The Baseball Buffet for 1/10/2026

LAD signs IF Andy Ibáñez. According to an article by Sonja Chen at MLB, the Dodgers are signing infielder Andy Ibäñez to a 1-year deal. The 32-year old from Cuba has played five years in the major leagues with the Rangers and Tigers, mostly at 2B, 3B, and 1B, with a little time at SS and OF. He had career-highs of 11 HR with 23 doubles in 114 games in 2023, then last year hit .239 with 4 HR and 4 SB in 91 games with the Tigers.

As Chen notes, the Dodgers are set with Freddie Freeman at 1B, Mookie Betts at 2B, and Max Muncy at 3B, but 2B is a more open question as it depends on how much time Tommy Edman might see in CF. Hyesong Kim is likely to play some at 2B, so Ibáñez in Spring Training is mostly likely competing with Miguel Rojas and others for backup and utility roles with the team.

STL signs RP Ryne Stanek. According to an article by John Denton at MLB, the Cardinals are signing reliever Ryne Stanek. As Denton notes, this is a homecoming for Stanek who “was born in St. Louis before graduating from high school in Stillwell, Kan., and starring collegiately at the University of Arkansas.”

Now 34 years old, Stanek has pitched in the majors for nine years and five different clubs. Last year with the Mets he had a 5.30 ERA with 58 K in 56 IP. While Stanek has never been a team’s primary closer in the majors, he does have 14 career saves and the Cardinals seem to still be figuring out how their bullpen will be arranged in 2026.

SP Tom Seaver - Mets (1967-77, 83), Reds (1977-82), White Sox (1984-86), Red Sox (1986)

3B Eddie Mathews - Braves (1952-66)

SP Kevin Brown - Rangers (1988-94), Orioles (1995)

3B/1B Darrell Evans - Giants (1976-83), Tigers (1984-88)

SP Chris Sale - Red Sox (2017-23)

1B/C/DH Carlos Santana - Indians/Guardians (2010-17, 19-20, 25) and six other clubs

SP John Lackey - Angels (2002-09), Red Sox (2011, 13-14) and two other clubs

SP Jerry Reuss - Pirates (1974-78), Dodgers (1979-87) and two other clubs

SP Pat Hentgen - Blue Jays (1991-99, 2004) and two other clubs

C/DH/1B Victor Martínez - Indians (2004-09), Red Sox (2009-10), Tigers (2011, 13-18)

SP Chris Short - Phillies (1960-72)

SP Charles Nagy - Indians (1990-2002)

RP Jeff Reardon - Expos (1982-86), Twins (1987-89), Red Sox (1990-92), Reds (1993)

1903: The AL and NL hold peace talks. “At Cincinnati peace talks, the National League proposes a consolidated 12-team league, which the American League rejects. An agreement is reached to coexist peacefully if the AL promises to stay out of Pittsburgh, PA. In the awarding of disputed contracts, the most hotly-contested case is that of Sam Crawford, a Reds outfielder who batted .333 and led the NL with 23 triples in 1902. Signed for 1903 by both the Tigers and the Reds, Crawford is awarded to the Tigers, having signed with them first. He will lead the AL in triples this year with 25.”

1918: The Athletics trade Stuffy McInnis to Boston. “Philadelphia Athletics owner Connie Mack trades first baseman Stuffy McInnis, the last remaining player from their famed $100,000 infield, to the Boston Red Sox for three players to be named later. Philadelphia will later receive third baseman Larry Gardner, outfielder Tilly Walker and catcher Hick Cady in return for McInnis.”

1928: Boston acquires Hornsby from the Giants. “The New York Giants trade second baseman Rogers Hornsby to the Boston Braves for catcher Shanty Hogan and outfielder Jimmy Welsh. Hornsby will lead the National League with a .387 batting average this season.”

1984: Killebrew, Drysdale, and Aparicio are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Luis Aparicio, Don Drysdale and Harmon Killebrew are elected to the Hall of Fame. Killebrew totaled 573 home runs to rank fifth on the major league all-time list, Drysdale won 209 games with a 2.95 ERA, and Aparicio led the American League in stolen bases nine straight seasons and won nine Gold Gloves at shortstop. Killebrew gains election in his fourth year on the ballot, Aparicio in his sixth year, and Drysdale in his tenth year.”

1991: The Astros acquire Schilling, Harnisch, and Finley. “In one of the most unbalanced trades ever made in major league history, the Baltimore Orioles send pitchers Curt Schilling and Pete Harnisch and outfielder Steve Finley to the Houston Astros for first baseman Glenn Davis. Davis, who averaged 27 home runs in six seasons playing in the Astrodome with Houston, will hit only 24 homers in three injury-filled years as Schilling becomes one of the most dominant pitchers in the game and Harnisch and Finley develop into solid major league players.”

