The Baseball Buffet for 12/17/2025

LAA signs RP Drew Pomeranz and RP Jordan Romano. According to an article by Rhett Bollinger at MLB, the Angels are signing left-handed RP Drew Pomeranz to a 1-year deal for $4 million, and right-handed RP Jordan Romano to a 1-year dal for $2 million. Now 37 years old, Pomeranz was the first-round draft pick of the Indians back in 2010 and has pitched 12 years in the majors as both a starter and reliever, spread across seven different clubs. Multiple surgeries and rehab kept him out of the majors from 2022-2024, but in 2025 for the Cubs he did very well with a 2.17 ERA and 57 K in 49.2 IP across 57 appearances.

Romano will turn 33 in April, and has struggled the past two seasons with a 6.59 ERA in just 13.2 IP for the Blue Jays in 2024 (shut down for surgery in early July that year), and then had a very unattractive 8.23 ERA in 42.2 IP for the Phillies in 2025. He seems far removed from the two-time All-Star as a closer for the Blue Jays who had 23, 36, and 36 saves for them from 2021-2023, along with nice ERA marks of 2.13, 2.11, and 2.90. But with Kenley Jansen leaving as a free agent, the closer and late-inning roles for the Angels appear up in the air, so he could play a role if he can recapture even some of his former prowess.

TEX re-signs RP Chris Martin. According to an article by Manny Randhawa at MLB, Chris Martin is re-signing with the Texas Rangers on a 1-year deal. The 39-year old Martin will be pitching in his 11th major league season in 2026 after doing well for Texas in 2025 with a 2.98 ERA, 43 K in 42.1 IP and 49 appearances.

TBR signs SP Steve Matz. According to an article by Adam Berry at MLB , the Rays are signing Steven Matz to a 2-year, $15 million deal. The 34-year old lefty has pitched 11 years in the majors, primarily as a starter, but was an effective reliever last year for the Cardinals and Red Sox, posting a 3.05 ERA across 76.2 IP. According to Berry, the idea seems to be to give Matz a shot at the fifth rotation spot, with likely the first four being (in some order) Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot, Shane Baz, and Shane McClanahan.

SP Red Ruffing - Yankees (1932-1942)

1B/3B Dick Allen - Phillies (1964-69, 75-76), Cardinals (1970), Dodgers (1971), White Sox (1972-74)

OF Jim Edmonds - Cardinals (2000-07)

OF Carlos Beltran - Royals (2000-04), Mets (2005-11), Giants (2011), Astros (2004, 2017)

SP Tim Hudson - Athletics (2000-04), Braves (2005-13)

C/1B Joe Torre - Braves (1960-68)

2B Dustin Pedroia - Red Sox (2007-2019)

C Thurman Munson - Yankees (1969-79)

OF George Foster - Reds (1971-81), Mets (1982-86)

2B Davey Lopes - Dodgers (1972-81)

C Darrell Porter - Brewers (1971-76), Royals (1977-80), Cardinals (1981-85)

OF Tim Salmon - Angels (1992-06)

1B Cecil Cooper - Brewers (1977-87)

OF Shawn Green - Blue Jays (1994-99), Dodgers (2000-04), Diamondbacks (2005-06)

1920: Only existing spitballers may continue. “The American League votes to allow pitchers who used the spitball in 1920 to continue using it as long as they are in the league. The National League will do the same. There will be 17 designated spitters in all, eight in the NL and nine in the AL. For the NL: Bill Doak, Phil Douglas, Dana Fillingim, Ray Fisher, Marvin Goodwin, Burleigh Grimes, Clarence Mitchell, and Dick Rudolph. For the AL: A.W. Ayers, Slim Caldwell, Stan Coveleski, Red Faber, Dutch Leonard, Jack Quinn, Allan Russell, Urban Shocker, and Allen Sothoron.”

