Sports
MLB players won’t even pay to read this article: ‘You stay rich by being cheap’
In 2009, Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke went viral after telling Yahoo Sports he was boycotting Chipotle’s guacamole.
“I mean, $1.50 is already pretty darn high. So they changed it to $1.80, and I’ll never again get guacamole,” Greinke said. “It’s not about the guacamole itself. I just don’t want to let them win.”
Fifteen years later, a (small) side of Chipotle’s guacamole is $2.65, and Greinke’s thoughts remain a common sentiment among MLB players.
“Greinke was on a kick for a while,” said Reds pitcher Scott Barlow, a former Greinke teammate. “It’s the principle.”
So what else are MLB players cheap about? Well, after The Athletic asked dozens of them the question over the past year, the answer is … pretty much everything.
“It’s that old cliche,” said Cleveland’s Steven Kwan, “You stay rich by being cheap.”
Some players took issue with the framing of the question. “I don’t like the c-word,” A’s pitcher T.J. McFarland said. “I use frugal.”
You be the judge.
Whit Merrifield, free agent: It’s funny when music is playing in the clubhouse and someone has their phone hooked up and an ad comes on. Guys will yell, “You’re a big leaguer making millions of dollars and can’t pay $11.99 for Spotify?!”
Ryan McMahon, Rockies: My wife is on her cousin’s Spotify, so I use that.
Jake Cronenworth, Padres: I don’t buy any music. It’s a pretty useless purchase. I like to drive in silence. Total silence.
Zach Neto, Angels: I use Apple Music but I’m still on my (cheaper) student account. Don’t tell Apple Music that. It’s the only app I pay for.
Hayden Birdsong, Giants: I’m not paying for any apps. I’m on my mom’s Spotify.
Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers: There’s something about (buying an app). I just don’t want to give them the $2.
Barlow: If I have a game app and it says you can upgrade for no ads, I won’t do that.
Glasnow: It’s probably worth it, too. It’s just ingrained in my brain — like, no, I’m not doing it.
Despite being division rivals last season, former Yankees pitcher Lou Trivino was on Orioles reliever Cole Irvin’s Netflix account.
Tanner Scott, Dodgers: We are definitely still on my wife’s family’s Netflix.
Evan Carter, Rangers: I’m on my wife’s parents’ Netflix and my parents’ Hulu.
McMahon: If you’ve got someone else’s log-in, you’re all set.
McFarland: Up until about two years ago I was on my family cellphone plan. And I wasn’t even paying my parents, it was free. Finally, my dad is like, “You are in the big leagues, time to get your own s—.”
Dansby Swanson, Cubs: I had that moment, too. I needed a new phone and it was a good time to switch my phone number. I was like, “All right, it’s time to get off my parents’ plan.”
Tristan Beck, Giants: That day is coming for me, too. But I’m going to try to avoid it as long as I can.
Matt Strahm, Phillies: I’m not going to just buy new clothes because I want to. I need to need clothes to buy clothes.
Joe Musgrove, Padres: You know how in elementary school you get to go back to school shopping and you get a few pairs of jeans and a couple T-shirts to last you the year? I’m still the same way.
McFarland: I’m coming in with shoes literally coming apart — the sole was coming off. My wife was like, “That’s enough.” She took them and threw them out.
Derek Law, Nationals: My wife is like, “You need to get some new shirts,” and I’m like, “Ehh, I’m good.”
Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles: I never need new clothes.
Mike Yastrzemski, Giants: I don’t buy clothes, I don’t buy shoes. I get very weirdly indecisive about things. I’ll be like, “I want this,” and then I’ll turn around 10 minutes later and be like, “Well, what’s going to change if I buy this? Nothing.” So then I’m like, “I guess I don’t need this,” and I move on.
Strahm: I’m very simple and cheap with clothes. There is black, white and gray in my closet, just plain T-shirts.
Craig Kimbrel, Braves: I’ll wear stuff out.
Kwan: Socks, undershirts, that stuff I will ride until the end.
Musgrove: I’ll wear it until I can’t wear it anymore.
Mountcastle: Until it literally has holes in it.
