Richard Lovelady, a left-handed reliever who made a brief appearance with the New York Mets this week, unexpectedly attracted attention on and off the field after he prompted unexpected interest from the adult entertainment industry.
After requesting to be called “Dicky” by reporters and fans, his nickname quickly went viral and caught the eyes of CamSoda, an adult streaming platform, reportedly offered a lot of cash to star for the site.
As per TMZ Sports, Lovelady was offered $250,000 to star in a NSFW broadcast, while he assesses his next baseball opportunity after being designated for assignment on Wednesday, June 25.
“You’ve made a name for yourself in high-stakes situations, and we believe that same confidence and control could be a hit with our audience,” Daryn Parker, the company vice president, reportedly said.
CamSoda’s spokesperson doubled down on the offer, adding, “As a left-handed relief pitcher known for handling pressure, we think he’s the perfect fit to bring some heat in a whole new arena.”
The timing of the offer arrives amid uncertainty in the 29-year-old’s career as he was DFA’d just days after being called up by the Mets on Monday, rendering his MLB future unclear.
With his future as a professional athlete on the ropes and with no guaranteed big-league income on the horizon, CamSoda’s $250K proposal could serve as a significant financial safety net, though outside the conventional path of a baseball career.
Loveday, who is a married and a father, is yet to respond publicly but the sheer size of the cheque and the freedom it offers “no pitch count,” as one insider put it, makes the offer difficult to dismiss.
At each turn, the pitcher has been seeking stability and his short tenure in New York capped a season of bouncing between the minors and the majors, only making Camsoda’s offer all the more tempting.
For example, $250,000 is enough to cover the average American salary for 6.25 years based on the 2023 figure of just under $40,000 for an individual earner in the United States.
Mets part ways with former top prospect: Who departs New York?
In other New York news, the organization has released their outfielder, Alex Ramirez, from the Double-A Binghamton Mets affiliate as the once-top prospect continues showing signs of decline in recent seasons.
The release came as the Mets activated Mark Vientos from the injured list and shifted Griffin Canning to the 60-day IL. Vientos is a third baseman who made his debut in 2022.
In 54 games for the Rumble Ponies this year, Ramirez posted a disappointing slash line of .222/.304/.298 with a .602 OPS, adding two home runs, 14 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases.
The Mets had previously non-tendered Ramirez during the offseason but brought him back on a minor league deal. Yet despite the second chance, he could not rebound from underwhelming performances in both High-A Brooklyn in 2023 and Binghamton in 2024.
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