1924: The Yankees acquire pitcher Urban Shocker. “The Yankees get four-time 20-game winner Urban Shocker from the Browns for pitchers Milt Gaston, Joe Giard, and Joe Bush. Shocker led the Browns in wins in each of the past five seasons and will be a mainstay on two pennant-winning staffs for New York. Bush had beaten the Browns 17 straight times after losing to them on June 12, 1922.”

1992: Dave Winfield goes home. “The Twins sign free agent DH/outfielder Dave Winfield. Last season for the World Champion Blue Jays, the St. Paul native hit .290 and had 108 RBIs and 26 home runs.”

2003: The Yankees sign slugger Gary Sheffield. “After agreeing to basics weeks ago, the Yankees and 35-year-old Gary Sheffield (.330, 39, 132) finalize a $39 million, three-year deal which includes $13.5 million in deferred money and a $13 million team option for 2007. The seven-time All-Star outfielder played with Braves last year and has spent time with the Padres, Marlins and Dodgers after breaking in with the Brewers in 1988.”

16-year major league career, spanning from 2003-2018, mostly with the Phillies and then his final four years with the Dodgers

Six-time All-Star

Good defensive 2B, who was often amongst the NL leaders in various fielding statistics

Had 20+ HR five seasons in a row, include three that were 30+ HR

Had 100+ RBI four times and 100+ runs four times, including leading the NL with 131 runs in 2006

Led the NL in HBP three times, with 25, 27, 24 HBP from 2007-2009

Was a fairly good postseason performer for the Phillies, with 10 HR and 10 SB over 46 games, including 5 HR and 8 RBI in the Phillies' 2009 World Series loss to the Yankees. (Later in his career he did not do very well in the postseason for the Dodgers, going 4-46 which is a .087 average with 0 HR over 22 games.)

Overall had 259 HR, 1,025 RBI, 154 SB, a .275/.358/.465 slash line, and a 117 OPS+

16-year major league career, spanning from 1960-1975, with nine years for the Reds and the rest with four other clubs

Five-time All-Star

A good defensive SS, he was frequently amongst league leaders in many fielding statistics, and won a Gold Glove Award in 1965

Had a little pop, with 20 HR and 81 RBI in 1966 and 18 HR and 75 RBI in 1971

Overall had 118 HR and a .257 average

9-year major league career, playing briefly in 1884, then the rest spanning from 1887-1897 and mostly with Chicago of the National League

Was an average or below average pitcher for four seasons, but was a star from 1890-1892. He led the NL in wins each year with records of 41-25, 44-19, and 36-36.

He was a workhorse, throwing between 561-622 innings each season, and led the NL in games started and complete games every year. Those years he had solid ERA marks of 2.70, 2.81, and 2.76.

Overall had a 182-163 (.528) record, a 3.59 ERA, and a 112 ERA+. He also completed 321 of the 346 games he started.

11-year major league pitching career in the Negro Leagues, spanning from 1927-1939, mostly with the St. Louis Stars and the Chicago American Giants

According to the data available at baseball-reference.com, he went 15-10 with a 2.93 ERA in his rookie season in 1927. Then he led his league in wins with a 19-3 record in 1928, along with a career-best 2.21 ERA.

Later was a three-time All-Star while with Chicago

Overall had an 82-58 (.586) record, a 3.35 ERA, and a 126 ERA+

15-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1980-1994, mostly with the Red Sox, Mets, and Dodgers

Had his best season in 1986, going 18-5 with a 2.57 ERA, as part of the Mets' World Series Championship starting rotation. He did well in the postseason that year, with a 2.33 ERA in four starts and 27 IP.

Had four other seasons with 12 or 13 wins each

Overall had a 115-98 (.540) record, a 3.65 ERA, and a 104 ERA+

7 - Charlie Gehringer

5 - Rogers Hornsby

3 - Chase Utley

3 - Robinson Canó

3 - Jeff Kent

Top tools remaining on the free-agent market, by David Adler at MLB, 12/16/2025

Who will be the No. 1 prospect in each system one year from now?, by Sam Dykstra at MLB, 12/16/2025

A look back as Mets move forward without revered core trio, by Anthony DiComo at MLB, 12/15/2025