The Baseball Buffet for 1/15/2026

BOS signs SP Ranger Suárez. According to an article by Ian Browne at MLB, the Red Sox are signing left-handed starter Ranger Suárez to a 5-year, $130 million contract. The 30-year old has pitched eight years in the majors, making 22-29 starts in each of the past four seasons, with injuries usually causing him to miss some time each year. He has been a pretty consistent performer otherwise though, with a 12-8 record in both of the past two seasons, a 3.46 ERA and 145 K in 150.2 IP in 2024 (his one All-Star year), and a 3.20 ERA with 151 K in 157.1 IP in 2025. He has also been a good pitcher in the postseason, with a 1.48 ERA and 44 K in 42.2 IP.

This is now the third SP addition for Boston this offseason, as they previously added Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo via trades with the Cardinals and Pirates, respectively. They are loaded with arms entering Spring Training, but if I had to guess I’d say the starting five-man rotation for now would look to be Garrett Crochet, Suárez, Gray, Brayan Bello, and Oviedo.

However, they also have veterans Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval, youngsters Connelly Early and Payton Tolle, and former prospect Kyle Harrison (still only 24 years old), any of whom could push Bello and Oviedo for starts. At the very least this crew provides significant starting pitching depth as injury insurance, and even gives the Red Sox some trade options to bolster other spots on the team as needed.

SP Robin Roberts - Phillies (1948-61), Cubs (1966)

SP Gaylord Perry - Giants (1963-71), Indians (1972-75), Rangers (1975-77, 80), Padres (1978-79) and four other clubs

SP Jim Kaat - Senators/Twins (1960-73), White Sox (1973-75), Yankees (1979-80), Cardinals (1980-83)

SP Don Newcombe - Dodgers (1949-51, 54-58), Reds (1958-60)

SP Jerry Koosman - Mets (1967-78), Twins (1979-81), White Sox (1981-83)

SP David Cone - Yankees (1995-2000), Red Sox (2001)

RP Tom Gordon - Royals (1988-95), Red Sox (1996-99) and three other clubs

SP Jered Weaver - Angels (2007-16)

SP Joe Niekro - Braves (1973-74), Astros (1975-85), Twins (1987-88)

RP Joe Nathan - Giants (1999-2003), Twins (2004-09, 11) and three other clubs

SP Mario Soto - Reds (1977-88)

1942: FDR recommends that baseball continue during the war. “US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sends his famed "Green Light Letter" to Commissioner Judge Landis, encouraging Major League Baseball to continue playing during World War II. President Roosevelt states that he believes playing the sport would be good for Americans and encourages the owners to have more games at night to give war workers an opportunity to attend games. Despite a loss of many star players to military service, all 16 teams will continue to play regular schedules for the duration of the war. Ironically, the Chicago Cubs, who had signed an agreement with a contractor to install lights at Wrigley Field, drop their plans because of the military's need for the material. It will take 35 more years before lights are finally installed at the venerable ballpark.”

1981: Bob Gibson is elected to the Hall of Fame. “Pitcher Bob Gibson is elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Gibson, who needed 301 votes for election, is named on 337 ballots by the Baseball Writers Association of America. In 17 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Gibson won 251 games, struck out 3,117 batters, compiled a 2.91 ERA, won 20 games five times, and earned two World Championship rings. In 1968, Gibson enjoyed his best season ever, going 22-9 with a 1.12 ERA and captured the Cy Young Award. Players falling short of the 301 votes needed for election include Don Drysdale (243), Gil Hodges (241), Harmon Killebrew (239), Hoyt Wilhelm (238) and Juan Marichal (233).”

1990: Cecil Fielder returns from Japan. “Central League star Cecil Fielder signs a contract with the Detroit Tigers. Fielder, who had blasted 38 home runs for the Hanshin Tigers in 1989, will hit 51 home runs this season and become one of the premier power hitters in the American League for most of the 1990s.”