Kwan: I had a pillow for 10 years that my now-wife was totally disgusted by. She’s like “You can get a new one!” and I was like “Why? I don’t need a new one.” One day she took the cover off and said, “You need to look at this, it’s disgusting.” And it was. I did end up throwing it away my first year up here. It made it to the big leagues, though.
Seth Lugo, Royals: I hate paying for shipping.
Austin Riley, Braves: There was something — it was a hunting gadget, it was like $6, and the shipping was $8. And I was like, “I’ll just go buy it somewhere.”
Jesse Chavez, Braves: And a “processing fee.”… Processing? Where did that come from?
McFarland: When you use DoorDash and it’s an extra couple bucks to have someone deliver the food to you, I tell my wife, “No way, we are picking it up.”
Lugo: Go get it yourself. I’m not ordering stuff (to get delivered).
McFarland: Sure, it’s 15-20 minutes to go pick it up and you are probably spending that money on gas, but (delivery) is something I am not OK wasting money on.
Jesse Winker, Mets: I feel like Uber’s prices have gotten out of control, so if I can’t walk somewhere, I’ll rent a scooter for a fraction of the price.
Clay Holmes, Mets: I’m cheap about flights. You fly so much with the team you never even think about it, then you go to book flights in the offseason, and it’s like, “I got to pay this much to fly?”
Jameson Taillon, Cubs: I have a hard time paying for extra legroom. I can afford to fly first class or in an exit row, but I feel like I’m getting punished for being tall, so I refuse to upgrade my seat.
Triston McKenzie, Guardians: I look at first-class seats, but I don’t ever buy them.
Matt Vierling, Tigers: I still drive my car from college. It’s a 2012 Ford Escape. It broke down on the highway on me (in September).
Birdsong: I’ve got a 2015 Ford Fusion.
Paul Sewald, Guardians: I had my first car, a Toyota 4Runner, for 13 years in the big leagues, and only upgraded in 2021 because we got pregnant and needed a bigger car.
Vierling: I was driving an even older car before. (The Escape) was used when I got it; it had like 65,000 miles on it. Now it’s got like 172,000, and we are still rolling. I am going to try to ride it out for another year. I got everybody in my family saying, It’s not safe, you should get another car. And I’m just like, “Not yet. I will ride it until it dies.”
Birdsong: I was a sixth-rounder, I’ll keep it till it breaks, and it’s pretty close. It’s got 140-150,000 miles on it.
Sewald: I’ve got a Ford Expedition now. It’s not fancy. It’s pretty much a dad car.
Birdsong: Maybe I’ll get a Prius next.
Kwan: I still don’t own a car. I lease one and do some (promotional stuff) for the company, and they pay for it. That saves a lot of money.
Kyle Gibson, Orioles: When I was in college, my junior year (2009), I needed a 60-degree lob wedge. So I went to Walmart, and bought a $19.99 wedge. I still have that club, and I have yet to buy a new one because I love it. The grip is ripped badly, the shaft of the club is completely rusted out. Whenever I golf with somebody new, they see me pull it out of my bag and they go, “What are you doing?”
Yastrzemski: I have the same clubs I’ve had for four years that I got for free anyway. I called my agent because I cracked my driver face and said, “Hey, do you know anyone who can send me a driver? I don’t care what it is.” I didn’t want to buy it. … I did buy a new putter recently. It took me a year and a half to pull the trigger on it.
Chavez stayed near a lake during the All-Star break with teammate A.J. Minter and their families. There were eight people total, and they filled up a cart, mainly with fruit and vegetables. It was $600.
Chavez: I’m also a big stickler at the grocery store. … Where did this (bill) come from?
Law: Groceries are crazy.
McFarland: I will look at the store, and it’s like, “OK, if it’s 60 cents less, I am getting the generic brand.”
Emilio Pagàn, Reds: Even if it’s 40 cents cheaper.
McKenzie, Guardians: If I need medicine, I’m definitely getting Target brand ibuprofen.
Law: If the strawberries say they’re two for $7, I’m going to get two strawberries because I feel like I’m saving money. Am I? Probably not, because they made me buy two now.
Jake Diekman, free agent: The other day at self-checkout I was like, where are all the bags? And the lady said you have to buy them. It was wild. I only bought two, though.
Law: Most of the time you forget the bags that you’re supposed to bring. And it’s like, damn, I am not paying 10 cents.
