The Baseball Buffet for 12/22/2025

CHW signs IF Munetaka Murakami. According to an article by Scott Merkin and David Adler at MLB, the White Sox are signing Japanese star infielder Munetaka Murakami to a 2-year, $34 million contract. While who he was going to sign with was uncertain, that he was likely to strike a deal by this weekend was predictable as his 45-day negotiating window began on Nov. 7 and so was running out.

The 25-year old left-handed hitter has played more 3B than 1B in his eight year career so far, but it seems likely he’ll play mostly 1B for the White Sox (or DH too). It will be interesting to see how his power translates to the MLB game, as he has hit 30+ HR in five seasons in Japan, including a high of 56 HR with 134 RBI and a .318 average, winning the Triple Crown, in his age-22 season in 2022. Last year he was limited by injuries, but still managed to bat .273 with 22 HR in only 56 games.

SP Lefty Grove - Athletics (1931-33), Red Sox (1934-41)

3B Chipper Jones - Braves (1995-2012)

1B Johnny Mize - Cardinals (1936-1941)

3B Ron Santo - Cubs (1960-73), White Sox (1974)

OF Andre Dawson - Expos (1977-86), Red Sox (1993-94)

3B/OF Gary Sheffield - Padres (1992-93), Marlins (1993-98), Dodgers (1998-2001), Mets (2009)

3B Ron Cey - Dodgers (1971-82)

SP Tommy Bridges - Tigers (1933-46)

SS Miguel Tejada - Orioles (2004-07) and three other clubs after

OF Rusty Staub - Astros (1963-68), Expos (1969-71), Mets (1975, 81-85), Tigers (1976-79)

SS Phil Rizzuto - Yankees (1941-56)

OF Lloyd Waner - Pirates (1932-41)

C Jim Sundberg - Rangers (1974-89)

SS/2B Marcus Semien - Athletics (2015-20), Blue Jays (2021)

C J.T. Realmuto - Phillies (2019-25)

3B Justin Turner - Dodgers (2014-22)

1B Edwin Encarnacion - Blue Jays (2011-16), Indians (2017-18), Mariners (2019)

OF Adam Jones - Mariners (2007), Orioles (2008-18), Diamondbacks (2019)

OF Justin Upton - Diamondbacks (2007-12)

C Sherm Lollar - White Sox (1953-63)

OF Vernon Wells - Blue Jays (2000-10), Angels (2011-12)

1B Chris Chambliss - Yankees (1974-79), Braves (1980-86)

1915: An agreement is signed to end the young Federal League. “Organized Baseball and the Federal League sign a peace treaty at Cincinnati, ending their two-year war. The FL agrees to go out of existence, but the Major Leagues pay an enormous price: $600,000 for distribution to FL owners; amalgamation of two FL franchises, one each into the National League and the American League; recognition of FL players' eligibility, and agreement to bid for them in a Fed-controlled auction. The owners of the Baltimore Terrapins, hoping to get ownership of the Cardinals, balk, but conferees, eager for settlement, defer their claims - a decision they will repent at leisure when the Baltimore owners take their grievance all the way to the Supreme Court in a landmark case.”

1980: Oops… someone missed a deadline. “The Boston Red Sox mail Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk their new contracts two days after the Basic Agreement's December 20th deadline. Boston's blunder make their All-Stars eligible for free agency.”

Hall of Famer

24-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1965-1988, mostly with the Phillies and Cardinals

10-time All-Star, and won a Gold Glove Award in 1981

Won the NL Cy Young Award four times (1972, 1977, 1980, 1982). Won the NL Pitching Triple Crown in 1972 with a 27-10 record, a 1.97 ERA, and 310 strikeouts, while completing 30 of his 41 starts.

Led the NL in strikeouts five times, with 200+ K in eight seasons

Remains fourth in all-time strikeouts, with 4,136 K in 5,217.2 IP

Overall had a 329-244 (.574) record, a 3.22 ERA, and a 115 ERA+

Hall of Famer

11-year major league career, spanning from 1886-1896, mostly with Washington and Pittsburgh in the National League

Was primarily a catcher, but played some 1B and OF also

Was only a .244 career hitter, but had some speed on the bases, with 25+ SB three times

Is best known for his long tenure as a major league team manager and owner. This began as a player/manager for the Pirates for parts of three seasons from 1894-96, but then when the AL was launched in 1901 Mack was the manager and part owner of the Philadelphia Athletics. Mack continued as manager for an amazing 50 years, with a losing career record of 3,582-3,814 (.484), but with nine AL pennants and five World Series championships (1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 1930) to his credit.

