The Baseball Buffet for 12/19/2025

SDP re-signs SP Michael King. According to an article by AJ Cassavell at MLB, the Padres are re-signing right-hander Michael King to a 3-year deal for $75 million (with an uneven payout schedule and player opt outs after each of the first two seasons). The 30-year old King began his major league career with the Yankees mostly as a reliever, but has been a solid starter the past two years for the Padres. In 2024 he had a 2.95 ERA with 201 K in 172.3 IP, and in 2025 he had a 3.44 ERA with 76 K in 73.1 IP across 15 starts.

This is an important signing for San Diego, as they lost Dylan Cease to free agency and Yu Darvish is out for the year due to surgery. King will presumably slot in second in their rotation behind Nick Pivetta, with Joe Musgrove coming back from Tommy John surgery being third. Randy Vasquez, JP Sears, Kyle Hart, and others will compete for the fourth and fifth spots—assuming neither Mason Miller nor Adrian Morejon are converted into starters (which also assumes they aren’t traded).

CLE signs RP Shawn Armstrong. According to an article by Tim Stebbins at MLB, the Guardians are signing right-handed reliever Shawn Armstrong to a 1-year, $5.5 million deal. As Stebbins noted, this is a homecoming for Armstrong, as he was drafted by Cleveland in 2011 and pitched for them in the majors from 2015-2017. Now 35-years old, he has thrown as a reliever for eight different clubs, including the Texas Rangers in 2025 when he impressed with 9 saves, a 2.31 ERA, a 0.811 WHIP, and 74 K in 74 IP. Presumably in 2026 he will be one of a few late-inning setup men for closer Cade Smith.

CHC signs 1B/OF Tyler Austin. According to an article by Manny Randhawa at MLB, the Cubs are signing 1B/OF Tyler Austin to a 1-year, $1.25 million deal. Austin was drafted by the Yankees in 2010, and was up in New York by 2016 in his age-24 season. In 2018 he had 17 HR in only 69 games with the Yankees and Twins, but also hit .230 with 95 strikeouts. After struggling in 2019 with three different teams, he went over to Japan where he has done pretty well between 2020-2025, including 28 HR in 107 games in 2021, 26 HR in 111 games in 2024, and then 12 HR and a .280 average in 72 games in 2025. Now 34 years old, if he makes the team out of spring training Austin could spell Michael Busch at 1B, perhaps play a few games in the OF, and certainly get some at-bats as a DH since the Cubs don’t have a definitive hitter lined up there yet.

MIA signs IF/OF Christopher Morel. According to an article by Christina De Nicola at MLB, the Marlins have signed IF/OF Christopher Morel to a 1-year deal. Now 26 years old, over four years in the majors Morel has played significantly at 2B, 3B, CF, and LF, but apparently Miami is hoping he can learn 1B as that is a need they have for 2026 (Morel has never played 1B in the majors or the minors.) As a hitter he struggled in 2025 with the Rays, batting .219 with a .289 OBP and 11 HR and 7 SB in 105 games. He had 21 HR but only a .196 average in 152 games in 2024, and a more robust .247 average with 26 HR in 107 games in 2023.

Billy Wagner - Astros (1995-2003) and four other clubs

Álex Rodríguez - Yankees (2004-16)

Manny Machado - Orioles (2012-18) and Padres (2019-)

Ronald Acuña Jr. - Braves (2018-)

Salvador Perez - Royals (2011-)

Omar Vizquel - Mariners (1989-93), Indians (1994-2004), Giants (2005-08)

Dave Concepción - Reds (1970-88)

Lance Parrish - Tigers (1977-86) and with four other clubs

Carl Crawford - Rays (2003-10) and Red Sox (2011-12)

John Valentin - Red Sox (1992-2001)

Edgardo Alfonso - Mets (1995-2002) and three other clubs

Max Muncy - Dodgers (2018-)

Ozzie Guillén - White Sox (1985-97) and three other clubs

1983: The Tigers sign veteran Darrell Evans. “The Tigers sign free agent slugger Darrell Evans, who hit .277 with 30 home runs for the Giants last season. 18 teams were interested in signing him and in 1985, he will lead the American League in home runs.”

