Federal Investigators Looking Into Connection Between MLBPA, Youth Baseball Company

Federal authorities are investigating a youth baseball company owned by the MLB Players Association, ESPN reported on Thursday.

The company, named Players Way, was founded by the MLBPA in 2019. In a statement to ESPN, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said the aim of the company "isn't to become just another cog in the youth sports machinery, putting profits over players. It aims higher: to meet players where they are, teach the game the right way, and to foster lifelong lessons creating lifelong fans."

The federal investigation was launched by an anonymous whistleblower complaint in which Players Way was cited. According to ESPN the complaint accused director Clark of "self-dealing, misuse of resources and abuse of power at the union," and of nepotism in regards to his dealings with Players Way. Additionally, sources told ESPN investigators were asking about "whistleblower allegations of excessive union spending on international and domestic trips for Clark and other senior union executives."

The MLBPA decried the allegations as "without merit" and Clark, who has not been charged with a crime, denied them and said they are "baseless" in a statement to ESPN.

ESPN reports the events Players Way puts on are few and sparsely attended. Consequentially the company has generated "barely six figures in revenue" since its founding. The union has invested $3.9 million into the company, according to the MLBPA's public documents, but the union declined to explain how that money was spent. ESPN further reports the true number is closer to $10 million, and that those funds "largely paid the six-figure annual salaries of its executives and consultants," which include "a handful of former major leaguers, some of whom were simultaneously working other full-time jobs outside the union."

Multiple former union officials said Players Way operates with "no standard accounting practices" and "no annual budget circulated among senior finance officials." Clark was idenitifed as the driving force behind the union's involvement with the company, but a former official said there were no events, actitivies, or partnerships with other youth baseball companies. ESPN sources said Players Way "appeared to be a landing spot for Clark's loyalists," and few players in the union knew about it.

Federal investigators declined to comment. ESPN reports this investigation is part of a larger inquiry into the MLBPA's financial dealings with another company called OneTeam Partners from last spring.

Roberto Martinez launches passionate defence of 'hungry' Cristiano Ronaldo's place in Portugal national team

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo still justifies his place in the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, highlighting not only his recent goalscoring form at international level but also the "hunger" that drives the 40-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Ronaldo is set to play at his sixth World Cup tournament, which is likely to be his last.

  • Ronaldo's record is 'incredible'

    Appearing as a guest analyst on , Martinez spoke at length about Ronaldo and why he remains an important asset for Portugal, even at an age when most players are long retired.He will be 41 by the time the World Cup comes around and has a contract with Al-Nassr that runs until after his 42nd birthday in 2027.

    "Obviously, everybody has an opinion [on Ronaldo]," Martinez said. "What I've been seeing is that, when we win and Cristiano scores the goal or two goals, the question in the press is, 'What are you going to do when Cristiano is not there? The team depends on Cristiano too much.' When Cristiano doesn't score, it's 'How are you going to win when you've got a 40-year-old in the team?'

    "For us, it's easier than that. He plays because he's scored 25 goals in the last 30 games. His record is incredible. When he walks into the training camp, he's an example of professionalism, looking after himself, and using every day to become better. Then it's that pride of playing for the national team. He's the only [male] player in the world, in history, to play 227 [international] games.

    "There are aspects that go down to the behaviour now. Nobody has anything given in international football. Every player has got an incredible competitive edge and what Cristiano brings alongside goalscoring – he's changed as a player, he's not the 18, 19-year-old winger that we saw – is his attitude and hungry feeling for the national team. So, while he has that, he's an incredible source of contagious positivity in the dressing room."

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    Ronaldo has the 'biggest hunger' of any player

    After everything he's achieved in his career, Martinez noted that Ronaldo is still determined to get better. His physical body is serving him well and it’s only his mindset that will change that.

    "He's become a specialist in the box as a finisher, and it's this desire to carry on improving," the Portugal boss continued. "I always believed that the body retires the player. When I've seen Cristiano work, I'm convinced it's the brain that retires the footballer. His body follows his focus and mindset.

    "He doesn't do it for anybody [else], he does it for himself. When we're analysing players, we can speak about any aspect, [but] we never analyse the hunger. He's got the biggest hunger that I've seen in a player. Normally a player wins a trophy and there is not the same hunger the next day in their way of working. He has that. I don't know if it's natural or something he works hard at, but he's got that hungriness not to let himself down.

