Less than a month after winning the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers are spending big again to add one of baseball's best pitchers to their star-studded roster. Blake Snell and the Dodgers agreed to a $182 million, five-year contract, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the deal is subject to a successful physical. The two-time Cy Young Award winner broke the news personally by posting a photo of himself on social media in a Dodgers uniform — No. 7. Snell gets a $52 million signing bonus, payable on Jan. 20, and annual salaries of $26 million, of which $13 million each year will be deferred. Because Snell is a Washington state resident, the signing bonus will not be subject to California income tax. Snell would join two-way star Shohei Ohtani and fellow Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop Los Angeles' rotation, giving the Dodgers the first megadeal this offseason following Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year contract and Yamamoto's $325 million, 12-year agreement last offseason. Ohtani didn't pitch this year while recovering from right elbow surgery but is expected back on the mound in 2025. He won his third MVP award — first in the National League — following a huge season at the plate exclusively as a designated hitter. Yamamoto went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts as a rookie, then won twice in four October outings. Down to three healthy starting pitchers during the postseason, Los Angeles overcame a string of injuries to its projected rotation in winning the franchise's second World Series title in five years. Right-handers Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler then became free agents this fall, creating more voids on the staff. But the addition of Snell would fill a large one at the top with a legitimate ace. Snell's $36.4 million average salary would rank as the fifth-highest among active deals next year behind Ohtani ($70 million), Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler ($42 million), New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge ($40 million) and Texas pitcher Jacob deGrom ($37 million). Among expired contracts, it also was exceeded by pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander (both $43.33 million) under deals they agreed to with the New York Mets. ESPN first reported the details of Snell's contract. Earlier this month, Snell opted out of his deal with San Francisco to become a free agent for the second consecutive offseason after he was slowed by injuries during his lone year with the Giants. The left-hander agreed in March to a $62 million, two-year contract that included a $17 million signing bonus payable on Jan. 15, 2026, a $15 million salary for 2024 and a $30 million salary for 2025, of which $15 million would have been deferred and payable on July 1, 2027. Snell, who turns 32 next week, went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts this year, throwing a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. He struck out 145 and walked 44 in 104 innings. He was sidelined between April 19 and May 22 by a strained left adductor and between June 2 and July 9 by a strained left groin. Snell won Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He is 76-58 with a 3.19 ERA in nine seasons with the Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants. Because he turned down a qualifying offer from San Diego last November, the Giants were not eligible to give Snell another one and won’t receive draft-pick compensation. Los Angeles expects All-Star right-hander Tyler Glasnow and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw back in the rotation next year. Other starting candidates if healthy include right-handers Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Bobby Miller. Ohtani is coming off right elbow surgery in September 2023 and left shoulder surgery on Nov. 5. Glasnow didn’t pitch after Aug. 11 because of right elbow tendinitis. Kershaw, who turns 37 in March, had foot and knee surgeries on Nov. 7. He declined a $10 million player option in favor of free agency, but is expected to return to Los Angeles. May is coming back from Tommy John surgery in July 2023 and from an operation this past July to repair a tear in his esophagus. Gonsolin spent 2024 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Miller, an 11-game winner as a rookie in 2023, was sidelined early this season by shoulder inflammation. He struggled to a 2-4 record with an 8.52 ERA in 13 big league starts and ended the regular season in the minors. Yamamoto was sidelined by right triceps tightness between June 15 and Sept. 10, then returned and went 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four postseason starts. AP Baseball Writers Janie McCauley and Mike Fitzpatrick contributed to this report. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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South Korean men under the age of 30 must perform around two years of military service. —Agence France-Presse SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean man was handed a suspended prison sentence for intentionally gaining weight in a bid to avoid bootcamp and other strenuous activities in military service, a Seoul court told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday. All South Korean men under the age of 30 must perform around two years of military service, mainly because the country remains technically at war with nuclear-armed North Korea. While all able-bodied men must serve in the military, people with health issues may be assigned alternative duties, which can include working in an office for a municipal government. READ: Navigating your K-pop boy’s military enlistment A 26-year-old man was sentenced earlier this month to one year in prison—suspended for two years—for violating the Military Service Act after deliberately binge-eating to gain weight and be classified as unfit