The Baseball Buffet for 12/11/2025

ATL signs OF Mike Yastrzemski. According to an article by Mark Bowman and Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru at MLB, the Atlanta Braves are signing left-handed hitting OF Mike Yastrzemski to a 2-year, $23 million deal. The Braves already have a solid OF composed of Jurickson Profar, Michael Harris II, and Ronald Acuña, but Yastrzemski will be a strong fourth as he can play all three spots. He might also split time with Profar in LF, as he provides stronger defense and the Braves let their DH Marcell Ozuna go to free agency after a relatively poor 2025 season. Last year Yastrzemski hit .233 with 17 HR and 46 RBI, which is no better than Ozuna did really, but he provides the OF defensive flexibility so that is a plus.

PIT signs RP Gregory Soto. According to an article by Alex Stumpf at MLB, the Pirates are signing lefty reliever Gregory Soto to a 1-year deal for $7.75 million. Soto will turn 31 in February, and has played seven years in the majors. He was an All-Star in both 2021 and 2022 for the Tigers, when he posted 18 and 30 saves, respectively. In 2025 Soto had a 4.18 ERA with 70 K over 60.1 IP in a non-closer roles with the Orioles and Mets.

DET re-signs RP Kyle Finnegan. According to an article by Jason Beck at MLB, the Tigers are re-signing reliever Kyle Finnegan with a 2-year deal for $19 million. The 34-year old Finnegan was traded from the Nationals to the Tigers at the trade deadline in 2025. After posting a 4.38 ERA and 20 saves for Washington in 2025, he did quite well for Detroit with a 1.50 ERA and 4 saves over 18 innings of work. He previously had 38 saves and was an All-Star for the Nationals in 2024, and 28 saves for them the year before that.

1917: Grover Cleveland Alexander is sold by the Phillies to the Cubs. “The Phils sell star pitcher Grover Alexander, twice a 30-game winner, and his personal catcher ‘Reindeer’ Bill Killefer to the Cubs for righthander "Iron" Mike Prendergast, C Pickles Dillhoefer, and $55,000. Phils owner William Baker later admits he made the trade because, ‘I needed the money.’”

1923: Carl Mays is sold by the Yankees to the Reds. “The Yankees sell Carl Mays (5-2), who is considered a troublemaker, to the Reds for $7,500. The submariner will win 20 for the Reds next season.”

1941: The Giants trade for slugger Johnny Mize. “The Giants acquire Johnny Mize from the Cardinals for three players - Bill Lohrman, Ken O'Dea and Johnny McCarthy - and $50,000. Because of injuries, Mize's home run production fell from 43 to 16 in 1941, but after a stint in the military, he will bounce back to lead the National League in 1947 and 1948.”

1951: The great Joe DiMaggio officially retires. “Joe DiMaggio officially retires as a member of the New York Yankees with 361 home runs and an average of .325 after 13 seasons. His 56-game consecutive-game hitting streak in 1941 will stand as one of the all-time best diamond achievements.”

1959: The Yankees acquire Roger Maris from the Athletics. “The A's Arnold Johnson gives the New York Yankees an early Christmas present when he gift wraps Roger Maris in pinstripes. The Yankees acquire the slugger in a seven-player deal that sends P Don Larsen, RF Hank Bauer, 1B Marv Throneberry, and LF Norm Siebern to the Athletics.”

1973: Ron Santo is traded, but stays in Chicago. “The Cubs come up with a team Ron Santo will agree to be traded to: Southside rivals the White Sox. P Steve Stone and three other players go to the Cubs.”

1975: The Yankees make two trades, acquiring Willie Randolph, Dock Ellis, Ed Figueroa, and Mickey Rivers. “In a busy day of trading, the Yankees acquire pitchers Dock Ellis and Ken Brett, and second baseman Willie Randolph from the Pirates for hurler Doc Medich. In a separate deal with the Angels, the club trades Bobby Bonds for outfielder Mickey Rivers and pitcher Ed Figueroa.”

1991: The Mets trade for pitcher Bret Saberhagen. “In a blockbuster trade, the Mets obtain two-time Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen along with SS Bill Pecota from the Royals in exchange for Kevin McReynolds, Gregg Jefferies and Keith Miller.”