    "I don't think he needs to show anything. I think he's got to a point now that he plays for himself and the people he loves because he doesn't need to prove anybody wrong. What he's achieved already is enough to leave a legacy."

  • Ronaldo's recent lack of tournament goals

    But even with Ronaldo continuing to score goals for Portugal at a prolific rate, including in the summer's UEFA Nations League final against Spain, his record in major international tournaments has been surprisingly poor by his overall career standard.

    The former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar has only found the net eight times across his five previous World Cups, spanning 22 appearances. His European Championship record is better, 14 goals in 30 games, but it's still only 22 goals in more than 50 tournament games for a player who holds the world record for goals in men's international football.

    Ronaldo found the net only once at the 2022 World Cup and was actually dropped from the starting XI by ex-Portugal coach Fernando Santos after the group stage. At Euro 2024, it was no goals at all.

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    Ronaldo's exemplary fitness record

    Ronaldo has never missed an international tournament because of injury, nor has he ever suffered any kind of significant absence during 23 years as a professional player – it's a major factor why he's been able to play more than 1,000 career games for club and country.

    Keeping himself fit over the next six months, whilst also aiming to win a first piece of major silverware at club level since leaving Juventus in 2021, is going to be crucial.

Manchester police drop all charges against Haider Ali

The Pakistan batter was arrested on suspicion of rape by the Greater Manchester Police in the UK last month

Danyal Rasool04-Sep-2025The investigation into Pakistan cricketer Haider Ali, who was arrested on suspicion of rape by the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in the UK last month, has been closed, with all charges against the player dropped. Haider, who had been released on bail following his arrest, is now free to leave the UK.”We always take allegations of this nature very seriously and will assess each incident thoroughly,” the GMP told ESPNcricinfo. “Following a comprehensive review of all available evidence, the investigation has been closed at this time. Should any further information come to light, we would review the material and case again appropriately.”Related

Haider Ali under criminal investigation in the UK, suspended by the PCB

Haider Ali arrested and granted bail after report of alleged rape

Haider, 24, was part of a tour by the Shaheens – effectively a Pakistan A side – to the UK, playing matches against a select XI in Beckenham and Hove. During a game on August 3, GMP officers arrived at the ground in Beckenham, where Haider was arrested during the game. According to a GMP statement at the time, the alleged offence leading to the arrest had occurred in Manchester on July 23, the day after the Shaheens’ first tour game, which Haider played. Haider was bailed at the time and the alleged victim was being “supported by officers”.The PCB confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that charges against Haider had been dropped. At the time of his arrest, the PCB had put out a statement saying it “reserve[d] the right to take appropriate action under its Code of Conduct, if necessary”.ESPNcricinfo understands a decision on whether to take action against Haider has not been made yet, with the PCB waiting on the player to return to Pakistan before it takes a decision.Haider has played two ODIs and 35 T20Is for Pakistan. Initially feted as a destructive hitter, he burnished his reputation with standout performances in the PSL with Peshawar Zalmi in 2020, when he scored 239 runs at a strike rate of 157.23. He was called up to the national side later that year, his international debut coming in a T20I game in Manchester, where he scored a 33-ball 54 as Pakistan won by five runs.Inconsistency has dogged him since, and he has repeatedly found himself in and out of the Pakistan side. However, his talent and explosiveness have kept him in international contention, and the current Shaheens tour was widely viewed as an opportunity to reintegrate a player whose batting approach aligns with the aggressive style Pakistan’s current T20 set-up has made no secret it wants to pursue.

Switch Hit: Learning the hard way

England went down 2-1 in their ODI series against West Indies, extending a dismal record in the format. Alan was joined by Miller and Vish to pick through the pieces

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2024England lost the series decider in Bridgetown on Thursday to extend their lean run in ODIs. With Jos Buttler set to make his comeback from injury in the T20Is, there are plenty of issues to work through. On this week’s pod, Alan Gardner, Andrew Miller and Vithushan Ehantharajah discuss where things have got to with the ODI side. Has ECB neglect undermined England’s 50-over cricket? Can they fix things in time for the Champions Trophy? And which of the youngsters have impressed under duress?

