his name, the Turk, 51, runs out of steam in the ring, losing sixty of his 71 contests.

Seventh is Peter Sipos. The 50-year-old Hungarian competes on the European circuit and is surprisingly undefeated in eleven years. His last win came in August when he stopped Radovan Nedovic.

Taking eighth place is the second unbeaten fighter on the countdown. American James Tanksley, also 50, is in the midst of a 6-0 run in the top division.

Tanksley initially turned pro in 2014 at 41, winning his first outing. However, he returned in 2022 and has since stopped four out of five.

The penultimate position in the top ten goes to Bernard Adie. The 50-year-old is 16-8 with eleven stoppages and has fought in several countries.

However, Kenya’s “Viper Of East Africa” has a deceptive record. Three of his wins have come when beating up on poor old James Obui.

At ten is the most notorious on the list. Danny Williams knocked out the great Mike Tyson in 2002 before facing Vitali Klitschko a few months later.

The Tyson win has become a curse for “The Brixton Bomber,” as European promoters won’t leave him alone. Paycheck after paycheck gets accepted by Williams.

Louison Loizou inflicted a 33rd defeat in 88 contests on Williams in a drab affair on Estonian soil.

Top 10 oldest heavyweight boxers in 2023

1 Jeff Holcomb – United States – 55 years [11-7-2, 5 KOs]

2 Martin Rovcanin – Serbia – 53 years [8-0, 3 Kos]

3 Moises Droz – United States – 52 years [16-10, 12 KOs]

4 James Obui – Kenya – 51 years [0-11, KO’d four times]

5 Jeremiah Williams – United States – 51 years [17-14-2, 12 KOs]

6 Engin Solmaz – Turkey – 51 years [8-60-3, KO’d 38 times]

7 Peter Sipos – Hungary – 50 years [17-3, 9 KOs]

8 James Tanksley – United States – 50 years [6-0, 4 KOs]

9 Bernard Adie – Kenya – 50 years [16-8, 11 KOs]

10 Danny Williams – United Kingdom – 50 years [55-33, 42 KOs]

If you know of any older active professional boxers, please contact@worldboxingnews.

e-mail

39

View comments

e-mail

Top
+99
Home

39

View comments

It’s been a whirlwind week for Tyson Fury but that hasn’t stopped the ‘Gypsy King’ from returning to normal life – which he showcased in a series of social media posts.

Fury had been in Saudi Arabia last week to watch on as British rival Anthony Joshua secured an emphatic knockout win over former UFC star Francis Ngannou.

Shortly after that, the heavyweight star was spotted back on British soil as he splashed out on a lime green Lamborghini Urus – worth up to £180,000.

However, ahead of his scheduled fight with Ukrainian star Oleksandr Usyk in May – where he’ll earn a reported £100million – Fury has returned to normality and offered fans an insight into his preparations on social media.

On Monday, his Instagram story showed himself and wife Paris heading out for a food shop – where the heavyweight refused to purchase some of the higher-end items on offer.

Tyson and Paris Fury show off SAVVY spending habits in Asda

Loaded: 0%
Progress: 0%
0:00

Previous

Play

Skip

Mute

Current Time0:00

/

Duration Time1:57

Fullscreen

Need Text

Tyson Fury took to Instagram to share updates with his followers throughout Monday, as he stepped up his preparations for his May bout with Ukrainian heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk

Just a day prior, Fury splashed out on a £180,000 Lamborghini Urus and shared a video online

‘Now it’s time to go on a food shop in Asda with Paris Fury. Asda, Lancaster. The highlight of our evening!’, Fury declared in his first video inside the store.

After showing off a block of Lancashire cheese, Fury then filmed himself and Paris deliberating over which chocolate spread to buy.

Fury said: ‘Decisions, decisions. Do you spend £6.10 on a jar of Nutella or do you spend £1.85 on some chocolate spread?’

Paris then interjected: ‘No, you pay £2.75 for the big one! ‘ as she pointed out to the Asda value range option.

They then continued their shop, as Fury said: ‘There’s Paris getting some ice lollies for the kids’.

‘Ferrero Rocher ones’, Paris said before the heavyweight star quickly intervened.

‘Put them back! They’re a fiver for some ice lollies – I don’t think so! Get them ones that are a quid. Value for money.

‘After spending all the money on the Lambo, Paris, I think we need to save on shopping’.

