The Baseball Buffet for 1/17/2026

Mets sign infielder Bo Bichette. According to an article by Manny Randhawa and Mark Bowman at MLB, the Mets are signing infielder Bo Bichette to a 3-year, $126 million contract. The son of major league slugger Dante Bichette, Bo was the second-round draft pick in 2016 by the Blue Jays, and has played SS for Toronto from 2019-2025. He was an All-Star in 2021 when he led the AL with 191 hits, and had a .298 average, 29 HR, 121 runs, 102 RBI, and 25 SB. He again led the AL with 189 hits in 2022, and was an All-Star for a second time in 2023.

He missed much of 2024 with multiple injuries, and only hit .225 with 4 HR in 81 games, but then came back strong in 2025 with a .311 average, 18 HR, and 94 RBI (though only 4 SB, as it seems stealing bases is no longer a major part of his game).

With Francisco Lindor entrenched at SS for the Mets, and Marcus Semien joining for 2026 to play 2B, presumably Bichette will learn 3B during Spring Training. It seems they also will try incoming infielder Jorge Polanco at 1B, so that could create some interesting cross-diamond plays between these guys learning new positions. Two 26-year olds, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, will presumably see time as back-ups at the corner infield spots, get some at-bats at DH, and potentially be trade options too.

Phillies re-sign catcher J.T. Realmuto. According to an article by Paul Casella and Todd Zolecki, the Phillies are re-signing catcher J.T. Realmuto to a 3-year, $45 million contract. While the Phillies have been said to be pursuing various free agents this off-season, it was clear they also had interest in bringing back slugging DH Kyle Schwarber and their catcher Realmuto from the past seven seasons. He turns 35 in March and will be playing his 13th major league season, all spent with the Marlins and Phillies. A three-time All-Star, he has hit 20+ HR four times, mostly in 2023. Although getting a bit older now for a backstop, he still provides good defense behind the plate, and won Gold Glove Awards in 2019 and 2022.

Twins sign C/1B/DH Victor Caratini. According to an article by Matthew Leach at MLB, the Twins are signing C/1B/DH Victor Caratini to a 2-year, $4 million deal. Caratini is 32 years old, and has played nine years in the majors with the Cubs, Padres, Brewers, and Astros. Last year he posted a career high of 12 HR while batting .259 over 114 games. The Twins starting catcher is Ryan Jeffers, but Caratini is a switch-hitter and so could end up platooning with him while also backing up Josh Bell at 1B. Those three and others will all apparently be in the mix at DH too.

Diamondbacks sign RP Taylor Clarke. According to an article by Steve Gilbert at MLB, the Diamondbacks are signing right-handed reliever Taylor Clarke. This is a homecoming, as Arizona originally drafted Clarke in 2015 and he pitched for them as a mixed starter and reliever from 2019-21. He then pitched for the Royals in 2022-23, and had surgery and only pitched at AAA in 2024. Clarke had his best numbers in 2025, posting a 3.25 ERA for Kansas City with 44 K in 55.1 IP over 51 appearances.

SP Nolan Ryan - Mets (1966), Astros (1980-88), Rangers (1989-93)

RP Rollie Fingers - Athletics (1969-76), Padres (1977-80), Brewers (1981-82, 84-85)

OF Kirby Puckett - Twins (1984-95)

DH David Ortiz - Red Sox (2003-16)

SP Félix Hernández - Mariners (2006-19)

OF Bryce Harper - Nationals (2012-18)

SP Fernando Valenzuela - Dodgers (1980-90) and three other clubs

OF Chet Lemon - Tigers (1982-90)

SP Jon Lester - Cubs (2015-20), Nationals (2021)

SP Dave Stewart - Athletics (1986-92), Blue Jays (1993-94)

SP Kevin Millwood - Braves (1997-2002) and three other clubs

SP A.J. Burnett - Marlins (2002-05), Blue Jays (2006-08), Yankees (2009-11), Pirates (2012-13, 15), Phillies (2014)

SP/RP Kerry Wood - Cubs (1998, 2000-08, 11-12), Indians (2009-10)

SP Paul Splittorff - Royals (1971-1984)

1970: TSN names Willie Mays top player of the 1960s. “The Sporting News names San Francisco Giants outfielder Willie Mays as its "Player of the Decade" for the 1960s. Mays beats out the likes of Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente in the voting.”

1977: Tommy Davis’ 18-year career comes to a close. “The Kansas City Royals release veteran outfielder Tommy Davis, ending his 18-year career. In 1962, Davis led the National League in batting average with a .346 mark, and in RBI with 153. In 1963, Davis again won the batting crown, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers to capture the World Series. Two years later, he fractured an ankle, curtailing his production for the rest of his career.”

First-round draft pick (4th overall) in 1970 by the Brewers

17-year major league career, spanning from 1971-1987, mostly as a catcher with the Brewers, Royals, and Cardinals

Four-time All-Star

Had some pop with 15+ HR six times, including his career-year when he had 20 HR, 10 triples, 112 RBI, 101 runs, a .291 average, and an AL-leading 121 walks

Overall had 188 HR, a .247/.354/.409 slash line, and a 113 OPS+

19-year major league career, spanning from 1981-1999, mostly with the Giants and Angels, with some time spent with the Twins, Royals, and Yankees

Three-time All-Star

Played all three OF positions for the first half of his career, and then was primarily a DH in the second half

Hit 20+ HR 10 times and had 90+ RBI six times, including a high of 112 RBI in 1993

Overall had 350 HR, 1,372 RBI, 1,240 runs, 142 SB, a .274/.360/.451 slash line, and a 121 OPS+

First-round draft pick (5th overall) in 2015 by the Astros

So far has played eight years in the majors, with limited time from 2018-2019, then the short 2020 season, but then hitting 20+ HR in each of the past five years

Four-time All-Star, and won a Gold Glove Award in RF in 2022

Has had 25+ SB three times

So far overall has 147 HR, 119 SB, a .273/.358/.507 slash line, and a 140 OPS+

Has just signed to a 4-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers

Hall of Famer

Only played four years in Negro Leagues considered Major Leagues from 1923-1926, but overall had a 17-year professional career

He was primarily a catcher and was one of the early Negro League stars

According to the data available at baseball-reference.com, was a good hitter with a .317/.363/.451 slash line over the four seasons late in his career, and had an even higher average earlier on

10-year major league career, spanning from 1933-1942 with the Giants and Cubs

Three-time All-Star

Was mostly a CF and had some pop with 22 HR, 107 RBI, 110 runs, and  a.331 average in 1935, and then 24 HR, 88 RBI, and a .310 average in 1939

Overall had 101 HR, a .288/.356/.462 slash line, and a 122 OPS+

12-year major league career, spanning from 1954-1965, mostly with the Dodgers, Senators, and Cubs

Was versatile in the field, playing a mix of 3B, 2B, and SS, and even giving catching a try for 33 games in his final season

Was an All-Star in 1961, and hit between 12-17 HR in five seasons, though only had a career .235 average and .290 OBP

Had a long coaching and managing career, including being a major league manager in parts of 13 seasons for the Padres, Red Sox, Rangers, and Cubs, with a lifetime 885-858 (.508) record.

And as a coach and manager, Zimmer certainly had his share of arguments and even scuffles with umpires and players — see three famous incidents in the videos below:

Impact of Tucker's megadeal on Dodgers, rivals, by Will Leitch at MLB, 1/16/2026

4 remaining questions for the Mets after signing Bo Bichette, by Jared Greenspan at MLB, 1/17/2026

Here are the Top 10 first base prospects for 2026, by Sam Dykstra at MLB, 1/16/2026