Fans Slam Fox for Cutting to Commercial With Two Outs Left in the Ninth of ALCS Game 7

Nothing sets the mood for playoff baseball quite like a Capital One ad.

As the Blue Jays were two outs away from their first World Series appearance since 1993, the Fox broadcast cut to an advertisement for Capital One, a move that did not gel well with the built-up tension for fans watching at home. Check it out below:

The importance of each pitch in playoff baseball, let alone in the ninth inning of Game 7 in the American League Championship series, is impossible to overstate. So viewers were not happy about the interruption, to say the least:

Toronto prevailed in the end, shutting the door on the Mariners in a 4-3 win thanks to George Springer's electric go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. Springer's dinger powered the Blue Jays to overcome homers from Seattle stars Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh earlier in the game.

Game 7 of the ALCS lived up to the hype despite the vibe killer of an ad during the ninth inning. Let's all hope Fox learns from its mistakes during the World Series, where the Blue Jays are off to meet the defending champion Dodgers in a Game 1 slated for Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

Postseason baseball is the best, with drama on each pitch. Let's keep it that way.

Aaron Judge Passes Joe DiMaggio in Style With Career HR No. 362 Over the Monster at Fenway

If you’re going to make history, you might as well do it in style.

On Friday, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge took over sole possession of fourth place on the franchise’s all-time home run list, breaking a tie with legend Joe DiMaggio with career dinger No. 362. Judge had just matched DiMaggio yesterday, with two home runs against the Tigers.

Facing off against the Red Sox on Friday, Judge decided to one-up himself in terms of showmanship, smashing his tie-breaking home run all the way over the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park.

Look at this tater.

And here it is from the ump cam. Delightful.

Judge currently sits at 362 home runs in pinstripes. The only three players in front of him are all legends—Lou Gerhig (493), Mickey Mantle (536) and Babe Ruth (659).

While it might take a while for Judge to jump up to the next spot on the list, we’re undoubtedly in for plenty more unbelievable highlights between now and then.

FSG sold an "incredible" Liverpool talent & it's a bigger mistake than Diaz

Well, it appears that Liverpool are back in their biannual rut. Just as the Anfield side have shown themselves to be capable of hitting staggering heights over the past decade or so, they have also battled through several challenging campaigns in recent years.

This is, sadly, a crisis for Arne Slot, whose tactics aren’t working after a summer transfer window of sweeping change.

The likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have been disappointing, and no mistake. However, Liverpool’s wider systematic issues have made it difficult for such players to bed in.

Could it be that, against the cascade of arrivals on Merseyside, sporting director Richard Hughes oversaw one too many sales too?

How Luis Diaz has sparkled at Bayern Munich

After 11 Premier League fixtures this season, Liverpool are eighth in the standings. It is not so much Arsenal’s eight-point advantage over last year’s champions as the difference in fluency and solidity that has made the gulf insurmountable.

The upheaval could have been eased, to be sure, had certain measures not been taken this summer. For example, it was probably a mistake to have sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich. He has been rampant since moving to Germany, scoring 11 goals in his first 17 matches.

The 28-year-old had stepped toward the penultimate year of his contract at Anfield, and despite efforts to spark a renewal, it became clear from all parties that a deal could be struck if Liverpool’s valuation was met.

And it was. The Bundesliga champions paid £65.5m for the versatile forward; the money was good, but Liverpool lost a winger who scored 17 goals and provided eight assists last season, and offered so much pressing impact and tenacity, both on and off the ball.

However, Diaz’s departure was an understandable one, given the circumstances, and there’s another Redman whose efforts overseas this season have shown that Slot and co made a big error in letting him leave.

Hughes made a bigger mistake than selling Diaz

Liverpool are bound to smooth out the creases in Slot’s side at some stage, but there’s no escaping the fact that it hasn’t been good enough this season.

Out of the Carabao Cup and facing a fight for Champions League qualification, let alone the Premier League title, Liverpool have a whole host of problems, but there’s unquestionably been something missing in central midfield, and Tyler Morton might have been able to do something about it, had he not been sold to Lyon in France for around £15m in August.

Hailed for his “incredible IQ” by journalist Bence Bocsak, the 23-year-old Morton is a creative and enterprising midfielder, industrious in his work ethic and more than happy to cover ground across the engine room, working hard to protect the defence and win back the ball before driving it forward and into the danger area.

