The Baseball Buffet for 1/23/2026

Rangers traded for SP MacKenzie Gore. According to an article by Kennedi Landry at MLB, the Rangers have traded five minor-league players to the Nationals for left-handed SP MacKenzie Gore. It had seemed likely that Gore, who turns 27 in February, was going to be traded this offseason, and apparently the Rangers have won the bidding. The price was pretty steep, as the Nationals are getting five young players in return, as follows:

SS Gavin Fien - 18 years old, Rangers’ 2025 first-round draft pick (12th overall)
1B/OF Abimelec Ortiz - 23 years old, AAA-level in 2025
RHP Alejandro Rosario - 24 years old, A-level in 2024 (didn’t pitch in 2025)
IF Devin Fitz-Gerald - 20 years old, A-level in 2025
OF Yeremy Cabrera - 20 years old, A-level in 2025

Gore is the former first-round draft pick (3rd overall) by the Padres in 2017. Injuries slowed his ascent to the majors, but he pitched a half-season with the Padres in 2022 and then was part of the massive package that went to the Nationals in exchange for Juan Soto and Josh Bell.

Gore has been pretty solid the past three years for Washington, with 181 K in 166.1 IP in 2024 and 185 K in 159.2 IP in 2025, his first All-Star campaign. For the Rangers he should slot in their rotation after Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, and ahead of Jack Leiter, who will be in his second full season in the majors, and Kumar Rocker, who is hoping 2025 will be his first full season.

Yankees re-signed OF/1B Cody Bellinger. According to an article by Bryan Hoch at MLB, the Yankees are re-signing OF/1B Cody Bellinger, with the deal being a 5-year, $162.5 million contract. Bellinger did well in his first year with the Yankees, with 29 HR, 98 RBI, 13 SB, and a .272 average. Prior to that he played eight years with the Dodgers and Cubs, with highlights being winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2017 with 39 HR and 97 RBI, and then taking home the NL MVP Award in 2019 after batting .305 with 47 HR, 115 RBI, and 121 runs.

Now 30 years old, Bellinger has been a good fielder everywhere he has played, which has included 1B, CF, and in 2025 a mix of all three OF spots. I would assume the Yankees plan to play Aaron Judge in RF and Trent Grisham in CF, so that means Bellinger will primarily play LF, though his versatility will be handy for spelling those guys and also Ben Rice at 1B. This could arise against the toughest LHP opponents—while both Bellinger and Rice are left-handed hitters, Bellinger hits LHP quite well, while Rice doesn’t as much.

Mets signed RP Luis García. According to an article by Anthony DiComo at MLB, the Mets are signing RP Luis García to a 1-year contract. He turns 39 later this month, and joins off-season bullpen acquisitions Devin Williams and Luke Weaver in a re-built Mets’ relief corps that lost closer Edwin Diáz to free agency. Last year the well-travelled García was effective with a 3.42 ERA over 58 games with the Angels, Nationals, and Dodgers.

Twins signed RP Taylor Rogers. According to an article by Matthew Leach at MLB, the Twins are re-uniting with their former closer Taylor Rogers on a 1-year, $2 million deal. Now 35-years old, the lefty reliever started his career with the Twins from 2016-2021, was their primary closer in 2019 with 30 saves and a 2.61 ERA, and represented them as an All-Star in 2021. He went on to pitch for five other clubs, and in 2025 had a 3.38 ERA with 53 K in 50.2 IP for the Reds and Cubs. At this point Rogers seems to be mostly a lefty specialist, but the Twins don’t have an established closer, so he could be in the mix for some saves in 2026 or as part of a closer-by-committee situation.

Angels re-signed 3B Yoán Moncada. According to an article by Rhett Bollinger at MLB, the Angels are re-signing switch-hitting 3B Yoán Moncada to a 1-year, $4 million contract. The 30-year old has played 10 years in the majors, mostly with the White Sox until 2025 when he joined the Angels. He played 2B early in his career, but in recent years has mostly played 3B—when he’s been on the field that is, as injuries have been an issue. In 2025 he hit 12 HR with a .235 average over 84 games, but the Angels are hoping he can stay healthy and man the hot corner for a full season.

