The Baseball Buffet for 1/7/2026

MIN signed IF Orlando Arcia. According to an article by Matthew Leach at MLB, the Twins are signing Orlando Arcia to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training. He was an All-Star SS as recently as 2023 with the Braves when he hit .264 with 17 HR and 65 RBI. He hit 17 HR again in 2024, but his average slumped to .218 and his OBP was an unattractive .271. He then hit only .202 with 3 HR in 76 games for the Braves and Rockies in 2025.

Now 31 years old, he is versatile and can play all four infield positions, and has even played 20 games in LF several years ago too. He will be competing for a roster spot with the Twins during Spring Training, and could catch on as a utility player.

TBR acquire OF Justyn-Henry Malloy. According to an article by Adam Berry at MLB, the Rays have acquired OF Justyn-Henry Malloy, who will turn 26 in February, from the Tigers for cash considerations. Malloy had 8 HR in 71 games for the Tigers in 2024, but only hit .203 with 85 strikeouts. In 2025 he batted .322 with 9 HR in 72 games at AAA Toledo, but then only hit .221 with 1 HR in 52 games with Detroit. He will need to have a very strong spring to make the major league roster on opening day, as the Rays have Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins, and Josh Lowe as presumed OF starters, and several others available as reserves.

OF Hank Aaron - Braves (1955-74), Brewers (1975-76)

OF Reggie Jackson - Yankees (1977-81), Angels (1982-86), Athletics (1987)

1B Willie McCovey - Giants (1959-73, 77-80), Padres (1974-76), Athletics (1976)

1B Paul Goldschmidt - Diamondbacks (2011-18)

SP David Cone - Mets (1987-91)

OF Chet Lemon - White Sox (1976-81)

SP Roy Oswalt - Astros (2001-10), and three other clubs

1B Anthony Rizzo - Cubs (2012-21)

SP Jake Peavy - Padres (2002-09), White Sox (2009-13), Red Sox (2013-14)

1B Phil Cavarretta - Cubs (1941-53), White Sox (1954-55)

OF Eric Davis - Reds (1984-91, 96)

OF/DH Yordan Alvarez - Astros (2019-25)

OF Julio Rodríguez (2022-25)

OF Adam Dunn - Reds (2001-08), and two other clubs

SS Elly De La Cruz - Reds (2023-25)

1920: Babe Ruth comments on being traded. “Babe Ruth reacts to his recent sale to the Yankees in the Boston Evening Standard saying, ‘Frazee is not good enough to own any ball club, especially one in Boston.’”

1985: Lou Brock and Hoyt Wilhelm are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Lou Brock and Hoyt Wilhelm are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. During his career, Brock established the record for the most stolen bases in major league history (which will later be broken by Rickey Henderson), while the knuckleballing Wilhelm pitched in more games than any other major league pitcher (Jesse Orosco will eventually break that mark).”

1992: Tom Seaver and Rollie Fingers are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Starter Tom Seaver and reliever Rollie Fingers, two of the greatest pitchers of their generation, are elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA.”

Hall of Famer

15-year major league career, spanning from 1936-1953 (missing 1943-45 for military service), all with the Cardinals, Giants, and Yankees

10-time All-Star, and was second in the NL MVP vote in both 1939 and 1940

Won the batting title with a .349 average in 1939

Led NL in HR four times, RBI three times, and runs, doubles, and triples once each

Considered a good defensive 1B, he was nicknamed "The Big Cat"

Overall had 359 HR, 1,357 RBI, a .312/.397/.562 slash line, and a 158 OPS+

16-year major league career, spanning from 1999-2014, mostly with the Yankees and Cubs

Had 43 SB and 18 HR in his first full season in 2001, and then came in third in the MVP vote the following seasons after hitting 39 HR, 51 doubles, a .300 average, and leading the AL with 41 SB, 209 hits, and 128 runs

Seven-time All-Star who played 2B early in his career, then shifted to LF

Had 20+ HR 12 times and had four 30/30 HR/SB seasons

Had 100+ RBI four times and 100+ runs four times

Overall had 412 HR, 289 SB, 1,159 RBI, a .270/.319/.500 slash line, and a 112 OPS+

16-year major league career, spanning from 2005-2020, mostly with the Reds, Blue Jays, and Indians

Three-time All-Star

Had 30+ HR eight times and 100+ RBI six times, including a high of 127 when he led the AL in 2016

Played 3B early in his career, then shifted to DH and 1B

Overall had 424 HR, 1,261 RBI, a .260/.350/.496 slash line, and a 123 OPS+

16-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2006-21, mostly with the Red Sox and Cubs

Five-time All-Star

Won 15+ games eight times, including a 19-9 record with 3.25 ERA in 2010 for the Red Sox, a 19-5 record and 2.44 ERA for the Cubs in 2016, and then led the NL in wins with a 18-6 record and 3.32 ERA in 2018.