He is early into his career with Lyon in Ligue 1, but the Wallasey-born midfielder has demonstrated remarkable confidence and maturity to make headway after a difficult, peripheral year under Slot’s wing, commenting since leaving that he didn’t “feel the trust” from the Dutch coach, not handed a single minute in the Premier League.

Matches (starts)

11 (11)

Goals

1

Assists

1

Touches*

63.1

Accurate passes*

40.0 (86%)

Chances created*

1.3

Dribble (success)*

0.6 (70%)

Recoveries

4.2

Tackles + interceptions*

2.4

Ground duels won*

3.2 (61%)

His league form so far this season would suggest that a mistake has been made, especially when considering Slot’s reluctance to play veteran Wataru Endo.

With Morton so early into his career and without the top experience of many ahead of him, there’s so much reason for Lyon to be excited about this talent and where he might take them.

Not Liverpool, though. Morton has been released from the books, and this might just come back to bite Slot, with the homegrown star’s sale more puzzling than that of the 28-year-old Diaz, who wanted to leave.

Liverpool star is quickly becoming their biggest "disaster" since Keita

Arne Slot has a Naby Keita-style situation on his hands with this expensive Liverpool flop.

2 ByKelan Sarson Nov 13, 2025

Carter, Carson, Lenham sees Sussex lower order sting Kent

Kent appeared to be cruising but Sussex’s lower order had other ideas

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 07-Aug-2025Sussex 288 for 7 (Carter 68, Carson 50*, Cohen 4-65) beat Kent 287 for 9 (52 Evison, Hudson-Prentice 3-65) by 3 wickets A remarkable and unbroken eighth wicket stand of 88 in 11 overs between Jack Carson and Archie Lenham saw Sussex to an unlikely three-wicket win over Kent with ten balls to spare in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at Arundel.Kent looked home and dry in their opening game when they had Sussex 200 for 7 in the 38th over. They had weathered a fifth wicket stand of 90 between Oli Carter (68) and John Simpson (50) and then dismissed the dangerous Danny Lamb for 16.But Carson struck his maiden List A fifty off 43 balls, with five fours and a six. And Lenham made 45 off 38 with six fours and a six. The match was still in doubt with 22 needed off the last three overs. And it was leg-spinner Lenham who settled the argument when he hit Michael Cohen for 14 off three balls, an on-drive for six, a square slash for four and an off-drive for another boundary.That left Sussex needing five from the last two overs and Carson hit the first two deliveries from Fred Klassen for four.Earlier, Cohen, a South African-born left-arm seamer who is qualified to play for France, looked set to be the hero of the day. He had made a memorable first appearance for Kent when he took three wickets in his opening spell before returning to dismiss danger man Carter.Cohen, whose debut had been delayed by injury, struck with his second ball when he had Danial Ibrahim lbw and broke through again with the first ball of his second over when he bowled one across the left-handed Tom Haines to have the batsman caught behind.Fynn Hudson-Prentice looked anxious to dispel local concerns that he was batting too high in the order at No 4 when he flicked Cohen for two leg-side fours before driving him for two more. But Sussex kept losing wickets. Tom Clark had his middle stump knocked back by Klaassen as he went for an extravagant off-side stroke to make it 50 for three and in the next over the dangerous Hudson-Prentice was caught at backward square-leg.Sussex, who had lost their opening game against Durham, decided to bowl first on a slow pitch and made a good start. Jaydn Denly, driving, was well caught by Henry Crocombe at backward point off the last delivery of the first over and opening partner Ben Compton was caught behind off Ari Karvelas to make it 27 for 2 in the sixth over.Kent rebuilt through Joey Evison and and Chris Benjamin, who added 81 in 14 overs before both were dismissed by exceptional pieces of fielding. Lamb came on to bowl the 20th over and off his first delivery he produced an outstanding one-handed catch, flinging himself to his left, to dismiss the bewildered Benjamin. And in the next over Carter held on to a stinging catch at short midwicket to end Evison’s innings, a 54-ball 52 which included ten fours.For the second time Kent, winners of the competition in 2022, regrouped again, first through captain Harry Finch – a former Sussex player – and the Orpington-born Ekansh Singh, a recent century maker for the England Under-19 side, who put on 89 in 17 overs, and then again through Jack Leaning and Mo Rizvi, making his debut in the competition. They put on 75 before the innings ended as it had started, with a flurry of wickets.

