The Baseball Buffet for 12/25/2025

MIA signs RP Pete Fairbanks. According to an article by Christina De Nicola and Andrew Simon at MLB, the Marlins are signing right-handed RP Pete Fairbanks to a 1-year, $13 million deal. While the Marlins have some other late-inning relievers on their roster, my assumption is that Fairbanks will become their primary closer. He just turned 32 about a week ago, and has had 23-27 saves in each of the past three seasons for the Tampa Bay Rays, with ERA marks of 2.58 in 2023, 3.57 in 2024, and 2.83 in 2025.

OF Mickey Mantle - Yankees (1951-68)

C Iván Rodríguez - Rangers (1991-2002, 09), Marlins (2003), Tigers (2004-08), Nationals (2010-11)

OF Kenny Lofton - Indians (1992-2001, 07) and five other clubs

2B/OF Craig Biggio - Astros (1989-2007)

OF Reggie Smith - Red Sox (1967-73), Cardinals (1974-76)

C Joe Mauer - Twins (2004-18)

OF Joe Medwick - Cardinals (1933-40), Dodgers (1940, 43)

SS Trea Turner - Nationals (2015-21), Phillies (2023-25)

3B Harlond Clift - Browns (1934-39, 41-43)

SS Mark Belanger - Orioles (1966-81)

SS José Reyes - Mets (2003-11, 16-18) and three other clubs

3B Don Money - Brewers (1973-83)

OF Dom DiMaggio - Red Sox (1940-42, 46-53)

3B Al Rosen - Indians (1948-56)

SS Bobby Witt Jr. - Royals (2022-25)

OF Corbin Carroll - Diamondbacks (2022-25)

1862: A big crowd gathers for a Civil War-era baseball game. “A crowd of 40,000 watches two teams of imprisoned Union Army soldiers play baseball at Hilton Head, South Carolina. Civil War historians are debating the actual size of the crowd.”

1922: All-Americans win over the U.S. Servicemen. “On their tour of the Far East, the Herb Hunter All-Americans, with Casey Stengel and Waite Hoyt among their members, beat a team of U.S. servicemen, 12-5, in Manila. In other games, the All-Americans are the first team of major leaguers to play a Chinese team, in Shanghai, and also play a Korean all-star team in Seoul, whipping them, 21-3. The American all-stars also lost a game in Japan when Zensuke Shimada hit an out-of-the-park home run against Hoyt and the Mita Club defeated the All-Americans, 9-3. Michimaro Ono got the win. It is the first loss by a team of touring U.S professionals in Japan.”

1989: Former player and manager Billy Martin dies in a car accident. “Billy Martin, an All-Star infielder and former manager with five teams, dies in a car accident in Johnson City, NY, at the age of 61. Martin, a five-time New York Yankees manager under owner George Steinbrenner, was rumored to be a candidate to replace current Yankees skipper Lou Piniella. During an 18-year managerial career, Martin posted a record of 1253-1013, led his teams to five American League pennants and guided the Yankees to the 1977 World Championship. He will be buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Westchester, NY, in a plot near Babe Ruth. Steinbrenner, who fired Martin four times (he resigned the fifth time) purchases the plot.”

Hall of Famer

25-year major league career, spanning from 1979-2003, with four stints with the Athletics that totaled 14 seasons, then the rest spread across eight other clubs

10-time All-Star

Primarily played LF, and won a Gold Glove Award in 1981

AL MVP with the Athletics in 1990 when he hit .325 with a .439 OBP ,28 HR, 119 runs, and 65 SB

Led his league in SB 12 times, including 100 SB in 1980, 108 SB in 1983, and a single-season record with 130 SB in 1982

Led his league in runs five times, and had 100+ runs 13 times

Led his league in walks four times, and had 100+ walks seven times

All-time leader in stolen bases (1,406) and runs (2,295)

Overall had 3,055 hits, 297 HR, 2,190 walks, a .279/.401/.419 slash line, and a 127 OPS+

Hall of Famer

15-year major league pitching career, with 8 games in 1875 and then spanning from 1879-1892, mostly with Buffalo and Pittsburgh in the National League

Pitched 400+ innings nine times, including 656.1 IP with a 46-29 record in 1883 and 636.1 IP with a 46-22 record in 1884

Overall had a 356-310 (.541) record, 646 CG in 688 GS, 6,003.1 IP, a 2.85 ERA, and a 107 ERA+

Hall of Famer

19-year major league career, spanning from 1947-1965, mostly with the Chicago White Sox

All-Star in 12 seasons

Strong defensive 2B, winning three Gold Glove Awards

Won AL MVP Award in 1959 after batting .306 with a .380 OBP, 84 runs, and strong defense for the AL Pennant-winning White Sox

Led AL in hits four times and scored 100+ runs four times

Didn't have much power, with only 35 HR in 10,351 plate appearances

Overall had 2,663 hits, 1,279 runs, a .288 average, and a .348 OBP

15-year major league career, spanning from 1930-1946, starting with seven seasons with the Yankees, and the rest spread across six other clubs

Four-time All-Star

Played a pretty even mix of all three OF positions

Led the AL in SB four times, including with a career-high 61 SB in 1931

That year he also had career highs of 17 HR, 122 RBI, and 120 runs

Scored 100+ runs six times

Overall had 1,144 runs, 287 SB, a .302/.383/.440 slash line, and a 114 OPS+

After managing in the minors for a few years, returned to the majors as a pitcher and player/manager.

As described at Wikipedia, "Chapman's accomplishments as a player were overshadowed by the role he played in 1947 as manager of the Phillies, antagonizing Jackie Robinson by shouting racist epithets and opposing his presence on a major league team on the basis of Robinson's race with unsportsmanlike conduct that was an embarrassment for his team. Chapman was fired the following season and never managed in the majors again."

12-year major league career, spanning from 1930-1941, all with the New York Giants

Six-time All-Star

Was a good defensive LF, leading the NL in LF assists four times

Scored 100+ runs three times, and hit over .300 five times, including a career-high .331 average in 1934

Overall had 809 runs, a .298/.344/.408 slash line, and a 104 OPS+

17-year major league career, spanning from 1973-1989, mostly with the Cubs and Phillies, but with some time spent with five other clubs

Four-time All-Star

Mostly played 2B, winning three Gold Glove Awards

Generally a light hitter with a career .263 average, a .316 OBP, and never more than 8 HR in a season

Finding perfect fits for top 14 remaining free agents, by Andrew Simon at MLB, 12/24/2025

These 5 prospects improved their stock the most in 2025, by Rob Terranova and Jim Callis at MLB, 12/24/2025

The inside story of how 'Field of Dreams' got its iconic title, by Sweeny Murti at MLB, 12/24/2025

World Series titles and beyond: The best moments in Mets history, by Anthony DiComo at MLB, 12/25/2025

Here's the most important trait for today's modern manager to succeed, by Anthony Castrovince at MLB, 12/24/2025