The Baseball Buffet for 12/10/2025

PHI has re-signed DH Kyle Schwarber. The deal is 5 years, $150 million. While other teams were clearly interested, I always assumed this was the most likely outcome. The Phillies had been saying they wanted to see Schwarber stay with them, and they aren’t afraid to spend money, so I figured they would match or top any other offers made. Schwarber will turn 33 in early March, and is coming off his career-high of 56 HR in 2025, along with an MLB-leading 132 RBI and a second-place finish in the NL MVP vote.

LAD has signed RP Edwin Díaz. Although still coming from a source and not confirmed by the Dodgers, I see little reason to doubt this news. The deal is said to be for 3 years and $69 million. The Dodgers’ number one need during this offseason was to improve their bullpen, and getting a top-notch closer was the best way to do that.

Díaz has had some inconsistency over his career, and missed all of 2023, but for the most part he has been outstanding as a closer first for the Mariners, and then for the Mets. Last year, in his age-31 season, he posted a 1.63 ERA, a 0.874 WHIP, with 28 saves and 98 K in 66.1 IP.

Adding him to the Dodgers’ pen will mean Roki Sasaki—who was pressed into service as their closer during the postseason—can return to his preferred (I assume) role as a starting pitcher. And guys like Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, Will Klein, Brusdar Graterol, and others can slot into various bullpen roles without the pressure of needing to close out very many games. Suffice to say, the Dodgers’ odds of a three-peat just went up.

1919: The NL bans the spitball. “The National League votes to ban the spitball's use by all new pitchers. The ban will be formally worked out by the Rules Committee in February.”

1924: The AL and NL set the modern-day World Series scheme. “The two leagues agree on a permanent rotation for World Series play proposed by Charles Ebbets: the first two games at one league's park, the next three at the other league's park, and the last two if needed back at the first league's park, with openers to alternate between leagues. Next year's World Series will commence at the National League city.”

1946: Walter Johnson, still considered by many the greatest pitcher of all time, dies from a brain tumor at the age 59. Walter Johnson won the pitching triple crown three times, led the AL in wins six times, ERA five times, and strikeouts and impressive 12 times. He had a career 417-279 (.599) record, with a 2.17 ERA and 147 ERA+, and remains the all-time leader with 110 shutouts.

1971: The Mets trade Nolan Ryan to the Angels. “The Mets trade Nolan Ryan and three prospects to the California Angels for six-time All-Star shortstop Jim Fregosi. The fireballer from Texas will set the all-time strikeout record (5,714) and become a member of the Hall of Fame. Fregosi (who'll play third base as a Met) will provide little help for New York.”

1972: The DH is born. “The American League adopts the Designated Hitter rule, while the National League turns it down.”

1975: Bill Veeck and the White Sox start dealing. “Bill Veeck and assistant Roland Hemond set up shop in the hotel lobby at the winter meetings with a sign saying "open for business" and start dealing, making seven trades in two days. First to go are pitcher Jim Kaat and SS Mike Buskey to the Phillies. The Sox receive pitchers Dick Ruthven and Roy Thomas along with OF/INF Alan Bannister. Veeck also fires manager Chuck Tanner and selects old friend Paul Richards to manage the White Sox.”

1976: Cleveland trades for Andre Thornton. “The Expos send Andre Thornton, whose average slumped 100 points to .194, to the Indians for P Jackie Brown. A great pickup for the Tribe, Thornton will lead the club in home runs seven times as a 1B/DH.”

1981: The Cardinals acquire Ozzie Smith. “The Cardinals and Padres trade shortstops as Garry Templeton goes to San Diego along with outfielder Sixto Lezcano and Ozzie Smith and right-hander Steve Mura head for St. Louis. The trade, however, will not be finalized until Smith's salary with his new club is determined by an outside arbitrator two months later.”

1984: Gary Carter is traded to the Mets. “Expos catcher Gary Carter becomes the third All-Star caliber player in five days to be traded, going to the Mets in exchange for IF Hubie Brooks, C Mike Fitzgerald, OF Herm Winningham and minor league P Floyd Youmans.”

First-round draft pick (3rd overall) in 2014 by the White Sox

So far has had an 11-year major league pitching career, mostly with the White Sox, one season for the Giants, and the last three with the Yankees

Struggled to establish himself at the MLB level for several years, then had Tommy John surgery and so missed most of the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Was an All-Star for the White Sox in 2021 and had a 13-5 record, 2.37 ERA, and 185 K in 132.2 IP

Was an All-Star again in 2022 with the Giants posting a 2.88 ERA, and 237 K in 178 IP, and then again in 2025 for the Yankees with an 18-9 record, a 3.09 ERA, and 203 K in 195.1 IP.

Overall so far has a 93-72 (.564) record, a 3.73 ERA, and a 110 ERA+

11-year major league career, spanning from 2013-2023, mostly with the San Diego Padres

Was AL Rookie of the Year with the Rays in 2013 after batting .293 with 13 HR and 53 RBI in only 88 games

Provided both power and speed, with two 20/20 seasons coming in 2016 when he was an All-Star with 28 HR and 28 SB, and then in 2017 when he had 30 HR and 20 SB.

Overall had 156 HR, 107 SB, a .252/.326/.437 slash line, and a 109 OPS+

13-year major league career, spanning from 1911-1926, mostly with Brooklyn in the National League

Was versatile in the field, playing 100+ games each at 3B, 2B, SS, RF, and CF, plus some games at LF and 1B

Had between 16-28 SB seven times and scored 100+ runs three times

Didn't have much power, with only 22 HR in 5,630 plate appearances

Overall had 169 SB, a .294/.347/.374 slash line, and an even 100 OPS+

12-year major league career, spanning from 1987-2000, with time spent with the Athletics, Yankees, Angels, and three other clubs

Primarily a LF, he provided speed on the bases with 20+ SB eight times, including highs of 48, 51, and 55 SB from 1991-1993 (though he also led the AL in CS each of those seasons).

Overall had 321 SB and a .293 career average

Played in the Mexican League in 1997-1998, and then again in 2001-2002. Continued to play in the Dominican Winter League from 2006-2011, his age-46 season.

10-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1990-1999, mostly with the Montreal Expos

Was very effective in 1992 when he posted a 1.43 ERA with 10 saves

Became the Expos' primary closer and had 30 saves in 1995 and 36 saves in 1996

Overall had 126 saves, a 3.82 ERA, and a 107 ERA+

Is part of the Alou baseball family, as he is the nephew of major leaguers Felipe Alou, Jesús Alou, and Matty Alou, and cousin of major leaguer Moisés Alou, and also cousin of Luis Rojas who managed the Mets in 2020 and 2021.

Schwarber, Turang, Gunnar, Will Smith named to USA squad for '26 Classic, by Anthony Castrovince at MLB, 12/9/2025

HOF Votes: You Still Can't Please Everyone, by Jeff Kallman at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 12/10/2025

HOFer Lee Smith didn’t deserve the disdain, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 12/10/2025