Jonathan Vankin
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jonvankin.bsky.social
Jonathan Vankin
@jonvankin.bsky.social
210 followers 100 following 52 posts
Writer of books, comics, screenplays, journalism and even a musical.

Newest book, available now, is HOW CALIFORNIA WORKS: BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN THE GOLDEN STATE. (http://amazon.comdp/B0D4TD7RY8)
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jonvankin.bsky.social
Instant Karma's gonna get you...

After Coach Spurns Patriots, Lions Defense Turns in Historically Bad Performance heavy.com/sports/nfl/n...
After Coach Spurns Patriots, Lions Defense Turns in Historically Bad Performance
The New England Patriots finished 2024 at 4-13, equalling the worst record for that franchise since going 2-14 in the 1992 season. There were a multitude of reasons for the 2024 debacle, but the Patri...
heavy.com
January 19, 2025 at 5:51 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
Let's face it, at $210 million over six years, Burnes isn't exactly going hungry. But the reason he stunned baseball and signed with the Diamondbacks, believe it or not, wasn't about the money.
heavy.com/sports/mlb/r...
Real Reason Corbin Burnes Shocked MLB, Signed With Diamondbacks is Heartwarming
Corbin Burnes, the 30-year-old four-time All Star and 2021 National League Cy Young winner who topped this offseason’s free agent pitching class, stunned the baseball world Friday night by reportedly ...
heavy.com
December 28, 2024 at 1:57 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
More Red Sox hot stove talk, by me from Newsweek.

www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/r...
Red Sox Trade Predicted as $500M Slugger 'Not Close' to Deal With His Team
Toronto Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. believes he should receive a contract on par with Juan Soto or Shohei Ohtani, but he may be traded first.
www.newsweek.com
December 24, 2024 at 1:04 AM
jonvankin.bsky.social
I'll be doing some baseball stuff for Newsweek as well. Here's my first one...

www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/r...
Red Sox Predicted to Add 105 MPH Flamethrower, Trade Kutter Crawford
The Boston Red Sox continue to look for pitchers with swing-and-miss stuff and may trade home run-prone Kutter Crawford to add more.
www.newsweek.com
December 20, 2024 at 4:49 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
Big Papi had a little fun taunting his old rivals.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/n...
David Ortiz Rips Yankees in Ruthless 3-Word Message on Juan Soto’s New IG Reel
The New York Yankees are still stinging from the loss of generational superstar Juan Soto to their crosstown rival New York Mets in a head-spinning, 15-year deal that could end up paying the Dominican...
heavy.com
December 17, 2024 at 5:10 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
One prominent media personality is taking Juan Soto's comments hard.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/n...
Juan Soto Drops Brutal 9-Word Message on Yankee Fans, One Famous Fan Shoots Back
Even after losing generational slugger Juan Soto as a free agent, thanks to the New York Mets lavishing the largest contract in both baseball and pro sports history on the 26-year-old outfielder, Yank...
heavy.com
December 14, 2024 at 7:05 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
Did J.J. Redick really need this aggravation?

Some NBA stuff by me, from Heavy dot com.

heavy.com/sports/nba/l...
Lakers Coach J.J. Redick Delivers Blunt, One-Word Message About Lebron James
J.J. Redick enjoyed a successful, 15-year NBA run with six different teams before retiring in 2021 to launch what quickly became a skyrocketing media career. He not only hosted several high-profile po...
heavy.com
December 14, 2024 at 12:43 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
Juan Soto is decidedly unsentimental about his time with the Yankees.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/n...
Juan Soto Delivers Harsh, 8-Word Message to Former Yankees Teammates
In his first public appearance as the highest-paid professional athlete in sports history, Juan Soto appeared upbeat about the next phase of his Major League Baseball career with the New York Mets. An...
heavy.com
December 12, 2024 at 10:59 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
Red Sox fans who started this offseason pretty fired up are growing more pessimistic by the day, and I don't blame them. How much longer can John Henry do this.

New, by me from Heavy dot com.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox Owner John Henry Faces ‘Monumental’ Backlash if Offseason Fails Again
The Boston Red Sox front office has largely been sluggish in the Major League Baseball offseason for the past six years. Now, if the Red Sox ownership led by hedge fund billionaire John Henry fails to...
heavy.com
December 11, 2024 at 5:55 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
We'll see how this shakes out, but landing Corbin Burnes would be a huge step in the right direction for the Red Sox. By me from Heavy...

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox ‘Readying Offer’ For $300 Million Cy Young Ace, Now ‘Close to Agreement’
The Boston Red Sox lost out in the pursuit of another free agent on Tuesday, after coming up short in their attempt to sign Juan Soto two days earlier. Free agent pitcher Max Fried, a top Boston targe...
heavy.com
December 11, 2024 at 2:54 AM
jonvankin.bsky.social
The Juan Soto saga is simply getting ridiculous. He's been offered stratospheric amounts of money by at least 3 teams including the Red Sox, and enough years to last the rest of his career. Why can't this guy make up his mind? Anyway, here's the latest, by me from Heavy.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Defying Online Claims, Boston Red Sox Remain in Mix to Sign Juan Soto: Report
On Sunday, as Major League Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings were getting ready to kick off, Boston Red Sox fans on social media appeared to be consumed by pessimsim. “Boston Strong,” a popular Red So...
heavy.com
December 8, 2024 at 8:05 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
The Winter Meetings open today. What if the Red Sox do NOT get Juan Soto? What then?

