MLB

Here's former baseball star Sammy Sosa keepin' things light at a huge festival in Miami Beach.

Sosa hit up DuJour's Miami Beach's Art Basel Kick-Off at The Confidante where he posed for pics on his way into the event ... weeks after T.I. blasted him for his alleged skin bleaching.

Sammy's complexion has very obviously changed over the years. We can only find one interview where he addressed it -- from 2009 -- saying the lightening was an unexpected result of a skin softening cream.

T.I. called B.S. and said it was more about "self-hate" -- but, judging by the way Sammy was smiling and laughing on the red carpet, he really doesn't seem to care what anyone else thinks.

Here's Andy Cohen schooling MLB on how to pitch soon-to-be-traded Giancarlo Stanton on playing for your baseball team ... layin' it all on the line for the superstar slugger.

FYI, it looks like the Stanton sweepstakes is down to the Giants, Dodgers and Cardinals -- so, when TMZ Sports got Cohen -- an STL superfan -- out in NYC ... he made sure Giancarlo knew all he'd be getting.

"We will love on you like NEVER BEFORE. We are your team! We are waiting for you!" Andy shouted.

The reality TV host checked all the boxes ... guaran-damn-teeing a hardcore fan base, a boatload of cash and even a championship ring!! And the cherry on top ...

"I have my Instagram -- I'm waiting to follow you, dude!"

Advantage, Cards? Maybe, maybe not ...

It's Take 2 on one of the best sports questions ever ...

Which is better -- winning the World Series or honeymooning with Kate Upton??

We got to ask the one guy who would know the answer -- Justin Verlander -- as the Houston Astros pitcher was leaving Craig's Tuesday night with his supermodel bride.

Verlander successfully dodged the question when it was posed on Twitter a few days ago -- even after Kate doubled down and asked Verlander to give an answer!!

So, what happened this time around? Well, let's just say he'd rather talk about Jose Altuve ...

Christmas is less than 20 days away ... but MLB legend Doc Gooden is already getting in the holiday spirit, thanks to Santa's Helpers -- a merry band of NYC strippers!!

Doc hit up Vivid Cabaret in NYC on Tuesday night dressed up as Santa Claus himself -- and tried to keep his composure as the staffers grinded on his south pole.

We tried to ask Doc if he had any advice for Josh Gordon -- who's also battled substance abuse. Watch as Gooden tries to give a respectful answer with a handful of stripper ass ... it's actually impressive!

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel has proof that a good time can cost you ... he tells TMZ Sports that the walking boot on his foot is a result of the raucous Astros victory parade.

We got DK leaving Catch LA and asked him what's with the new footwear, since we weren't aware of any injuries he got during the World Series.

That's when Keuchel told us ... he actually hurt his paw after he slipped during the festivities celebrating the Astros first ever MLB championship.

Listen up, Hank Steinbrenner ... Jennifer Lopez says she's got the PERFECT candidate for the next New York Yankees manager ... her BF, Alex Rodriguez!!

The Yanks have been interviewing managerial candidates since they let Joe Girardi go last month. A-Rod -- who's been linked to the gig -- has publicly said he ain't really interested in the job.

But looks like things done changed ... 'cause J Lo just fired the ex-Bombers' hat into the ring ... saying, "It couldn’t be clearer...#arodforyankeesmanager" ... along with a link to an article titled, "The Best and Only Choice for Yankess Manager is obvious..." on Instagram.

Dodgers star Alex Wood and his red hot wife have ditched the L.A. "winter" for the sunny sands of Saint Lucia ... makin' it rain MLB money all over their Caribbean honeymoon!!

The newlyweds are droppin' around $3K PER NIGHT for their "Galaxy Sanctuary" suite at the Jade Mountain Resort -- which comes equipped with a 900-SQUARE FOOT infinity pool.

As you can see in the video ... the sunset views are a 10/10 -- as is Mrs. Wood, Suzanna Villarreal -- one of the MVPs from our World Series WAGs showdown.

Yeah ... guessing Alex is over Game 7.

Congrats!

The World Series bonus checks are in ... and the Houston Astros are coming up BIG!!!!

Here's how it works ... each team in the MLB playoffs gets a bonus check based on how far they advanced. The bonus money is pooled from gate receipts from the playoff games.

The big winner -- the Houston Astros ... with each player getting a $438,901.57 bonus check!!!!

According to MLB, it's the largest bonus ever paid out. The previous record was held by the 2014 SF Giants, which paid players $392k each.

But don't feel too sorry for the L.A. Dodgers ... even though they lost the World Series, each player still made out with $259,722.14.

Here's how the rest of the bonuses paid out:

NY Yankees -- $138k
Chicago Cubs -- $133k

AZ Diamondbacks -- $40k
Boston Red Sox --$36k

Cleveland Indians -- $36k
Washington Nationals -- $36k

Colorado Rockies -- $18k
Minnesota Twins -- $18k

It pays to be good.

TMZ SPORTS DISCLAIMER: Curt Schilling is in no way dissing any of the baseball players mentioned in this post, this is simply his opinion on who will, and WILL NOT make the MLB Hall of Fame.

That said, some of y'all gonna be mad.

We gave Curt (who should already be in) a list of the some of the guys who made the ballot for the 2018 class, and he broke it down -- who's gonna be in, and who's gonna be out.

It's a dope class, with guys like Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, Johnny Damon, Johan Santana, and Jim Thome up for consideration.