First-round draft pick (19th overall) in 1967 by the Orioles

17-year major league career, spanning from 1970-1986, with the Orioles and Angels

Six-time All-Star, and won four Gold Glove Awards at 2B

Had some pop, with 15+ HR six times, a career-high of 30 HR in 1979, and tied for the AL lead with 22 HR in strike-shortened 1981

Had some speed on the bases early in his career, with 13-17 SB each year from 1972-76

Overall had 224 HR, 104 SB, 1,033 runs, a .266/.371/.424 slash line, and a 125 OPS+

15-year major league career, spanning from 2004-2018, mostly as a LF for the Rockies and Cardinals

Seven-time All-Star

Came in second in the NL MVP vote in 2007 after leading the league with a .340 average, 216 hits, 50 doubles, and 137 RBI

Had 20+ HR ten times, 100+ RBI five times, and 100+ runs four times

Overall had 316 HR, 1,220 RBI, a .299/.379/.510 slash line, and a 132 OPS+

Father of 2022 overall #1 draft pick Jackson Holliday, and 2025 overall #4 draft pick Ethan Holliday

14-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1967-1981, playing for the Expos, Dodgers, Twins, and six other clubs

Began as a mixed starter and reliever, but then became a dedicated reliever in 1971, the first of four consecutive seasons in which he led the league in games finished

Came in fourth in the NL Cy Young Award vote in 1972 with the Expos after posting 18 saves with a 1.78 ERA, and then came in second in the vote in 1973 after leading the NL with 31 saves to go with a 2.66 ERA

Won the NL Cy Young Award in 1974 with the Dodgers after leading the NL with 21 saves, with a 2.42 ERA and pitching an amazing 208.1 innings over 106 appearances, which remains an all-time record. He also pitched in seven postseason games that year, with a 0.75 ERA over 12 innings.

Led the NL in saves again in 1979 with 32 for the Twins

Overall had 188 saves, a 3.14 ERA, and a 118 ERA+

First-round draft pick (12th overall) in 1987 by the Expos

13-year major league career, spanning from 1990-2002, playing 2B with the Expos, Dodgers, Cardinals, Orioles, and Cubs

Came in second in the NL Rookie of the Year vote in 1990 after batting .289 with 42 SB

Had 25+ SB ten times, with highs of 56 SB in 1991 and 55 SB in 1997

Had career-highs of 11 HR and an NL-leading 14 triples in 1997

Overall had 463 SB, a .268 average, and a .352 OBP

His son, also named Delino DeShields, was an OF in the major leagues from 2015-21

9-year major league career, spanning from 1912-1920, as a SS for the Cleveland Indians

Hit over .300 three times, and had 10+ triples four times

Had 20+ SB six times, with a high of 52 SB in 2017

Led the AL with 84 runs and 84 walks in 1918

Was an elite bunter, leading the AL in sacrifice bunts three times, including 67 in 1917, which remains the all-time single-season record

Overall had 238 SB, a .278/.358/.377 slash line, and a 111 OPS+

Per Wikipedia, "Chapman was hit in the head by a pitch thrown by pitcher Carl Mays and died 12 hours later. He is the only person to die directly from an injury received while playing in a Major League Baseball game. His death led baseball to establish a rule requiring umpires to replace the ball whenever it becomes dirty. Chapman's death and sanitary concerns also led to the ban on spitballs after the 1920 season. Chapman's death was also one of the examples cited to justify the wearing of batting helmets. However, it took over 30 years to adopt the rule that required their use."

For more on this incident and his death, see the article published in the 1984 Baseball Research Journal.

Here are the Top 10 catching prospects for 2026, by Jim Callis at MLB, 1/14/2026

Could Dodgers' 2026 rotation be the best in club history?, by Brian Murphy at MLB, 1/14/2026

Here are each team's first workout dates of Spring Training 2026, by MLB writers, 1/14/2026

Check out 11 of the most popular Minor League caps in 2025 for National Hat Day, by Kelsie Heneghan at MLB, 1/14/2026

Baseball Assists are a weird stat, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 1/14/2026