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox To Sign $200 Million Pitcher if Juan Soto Bid Fails, Insider Says
The Boston Red Sox are reportedly still in contention to sign Juan Soto as baseball’s Winter Meetings begin, but if their bid for Soto fails the team’s top brass have raised fan expectations so high t...
heavy.com
December 8, 2024 at 4:43 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
Juan Soto is expected to make his decision as early as Sunday, so I thought I'd look into what the prediction markets are saying. heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Prediction Market Investors Make Red Sox Huge Favorite in Juan Soto Signing Race
The race to sign generational free agent slugger Juan Soto is coming down to the wire, with the 26-year-old Dominican Republic native anticipated by most Major League Baseball insiders and experts to ...
heavy.com
December 7, 2024 at 5:20 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
My Red Sox fever dream trade pitch...

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox Trade Prediction: $300 Million Slugger Could Give Boston a ‘Big Three’
How serious are the Boston Red Sox about staging a World Series run in 2025? After three last place finishes in the past five seasons, and a mediocre third-place last year, it may be hard to take team...
heavy.com
December 6, 2024 at 11:21 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
Here's one big reason why Juan Soto could choose the Red Sox. Spoiler Alert: It involves money.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Juan Soto ‘Would Prefer’ Boston, Here’s One Big Reason Why: Latest Rumors
The race among a reported five MLB teams to sign superstar free agent outfielder Juan Soto is coming down to the wire. Soto’s decision is expected to come as early as Sunday. According to most sources...
heavy.com
December 6, 2024 at 5:16 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
The clearest signal so far that the Red Sox are indeed very serious about signing Juan Soto.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox Seek A New Juan Soto Meeting to Get Deal Done: Boston Globe Report
In what may be the strongest indication yet that the Boston Red Sox are serious about signing generational free agent slugger Juan Soto, the team now wants a new meeting with Soto. At that meeting, ac...
heavy.com
December 6, 2024 at 2:19 AM
jonvankin.bsky.social
Even more Juan Soto updates.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/n...
Yankees Still In Running, Juan Soto Signing Decision Expected by Sunday: Passan
Generational free agent slugger Juan Soto, the subject of this offseason’s most intense speculation about where he will end up, is expected to settle the matter and make up his mind no later than Sund...
heavy.com
December 5, 2024 at 1:11 AM
jonvankin.bsky.social
Here's the absolute latest on the Boston Red Sox pursuit of Juan Soto, by me via Heavy.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Juan Soto Has Not Ruled Out Red Sox, Boston in Play to Land Star, Sources Say
Earlier on Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that free agent sensation Juan Soto had now received contract offers of at least $600 million from all five of the teams known to be pursui...
heavy.com
December 4, 2024 at 10:23 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
My latest coverage of the latest hot rumors from the hot stove, from Heavy. Red Sox now in the lead in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, reportedly.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox Now ‘Favorite’ in Juan Soto Signing Race, Yankees ‘Worried,’ Report Says
That the Boston Red Sox have been making an all-out push to sign generational free agent slugger Juan Soto has been widely reported. Now, a new report states that of the teams believed to be in conten...
heavy.com
December 3, 2024 at 3:55 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
More of my Red Sox hot stove coverage from Heavy. A kid who throws 102 mph sounds good to me.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox Named a Leading Destination For Free Agent 102-mph Fireballing Starter
After the pursuit of Juan Soto, most of the Boston Red Sox offseason speculation has focused on how the club plans to upgrade its starting rotation. On their way to an 81-81 season, their highest win ...
heavy.com
December 2, 2024 at 10:20 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
More of my Red Sox hot stove coverage from Heavy. A kid who throws 102 mph sounds good to me.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox Named a Leading Destination For Free Agent 102-mph Fireballing Starter
After the pursuit of Juan Soto, most of the Boston Red Sox offseason speculation has focused on how the club plans to upgrade its starting rotation. On their way to an 81-81 season, their highest win ...
heavy.com
December 2, 2024 at 10:20 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
Lots of talk about trading Triston Casas this offseason. I would hate to se it myself, but if it happens, this is one way it could go down. (By me from Heavy.)

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox Trade Prediction: Triston Casas to Pirates For Rising Righty Hurler
The Boston Red Sox have reportedly held internal discussions about moving All Star third baseman Rafael Devers to first base in 2025. Even though Devers is the Red Sox’ highest-paid player, heading in...
heavy.com
December 1, 2024 at 7:55 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
What if the Red Sox fail to land Juan Soto? Here's one backup plan. (More of my coverage from Heavy.)

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox to Sign $89 Million Outfield Slugger if Juan Soto Bid Fails: Prediction
The Boston Red Sox remain major players in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, making the generational outfielder a 12 year contract offer worth $600 million, according to one report. Other reports have put th...
heavy.com
November 30, 2024 at 6:18 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
The Red Sox appear to be looking for a backup option if they miss out on Juan Soto. Or are they looking to add even more if the succeed in the Soto quest. More of my offseason coverage from Heavy.

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox Meet With $231 Million Free Agent Coming Off Career-High HR Year: Report
As the Boston Red Sox, along with several other teams, continue their hot pursuit of generational free agent Juan Soto, the club is looking at backup plans in the event they fail to land this offseaso...
heavy.com
November 29, 2024 at 4:15 PM
jonvankin.bsky.social
The Thanksgiving tradition of online Red Sox free agent rumors running wild is alive and well in 2024! (More of my stuff from Heavy.)

heavy.com/sports/mlb/b...
Red Sox Offer ‘Interested’ Juan Soto $600 Million 12-Year Contract, Report Says
Thanksgiving Day internet rumors have been running wild, with unverified reports that highly prized free agent Juan Soto had already signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox. ESPN top baseball report...
heavy.com
November 28, 2024 at 11:17 PM