The Baseball Buffet for 1/14/2026

Diamondbacks acquire 3B Nolan Arenado from the Cardinals. According to an article by Steve Gilbert at MLB, the Cardinals have traded 3B Nolan Arenado to the Diamondbacks for 22-year old RHP Jack Martinez. The 34-year old old, 10-time Gold Glove Award winner waived the no-trade clause in his contract to make this deal happen. An eight-time All-Star, Arenado led the NL in HR three times and RBI twice early in his career. His combination of offense and defense over the years makes him a likely future Hall of Famer, but his last two seasons have not been as productive. While still playing well at the hot corner, he managed only 16 HR and 71 RBI in 2024. Then injuries hampered him in 2025, and he hit a career-low .237 with only 12 HR in 107 games.

Obviously Arenado will be the starting 3B for Arizona, with the versatile Blaze Alexander likely taking on a utility role. As for the Cardinals, moving on from Arenado opens up an opportunity for prospect JJ Wetherholt to compete for the 3B job. Infielder Brendan Donovan has been the subject of trade talks as well, but if he stays in St. Louis he will presumably see time at 2B and 3B too. The pitcher they got back in the trade, RHP Jack Martinez, was the D-Backs 8th round draft pick in 2025 and hasn’t pitched professionally yet.

Yankees acquire LHP Ryan Weathers from the Marlins. According to an article by Bryan Hoch at MLB, the Yankees have traded four prospects to the Marlins for 26-year old LHP Ryan Weathers. The son of 19-year MLB veteran David Weathers, Ryan was the Padres first-round draft pick (7th overall) in 2018. He has pitched parts of 5 seasons in the majors with the Padres and Marlins, but has never thrown more than 100 innings in a year. In 2024 he had a 3.63 ERA over 16 starts and 86.2 IP, and in 2025 he had a 3.99 ERA over just 8 starts and 38.1 IP.

What the Yankees are apparently looking for here is a solid pitcher who can be in their rotation early in the season while others (Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt) are working their way back from rehab. If he does well, he could stick as a 5th or 6th starter all year, but at least will provide the Yankees with rotation depth throughout the season.

To get Weathers the Yankees had to give up four minor league players, several of whom are considered among their top-30 prospects. The group includes OF Brendan Jones, OF Dillon Lewis, infielder Dylan Jasso, and infielder Juan Matheus. Jones and Jasso had reached as high as AA, but none project to be in the majors in 2026.

Phillies acquire reliever Chase Shugart from the Pirates. According to an article by Paul Casella at MLB, the Phillies traded 18-year old minor league infielder Francisco Loreto to the Pirates for 29-year old, right-handed reliever Chase Shugart. In his first full major league season in 2025, Shugart had a 3.40 ERA and 1.111 WHIP over 45 innings. As Casella notes, he will presumably compete during Spring Training for one of the two final spots in the Phillies’ bullpen.

SP Max Scherzer - Tigers (2010-14)

1B Keith Hernandez - Cardinals (1976-83)

SP Dave Stieb - Blue Jays (1979-92, 98)

SP Kenny Rogers - Rangers (1989-95, 2000-02, 04-05) and three other clubs

SP Stephen Strasburg - Nationals (2010-22)

OF Jim Piersall - Red Sox (1953-58), Indians (1959-61), Senators (1962-63)

RP Stu Miller - Giants (1958-62), Orioles (1963-67)

SP Bill Lee - Red Sox (1969-78), Expos (1979-82)

OF Teoscar Hernández - Blue Jays (2017-22), Dodgers (2024-25)

1963: A seven player trade involves future Hall of Famers Luis Aparicio and Hoyt Wilhelm. “In a blockbuster seven-player trade, the Chicago White Sox send shortstop Luis Aparicio and outfielder Al Smith to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm, outfielder Dave Nicholson, third baseman Pete Ward and shortstop Ron Hansen. In the upcoming season, Wilhelm will save 21 games while Aparicio will lead the American League in stolen bases with 40.”

1981: Frank Robinson is named manager of the Giants. “Frank Robinson is named manager of the San Francisco Giants, replacing Dave Bristol. In 1975, Robinson became the first African-American manager in major league history when he was hired by the Cleveland Indians and will now be the first one in the history of the National League.”

1987 Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams are elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. Hunter made his name as the ace of the Oakland Athletics pitching staff in their World Championship years in the mid-1970s and made his fortune as one of the first rated free agents. Williams set a National League record by playing in 1,117 consecutive games and accumulating 426 home runs and a batting title.”

12-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1964-1975, mostly with the Indians and Red Sox

Two-time All-Star

Won 16 games three times, including in 1965 with a 16-8 record and 2.43 ERA, in 1966 with a 16-8 record and 2.80 ERA, and in 1971 with a 16-10 record and 2.91 ERA

Overall had a 140-114 (.551) record, a 3.21 ERA, and a 110 ERA+

13-year major league pitching career in the Negro Leagues, spanning from 1925-1948, with his best seasons coming early on with the Kansas City Monarchs

According to the data available at baseball-reference.com, had a 12-1 record and 2.37 ERA in his age-19 season in 1926, then went 15-2 and led his league with a 1.93 ERA in 1929

Overall had a 60-53 record, a 3.48 ERA, and a 127 ERA+

16-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1971-1986, mostly with the White Sox, Dodgers, and Braves

Was mostly a relief pitcher, with 20+ saves three times, including leading the AL with 24 saves in 1974

Had 29 saves with a 2.25 ERA in 1972 and 22 saves with a 1.93 ERA in 1978

Although as a reliever he didn't often step up to the plate, he was a very capable batsman with a .397/.413/.474 slash line over 86 plate appearances. That is not a misprint - his career average was .397 - which is actually the highest average ever, for players at any position in the AL/NL with 50 AB or more!

Overall had 127 saves, a 3.23 ERA, and a 116 ERA+

12-year major league career, spanning from 2006-2017, mostly with the Angels

A good defensive SS, he won the AL Gold Glove Award in 2011

All-Star in 2014, ending that season with a .278 average, 16 SB and a career-high 77 runs

Had 20+ SB three times

Overall had 155 SB and a .271 average

Here are the Top 10 left-handed pitching prospects for 2026, by Jonathan Mayo at MLB, 1/13/2026

How Two Key Trades Keyed the 1976 Phillies' Success, by Russ Walsh at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 1/14/2026