It was past his bedtime

In terms of crazy minor league team promotions, this one takes the cake. The story of how a Rays minor league affiliate tried to host a Vasectomy raffle on Father's Day weekend in 1997

https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/minor_leagues/the-riverdogs-vasectomy-night-an-oral-history-of-the-zaniest-sports-promotion/article_df5c6708-7773-11ea-90bb-272edd803ec1.html

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The official Vasectomy Night media release, faxed to outlets early in the afternoon on June 5, 1997, was headlined "RiverDogs to Give Away Vasectomy." One willing fan, "who doesn't plan on having children or who does not wish to have any more" was to win a free surgery to be performed by an MUSC urologist. The winner would be drawn from entry forms filled out by interested males entering Riley Park for a Friday night Father's Day weekend game against the Charleston (W. Va.) Alley Cats

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I saw Bill Murray at a river dogs game like 3 feet away as he was walking to the field to lay on the grass for the fireworks with a couple players.

Sunday dump from Nightengale.

Cy Young winner Blake Snell continues to seek a contract that will pay him at least $240 million, and now awaits to see what team blinks first. The New York Yankees made an introductory offer for nearly $100 million less, which was quickly dismissed, before they turned to Marcus Stroman to fill their vacancy with a two-year, $37 million deal.

While several teams still remain engaged with Snell while seeing if his price-tag drops, the Toronto Blue Jays in particular have been quietly monitoring his free agency.

The Yankees had no serious interest in Stroman until GM Brian Cashman privately met with Stroman in Tampa this past week and became convinced that he'd be a good fit. It should be the last big move the Yankees make the rest of the winter with their payroll projected to exceed $300 million.

The Chicago White Sox's asking price for ace Dylan Cease remains awfully strong: They are seeking prized Yankees outfield prospect Spencer Jones or right-handed pitcher Chase Hampton in their package while asking the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Colton Cowser or Heston Kjerstad among their prospects

Six-time All-Star first baseman Joey Votto, who was cut loose by the Cincinnati Reds, has three teams who want to sign him to a one-year deal for 2024. The Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers would each appear to be good fits. Votto is seeking regular playing time.

If Cody Bellinger does not wind up back with the Chicago Cubs, the Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners are lurking.

The San Diego Padres continue to shop valuable infielder Ha-Seong Kim, who earns $8 million in the final year of his contract, in their attempt to land pitching.

The free agency for Josh Hader continues to be eerily quiet, with several GMs predicting that little will change unless his price-tag drops below five years and $100 million.

GMs and executives widely predict that the Cubs will easily be the most aggressive team the remainder of the winter.

Stop the rumors now. The New York Mets are not involved in trade talks with the Chicago White Sox. Why in the world would they give up prized prospects when they're gearing up for 2025.

It's hard to imagine seeing free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman anywhere but the San Francisco Giants or possibly the Chicago Cubs.

Teams still are waiting for his asking price to drop after he hit just .240 with 17 homers last season, and badly struggled after April, hitting just .205 with a .659 OPS.

The Mets are poised to do what the Dodgers did this winter by reaching deep into their wallets a year from now with $70 million coming off their books in dead contracts to Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and James McCann.

Pardon the Mets for hoping that Verlander doesn't pitch 140 innings this season for the Astros, which would trigger a $35 million option that vests in 2025. And if it vests, the Mets will have to pay half of the contract at $17.5 million.

Jordan Montgomery is widely expected to re-sign with the Texas Rangers, but if there was any doubt, Arlington-based Hurtado Barbecue is making sure it will happen.

They have offered Montgomery free barbecue for the rest of his life.



Monty to the Rangers helps them out in a huge way. Would they ink a 4th player to a 150+ in the last 3 offseason? Thats a lot of money committed to pitching.

Every team has that player.

Who is it for your favorite team? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/i4JqN2p9nl

— Cut4 (@Cut4) January 14, 2024

Recently I'd say Greinke (2.5 seasons) and Brian McCann (2 seasons) are my favorite brief stint Astros.

tjack16 said:

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Every team has that player.

Who is it for your favorite team? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/i4JqN2p9nl

— Cut4 (@Cut4) January 14, 2024

Recently I'd say Greinke (2.5 seasons) and Brian McCann (2 seasons) are my favorite brief stint Astros.

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Does Blum count?

tjack16 said:

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Every team has that player.