for active duty. After learning that a body mass index (BMI) of over 35 could exempt him from standard military assignments, the man started trying to put on weight by following a special regime designed by an acquaintance. The plan involved doubling his food intake and consuming large amounts of water before medical evaluations. In 2017, the man was measured at 169 centimeters (5 feet 6 inches) tall and weighing 83 kilograms (183 pounds). By 2022, “he weighed 105 kilograms, and in 2023 he weighed 102 kilograms,” the Seoul Eastern District Court told AFP. The acquaintance who encouraged him was also convicted of aiding the legal violation and received a six-month prison term, suspended for one year. The court noted that the “defendant has admitted his wrongdoing and expressed willingness to fulfill his military duty sincerely”. The Military Manpower Administration maintains a public list of evaders, displaying their names, ages, registered addresses, and reasons for avoidance. In 2023, 355 people evaded mandatory military service illegally, the highest since the public listing began in 2015. Famous figures have been caught faking illnesses to evade or to be exempted completely from military service, including a high-profile celebrity who was accused of pulling his teeth out. Last year, Ravi, a rapper of the K-pop group VIXX, received a suspended sentence after falsifying medical documents that he suffered from epilepsy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . He apologized on social media, saying he had made a “foolish decision” because he was “desperate to delay” his military service.In addition to vocational training, the document also highlights the importance of promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment as viable pathways to stable employment. By encouraging innovation and creativity, the government aims to foster a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem that empowers individuals to create their own job opportunities and contribute to economic growth. Initiatives such as small business loans, business development support, and incubation programs will be rolled out to support aspiring entrepreneurs in realizing their business ambitions.
Keir Starmer will meet Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , as part of a controversial trip to the region this week designed to drum up investment for his pledge to overhaul British infrastructure. In his latest overseas trip, the prime minister will head to the Gulf this weekend. He will first travel to the United Arab Emirates for a meeting with its president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, before travelling on to Saudi Arabia. Starmer will use the trip to push for a free trade deal with a group of six Gulf nations – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Wooing Saudi Arabia will prove controversial due to widely held concerns over its human rights record and activities during its war with Yemen . Prince Mohammed is believed by US intelligence to have ordered the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. In 2022, Starmer accused Boris Johnson of “going cap in hand from dictator to dictator” ahead of a visit to the kingdom that was pitched as an attempt to become less reliant on Russian energy. However, officials said that the UAE and Saudi Arabia are already big investors in the UK. Trade with Saudi Arabia is worth £17bn, supporting almost 90,000 jobs across the UK. Starmer will also use the trip to push for a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, the release of hostages and an acceleration of aid. The government is seeking closer ties with the regimes in pursuit of investment needed to deliver the green energy Starmer has promised. Downing Street described them as among the UK’s “most vital modern-day partners” to increase investment and deepen defence and security ties. “Driving long-term growth at home requires us to strengthen partnerships abroad,” Starmer said. “That is why I am travelling to the Gulf this week, to build a network of partners for the UK that is focused on driving high-quality growth, boosting opportunities and delivering for the people at home.” The government is engaged in a concerted pursuit of Gulf state investment. Starmer’s trip comes days after the state visit to Britain by Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Deals were agreed on a green energy partnership, and defence and security cooperation.Stock market today: Losses for Big Tech pull US indexes lowerThe survey, which is being sent out to various industry stakeholders, competitors, and customers, will seek to gather insights and feedback on a range of topics related to NVIDIA's business practices. Questions will likely cover issues such as NVIDIA's pricing strategies, the impact of its acquisitions on competition, and potential barriers to market entry faced by rivals.
The overwhelming sense of dread and anxiety that sets in as deadlines for assignments and exams draw nearer. Students experiencing deadlinepression may feel paralyzed by the pressure to perform, leading to feelings of inadequacy, panic, and a sense of impending doom.In conclusion, the awkward handshake between Trump and Macron, coupled with the delayed meeting and Macron's embarrassed expression, added an extra layer of tension and drama to the diplomatic encounter. The interaction highlighted the subtle power dynamics and complexities at play in international relations, while also underscoring the importance of effective communication and mutual respect between world leaders. As the two leaders continue to navigate their relationship, the world will be watching closely for any further moments of handshaking drama and diplomatic intrigue.2. Sleep-deprication:On December 9th, renowned finance and accounting instructor Liu Yang from Sier Education announced his resignation in a controversial exclusive agreement, sparking debate and discussion within the academic community.