The Baseball Buffet for 12/24/2025

PIT signs 1B/OF/DH Ryan O’Hearn. According to an article by Alex Stumpf at MLB, the Pirates are signing 1B/OF/DH Ryan O’Hearn to a 2-year, $29 million deal. Now 32-years old, O’Hearn was an All-Star for the first time in 2025 and ended the season with a .281 average, .366 OBP, 17 HR, and 63 RBI. The Pirates need more offense, so the hope is O’Hearn can provide that, presumably splitting 1B and DH duties with Spencer Horwitz, and giving others a rest at the corner OF spots as needed too.

CHW signs RP Sean Newcomb. According to an article by Scott Merkin at MLB, the White Sox are signing LHP Sean Newcomb to a 1-year, $4.5 million deal. Newcomb was a first-round draft pick (15th overall) by the Angels in 2014. He was traded to the Braves while still in the minors, and then pitched as a starter for them in 2017 and 2018, but became a reliever after that and has played for three other clubs since. In 2025 he was a mixed starter/reliever for the Red Sox, but was purchased by the Athletics in late May and did very well the rest of the year in a purely relief role posting a 1.75 ERA with 50 K in 51.1 IP over 36 appearances.

CHC signs RP Jacob Webb. According to an article by Jordan Bastian and Brian Murphy at MLB, the Cubs are signing right-handed reliever Jacob Webb to a 1-year deal worth $1.5 million plus performance bonuses, with a team option for a second year at $2.5 million. The 32-year old Webb has pitched six years in the major for four different teams. His last two seasons’ primary numbers have been remarkably similar: 3.02 ERA with 58 K in 56.2 IP for the Orioles in 2024, and then a 3.00 ERA with 58 K in 66 IP for the Rangers in 2025, with his WHIP improving from 1.182 to 1.030.

OF Carl Yastrzemski - Red Sox (1961-83)

SS Cal Ripken Jr. - Orioles (1981-2001)

C Yogi Berra - Yankees (1948-63)

2B Joe Morgan - Reds (1972-79) and four clubs after

C Gary Carter - Expos (1975-84, 92), Mets (1985-89), Giants (1990), Dodgers (1991)

OF/1B Willie Stargell - Pirates (1962-82)

C Bill Dickey - Yankees (1930-46)

OF Ryan Braun - Brewers (2007-20)

3B Gary Gaetti - Twins (1982-90) and three other clubs

OF Albert Belle - Indians (1990-96), White Sox (1997-98)

C Javy López - Braves (1992-2003)

C Bob Boone - Phillies (1973-81), Angels (1982-88), Royals (1989-90)

C John Roseboro - Dodgers (1957-67)

OF Ian Happ - Cubs (2017-25)

1967: Star pitcher Jim Lonborg suffers a skiing accident. “While skiing at Lake Tahoe, Boston Red Sox pitcher Jim Lonborg tears the ligaments in his left knee. Lonborg, who posted a 22-9 record with 246 strikeouts and a 3.49 ERA and received the Cy Young Award, will pitch 12 more seasons in the major leagues, but will not again reach double digits in wins until 1971.”

1969: Curt Flood writes a letter. “In a letter to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, traded St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Curt Flood states his refusal to report to the Philadelphia Phillies citing he is not a piece of property to be sold. The MLB Players Association announces it supports Flood's suit against baseball and will pay his legal fees.”

1990: The White Sox acquire Tim Raines. “The Montreal Expos trade longtime leadoff man Tim Raines to the Chicago White Sox for OF Ivan Calderón and P Barry Jones. In 12 seasons with the Expos, Raines batted .301 and stole 634 bases, the most in franchise history.”

2002: The Yankees sign Jose Contreras. “In a deal which prompts a Boston Red Sox official to call the New York Yankees an "evil empire", Cuban defector Jose Contreras agrees to terms on a four-year contract with New York. Contreras, who was considered the top pitcher on Cuba's national team, was declared a free agent after gaining residency in Nicaragua.”

16-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1997-2012, mostly with the Braves and Rangers, and the rest of his time spent with five other clubs

Had a 17-8 record in his first full season in 1998, and then was an All-Star in 1999 with an 18-7 record, 205 strikeouts, and a 2.68 ERA

Also had an 18-8 record and 3.24 ERA in 2002, his final season with the Braves

Overall had a 169-152 record, a 4.11 ERA, and a 106 ERA+

So far has had a six-year major league career, as a catcher and DH for the Braves and Brewers.

Two-time All-Star, and has hit 17-23 HR in each of the past four seasons

Overall so far has 85 HR, a .273/.357/.448 slash line, and a 121 OPS+

He is the younger brother of major leaguer Willson Contreras

11-year major league career, spanning from 1971-1982, mostly as a SS for the Pirates and Mets

Provided a lot of speed on the bases, with 30+ SB five times and a career high when he led the NL with 70 SB in 1977

A very light hitter, he had a .255 batting average, a .301 OBP, and only 2 career HR in 4,399 plate appearances

2024 - Shohei Ohtani with 54 HR, 59 SB, .310 BA

2034 - Ronald Acuña Jr. with 41 HR, 73 SB, .337 BA

2007 - Hanley Ramírez with 29 HR, 51 SB, .332 BA

1990 - Barry Bonds with 33 HR, 52 SB, .301 BA

1990 - Rickey Henderson with 28 HR, 65 SB, .325 BA

1985 - Ryne Sandberg with 26 HR, 54 SB, .305 BA

1976 - Joe Morgan with 27 HR, 60 SB, .320 BA

1973 - César Cedeño with 25 HR, 56 SB, .320 BA

Welcome to The Blooper Zone, home to the 13 best bloopers of '25, by Michael Clair at MLB, 12/23/2025

Revisiting every team's best win in 2025, by MLB writers, 12/23/2025

What each MLB team would like under their Christmas Tree, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 12/24/2025

Andy Showed Us the Way, by Jeff Kallman at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 12/24/2025