Who is it for your favorite team? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/i4JqN2p9nl

— Cut4 (@Cut4) January 14, 2024

Recently I'd say Greinke (2.5 seasons) and Brian McCann (2 seasons) are my favorite brief stint Astros.

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He seems dewshy but Gerrit Cole for sure

Yeah Cole too for sure. You could argue he should have won the 19 cy young over JV.

Zack Greinke fascinated me the few times I got to see him in person. There was a level of craft and gamesmanship I have never witnessed in another athlete before when he worked. His mannerisms and routine are unmatched among the other great pitchers I've been lucky enough to see. Pedro Martinez is the only other guy I can think of in that same category.

tjack16 said:

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Let’s go @dallascowboys!
 #SeizeEverything

— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 14, 2024

The curse is alive

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One has to wonder how many of our fellow Aggies on the Arlington thread would have traded the World Series for a Cowboys Super Bowl. This particular Cowboy fan would have but then again I would live with the Pokes going 0-17 for another 'Stros WS Championship.

jkag89 said:

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tjack16 said:

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Let’s go @dallascowboys!
 #SeizeEverything

— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 14, 2024

The curse is alive

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One has to wonder how many of our fellow Aggies on the Arlington thread would have traded the World Series for a Cowboys Super Bowl. This particular Cowboy fan would have but then again I would live with the Pokes going 0-17 for another 'Stros WS Championship.

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My dad and uncle are die hard Rangers/Cowboys fans and I know 100% they would trade the rangers WS for a cowboys Super Bowl.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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In terms of crazy minor league team promotions, this one takes the cake. The story of how a Rays minor league affiliate tried to host a Vasectomy raffle on Father's Day weekend in 1997

https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/minor_leagues/the-riverdogs-vasectomy-night-an-oral-history-of-the-zaniest-sports-promotion/article_df5c6708-7773-11ea-90bb-272edd803ec1.html

Quote:

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The official Vasectomy Night media release, faxed to outlets early in the afternoon on June 5, 1997, was headlined "RiverDogs to Give Away Vasectomy." One willing fan, "who doesn't plan on having children or who does not wish to have any more" was to win a free surgery to be performed by an MUSC urologist. The winner would be drawn from entry forms filled out by interested males entering Riley Park for a Friday night Father's Day weekend game against the Charleston (W. Va.) Alley Cats

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So they nipped that one in the bud?

Or not, haha…

Farmer1906 said:

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King Tuck has a Queen.

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Surprised Breggy isn't there. Figured they were close.

Yall stay defrosted today. Don't do anything stupid on the roads.

Also…let's sign some new players.

I think we're in on OF Luis Rives & Cesar Yanquiel Hernandez. Both on the older side and both from Cuba. Maybe Ketch has some of names to add.

Today begins a new international signings period (2023-2024).

Right now 165 Cuban born players belong to the MLB system. Starting today a new class will enter. pic.twitter.com/2eMkP0bWck

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 15, 2024

Now that football season is over for me, I know laugh it up at the cowboys, I'm so ready for baseball season.

Still rooting for the Texans and lions!

Cuban OF Cesar Yanquiel Hernández officially signs with the Houston Astros.

Bonus deal: $1.7 M.

I ranked Hernández as the #1 in my list of the 25 best U-18 prospects in Cuba 2020.

He is represented by Edgar Mercedes and Born to Play. pic.twitter.com/hZMsauFXaO

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 15, 2024

That and the strong South America connection can help fill the farm system pipeline quickly.

tjack16 said:

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AgLA06 said:

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That and the strong South America connection can help fill the farm system pipeline quickly.

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I mean that's how we got Framber, Javier, Yuli, Urquidy and Garcia. I'm sure I'm missing some more but IMO that's why I'm not as worried about farm system rankings… as long as we kill it in the international signings like we did from 2016-2020

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Agreed. And I'm sure it's not statistical, but I feel they have a higher hit ratio.

We did kind of lose to golden goose who identified a lot of our top Latin prospects. Everyone else is signing these guys too.

Ocampo's class

The Miami Marlins officially signed 6 players born in Venezuela:

OF Luis Cova $1.4M
LHP Abraham Hernandez $250,000
RHP Eiver Mosquera $150,000
RHP Carlos Ochoa $150,000
RHP Jofreider Torrealba $50,000
RHP Maikel Rodriguez $20,000 pic.twitter.com/sriWwgFBgT

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 15, 2024

Here are the nine international free agents the Astros signed today pic.twitter.com/eUGuMJCHWe

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) January 15, 2024