Pete Rose Reinstated By MLB! Eligible For Baseball Hall of Fame! Trey Hendrickson Gets Very Loud!

Off The Bench by Chatterbox Sports

Trey Hendrickson, the Cincinnati Bengals' All-Pro defensive end, is embroiled in a heated contract dispute as he enters the final year of his deal, set to earn $15.8 million in 2025. After leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024, Hendrickson is pushing for a lucrative extension, frustrated by the Bengals' lack of communication since the NFL Draft. His camp reports no progress, with prior offers falling short of promises made last offseason. The Bengals, who recently signed Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to massive deals totaling $276 million, seem hesitant to meet Hendrickson’s demands, possibly due to his age (31) and the team’s methodical approach to contracts. Despite permission to seek a trade, no movement has occurred, raising speculation about a potential holdout. NFL insiders remain optimistic, with some believing Cincinnati will eventually pay Hendrickson, citing his critical role in their defense, which struggled last season. However, the drafting of edge rusher Shemar Stewart hints at a possible succession plan. As training camp looms, this saga could define the Bengals’ 2025 season. Will they secure their star pass rusher or risk losing him? On May 13, 2025, the Cincinnati Reds fell 5-1 to the Chicago White Sox at Great American Ball Park. Andrew Abbott delivered a strong start, pitching six innings and allowing just one run on five hits. The Reds' offense, however, struggled, mustering only six hits against White Sox pitching. Trailing 1-0, Elly De La Cruz tied the game with a solo home run in the ninth. The game went to extra innings, where Miguel Vargas’ three-run homer in the 10th sealed the White Sox’s victory. Despite the loss, De La Cruz’s late-game heroics provided a highlight for Reds fans. On May 13, 2025, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the posthumous reinstatement of Pete Rose, baseball’s all-time hits leader, removing him from the permanently ineligible list 36 years after his 1989 ban for betting on games. The decision, which also reinstated 16 other deceased players like “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, means Rose is now eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame, with potential consideration by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in December 2027. Manfred ruled that lifetime bans end upon a player’s death, citing no further threat to the game’s integrity. The move followed a petition from Rose’s family in January 2025, after his death in September 2024 at age 83, and discussions with President Donald Trump, a vocal Rose supporter. Cincinnati Reds owner Bob Castellini celebrated the decision, calling Rose one of baseball’s greatest. However, reactions were mixed: some fans and figures like Mike Schmidt praised the move, while others, including Bart Giamatti’s son, argued it undermines baseball’s integrity. Rose’s reinstatement reopens debates about his legacy, gambling in sports, and Hall of Fame criteria, with his 4,256 hits and three World Series titles now eligible for Cooperstown’s judgment.