موعد والقنوات الناقلة لـ مباراة السعودية وفلسطين اليوم في كأس العرب.. والمعلقين

يخوض منتخب السعودية مباراة قوية أمام فلسطين اليوم الخميس، في المواجهة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن لقاءات بطولة كأس العرب 2025.

وتقام المباراة بين السعودية وفلسطين على أرضية استاد “لوسيل الدولي”، في دور ربع النهائي لـ كأس العرب.

وتأهل المنتخب السعودي إلى ربع النهائي بعد تصدره المجموعة الثانية برصيد 7 نقاط، حيث حقق فوزين وتعادلًا واحدًا في مرحلة المجموعات، ويأمل لاعبو الأخضر للعبور إلى الدور نصف النهائي من البطولة.

طالع | طاقم مصري يدير مباراة فلسطين والسعودية في ربع نهائي كأس العرب 2025

وفي المقابل تواجد منتخب فلسطين في المركز الثاني بالمجموعة الأولى، بعدما حصد 5 نقاط من الفوز في مباراة وحيدة والتعادل بمواجهتين، محققًا أداءً مميزًا في دور المجموعات، ويتطلع لمواصلة المشوار في البطولة العربية.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الفائز من هذه المواجهة أمام المتأهل من لقاء الأردن والجزائر في الدور نصف النهائي للبطولة. موعد مباراة السعودية وفلسطين اليوم في كأس العرب

وتنطلق المباراة بين السعودية وفلسطين، اليوم الخميس 11 ديسمبر، في تمام السابعة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت مصر وفلسطين، الساعة الثامنة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت السعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة السعودية وفلسطين اليوم في كأس العرب

وتذاع المباراة بين السعودية وفلسطين، عبر قناة beIN SPORTS HD المفتوحة، وقناة الكأس القطرية، وقناة دبي الرياضية، وقناة أبوظبي الرياضية، وقناة الشارقة الرياضية 1، وقناة ام بي سي مصر2، وعمان الرياضية وام بي سي أكشن، بجانب منصة شاشا. معلقين مباراة السعودية وفلسطين اليوم في كأس العرب

ومن المقرر أن يتولى مهمة التعليق على أحداث مباراة السعودية وفلسطين، كل من: “عصام الشوالي، وبلال علام، وأحمد الطيب، ومدحت شلبي، ومشاري القرني”.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات البوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

Red Sox Announcer Calls Out Astros Pitcher for 'All-Time Scumbag Move By a Teammate'

Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez and his catcher, César Salazar, were involved in a wild moment in Tuesday night's loss to the Yankees that had one former MLB player saying he would have fought Valdez in the tunnel if he was his teammate

In case you missed it, Salazar tried to wave off Valdez before a pitch to Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham. Valdez ignored his catcher and delivered the pitch, which Grisham crushed for a grand slam home run.

Next up for the Yankees was Anthony Volpe and during that at-bat Valdez seemed to cross up his catcher and hit him in the chest with 93-MPH pitch.

Here's how that played out:

Valdez apologized for it after the game and said he didn't do it on purpose.

On Wednesday, former MLB player and current Red sox announcer Will Middlebrooks called out Valdez, calling it an "all-time scumbag move be a teammate" and saying he would have fought Valdez if he did that to him.

"The reaction to it [by Valdez] was everything I needed to know," Middlebrooks said to CBS Sports. "When I initially saw it I was thinking, O.K. it was a mistake. Then you watch the reaction by [Valdez]. No remorse. No my bad. No nothing. No reaction because your initial reaction any time you cross up a catcher is 'oh my god' because you could really hurt a guy. You squared him up in the sternum with 95 and you didn’t even react? I’m sorry, if he’s my teammate if I’m that catcher we’re going down the tunnel and you’re getting these hands either now or after the game, you can pick when you want them."

Here are Middlebrooks's full comments:

It will be interesting to see if the Astros do anything to Valdez for that move of if they'll just move on since he apologized for it.

Either way, that is a tough look for their star pitcher.

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