Kwan: I don’t like paying for snacks. I have my little Lulu(lemon) bag and it’s like a trick-or-treat (in the clubhouse) every day. Usually it’s spilling out the brim. I’ve got free waters and these sweet Thai chili almonds I’ve been absolutely emptying out.
Winker: The price of water has gone way too high. We get so used to just being able to grab water (in the clubhouse). Then in the offseason you go buy water and you’re like, “This water is this expensive?”
Dustin May, Dodgers: I’m not saying I don’t load up (on the free waters). I definitely do.
Neto: I won’t pay for water bottles. Before I leave here, I will take a couple home with me to drink.
McFarland: The same guys walking out of here with tons of free water bottles have no problem spending $25,000 on a Rolex.
Manny Machado, Padres: I won’t spend money on a wine (at a restaurant) that they charge you 800 percent (markup) on. I’ll just go home and drink my own wine or bring my own wine.
Pagan: For the longest time, my diet included a lot of Taco Bell. Crunch Wrap Supreme is hard to beat. That helped my cheap mindset, but now I’m getting older and can’t eat that as much.
Machado: I like wine, but the value’s got to be there. I’m a value guy.
Diekman: You have to go to Costco, the No. 1 seller of wine in the world. I feel like everyone trying to save should go to Costco, grab yourself a hot dog and get some wine.
Kwan: You got to buy in bulk. I’m not playing around going to get toothpaste five or six times. I’m going to get the 10-pack and let that ride out.
Logan O’Hoppe, Angels: Don’t hate me, but even though it’s a dollar, I refuse to pay for The Athletic. Even if my name is in it, my ego gets in the way and I don’t want to pay for it.
(Editor’s note: Subscribe now for just $1/week for four weeks, Logan.)
McKenzie: I did finally subscribe. (Guardians beat writer Zack) Meisel got me to. He was like, it’s only a dollar! But I did hold out for a little bit.
O’Hoppe: I am not paying that damn dollar. It’s the principle. I will read the first paragraph before the paywall. So, I guess I’m too cheap to read this article.
— The Athletic’s Katie Woo, Dennis Lin, David O’Brien and Patrick Mooney contributed to this story.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
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The group stage is the first step toward World Cup glory.
All 48 nations playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been divided into 12 groups (labeled A-L) of four teams.
With the expanded knockout format of 32 teams advancing past the group stage, winning the group has become more important than ever.
After Germany’s dominant 7-1 win over Curaçao, its odds to win Group E have increased from -210 to -320. Getting three points, combined with gaining a +6 goal differential, has put them in an ideal position after matchday 1.
Ivory Coast also made up a ton of ground after its 1-0 win over Ecuador on Sunday, seeing its odds to win Group E climb from +550 to +260.
Additionally, the U.S. men’s national team’s odds to win Group D saw major movement after its 4-1 win over Paraguay.
USA’s group odds continued to spike after Australia’s upset over Türkiye on Saturday night. Because Türkiye originally had the second-best odds to win the group, their loss had a major impact on the outlook of Group D.
The Stars and Stripes are now -210 to win their group.
Not only did USA’s odds jump, but Australia’s odds to win Group D skyrocketed from +1200 to +300 after its win.
The two nations will play next Friday night at Seattle Stadium for sole possession of first in the group.
