Free agent 1B Adrian Gonzalez and Dodgers 3B Justin Turner are "partners in an app called Pop Fly, a marketing tool that could enable players to give fans a one-stop shop for information, messages and merchandise," according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. The idea is to "create a single destination for fans to learn all about a player, instead of forcing them to follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, as well as on outlets run by teams and leagues." Pop Fly for example could allow fans to "find Turner’s messages to fans, behind-the-scenes looks at his life on and off the field, his community involvement, his statistics, and a store for his personal merchandise." Gonzalez speculated that he "could approach the company that makes the water he already drinks, offering what amounts to product placement in his workout videos, at a fraction of the cost of an ad of Gonzalez in uniform, for which the company would have to pay royalties for the use of team logos." He said that Pop Fly "would be free to fans and players, with players deciding how much of their life they wish to share and how often they wish to share it." Gonzalez "paid the majority of development costs estimated at $250,000." Gonzalez said that he and Turner "hope to recruit other players and launch the app over spring training." If three or more players "sign up, the project would require a licensing agreement" with the MLBPA (LATIMES.com, 1/22).