2006: Bruce Sutter is elected to the Hall of Fame, as are 17 from the Negro Leagues. “Relief pitcher Bruce Sutter is elected to the Hall of Fame. With 75% of the votes cast by BBWAA members needed for election. Sutter receives 76.9%, slugger Jim Rice is second with 64.8%, followed by reliever Goose Gossage at 64.6%. Sutter, who is credited with perfecting the split-fingered fastball, which is a pitch many major leaguers use in some form today, joins Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers and Dennis Eckersley as the only relief pitchers in Cooperstown. In a special election, seventeen Negro Leagues figures are also elected: Ray Brown, Willard Brown, Andy Cooper, Frank Grant, Pete Hill, Biz Mackey, Effa Manley, Jose Mendez, Alex Pompez, Cum Posey, Louis Santop, Mule Suttles, Ben Taylor, Cristóbal Torriente, Sol White, J.L. Wilkinson, and Jud Wilson. Manley is the first woman ever elected to the Hall, and the 18 inductees form the largest class in the Hall's history.”

Hall of Famer

22-year major league career, spanning from 1959-1980, mostly as a 1B with the Giants

Won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1959, even though he only played 52 games. He made the most of that time, batting .354 with 13 HR and 38 RBI.

Six-time All-Star

Led the NL in HR three times, including in 1969 when he won the NL MVP Award with 45 HR, while also leading the NL with 126 RBI and a .453 OBP

Had 30+ HR seven times and 100+ RBI four times

Overall had 521 HR, 1,555 RBI, a .270/.374/.515 slash line, and a 147 OPS+

See also the article by Matt Kelly at MLB: “Top 10 moments in McCovey’s HOF career”

12-year major league career in the Negro Leagues, spanning from 1920-1935, playing with eight different clubs

Mostly played SS and 3B, but also saw some action at C, 1B, and OF

According to the data available at baseball-reference.com, in 1925 Beckwith hit .404 with 15 HR and 64 RBI in 50 games, and in 1929 he hit .386 with 14 HR and 60 RBI in 56 games.

Overall had a .349/.403/.583 slash line and a 161 OPS+

10-year major league career, spanning from 1897-1906, for Boston in the NL and Boston in the AL

Had a strong rookie season with a .354 average, 13 triples, 18 SB, 112 runs, and 97 RBI

Hit .351 with 19 triples, 33 SB, and 122 runs in 1899

Overall had 189 SB, 118 triples, a .305/.369/.416 slash line, and a 122 OPS+

He died by suicide at the age of 34 in 1907. Per Wikipedia, the reason has remained a mystery.

13-year major league career, spanning from 1912-1924, as a 2B with the Browns, Yankees, Red Sox, and Tigers

Had 20+ SB six times

Although not a power hitter, he had 100+ RBI three times including leading the AL with 103 RBI in 1916

Overall had 117 triples, 979 RBI, a .292/.345/.403 slash line, and a 112 OPS+

10-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1958-1967, mostly with the Reds

Had a 19-9 record and 3.10 ERA in 1961

Was an All-Star in 1963 with a 17-14 record and a 2.88 ERA, then followed-up with a 17-7 record and 2.66 ERA in 1964

Overall had a 98-84 (.538) record, a 3.57 ERA, and a 106 ERA+

11-year major league career in the Negro Leagues, spanning from 1924-1940, playing with seven different clubs. He also played in other seasons in leagues not considered major league level.

Mostly played LF

According to the data available at baseball-reference.com, he hit .377 with 22 SB in 66 games in 1927, then hit .355 and .377 the next two seasons

Didn't have much power, with only 16 HR in 2,224 plate appearances

Born Clarence Reginald Jenkins, he was chubby as a youngster and nicknamed "Fats", and that stuck even though he was not overweight as an adult

Overall had a .333/.407/.420 slash line and a 116 OPS+

Concurrent with his baseball career he also played professional basketball from 1914-1940

393 - Harmon Killebrew

375 - Hank Aaron

350 - Willie Mays

316 - Frank Robinson

300 - Willie McCovey

Tigers could make history with 3-headed closer, by Jason Beck at MLB, 1/9/2026

Who's most likely to win a World Series over the next decade?, by Will Leitch at MLB, 1/9/2026

Lester, Damon, Timlin newest members of Red Sox Hall of Fame, by Ian Browne at MLB, 1/10/2026

Two significant pitching records that still stand were set days apart in September 1962, by Andrew Sharp at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 1/10/2026