Schilling answers honestly about each guy, being careful and making sure not to hurt anyone's feelings in the process ... yeah, right.

Bonus Curt? He also weighs in on Joe Morgan's steroid-player-hating letter from earlier in the week, and tells us if he ever thinks guys who juiced up should get in.

Here’s the latest evidence that Justin Verlander’s life is infinitely better than 99.9% of men in America ... his brand spankin' new 2017 Ford GT -- a supercar worth AT LEAST $450k!!!

Ford has only released 500 of the '17 GTs -- despite more than 7,000 people reportedly applying to buy one. Verlander made the cut. NASCAR phenom Joey Logano and WWE superstar John Cena did too.

You can tell from the video ... Verlander's PUMPED to be joining the club.

It's been an epic month for Justin -- winning the World Series and locking down Kate Upton for life -- so why not keep the party going with another half-million-dollar whip, right?!

#ItsGoodToBeRich

MLB Hall of Famer Joe Morgan hates steroid users ... 'cause he just destroyed them all in a SCATHING letter to Hall of Fame voters BEGGING them to keep all the alleged dopers out.

Morgan was elected to the Hall in 1990, and it's clear he doesn't want to share it with any science projects, writing an open letter on behalf of all clean members of the hall.

It's long, but here are some of the most Tupac Hit-Em-Up style gems.

"We hope the day never comes when known steroid users are voted in to the Hall of Fame. They cheated. Steroid users don't belong there."

"The cheating that tainted an era now risks tainting the Hall of Fame too."

Pretty gangsta, we know, but nothing compared to the most potent bar from the salvo ... we like to call it "The Ultimatum."

"It's gotten to the point where Hall of Famers are saying if steroid users get in, they'll no longer come to Cooperstown for induction ceremonies or other events."

Roy Halladay was flying dangerously close to homes -- and making wild turns and adjustments in altitude -- moments before his fatal crash ... this according to the NTSB.

The National Transportation Safety Board released the preliminary report regarding the Nov. 7 crash in Florida that killed the former MLB pitcher.

GPS data obtained from the plane shows Halladay was climbing and diving around the crash site -- and at one point, flew "as close as 75 feet to the Gulf Harbor South Beach houses."

The report also references video of Halladay's plane taken before the crash which shows the aircraft flying around 10 feet above the water. Unclear if the report is referencing the video obtained by TMZ Sports, but the description is very similar.

One witness also told the NTSB that he saw the plane perform a 300 to 500 foot climb before heading "a 45 degree nose-down attitude."

The witness says he then saw the plane crash into the water and "nose over."

The plane was recovered for inspection -- and investigators say the parachute was NOT deployed.

The report says Roy had only taken delivery of the plane on Oct. 10 ... just 28 days before the crash.

Halladay was 40.

Larry King is straight-up PISSED his guy, Clayton Kershaw, didn't win the Cy Young Award this season ... saying the Dodgers ace had way better numbers than Max Scherzer.

The Dodgers superfan was leaving Craig's in L.A. when he sounded off about the Washington Nats star winning the National League's best pitcher award over Kershaw ... and King says the stats speak for themselves.

FYI -- Scherzer posted a 16-6 record with a 2.51 ERA and 268 strikeouts, while Kershaw went 18-4 with a 2.31 ERA and 202 Ks.

L.A. fans might just have an ace in the hole to get Giancarlo Stanton in Dodger Blue -- his rumored GF, singer Lexy Panterra.

There are big-time rumors that the Dodgers are eyeing Stanton via trade, and when we got Panterra out at Warwick we asked her what she thought of the idea of the slugger in Tinseltown.

"I think that'd be a great idea. He'd be closer!!!"

Remember, it was just last week Panterra performed at Stanton's surprise B-day party at Hyde -- and just a couple of months ago the duo did a super sexy damn-near-naked music video together.

So it's clear what the Dodgers need to do to get Stanton to come to L.A. -- bombard him with THIS VIDEO until he realizes just what he's missing being gone half the year.

Roy Halladay was honored by teammates, family and friends at a memorial service in Florida on Tuesday ... remembering the star pitcher for his accomplishments both on and off the field.

Chase Utley -- who played with Halladay on the Phillies for 4 seasons -- praised Doc's work ethic ... saying he'd be done with his morning workouts by the time Utley showed up at the team facility.

Halladay's wife, Brandy, was the last to speak ... reminiscing about the first time they met as children ... and raising their 2 sons together.

Other speakers included Cole Hamels, Chris Carpenter and Halladay's former manager Charlie Manuel.

Halladay died in a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico last week. He was 40 years old.

It was like a scene out of the jock version of "The Notebook" ...

Vin Scully and Yasiel Puig spotted each other from across the street in Beverly Hills on Monday -- and made their way toward each other ... culminating a HUUUUUGE bear hug.

And it might be the sweetest thing ever.

Of course, Scully retired as the voice of the L.A. Dodgers before the 2017 season -- but he was always fond of Puig. You can really feel the love when you watch the clip.

There's a moment when a waiter interrupts and asks Vin to sign his hat. Vin asks if he's a friend of Puig. The waiter says, "No, I'm a friend of Joe Torre." Vin signs anyway.

After the reunion, we talked with Puig about some Dodger topics -- and he was super cool ... until he noticed our guy was wearing a St. Louis Cardinals hat.