Fans of the Fury family will recall a similar moment in their Netflix documentary – titled ‘At Home With The Furys’.

During an episode, Paris was seen telling their children that they were not allowed to buy pencils while they were out shopping.

Fury questioned the pricing of Nutella before opting to purchase Asda’s own-brand option

After a trip to the gym for a workout, Fury and wife Paris headed to Asda to do a food shop

Shortly after their trip to Asda, Fury was on the move once again as he shared a picture of a jet with the caption: ‘Business calling’.

Before jetting out for more training, however, Fury’s story also showed some of the more mundane tasks that filled his day.

The first video on his story showcased a car boot filled to the brim with rubbish bags as Fury prepared for a trip to the garbage tip.

In the video, he said: ‘After a good bit of training in the morning and a bit of breakfast, big man’s got to go to the tip and do his duties’.

‘Right, it’s that time of the day again. I’ve got chicken and rice, got a Greek salad and a bottle of water. Healthy eating… cannot wait for the fight!’

Fury then treated fans to an insight into his belt and accolade collection, where he showed off his WBC heavyweight title.

He then set off to the dentist, where he shared a video alongside two dental nurses before declaring: ‘So I’ve had my teeth done by the girls. All done! Clean and filled. What a day’.

Fury’s whirlwind day continued as, straight after, he posted another video where he asked: ‘Any guess where I’m going? T-shirt, shorts, socks and a towel. Any guesses?’

Fury gave an insight into his trip to the dump and his post-workout meal that he indulged in

As a final send-off, Fury said he was jetting off for ‘business’ as he posted a jet

The story afterwards showed him turning up to his gym, as he steps up his preparation for his bout with Usyk in two months time.

‘You know what time it is guys! This is where the magic is made. This is where it all happens, right in that ring there’.

Fury opted not to share any training footage on the day, as he perhaps looks to keep his Ukrainian opponent guessing ahead of their clash in May.

The 35-year-old then returned home for tea, where he once again shared a video of his chicken, rice and sweetcorn meal – as he maintained his clean eating habits.

Credits: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Oliver Bearman’s F1 debut as Carlos Sainz’s replacement last weekend in Saudi Arabia took the world by storm. The Briton finished P7, two places ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who will replace Sainz permanently in 2025. Red Bull chief Helmut Marko questioned Ferrari’s move to sign Hamilton and urged the Italian outfit to find a solution for Bearman before it’s too late.

Advertisement

Bearman was so impressive that he almost also knocked Hamilton out during qualifying, losing by only three-thousandths of a second. The young Briton started P11 and made some incredible moves to finish the race in seventh, getting six points on debut. Marko feels that Ferrari going for a more expensive option in Hamilton, who will reportedly earn $100 million a year, seems like an illogical move.

In a column posted on Speed Week, Marko said, “What is Ferrari doing now? They buy the expensive Hamilton, Leclerc has a longer-term contract, and now Bearman is a super talent. If I were Fred Vasseur, I would immediately find Bearman an F1 cockpit in another team.” 

Advertisement

Bearman was a name reportedly on Haas’ shortlist for 2025. Since Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen’s contracts end at the end of next season, the team could turn to brighter talents that could help them grow for the future. Moreover, Haas’ association with Ferrari could also help Bearman out.

Marko then went on to say that Ferrari would “pay dearly” for having Hamilton in the team instead of a younger talent for the future. However, Red Bull themselves have settled for older and more experienced figures over the last few years despite having very talented young drivers in their wings.

Helmut Marko acknowledges Liam Lawson’s talent

When Daniel Ricciardo got injured last year, Liam Lawson was chosen as his replacement at AlphaTauri for five races. In those five outings, the New Zealander impressed the entire paddock, outperforming and often outscoring Yuki Tsunoda, who had been at AlphaTauri for three years.

Unfortunately, Lawson did not make the final cut when Red Bull’s sister team announced their line-up for 2024. The team favored Ricciardo and Tsunoda even though the former has been far from his best over the last few years.

Advertisement

Regardless, in his column, Helmut Marko acknowledges that Lawson’s debut was “exceptional”. Although the 22-year-old is on the sidelines right now, there is a high chance he will get the seat at V-CARB (formerly AlphaTauri) if Ricciardo or Tsunoda end up getting the axe.