Let’s check out the latest odds for all 12 groups at FanDuel Sportsbook, as of June 14.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
Group A winner
Mexico: -165 (bet $10 to win $16.06 total)
South Korea: +170 (bet $10 to win $27 total)
Czechia: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
South Africa: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Group B winner
Switzerland: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)
Canada: +160 (bet $10 to win $26 total)
Bosnia: +440 (bet $10 to win $54 total)
Qatar: +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)
Group C winner
Brazil: -165 (bet $10 to win $16.06 total)
Morocco: +240 (bet $10 to win $34 total)
Scotland: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Haiti: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Group D winner
USA: -220 (bet $10 to win $14.55 total)
Australia: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
Türkiye: +700 (bet $10 to win $710 total)
Paraguay: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Group E winner
Germany: -320 (bet $10 to win $13.13 total)
Ivory Coast: +260 (bet $10 to win $36 total)
Ecuador: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Curaçao: +35000 (bet $10 to win $3,510 total)
Group F winner
Netherlands: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)
Japan: +230 (bet $10 to win $33 total)
Sweden: +370 (bet $10 to win $47 total)
Tunisia: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Group G winner
Belgium: -260 (bet $10 to win $13.85 total)
Egypt: +480 (bet $10 to win $58 total)
Iran: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
New Zealand: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Group H winner
Spain: -475 (bet $10 to win $12.11 total)
Uruguay: +440 (bet $10 to win $54 total)
Saudi Arabia: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Cape Verde: +5500 (bet $10 to win $560 total)
Group I winner
France: -230 (bet $10 to win $14.35 total)
Norway: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)
Senegal: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Iraq: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Group J winner
Argentina: -260 (bet $10 to win $13.85 total)
Austria: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)
Algeria: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Jordan: +7000 (bet $10 to win $710 total)
Group K winner
Portugal: -210 (bet $10 to win $14.76 total)
Colombia: +220 (bet $10 to win $32 total)
DR Congo: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Uzbekistan: +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)
Group L winner
England: -260 (bet $10 to win $13.85 total)
Croatia: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
Ghana: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Panama: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
CHICAGO — Dodgers left-hander Jack Dreyer rubbed a new baseball between his hands as he walked back to the mound, a sold-out Rate Field coming alive around him.
Fireworks crackled over the center-field scoreboard. Digital pinwheels spun. Dreyer had just surrendered his second home run of the inning, transforming a low-scoring battle into a lopsided White Sox advantage.
The Dodgers’ recent bullpen problems persisted in a 6-4 loss Sunday, overshadowing a bounce-back effort from Emmet Sheehan. The Dodgers tried to come back in the ninth, but fell short.
“We’ve gotten bit by the long ball, obviously in Pittsburgh, and here tonight,” said bench coach Danny Lehmann, filling in Sunday for manager Dave Roberts while he attended his daughter’s college graduation. “But overall, it’s more the strike throwing and just getting ahead of guys and doing what they’re supposed to do.”
The Dodgers dropped the series 2-1, marking their first series loss since May 8-10 against the Braves.
Sheehan was charged with three runs in five-plus innings, a massive turnaround coming off the second-shortest start of his career, only rivaled by a planned one-inning outing at the end of last season.
Against the Angels last week, Sheehan threw 49 pitches and recorded just four outs before being pulled.
On Sunday, he didn’t give up a hit until the fourth inning.
“He got strike one and then understood when to leave the zone when he needed to,” catcher Dalton Rushing said. “He did a great job of that. I think a couple of those guys picked up on tendencies, jumped on a pitch. I felt they were good pitches. I thought he did his job today and gave us a chance to win.”
Sheehan’s velocity has been an indicator of how synced up his delivery has been on any given start this season.
On Sunday, his 95.1-mph average fastball velocity was 0.7 mph above his season average, according to Statcast — a promising sign. Results followed.
Sheehan retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced, just a hit batter away from perfection. With two outs in the fourth, he gave up a double to Colson Montgomery, on a low line drive up the first-base line, just out of reach of Freddie Freeman as he made a diving attempt.
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan delivers against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning Sunday.
(Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press)
Then against Braden Montgomery, Sheehan worked back from a 2-1 count for an inning-ending strikeout.
Out of Sheehan’s hand, the pitch looked like it was going to cross the plate on the inside corner, about belt high. But as Montgomery started his swing, the firm changeup veered away from his bat at a sharp downward angle.
Montgomery swung over the pitch. A fired-up Sheehan buried his fist in his glove and shouted. With that strikeout, he preserved the Dodgers’ one-run lead.
Freeman provided that run with a solo homer in the first inning. And Sheehan gave the Dodgers plenty of time to extend that lead. In the sixth inning, however, the White Sox finally got to him.
“I definitely felt better early,” Sheehan said. “And then more of the same towards the end. Just pretty frustrating.”
Sheehan’s fastball to Sam Antonacci wasn’t in a bad spot. But in an 0-2 count, he could have put it a little higher or farther inside. Antonacci drove it over the right-field fence.
A single, a stolen base and an RBI double later, Sheehan walked off the mound, the Dodgers trailing 2-1.