2000: A-Rod signs the biggest contract in sports history. “Alex Rodriguez signs the richest contract in sports history, a ten-year deal with the Rangers worth $252 million. The quarter billion dollars doubles the previous high of $126 million paid by the NBA's Timberwolves to Kevin Garnett in a six-year agreement signed in October, 1997.”

2003: Andy Pettitte signs with the Houston Astros. “Andy Pettitte inks a three-year, $31.5 million deal with his "hometown" Astros. The 31-year-old Texan, who compiled a 149-78 won-loss record with a 3.94 ERA during his nine-year stint in pinstripes, turned down better offers to stay with the Yankees or go to the rival Red Sox.”

Hall of Famer

11-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1881-1891, mostly with Providence and Boston of the National League

Went 25-11 and 33-19 in his first two seasons, but then posted two consecutive 600+ inning seasons going 48-25 in 1883 and 60-12 in 1884. His 1884 workload was in part due to the other primary pitcher for Providence that year being kicked off the team and Radbourn offering to start all of the remaining games from July 23 onward. Even pitching 678.2 IP over 75 games in 1884, he still lead the NL with a 1.38 ERA which is a 205 ERA+.

His workload returned to a more reasonable (for the era) 400-500+ IP the next three seasons, and then dropped to 200-350 IP in his final four years.

Overall he had a 310-194 (.615) record, a 2.68 ERA, and a 119 ERA+.

16-year major league career, spanning from 1936-1953, mostly as a RF with the Cubs and Phillies

Four-time All-Star, coming in third in the NL MVP vote in 1943 and second in 1944, as he led the NL in HR and RBI both years

Had 20+ HR six times

Overall had 235 HR, a .268/.365/.465 slash line, and a 132 OPS+

12-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1911-1923, mostly with the Giants, Reds, and Cubs

In his first full season in 1915 for the Reds he posted a 17-6 record and an impressive 1.58 ERA (183 ERA+)

He won 20+ games twice, including in 1917 when he had a 24-16 record and 2.20 ERA

Overall had a 139-102 (.577) record, a 2.69 ERA, and a 113 ERA+

First-round draft pick (8th overall) in 1984 by the Twins

Was a "player to be named later" in two trades early in his career, first from the Twins to the Indians, then from the Indians to the Pirates.

Established himself as the Pirates everyday SS from 1989-1996, winning a Gold Glove Award in 1993, one of his two All-Star campaigns when he hit .310 with 16 SB, 9 HR, 9 triples, and 102 runs.

Developed more power late in his career, with 21 HR for the Royals in 1997, and then 20 HR and a career-high 38 HR for the Diamondbacks in 1998 and 1999, respectively. Also had careers highs of 132 runs and 112 RBI in 1999.

Overall had 195 HR, 1,123 runs, a .265/.343/.416 slash line, and a 101 OPS+.

10-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1987-1996, mostly with the Tigers

Was an effective relief pitcher and often a closer, with 20+ saves in seven seasons

Had impressive ERA marks of 1.87 in 1988 and 2.15 in 1995

Overall had 193 saves, a 3.21 ERA, and a 131 ERA+

11-year major league career, spanning from 1991-2001, spending five years with the Astros, and the rest spread over four different clubs

Had a good combination of power and speed, with 15-22 HR five times, and 20+ SB four times.

Overall had 134 HR, 170 SB, a .276/.336/.421 slash line, but given the era he played in, an even 100 OPS+

545 - Sammy Sosa

512 - Ernie Banks

392 - Billy Williams

337 - Ron Santo

282 - Ryne Sandberg

242 - Anthony Rizzo

239 - Aramis Ramírez

231 - Gabby Hartnett

205 - Bill Nicholson

Winter Meetings wrap, but there's plenty of unsettled situations around baseball, by Mark Feinsand at MLB, 12/10/2025

Every pick from the 2025 Rule 5 Draft, plus expert analysis, by Jonathan Mayo at MLB, 12/10/2025

5 key takeaways from Polar Bear's migration to Baltimore, by Will Leitch at MLB, 12/10/2025

6 options for Red Sox after missing out on Schwarber, Alonso, by Manny Randhawa at MLB, 12/11/2025

Joe Buck follows father to Hall as 2026 Frick Award winner, by John Denton at MLB, 12/10/2025