The Baseball Buffet for 1/2/2026

HOU signs SP Tatsuya Imai. According to an article by David Adler at MLB, the Astros are signing Japanese right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai to a 3-year deal for $54 million. Just about everyone was assuming he'd sign soon, as his negotiating window was coming to a close (players from the Japanese league have 45 days to negotiate after their current team posts them, which in Imai's case occurred on November 19).

Imai is 27 years old and a three-time All-Star in Japan, including both of the past two seasons. In 2025 he had a 10-5 record with a career-best 1.92 ERA and 0.892 WHIP, along with 178 K in 163.2 IP.

Several teams were interested in Imai, and it is interesting that the Astros won the bidding as they already have quite a few starting pitchers on their roster. They also, however, have a history of SP injuries, so adding one more to the mix gives them insurance and also some flexibility for trade options now and during the season. This is always hard to predict with players coming over from Japan or Korea, but if Imai does well in spring training and it feels like he'll do well in MLB in general, then I could see him slotting behind Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier as the Astros' #3 starter. They would then have Mike Burrows (acquired this offseason via trade), Lance McCullers Jr., Spencer Arrighetti, Ryan Weiss, Jason Alexander, and others available to fill out their rotation.

RP Hoyt Wilhelm - Giants (1952-56)

SP Ron Guidry - Yankees (1975-88)

SP Chris Sale - White Sox (2010-16)

SP Tom Candiotti - Brewers (1983-84), Indians (1986-91, 99), and three other clubs

SP Charlie Hough - Dodgers (1970-80), Rangers (1980-90), and two other clubs

SP Tim Wakefield - Pirates (1992-93), Red Sox (1995-2011)

SP Larry Dierker - Colt .45s/Astros (1964-76), Cardinals (1977)

SP Teddy Higuera - Brewers (1985-91, 93-94)

SP Pablo López - Marlins (2018-22), Twins (2023-25)

RP Armando Benitez - Orioles (1994-98), Mets (1999-2003), and three other clubs

RP José Mesa - Indians (1992-98) and four other clubs

RP Rob Dibble - Reds (1988-93) and two other clubs

1912: The land is acquired for what will become Ebbets Field. “Brooklyn Superbas president Charles Ebbets announces the purchase of 4.5 acres to build a 23,000-seat concrete and steel stadium in the Pigtown section of Brooklyn. Construction on the ballpark will start on March 14th. Ebbets decides to name the ballpark after himself, thus it is called Ebbets Field. Completed in just over a year, opening day will be on April 9, 1913.”

1986: Famed baseball owner Bill Veeck dies at age 71. “Bill Veeck dies in Chicago, IL at age 71. Veeck was known for his flamboyant publicity stunts and the innovations he brought to the major leagues during his ownership of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns and Chicago White Sox. He was the last owner to purchase a baseball franchise without an independent fortune, and was responsible for many significant contributions to baseball.”

Hall of Famer

18-year major league career, spanning from 1987-2004, all with the Seattle Mariners

Seven-time All-Star

Played 3B early in his career, but then primarily was a DH

Won two AL batting titles, and also led the AL in doubles those two years, with a .343 average and 46 doubles in 1992, and a .356 average and 52 doubles in 1995

Developed more power midway through his career, with 20+ HR eight times and 100+ RBI six times, including an AL-leading 145 RBI in 2000

Scored 100+ runs five times, including pacing the AL with 121 runs in 1995

Overall had 309 HR, 514 doubles, 1,261 RBI, 1,219 runs, a .312/.418/.515 slash line, and a 147 OPS+

17-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1986-2003, mostly with the Mets, Yankees, and Royals

Five-time All-Star, including in 1988 when he had an impressive 20-3 record and 2.22 ERA for the Mets

Won the AL Cy Young Award in the shortened 1994 season with a 16-5 record and a 2.94 ERA

Had 200+ strikeouts six times, leading the NL with 233 K in 1990 and 241 K in 1991

Overall had a 194-126 (.606) record, 2,668 strikeouts, a 3.46 ERA, and a 121 ERA+

Hall of Famer

7-year major league career in the Negro Leagues, spanning from 1920-1926 for the Kansas City Monarchs

Those seasons were late in his playing career, in his age-35 to age-41 seasons. According to the data available at baseball-reference.com, he had a 30-9 record, a 3.46 ERA, and a 125 ERA+ during that time.

