It takes a combination of pitching and power, skill and strategy, and a 162-game season worth of roster moves and adjustments to make it to the postseason, let alone the World Series. But the rewards of championship baseball can be great – especially in the real estate department. As yet another Fall Classic is set to begin, we tip our cap to the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals with a look back at some of the hottest baseball player real estate stories of the season. From October hero Carlos Beltran to Cy Young candidate Max Scherzer, read on for realtor.com‘s World Series lineup of hardball homes.
Lineup
Carlos Beltran’s Big Splurge
Leading off in our World Series lineup is a player whose postseason legend keeps growing by the day, Carlos Beltran. The St. Louis Cardinals outfielder made a move with the offseason in mind in August, when he shelled out $3.8 million for a luxury waterfront estate in Weston, FL. Beltran’s All-Star digs boast a whopping 12,760 square feet of living space and come fully loaded with a fancy library, billiards room, elevator and a greenhouse. Despite his sweet deal – the Weston estate once listed for as much as $5.5 million – Beltran has had no such luck when it comes to selling his estate in Sands Point, NY, which has been on the market since late 2011.
Evan Longoria’s Cash Purchase
With a $100 million contract in hand and his All-Star status firmly entrenched, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria recently paid $1.485 million in cash for a slick waterfront home in St. Petersburg, Fla. Renovated and enlarged over the past few years, the home now measures 3,416 square feet, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The interior highlight reel includes an enlarged master suite, media room, second-floor balcony and vaulted foyer. Entertaining rooms open onto a large covered patio with an outdoor kitchen, a fireplace and a pool and spa – the perfect place for one of baseball’s brightest young stars to unwind.
Johnny Gomes’ Desert Dwelling
Although the Boston Red Sox are members of Florida’s Grapefruit League, at least one member of the organization is earmarked for Arizona this offseason. Red Sox outfielder Johnny Gomes has a new home in Scottsdale, AZ. Gomes, who signed a two-year, $10 million pact with the BoSox in the offseason, recently paid $2.3 million for a Bertrand custom home in the affluent enclave of Pinnacle Peak Heights. The property originally came to market with a price tag of $2.495 million. Built in 2002, Gomes’ luxury home was extensively upgraded by its previous owners and offers a total of four bedrooms, six bathrooms and 6,600 square feet of living space.
Torii Hunter Pitches O.C. Estate
Detroit Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter was quick to list his Newport Beach home after inking a two-year, $26 million contract with the Detroit team this past offseason. The veteran MLB player found a buyer during Spring Training and property records show he was able to get his original asking price for the Orange County estate – $3.975 million. Besides getting one of the finest homes in Crystal Cove, the new owner has significant bragging rights when it comes to neighbors: Bob Costas lives next door, and John Lackey is right down the street.
Aramis Ramirez’s E5 in Chicago
Milwaukee third baseman Aramis Ramirez recorded one of the worst deals of the year when he parted ways with his three-bedroom condo in Chicago at a loss. The former Chicago Cubs corner infielder sold his high-rise apartment on Lake Shore Drive for $680,000 – nearly $250,000 less than what Ramirez dolled out for the 2,300-square-foot condo in 2005. Highlights of the six-room residence included lake views, built-in window seating in the living room and a wet bar. Ramirez originally listed the condo in March of 2012 for $849,900 shortly after signing a three-year, $36 million contract with Milwaukee.
B.J. Upton to Sell in Tampa
Former Rays outfielder B.J. Upton sought to tie up a few a few loose ends in September when he listed his home in Tampa. The five-tool outfielder played eight seasons for the Tampa Bay Rays before signing a massive five-year, $75.25 million contract with the Braves in November. He listed his Tampa home for $1.6 million, but took it off the market one month later. Found on Davis Islands, Upton’s spread comes fully loaded with a custom wine cellar, media room and a gourmet kitchen. Outside, the outfielder’s backyard goes yard with an all-star pool setup with a tiki wet bar.
Alex Rodriguez Hits A-Money Bomb in Miami
Alex Rodriguez didn’t do much on the baseball diamond this season, but he was crushing it in the real estate department. The Bronx Bomber recently pocketed mega bucks after selling his uber-contemporary waterfront mansion in Miami. A-Rod previously tried to sell the trophy home, which features 275 feet of private frontage and a 3,000-square-foot sports facility- for $38 million in 2012, and, last we heard, the All-Star third baseman was trying to rent out the home. He managed to double what he invested in the property, selling the luxe mansion for $30 million.
Bill Hall’s Ultimate Sports Home
Bill Hall’s player profile on the Long Island Ducks website lists his hometown as Paradise Valley, AZ. However, that may soon change. The veteran ballplayer, who broke into the majors with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002 and carved out a 12-year career as a power utility player, listed his home in the Arizona desert for $2.95 million. While an athlete selling their house is not all that unusual, Hall’s pad has unique, athlete-centric features perfect for the next desert sports superstar.
