The Baseball Buffet for 12/16/2025

PHI signs OF Adolis García. According to an article by Todd Zolecki at MLB, the Phillies are signing free agent OF Adolis García to a 1-year deal for $10 million. He will turn 33 in early March, and after three strong seasons from 2021-2023 for the Rangers, he hit only .224 in 2024 and .227 in 2025. His HR production also dropped from a career high 39 in 2023 to 25 in 2024 and then only 19 in 2025. He can still steal some bags, with 24 SB total across the past two years. And he should provide a defensive upgrade for the Phillies in RF (he won an AL Gold Glove Award as recently as 2023).

MIN signs 1B Josh Bell. According to an article by Jason Foster and Matthew Leach at MLB, the Twins are signing free agent 1B Josh Bell to a 1-year deal for $7 million. Bell is a 33-year old switch hitter who will presumably see the bulk of the games at 1B for the Twins, with some ABs at DH too. Although no longer the player he was in 2019 when he hit .277 with 37 HR and 116 RBI for the Pirates, he has consistently hit between 17-22 HR in each of the past four seasons while playing with five different clubs. One flag is that his .237 average in 2025 was the second-lowest of his career.

ATL re-signs IF Ha-Seong Kim. According to an article by Thomas Harrigan at MLB, the Braves are re-signing free agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim to a 1-year deal for $20 million. Kim did well for seven years in his native South Korea, and then signed with the Padres for his age 25 season in 2021, but struggled with a .202 average. He has done better since, with his best season coming in 2023 when he hit .260 with 17 HR and 38 SB. Now 30 years old, in 2025 he batted .234 with 5 HR and 6 SB across 48 games with the Rays and Braves. The Braves’ one open spot was SS, so unless the team makes any further moves, Kim appears to be their solution there for 2026.

SP Whitey Ford - Yankees (1953-67)

SP Dwight Gooden - Mets (1984-94)

SP Ted Lyons - White Sox (1932-42, 46)

SP Hal Newhouser - Tigers (1939-53)

1B/DH Jason Giambi - Athletics (1995-2001, 09)

SP Frank Viola - Twins (1982-89)

OF Al Oliver - Pirates (1969-77)

OF Reggie Sanders - Reds (1991-98)

OF Ray Lankford - Cardinals (1990-2001)

3B Aramis Ramírez - Pirates (1998-2003), Cubs (2003-2011), Brewers (2012-15)

C Brian McCann - Braves (2005-13, 19)

SP/RP Ellis Kinder - Red Sox (1948-55)

OF Garret Anderson (1994-2008)

3B/LF Jim Ray Hart - Giants (1963-73)

C Will Smith - Dodgers (2019-25)

OF Andre Ethier - Dodgers (2006-2017)

SP Scott McGregor - Orioles (1978-1988)

1953: The Yankees and Athletics pull off a big trade. “In a ten-player trade, the Yankees send 1B Vic Power, infielders Jim Finigan and Don Bollweg, OF Bill Renna, C Jim Robertson, and P Johnny Gray to the A's. Philadelphia packs veteran 1B Eddie Robinson, Loren Babe, P Harry Byrd, and outfielders Tom Hamilton and Carmen Mauro to New York. Byrd, who won 26 games in two years for the A's, will never match his wins in New York. The stylish Power, the American Association batting leader this year, will win seven Gold Gloves and make the All-Star team four times.”

1982: “The Franchise” re-joins the Mets. "Tom Seaver's trade back to the Mets from the Reds is completed when "Tom Terrific" comes to contract terms with the Mets. Cincinnati obtains pitcher Charlie Puleo and two minor leaguers (Lloyd McClendon and Jason Felice) in exchange for the "Franchise". Seaver will surprise the Reds by winning 47 more games before hanging it up in 1986.”

1992: The Marlins sign Benito Santiago. “The Marlins sign free agent C Benito Santiago to a two-year contract. Santiago, who went 272 games with the Padres without a passed ball, will have 11 this year trying to catch Charlie Hough.”

1996: Closer John Wetteland joins the Rangers. “The Rangers sign free agent P John Wetteland to a four-year contract worth $23 million. Wetteland had 43 saves for the Yankees this year.”

2002: The Twins release 1B David Ortiz. “The unheralded player will soon be picked up by the Red Sox, for whom he will develop as one of the most accomplished sluggers in the game.”

18-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1975-1992, mostly with the Orioles, but with parts of four seasons for the Blue Jays

Was an All-Star in 1978 and had a 19-15 record and 167 strikeouts.

Won the AL Cy Young Award in 1979 after leading the AL in wins with a 23-9 record, along with a 3.08 ERA and 190 strikeouts

Had 15+ wins five times and 10+ complete games six times

Overall had a 167-143 (.539) record, a 3.90 ERA, and an even 100 ERA+

13-year major league career, spanning from 2008-2022, with the Royals, Brewers, and Nationals. He spent 2019 at AAA, 2020 in Japan, and has continued playing from 2023 to the present in the Mexican League and Venezuelan Winter League.

A good defensive SS, he earned a Gold Glove Award in 2015, his one All-Star campaign

Had 20+ SB four times, with a high of 35 SB in 2012

Generally a light hitter, with a .258 career average, a .295 OBP, and 45 HR in 6,182 plate appearances

So far has had a 7-year major league pitching career, mostly with the Tampa Bay Rays

Has posted 23-27 saves in each of the past three years, with ERA marks of 2.58, 3.57, and 2.83

So far overall has 90 saves, 332 K in 265.1 IP, a 3.19 ERA, and a 130 ERA+

Fairbanks is currently a free agent, so it will be interesting to see where he pitches in 2026.

3,948 - Jim Palmer

2,652.2 - Dave McNally

2,317.2 - Mike Flanagan

2,140.2 - Scott McGregor

2,028.1 - Mike Cuellar

2,009.2 - Mike Mussina

Rumor mill roundup: Updates on every top free agent, trade candidate, by Mark Feinsand at MLB, 12/15/2025

Jim 'Catfish' Hunter: Major League Baseball Free Agent Pioneer, by Bill Pruden at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 12/15/2025