His inclusion in the Baseball Hall of Fame is based just as much on his earlier playing days in the Cuban Winter League. During 11 seasons he had an amazing 66-23 (.742) record and a 1.73 ERA.

Nicknamed El Diamante Negro or The Black Diamond, he died at the young age of 43, most likely of tuberculosis (see Wikipedia)

8-year major league career in the Negro Leagues, spanning from 1937-1948, mostly with the Kansas City Monarchs (missing three seasons from 1943-1945 for military service)

All-Star in five seasons, he played mostly RF and SS

A high-average hitter, according to the data available at baseball-reference.com, he led his league with a .364 average in 1942 and again with a .364 average in 1946

Overall he had a .332/.433/.505 slash line and a 170 OPS+ in 1,000 plate appearances

According to Wikipedia, "Strong also played basketball for the original Harlem Globetrotters from 1935 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1949, during the baseball off-season."

So far has played six seasons in the majors with the San Diego Padres, starting out as a SS but then switching to RF where he has excelled defensively earning two Gold Glove Awards

Three-time All-Star

Has hit 20+ HR five times, including leading the NL with 42 HR in 2021

Has had 25+ SB three times, including a career-high of 32 SB in 2025 when he also had a career-high with 111 runs

So far overall has 152 HR, 124 SB, a .277/.354/.513 slash line, and a 136 OPS+

Son of Fernando Tatis, who played 11 years in the majors (and has a birthday the day before, on January 1)

12-year major league career, spanning from 1928-1939, all with the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves

Had 100+ RBI in four of his first five seasons, even though he had only modest power with only four seasons of 10-13 HR each over his career

Had 207 hits and a .342 average in 1930, and then later batted .341 in 1937

Was a good defensive 3B, frequently amongst NL leaders in various fielding statistics

Overall had 93 HR, 927 RBI, and a .295/.343/.415 slash line

14-year major league career, spanning from 1927-1946, mostly with the Browns, White Sox, and Senators

Had modest power, with 10-16 HR four times, but had 100+ RBI and a .300+ average in three consecutive seasons from 1929-1931

Primarily played SS, but also spent time at 3B, 1B, 2B, and RF

Overall had a .286/.347/.420 slash line

First-round draft pick (2nd overall) in 1986 by the Indians

17-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1986-2002, mostly with the Indians, Astros, and Diamondbacks

Was a left-handed starter during the first half of his career, winning 10+ games six times, with a high of 18 wins in 1988, and then an All-Star campaign in 1989 when he finished with a 13-6 record and a 3.37 ERA

Became a reliever later in his career, and posted a 2.51 ERA in 1999 and a 3.20 ERA in 2000

Overall had a 123-122 record, a 3.86 ERA, and a 107 ERA+

First-round draft pick (15th overall) in 1988 by the Giants

17-year major league career, spanning from 1991-2007, and spread out with time spent with 11 clubs

A good defensive SS, he is 17th all-time in games played at the position

All-Star in 1997 for the Cardinals, with 39 doubles and 30 SB

Had 20+ SB five times, with a high of 33 SB in 1996

Had only modest power with highs of 14 HR in 1999 and 2000

Overall had 110 HR, 231 SB, 935 runs, and a .258 average

2,191 - David Ortiz

1,690 - Harold Baines

1,607 - Edgar Martínez

1,555 - Hal McRae

1,457 - Paul Molitor

Where things stand with top 6 free agents, by Mark Feinsand at MLB, 1/1/2026

8 things we're looking forward to in 2026, by Manny Randhawa at MLB, 1/1/2026

300 times on base in a season, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 1/2/2026