19-year major league career, spanning from 1969-1987, all with the Dodgers and Padres

He began as a part-time player (mostly at 3B) for the Dodgers for several seasons, but then shifted to 1B and was NL MVP in his first full season in 1974 after hitting .312 with 21 HR, 200 hits, and 111 RBI

10-time All-Star, and won four consecutive Gold Glove Awards at 1B from 1974-1977

Had 20+ HR six times and 100+ RBI five times

Led the NL in with 202 hits in 1978 and 200 hits in 1980

Had the fourth longest consecutive games played streak at 1,207 (September 3, 1975 to July 29, 1983).

Was a good postseason performer, with a .338 average and 11 HR in 55 games. He was NLCS MVP with the Dodgers in 1978 and NLCS MVP with the Padres in 1984.

Overall had 272 HR, 2,599 hits, 1,308 RBI, a .294/.329/.446 slash line, and a 117 OPS+

First-round draft pick (3rd overall) in 1974 by the Phillies

17-year major league career, spanning from 1978-1994, mostly with the Phillies, Cardinals, Royals, and Braves

Was primarily a LF with speed, with 25+ SB seven times, including a career-high 68 SB in 1982. He also led the NL with 120 runs in 1982, his one All-Star campaign.

Didn't have much power, never hitting over 10 HR in a season except in 1989 when he produced 21 HR with 89 runs, 25 SB, a .315 average, and an NL-leading .415 OBP

Overall had 370 SB, 909 runs, a .288/.371/.420 slash line, and a 118 OPS+

15-year major league career, spanning from 1960-1974, mostly with the Giants, Pirates, and Cardinals

Mostly played CF, but with some games at RF, LF, and 1B

Won the NL batting title with a .342 average in his first season for the Pirates in 1966

Two-time All-Star, including in 1969 when he hit .331 with 105 runs and led the NL with 231 hits and 41 doubles

Had very little power, with only 31 HR in 6,220 plate appearances

Had some speed on the bases with 15-23 SB six times

Overall had 156 SB, a .307/.345/.381 slash line, and a 105 OPS+

Was part of a major league baseball family as brother of Felipe Alou and Jesús Alou, cousin of José Sosa, and uncle of Moisés Alou, Luis Rojas, and Mel Rojas

12-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2011-2022, entirely with the Orioles and Yankees

Began as a starter, but switched to relief work after three seasons. Was the Orioles' closer for three full seasons with 37 saves and a 1.65 ERA in 2014, 36 saves and 1.92 ERA in 2015, and an AL-leading 47 saves with a microscopic 0.54 ERA in 2016.

Was an All-Star in 2015 and 2016, and from 2014-2020 had a 1.84 ERA

Interestingly, Britton never batted in the majors or minors, except as a rookie in 2011 during interleague play, when he went 5 for 8 with a HR and a double.

Overall had 154 saves, a 3.13 ERA, and a 135 ERA+

17-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1986-2004, playing for eight different clubs

Was mostly a setup man for many years until joining the Cleveland Indians as a free agent after the 1996 season. He had 15 saves in 1997, 40 saves with a tidy 1.55 ERA in 1998, and then 39 saves in 1999.

Overall had 142 saves, a 3.42 ERA, and a 126 ERA+

First-round draft pick (6th overall) in 1976 by the Angels

11-year major league career, spanning from 1977-1987, spending two years with the Angels, two with the Twins, and then the rest with the Dodgers

Played all three OF positions, but primarily CF

Had a .305 average with 15 HR, 93 RBI, and 81 runs in his first full season in 1979, and then was an All-Star the following year.

Had 15+ SB four times, with highs of 31 SB in 1982 and 30 SB in 1983

Overall had 91 HR, 145 SB, a .268/.317/.400 slash line, and a 99 OPS+

7 - Roger Clemens

5 - Randy Johnson

4 - Steve Carlton

4 - Greg Maddux

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