TBNL: Tokyo means big bucks, MLB's highest-paid, stadium funding, and the Fielder family tree

MLB’s season-opening series in Tokyo appears to have been a resounding success for everyone involved (except the Cubs, who start 0-2). Fanatics, in particular, had a spectacular week.

The league’s merchandise, apparel, and trading card retailer operated a pop-up MLB Official Shop in Tokyo throughout the event. It also held several smaller side events and activities across Tokyo, Los Angeles, and New York. Overall, the efforts reportedly drove $40M in sales.

More than 200,000 fans passed through these shops, according to The Sporting Tribune’s Adrian Medina. More than 1,000 fans were lined up waiting outside the store in the snow before the second exhibition game with the Hanshin Tigers days before the Dodgers and Cubs opened the 2025 season.

Shohei Ohtani tops $100M … in endorsements

Sportico’s annual list of MLB’s highest-paid athletes — totaling salaries and endorsements — was released on Wednesday. For the first time, a pair of players will both earn over $100M this season.

Juan Soto will take home $129M this year, driven mostly by an MLB-record $75M signing bonus attached to the huge deal he signed with the Mets in December.

Shohei Ohtani, however, will earn more than $100M in endorsements this year — a threshold reached only three times ever by any athlete (Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, and Steph Curry).

The next highest-earning player from endorsements after Ohtani? Bryce Harper at $10M. The gap is substantial.

Expansion hopefuls working on funding

Numerous steps need to happen before serious discussions about expansion can begin, but it’s curious to see just how serious the interest some potential cities are with their interest.

The Portland Diamond Project is ramping up its efforts to build a ballpark. The Oregonian’s Bill Oram reports that the PDP is asking legislatures to approve a $800M funding promise.

The group already has a signed sale agreement in place to purchase a 33-acre site on which the ballpark would be built.

Utah legislatures approved a $900M funding plan last year for a potential stadium in Salt Lake City. Orlando also has substantial funding in place, as I noted on Sunday.

Nashville is also expected to be heavily involved.

A’s redefine “minimal coverage”

The latest embarrassing self-inflicted situation the A’s find themselves in is a doozy. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser reported that the team will only have one dedicated reporter working the beat this season — MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos.

The Associated Press will not send a reporter to Sacramento to cover the team. Local papers in town also have no plans to hire anyone after gutting their sports departments in recent years. The situation is kind of absurd.

Thankfully Gallegos isn’t new to this role (he’s been the flagship’s A’s reporter for a while now already).

The A’s are supposed to play at least three seasons in Sacramento before their move to Las Vegas.

Another Fielder joins the family business

Cecil Fielder smashed 319 home runs over a 13-year career.

Prince Fielder hit 319 homers over his own 12-year career.

Jadyn Fielder has a long way to go to catch his father and grandfather, but he’s aiming to be the third-generation Fielder to reach the majors. Jadyn is heading into his first pro season after signing with the Brewers last summer as an undrafted free agent. MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy wrote an excellent profile of the next Fielder, a second baseman with a much different physical profile compared to his family.

Elsewhere, around the sport …

• Ian Kinsler will return to manage Team Isreal in next year’s World Baseball Classic, per an announcement from Israel Baseball.