Good morning, all! I hope your week is off to a terrific start!
As the hot stove league heats up, let’s talk Orioles baseball. In the above video/podcast, I explain why the Orioles should prioritize signing free agent first baseman Pete Alonso. They owe it to their fanbase.
Here are some other thoughts as I marvel at the amount of money being thrown at college football coaches:
Let’s start with Lane Kiffin, who has bolted ‘Ole Miss for LSU. Look, I do not fault anybody for going to another job for more money. But for Kiffin or anyone else to think he should be able to coach ‘Ole Miss until the end of the season, then go on to his new job, is ludicrous. The Rebels have every right to tell him don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Kiffin cannot have it both ways.
By the way, chew on this one. When Brian Kelly was ousted as LSU football coach, he had a $54M buyout clause. LSU battled to keep him from getting all that money, but in the end the university lost and Kelly got his money. That clause, however, raised the ire of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry. So guess what Kiffin’s buyout clause is, should he be shown the exit sign without cause? $73M! You really cannot make this stuff up.
These college coaches on dropping faster than the temperature. Kentucky gives Mark Stoops the boot and within minutes the word is they will bring in former Louisville QB and current Oregon OC Will Stein.
If someone told me Stoops was in the running for the UConn job, I would not be surprised.
About says it all…
The Mets have signed free agent reliever Devin Williams to a three-year deal that with bonuses is worth over $50M, according to several reports. Williams pitched for the Yankees last season, losing the closer spot by June. You may recall, it was Williams who served up the ninth inning home run to Pete Alonso that enabled the Mets to oust the Brewers from the wild card round in 2024 and eventually advance to Game 6 of the NLCS against the Dodgers.
Word is the Mets are still interested in keeping their free agent closer Edwin Diaz, but you have to wonder if the Yankees are going peddle-to-the-metal to land him. The Yankees were reportedly interested in keeping Williams but lost out.
Mets billionaire owner Steve Cohen has a dream, besides hoping his Mets win a World Series. He wants a casino built across the street from his ballpark, Citi Field. Monday that dream took another step toward reality, as the casino plan has been recommended for license approval. Let that sink in for just a moment, as you think of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, Emmanuel Clase or Luis Ortiz. The owner of a MLB team is moving closer to getting a casino built by his ballpark. What a world!
If the NFL playoffs started today these would be among the clubs on the outside looking in: Chiefs, Steelers, Texans, Lions, Cowboys, Vikings.
Here are the NFL clubs already going home following Week 18: Giants, Saints, Cardinals, Raiders, Titans.
That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. As always, thank you for subscribing and have terrific Tuesday!
DAN