Since even exceptional talents like Bearman and Lawson are finding it difficult to get into F1, it shows that the sport has very limited opportunities. It also means that existing drivers have no time to rest, and must always be on their toes, as they are in danger of losing their place.

The New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole needs an MRI on his pitching elbow, according to MLB’s Bryan Hoch on March 11.

The Yankees had already been linked to free-agent starter Blake Snell, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. However, with the news of Cole’s elbow, the Yankees have “made a new proposal” for the Chicago White Sox ace, Dylan Cease, according to USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale.

The Yankees had “extensive” talks with the White Sox for Cease earlier in the offseason, but nothing came to fruition, according to Nightengale. Cease is slated to lead the White Sox rotation and has pitched to a 1.80 ERA, and allowed just one run, across his two spring training starts.

Dylan Cease Asking Price

Cease was listed as a potential trade target for the Yankees when news of Cole’s injury broke on March 11, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Heyman suggests that if Cole’s injury is a minor setback the team should not go for a marquee free agent. However, Cease would be a “bargain at $8M,” wrote Heyman.

Cease is 28 years old and is arbitration-eligible for one more season, according to Spotrac. Cease being arbitration eligible in 2025 makes him a very valuable asset for the White Sox in trade negotiations.

“There was some whining about the asking price for Cease, but teams that have dealt with the Sox suggest they seek maybe one and a half times what the Brewers got for Corbin Burnes,” according to Heyman

Burnes was traded to the Orioles for shortstop Joey Ortiz and left-handed pitcher DL Hall in February. Ortiz is the MLB’s No. 63 prospect and Hall is a major league reliever. Heyman’s report suggests the Yankees would have to beat that level of compensation to acquire Cease.

The Yankees’ new proposal does not include their 22-year-old No. 2 prospect, Spencer Jones, according to Nightengale. The young outfielder is the MLB No. 84 prospect. Earlier in the offseason the White Sox “never came close to receiving an offer for ace Dylan Cease that tempted them to trade him,” wrote Nightengale. The Yankees may have to part ways with Jones to finalize a trade with the White Sox this time around.

Cease Would Bolster the Yankees Rotation

Cease struck out 214 batters in 2023. He finished No. 5 in the American League and No. 8 in the majors in that category. Regardless of Cole’s status, Cease would be a valuable addition to the Yankees starting rotation.

Cease has a 3.83 ERA over his five seasons as a White Sox. In 2022, Cease had a 2.20 ERA, finishing third in the league. He also finished No. 2 in the AL with 227 strikeouts. His stellar 2022 season resulted in him finishing second in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

At full strength, Cease would join a rotation of Cole, Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodón and Nester Cortes. The Yankees signed Stroman to a two-year deal in free agency. Adding Cease and Stroman in the same offseason would be a significant upgrade to the Yankees rotation from 2023.

Cole will have more testing done on March 12 and manager Aaron Boone thinks it will still be a few days before anything comes of it, according to Hoch. Boone also said it would be “difficult” to envision Cole starting on opening day, Hoch wrote.

The White Sox could get a haul for Dylan Cease.

The New York Yankees have expressed a renewed interest in acquiring Dylan Cease from the Chicago White Sox after Gerrit Cole went to get an MRI on his elbow, but there is reportedly a ton of chatter that there are better offers for Cease from other teams, according to Andy Martino of SNY.

It makes sense that the Yankees have made a new offer for Dylan Cease, as they could use some more pitching depth. However, the White Sox seem intent on receiving Spencer Jones if they are making a trade with the Yankees, and New York is highly unlikely to include him in a package. Spencer Jones is a player the Yankees likely believe could factor into their outfield picture in the next year or two.

The Yankees are still waiting on the results from all of the testing that Gerrit Cole is getting done. It is unknown whether this is a worst case scenario in which he will need something like Tommy John surgery and miss the season, or if it is something he will have to miss just a portion of the season for.

Regardless, it seems unlikely that the Yankees will add Cease.

Will the White Sox trade Dylan Cease before the season starts?

© Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY SportsCease is coming off a bit of a down year in 2023, but he was a Cy Young finalist in 2022. The upside is certainly there, and with Cease being under control for the next two seasons, it makes sense that they are seeking a significant package in return.

Based on reports, if Cease does get traded soon, it would be a surprise if it was to the Yankees. A number of teams around the league could use another pitcher. Only time will tell if someone steps up with an offer that is enticing enough for the White Sox.