Just a few weeks ago, turning the ball over to the Dodgers’ bullpen was a promising move. They were still riding a franchise-record streak of 38 consecutive scoreless innings.
Lately, however, it’s been a rocky ride. The bullpen entered Sunday with a 6.71 ERA since ending that scoreless streak on May 25. Only the Giants and Rockies produced a worse mark over that stretch.
None of the Dodgers’ relievers have been dominant in recent games. Tanner Scott has been credited with three saves but also two losses. Kyle Hurt’s ERA has risen from 0.60 to 4.22. Dreyer, who went 10 straight games without giving up a run before landing on the injured list with left shoulder discomfort, has surrendered five home runs in seven appearances since returning on May 31.
Dreyer gave up three runs and three hits. Then Blake Treinen and Jonathan Hernández held the White Sox the rest of the way.
The Dodgers tacked on three more runs, on a sacrifice fly and an RBI double from Alex Freeland, and a solo homer from Mookie Betts. They stranded runners at the corners in the ninth.
Sports
Former NFL pass rusher Aldon Smith’s last act before his death was donating food for the homeless
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Former NFL pass rusher Aldon Smith spent time on what would be the final day of his life donating food to a charity that feeds the homeless.
The San Francisco 49ers announced on Saturday that Smith, who played in 50 games during his six-year career, died at the age of 36. Just hours before he was found unresponsive, Smith unexpectedly dropped off 10 pizzas to CHAM Deliverance Ministry, a San Jose, Calif., charity that feeds the homeless.
Amir Shirazi, a friend of Smith’s who picked up on Saturday to make the surprise delivery, spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle about the charitable donation before sharing the details of finding him unresponsive in his car.
Aldon Smith of the San Francisco 49ers waits between drills at the team’s first training camp practice Thursday afternoon, July 24, 2014, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Karl Mondon/MediaNews Group/Mercury News via Getty Images)
49ERS ANNOUNCE DEATH OF ALDON SMITH AT 36, ONCE THE FASTEST PLAYER TO REACH 30 SACKS IN NFL HISTORY
“He was a very sweet, caring, loving giant,” Shirazi said. “That if you really knew him, you’d know who he truly is.”
After dropping off the pizzas, Shirazi drove them to a grocery store and then back to his home. He explained to the outlet that he quickly ran inside to turn on some lights, and when he returned to the car, Smith was slumped over in his seat.
San Francisco 49ers Aldon Smith runs during practice at the 49ers training facility in Santa Clara, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. (LiPo Ching/MediaNews Group/Mercury News via Getty Images)
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
“I came out and he was basically dead in my front seat,” Shirazi said. “I’m just in shock.”
While Smith has a history of substance abuse, Shirazi said that he had not seen the former NFL player use drugs on Saturday and had only seen him smoke marijuana occasionally over the years. He said he believed that Smith’s death was a “natural death.”
“My impression was that this is a young man that wanted to help the homeless, which was great,” Scott Wagers, the co-founder of CHAM Deliverance Ministry, told the outlet. “When the 49ers and people like that want to help the community, that’s everything.”
Aldon Smith of the San Francisco 49ers suits up for the team’s first training camp practice Thursday afternoon, July 24, 2014, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) (Photo by Karl Mondon/MediaNews Group/Mercury News via Getty Images) ((Photo by Karl Mondon/MediaNews Group/Mercury News via Getty Images))
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Smith was drafted seventh overall in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Missouri, and made an immediate impact as a rookie, picking up 14.0 sacks and forcing two fumbles in 16 games. The next year he set a 49ers’ franchise record with 19.5 sacks and was named a First-Team All-Pro while leading the team to Super Bowl XLVII.
Smith reached 30 career sacks in just 27 games, making him the fastest player in NFL history to do so, breaking a record previously held by Hall of Famer Reggie White.
In 2013, Smith voluntarily entered rehab and missed five games. In 2014, he served a nine-game suspension for violations of the NFL’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
In 2015, the 49ers released Smith in August following his third DUI arrest before he was signed weeks later by the Oakland Raiders.
Smith remained indefinitely suspended from the NFL for four full seasons while dealing with legal and personal troubles. He made a return in 2020 and played a full season with the Dallas Cowboys, starting in all 16 games.
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