SP Bert Blyleven - Twins (1970-76, 85-88), Rangers (1976-77), Indians (1981-85), Angels (1989-90, 92)

3B Nolan Arenado - Rockies (2013-20), Cardinals (2021-25)

C Buster Posey - Giants (1909-19, 21)

OF Vada Pinson - Reds (1958-68) and four other clubs

OF César Cedeño - Astros (1970-81), Reds (1982-85)

RP Sparky Lyle - Red Sox (1967-71), Yankees (1972-78), and three other clubs

SP/RP Wilbur Wood - Red Sox (1961), White Sox (1967-78)

SP Curt Simmons - Phillies (1948-50, 52-60)

SP Al Leiter - Yankees (1988-89), Blue Jays (1989-95)

1B Matt Olson - Athletics (2017-21), Braves (2022-25)

3B/1B/OF Pedro Guerrero - Dodgers (1980-88), Cardinals (1988-92)

SP Corey Kluber - Indians (2012-19) and four other clubs

OF/DH J.D. Martinez - Tigers (2014-17), Red Sox (2018-22), and three other clubs

1B Prince Fielder - Brewers (2005-11), Tigers (2012-13)

1958: The Red Sox trade for Pete Runnels. “The Washington Senators trade shortstop Pete Runnels to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for first baseman Norm Zauchin and outfielder Albie Pearson. Runnels will win two batting titles, in 1960 and 1962, and just miss a third by six points this season.”

1962: Bob Feller and Jackie Robinson are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Pitcher Bob Feller and infielder Jackie Robinson are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America in their first year of eligibility.”

1968: Joe Medwick is elected to the Hall of Fame. “Outfielder Joe Medwick is voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In his brilliant 17-season career Medwick was a .324 hitter with 205 home runs and 1,383 RBI. A ten-time All-Star, in 1937 he won the Triple Crown and was named the National League MVP.”

1975: Ralph Kiner is elected to the Hall of Fame. “Former Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Ralph Kiner gains election to the Hall of Fame in his final year on the ballot. Kiner hit 369 home runs over a ten-year career, leading the National League in home runs each season from 1946 to 1952. In one of the narrowest margins ever, Kiner is elected by just one vote over the 75 per cent minimum required for induction.”

1979: Willie Mays is elected to the Hall of Fame. “Outfielder Willie Mays, considered one of the greatest players of all time, is elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. Mays garners 409 out of 432 votes and becomes the 14th man to gain election in his first year on the ballot.”

1981: The Angels trade for Fred Lynn. “The Boston Red Sox trade one-time American League MVP Fred Lynn, along with pitcher Steve Renko, to the California Angels for outfielder Joe Rudi, pitcher Frank Tanana and a minor league prospect.”

12-year major league career, spanning from 1938-1954, including time in the Negro Leagues and the National League

According to the data available at baseball-reference.com, he was a high-average hitter for the Cleveland Buckeyes of the Negro American League, and was an All-Star in four seasons

In 1950, in his age-33 season, Jethroe won the NL Rookie of the Year Award after batting .273 with 18 HR, 100 runs, and a league-leading 35 SB

Led the NL with 35 SB again in 1951 while again hitting 18 HR, with 10 triples, 101 runs, and a .280 average

Overall had a .313/.368/.483 slash line and 150 OPS+ while younger in the Negro Leagues, and then a .261/.337/.418 slash line and 107 OPS later for the Boston Braves in the NL

He continued to play at AAA from 1953-1958 in his age-36 to age-41 seasons

10-year major league career, spanning from 1950-1959, mostly with the White Sox and Indians

Four-time All-Star

Was a strong defensive SS, with his best offensive season coming in 1954 when he hit .255 with a .348 OBP, 12 HR, 62 RBI, and 106 runs

11-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1953-1963, mostly with the Red Sox

Two-time All-Star, including in 1955 when he led the AL in wins with a 18-13 record to go with a 2.91 ERA

Had a career-best 2.73 ERA in 1957

Overall had a 97-100 record, a 3.60 ERA, and a 116 ERA+

13-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1893-1906, playing for the Phillies, Cardinals, Indians, and three other clubs

Struggled early in his career with control and a high ERA, leading to poor 7-24 and 10-35 records in 1896 and 1897

Later he improved his control and had four seasons with 19-22 wins each, and five with an ERA under 3.00

Overall had a 164-175 record and a 3.61 ERA overall

12-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1991-2002, mostly with the Braves

After several seasons in the Braves’ bullpen, he became their closer in 1995 with a 2.09 ERA and 25 saves

Was an All-Star in 1996 with a career-high 39 saves and 100 K in 77.1 IP, and then had another 33 saves in 1997

He developed serious pitching control problems in 1998, and these continued even when sent down to AAA that year and the following season. He pitched for the Reds, Yankees, and Indians from 2000-2002, but was never as effective as he had been before.

Was generally solid in the postseason, with 9 saves, a 2.35 ERA, and 44 K in 38.1 IP

Overall had 119 saves, a 3.97 ERA, and a 108 ERA+

Phillies' 2026 rotation: One of the best in MLB ... or a potential concern?, by Paul Casella at MLB, 1/22/2026

Here are the Top 10 outfield prospects for 2026, by Jonathan Mayo at MLB, 1/22/2026

4 storylines to watch on 2027 Hall of Fame ballot, by Manny Randhawa at MLB, 1/22/2026

Weighing Morality in the Hall of Fame, by Joe Posnanski at JoeBlogs, 1/21/2026

Sacrifice flies have been flighty, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 1/21/2026