The Baseball Buffet for 1/9/2026

COL signs SP Michael Lorenzen. According to an article by Thomas Harding and Jeffrey Lutz at MLB, the Rockies are signing pitcher Michael Lorenzen to a 1-year deal for $8 million (with a 2027 option for $9 million). Lorenzen recently turned 34, and in 2025 for the Royals had a 7-11 record, a 4.64 ERA, and 127 K over 141.2 IP. That was his 11th season in the majors, with the first seven spent with the Reds, but since then seeing action with the Royals and four other clubs. A good overall athlete, Lorenzen played some in the OF for the Reds in 2019, and overall has a .233 average with 7 HR in 133 AB. With the DH in the NL he likely won't hit much if ever, but I suppose it is a possibility in his case.

As for his pitching role, Lorenzen was mostly a reliever with the Reds after his rookie season, but since 2022 he has been mostly a starter, so presumably the Rockies will add him to their rotation that appears to include Kyle Freeland, Tanner Gordon, Chase Dollander, and Ryan Feltner, with a few other options competing with them during Spring Training.

Unopened first year 1988 Will Clark Starting Lineup Figure

1994 Matt Williams Starting Lineup Figure

1989 World Series Collector's Pin

(3) 1984 Fun Foods Buttons

(6) oversized cards

(10) different 1980s team stickers

(70) all different Matt Williams cards (all on Giants)

(70) all different Will Clark cards (all on Giants)

1995 Bob Hamelin Starting Lineup Figure

(5) 1984 Fun Foods Buttons

(8) oversized cards

(8) different 1980s team stickers

(21) all different Bo Jackson cards (all on Royals)

(35) all different George Brett cards (all on Royals... of course!)

2B Jackie Robinson - Dodgers (1947-56)

RP Mariano Rivera - Yankees (1995-2013)

RP Bruce Sutter - Cubs (1976-80), Cardinals (1981-84), Braves (1988)

1B Mo Vaughn - Red Sox (1991-98), Angels (1999-2000), Mets (2002-03)

SP Sonny Siebert - Indians (1964-69), Red Sox (1970-73), Cardinals (1974)

OF Dave Henderson - Mariners (1981-86), Red Sox (1987), Athletics (1988-93), Royals (1994)

1892: A baseball song makes the charts. “Slide, Kelly, Slide, composed by John W. Kelly and performed by George Gaskin, makes the popular music charts, the first baseball song to do so.”

1903: The purchase that leads to the New York Yankees. “The defunct Baltimore franchise is purchased by Frank Farrell and Bill Devery for $18,000 and moved to Manhattan where they will become the New York Highlanders, who are the ancestors of today's New York Yankees.”

1952: The Marines recall Ted Williams. “The U.S. Marines announce they will recall Boston Red Sox star Ted Williams into active duty to serve in the Korean War. Williams will play briefly during the 1952 season but will not return to the Red Sox lineup on a full-time basis until late in 1953. As a pilot in Korea, Williams will fly 39 missions and will survive a crash-landing brought about by enemy fire.”

1980: Kaline and Snider are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Al Kaline and Duke Snider are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Kaline is the tenth player to be elected in his first year of eligibility, while Snider is making his 11th appearance on the ballot.”

1989: Bench and Yaz are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Johnny Bench and Carl Yastrzemski are elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA in their first year of eligibility. Bench and Yastrzemski, who faced each other in the classic 1975 World Series, each spent their entire careers (40 years combined) with one club, Cincinnati and Boston, respectively. Bench set new standards for catchers both offensively (348 home runs) and defensively (10 straight Gold Gloves). Yastrzemski hit 452 home runs, collected 3,308 hits, and won the 1967 Triple Crown. Bench is named on 96.4% of the ballots, making Ty Cobb and Hank Aaron the only players to ever receive a higher percentage of the vote.”

1990: Palmer and Morgan are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Pitcher Jim Palmer, a three-time American League Cy Young Award winner, and second baseman Joe Morgan, a two-time National League MVP, are elected to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.”

2012: Barry Larkin is elected to the Hall of Fame. “Barry Larkin, who spent his entire 19-year career with the Cincinnati Reds, is elected to the Hall of Fame with 86.4% of the vote by the Baseball Writers Association of America in his third year of eligibility. Larkin won the 1995 National League Most Valuable Player Award and was a 12-time All-Star, as well as the first shortstop to join the 30-30 club.”

12-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1956-1967, mostly with the Yankees and Athletics

Was 16-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 1961, and then was an All-Star in 1962 with a 23-12 record and 3.19 ERA, while leading the AL with 39 starts and 298.2 IP

Also won the World Series MVP Award in 1962 after starting three games and posting a 1.80 ERA over 25 IP

That was great redemption for Terry, as he was the pitcher who gave up the walk-off, World Series championship-winning HR to Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates in game seven of the 1960 World Series.

Overall had a 107-99 record, a 3.62 ERA, and a 102 ERA+

17-year major league career, spanning from 1983-1999, as a CF/LF with the Indians, Expos, Braves, and six other clubs

Best known for his baserunning, as he had 35+ SB in 11 consecutive seasons, with a high of 72 SB in 1991 with the Braves

Power was not his game, as only had 11 HR and a modest 142 doubles in 5,800 plate appearances

Overall had 620 SB, 878 runs, a .270 average, and a .343 OBP

His younger brother Donell Nixon played four years in the majors from 1987-1990

10-year major league pitching career in the Negro Leagues, spanning from 1937-1948, mostly with the Baltimore Elite Giants

According to the statistics available at baseball-reference.com, his best seasons came in 1941 with a 2.39 ERA over 67.2 IP and in 1942 with a 2.35 ERA over 84.1 IP

Overall he had a 3.37 ERA and 124 ERA+

His age-33 season was his final in the majors, but he went on to pitch in Japan in 1953, and into his early 40s back in the US in the minor leagues

478 - Otis Nixon

463 - Rickey Henderson

433 - Kenny Lofton

393 - Delino DeShields

381 - Marquis Grissom

Unveiling the first Power Rankings of 2026, by Will Leitch at MLB, 1/8/2026

3 takeaways from arbitration deadline, by Mark Feinsand at MLB, 1/8/2026