A-Rod Buys a Condo
With a 211-game suspension and the possibility, it appears, of his major league career coming to a premature end, Alex Rodriguez has embraced a more frugal lifestyle. The embattled New York Yankees slugger recently purchased a new high-rise condo in South Beach. However, it is not quite what we have come to expect of baseball’s richest player. A-Rod shelled out only $2.1 million for the three-bedroom residence, which is a hefty sum, but a far cry from the $30 million he pulled in when he sold his custom waterfront home in Miami earlier this year.
Alfonso Soriano’s Chicago Deal
After a midseason trade brought him back to the Bronx, Major League Baseball outfielder Alfonso Soriano is officially clearing out of Chicago, IL. The New York Yankees left fielder, who signed an eight-year, $136 million contract with the Cubs in 2006, listed his penthouse condo in River North in September. Soriano purchased the 44th-floor condo for $2.65 million in December 2006. It features a marble entryway, 150-square-foot private terrace, a built-in surround sound system and a wine cellar.
Starting Rotation
Max Scherzer Buys in Scottsdale
Detroit flamethrower and Cy Young candidate Max Scherzer will head to Lakeland, FL for the start of the Tigers’ Spring Training festivities, but that did not stopped him from picking up a luxury penthouse in Scottsdale, AZ. Scherzer, who came up through the Arizona Diamondbacks system before being dealt to Detroit, has apparently picked up a prime 3,300-square-foot residence at the David Hovey-designed Camelback Optima Condos. The right-hander paid $1.4 million for the contemporary condo, which features private terraces, floor-to-ceiling windows, an indoor pool and basketball court.
Zack Greinke’s Craftsman Curve
With his own $147 million contract in hand, Zack Greinke found himself a fancy home in Dodger land, in which to settle. The right-handed ace made a big splash after re-signing with Los Angles in the offseason, when he bought a contemporary Craftsman estate in Studio City. Greinke paid nearly $5 million for the 11,000-square-foot estate, which goes hard in the luxury amenity department with a nine-car motor court, a gym, a library and even a private art studio.
King Felix Takes the Hill
Felix Hernandez, the Mariners 175-million-dollar man, bought a new home this season, but it was not quite what you would expect of a player who makes filthy money. Hernandez shelled out $1.4 million for a very suburban, 1964 split-level in Clyde Hill, which would be fine if he was still earning a rookie’s salary. That being said, the 3,120-square-foot home is located in an area on the east side of Lake Washington that sports sprawling mountain and water views, which begs the question: Is a bulldozer in its future?
James Shields Closes Out in Tampa
Dealt by the Rays to the Royals this off-season, James Shields wasted little time in listing his Tampa Bay home. The power righty was asking $1.15 million for the four-bedroom, 4,581-square-foot home in Clearwater, but eventually sold it for $215,000 less – $935,000. Of its many “bells, whistles, and upgrades,” nothing stands out more than the home’s man cave, which is said to have an 80-inch projection screen TV and built-in seating.
Barry Zito’s Dreamy Estate
San Francisco Giants left-hander Barry Zito has not had much luck in selling his dreamy estate in the affluent Bay Area community of Kentfield. The 126-million-dollar man originally listed the Tuscan oasis overlooking Phoenix Lake for $11.5 million back in mid-2012, but has since shaved $1.725 million off his original asking price in an attempt to find a buyer for the 7,116-square-foot home.
Managers
A’s Skipper Bob Melvin Buys in Berkeley
It’s fitting that Bob Melvin would find success quite near to his baseball beginnings. A former UC Berkeley standout, Melvin, the reigning AL Manager of the Year, piloted the Oakland A’s to a Western Division title and into the playoffs in 2012. For his efforts, the veteran manager was handsomely rewarded this offseason in the form of a two-year contract extension and the manager promptly rewarded himself with a fine French Country-style home in Claremont Hills. Out the door for $2.3 million, Melvin’s new digs offer nearly 5,100 square feet with a four-bedroom main home and a detached guest suite.
Walt Weiss’ Field of Dreams
The Colorado Rockies made a move this week in the managerial department, extending first-year skipper Walt Weiss’ stay in the Rocky Mountains with a new three-year contract. The Rockies play at Coors Field in downtown Denver, but; if Weiss really wanted to, he could host batting practice from the comfort of his 10,668-square-foot Castle Rock home. Currently offered for $3.4 million, the Colorado manager’s 73-acre spread comes complete with not only an indoor batting cage, but also its very own backyard field of dreams.
GM
Billy Beane’s Moneyball Pad
Billy Beane’s next trade aims to be a cash deal. The Oakland A’s general manager, who was immortalized in the book “Moneyball” and later in a film adaptation of the same name, has listed his longtime home in Danville, CA, for $1.895 million. Beane originally purchased the five-bedroom property back in 2002 for $1.735 million — right around the time that Michael Lewis was putting the finishing touches on the infamous book that brought sabermetrics to the forefront in baseball.
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