2001: The Cubs sign OF Moises Alou. “Free agent Moises Alou (.331, 27, 108) signs a $27 million, three-year deal with the Cubs. The former Astros All-Star's presence in the Chicago line-up, along with Fred McGriff and Sammy Sosa, will give the team a fearsome 3-4-5 threesome.”

2002: Godzilla comes to New York. “One of Japan's most heralded players, 28-year-old outfield slugger Hideki Matsui (.334, 50, 107), reaches a preliminary agreement with the Yankees on a $21 million, three-year contract. "Godzilla", the three-time Most Valuable Player of Japan's Central League, rejected the Yomiuri Giants' $33 million, four-year offer opting to play for the Bronx Bombers.”

2011: The Rangers sign Yu Darvish. “The Texas Rangers make the winning bid for star Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish. As expected, the $51.7 million offer is the largest ever made through the posting system, breaking the record of $51.1 million which the Red Sox offered for Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2006. The Rangers now have 30 days to agree on a contract with Darvish.”

Hall of Famer

22-year major league career, spanning from 1953-1974, entirely with Detroit Tigers

All-Star in 15 seasons, and winner of 10 Gold Glove Awards as a RF

Very consistent high-performer who rarely led the AL in major categories, but did lead the AL with a .340 average and 200 hits in 1955

Hit 20+ HR nine times, had 100+ RBI three times, and 100+ runs twice

Overall had 399 HR, 1,622 runs, 1,582 RBI, a .297/.376/.480 slash line, and a 134 OPS+

19-year major league career, spanning from 1958-1976, mostly with the Phillies, but three years each with the Cubs and Tigers

Mostly played 2B, with some time spent at 3B

All-Star in 1960 when he hit .284 with 26 SB, one of six seasons with 20+ SB

Overall had 2,007 hits, 1,005 runs, 234 SB, and a .261 average

14-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2002-2015, playing for six different clubs

Was effective as a reliever early on for the Mariners, with a 1.53 ERA in 2003 and a 2.25 ERA in 2006

Had 27 saves and a 2.97 ERA for the Braves in 2009, then was an All-Star for the Rays in 2010 when he had a 1.73 ERA and led the AL with 45 saves

Went on to have 42 saves with the Yankees in 2012, and then 43 and 32 saves for the Nationals in 2013-14

Overall had 207 saves, a 2.89 ERA, and a 144 ERA+

First-round draft pick (21st overall) in 2006 by the Yankees

17-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2007-2023, playing for six different clubs

With the Diamondbacks in his second full season in the majors, led the NL in wins with a 21-4 record, to go with a 2.88 ERA and 198 strikeouts

Had a career-high 207 K with the Padres in 2014

Later became a reliever, and was the Royals closer in 2019 with 30 saves and a 3.41 ERA. Had 26 saves and a 3.20 ERA the following year with the Rangers and Phillies.

Overall had a 104-114 record, 66 saves, and a 4.16 ERA

9-year major league career in the Negro Leagues, spanning from 1934-1947, with three years spent in military service

All-Star in three seasons

Mostly played 2B and 3B

According to the data available at baseball-reference.com, he was a high-average hitter with a .386 mark in 166 AB in 1935, and a .348 average in 184 AB in 1939

Overall had a .324/.373/.487 slash line and a 132 OPS+

First-round draft pick (27th overall) in 1986 by the Angels

16-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1989-2004, with ten years for the Brewers and Angels, and the remainder spread across six different clubs

Posted a 1.87 ERA over 50 relief appearances and 62.2 IP in 1992

Was a closer for the Brewers with save totals of 17, 22, and 32 from 1994-1996

Overall had 100 saves, a 3.86 ERA, and a 116 ERA+

399 - Al Kaline

373 - Miguel Cabrera

373 - Norm Cash

306 - Hank Greenberg

262 - Willie Horton

245 - Cecil Fielder

244 - Lou Whitaker

239 - Rudy York

212 - Lance Parrish

200 - Bill Freehan

These are the nastiest pitches still on the free-agent market, by David Adler at MLB, 12/18/2025

Top five starting pitchers in Seattle Mariners history, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 12/19/2025

The Prospects Impacting Tigers Free Agency, by Joe Underhill at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 12/19/2025

Numbers the Atlanta Braves Should Retire, by Dan Schlossberg at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 12/19/2025