Had 200+ strikeouts four times

Was a generally good postseason performer, including in three World Series. He won the NLCS MVP Award with the Cubs, and overall had a 2.51 ERA across 26 appearances, 22 starts, and 154 postseason innings pitched.

Overall had a 200-117 (.631) record, 2,488 K, a 3.66 ERA, and a 117 ERA+

Of note, Lester's impressive career came after surviving cancer (anaplastic large cell lymphoma) as a 23-year old rookie in 2006. (See Wikipedia)

14-year major league career, spanning from 1946-1960, mostly with the Giants, Braves, Cardinals and Cubs

Was NL Rookie of the Year in 1948 after hitting .322 with 39 doubles and 85 runs

Three-time All-Star

Developed some pop with 14-23 HR in five consecutive seasons from 1950-54

Scored 114 runs in 1951 and 126 runs in 1953

Was a good defensive SS and then switched to 3B late in his career

Overall had 126 HR, 1,064 runs, a .289/.333/.411 slash line, and a 98 OPS+

Was a major league manager for 13 seasons with the Giants, Athletics, Indians, and Padres. Led the Giants to the NL Pennant in 1962, and led the Oakland A's to their third consecutive World Series in 1974.

16-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2002-2017, mostly with the Angels, Brewers, Mets, and Tigers

Burst into the majors as a 20-year old with 13 K in 5.2 IP in 2002, then pitched well in the postseason, with 28 K over 11 appearances and 18.2 IP, helping the Angels win the World Series over the Giants

Six-time All-Star

Led the AL in saves three times, with 45 in 2005, 47 in 2006, and then a record-setting 62 saves in 2008. Overall had 35+ saves eight times.

Was nicknamed K-Rod as he had a high strikeout rate, particularly early in his career

Overall had 437 saves, 1,142 K in 976 IP, a 2.86 ERA, and a 148 ERA+

13-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1987-1999, all with the Royals

Three-time All-Star

Had 20+ saves eight times, including a career-high and AL-leading 45 saves in 1993

Overall had 304 saves, a 3.27 ERA, and a 135 ERA+

10-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1999-2008, mostly with the Dodgers

Was a starter in his first three seasons, but then switched to relief work and was dominant from 2002-2004. He was an All-Star each year and won the NL Cy Young Award in 2003. He oddly pitched exactly 82.1 IP each year, with K totals of 114, 137, and 114; save totals of 52, 55, and 45; and ERA marks of 1.97, 1.20, and 2.19.

All of that success came at a price, as he needed Tommy John surgery, and then a second nerve-related surgery as well.

Overall had 187 saves, 718 K in 643.2 IP, a 3.47 ERA, and a 119 ERA+

So far has played 9 years in the majors, all as a 2B for the Braves

Four-time All-Star

Led the NL with 189 hits in 2019

Has had 20+ HR four times, 100+ runs three times, 100+ RBI twice, and between 13-20 SB five times.

Overall so far has 157 HR, 98 SB, a .266/.320/.455 slash line, and a 106 OPS+

8-year major league career, spanning from 1964-1971, and brief return in 1975, mostly with the Red Sox

Was a 19-year old rookie in 1964, hit a HR in his first at-bat, and ended the season with a .290 average and 24 HR in 111 games

Led the AL with 32 HR in 1965, then had 28 HR with 93 RBI in 1966.

Was an All-Star in 1967, but was hit in the face by a pitch that caused a severe eye injury that derailed his career. He missed the rest of the season and all of 1968.

He made a remarkable return, hitting 20 HR with 82 RBI in 1969, and then career highs of 36 HR and 116 RBI in 1970.

He was traded after that season, and his vision deteriorated badly, such that he formally retired after a partial 1971 campaign. In 1975, as he was still only 30 years old, he attempted a comeback with the Red Sox, but it was short-lived as his vision wasn't good enough.

Overall had 166 HR, a .264/.327/.476 slash line, and a 119 OPS+

Execs prospect poll: No. 1 prospect, top pitcher and more, by Jonathan Mayo at MLB, 1/6/2026

8 prospect predictions for 2026, by Joe Trezza, Jim Callis, and Jonathan Mayo at MLB, 1/6/2026

Is it Time for MLB Expansion?, by Joe Posnanski at JoeBlogs, 1/6/2026

A Dignified Centenary, by Jeff Kallman at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 1/7/2026

The Responsibilities of an MLB Owner, by Bill Pruden at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 1/5/2026