The Baseball Buffet for 12/31/2025

NYY re-signs IF/OF Amed Rosario. According to an article by Bryan Hoch at MLB, the Yankees are re-signing utility player Amed Rosario to a 1-year deal for $2.5 million. The 30-year old Rosario has played nine years in the major leagues, beginning with four seasons for the New York Mets, followed by time with six other clubs since then.

Early in his career he was a starting SS, and had 10+ HR three times and 15+ SB four times. More recently he has been a versatile but part-time utility player, seeing time at 3B, 2B, SS, and the OF.

In 2025 he started the season with the Nationals, but was traded to the Yankees before the deadline in late July. Overall he batted .276 with 6 HR and 1 SB in 191 plate appearances. Even if the Yankees aren’t done making offseason moves, I assume Rosario will make the team given his defensive capabilities at so many positions.

LAA signs RP Kirby Yates. According to an article by Rhett Bollinger at MLB, the Angels are signing right-handed reliever Kirby Yates to a 1-year deal for $5 million. Yates will turn 39 in early March, and has played 11 years in the major leagues, starting first with the Rays, but spending time with seven clubs overall.

Yates led the NL with 41 saves and had an impressive 1.19 ERA and 101 K in 60.2 IP for the Padres in 2019. His career has been marred by injuries, and he has had two Tommy John surgeries. He came back strong in 2024 for the Rangers, posting 33 saves with a 1.17 ERA and 85 K in 61.2 IP. Unfortunately that success didn’t continue into 2025 with the Dodgers as he posted a 5.23 ERA across 50 appearances and 41.1 IP.

The Angels are clearly hoping he can rebound one more time, as their bullpen has several new faces, and as far as I can tell, no settled closer as of yet.

SS Ozzie Smith - Padres (1978-81), Cardinals (1982-96)

2B Lou Whitaker - Tigers (1978-95)

SS Pee Wee Reese - Dodgers (1940-42, 46-58)

OF Richie Ashburn - Phillies (1948-59), Cubs (1961-62), Mets (1962)

2B Bobby Doerr - Red Sox (1938-44, 46-51)

2B Buddy Myer - Senators (1931-41)

SS Carlos Correa - Astros (2015-21, 25)

SS Tony Fernández - Blue Jays (1983-90, 93, 98-99, 2001), and three other clubs

OF Earle Combs - Yankees (1929-35)

OF Tommy Holmes - Braves (1942-51)

SS Elvis Andrus - Rangers (2009-20), White Sox (2022-23)

2B Brian Roberts - Orioles (2001-13)

2B Ozzie Albies - Braves (2017-25)

1897: Charles Ebbets becomes majority owner of the Dodgers. “At the age of 38, Charles Ebbets, who "has handled every dollar" entering the Brooklyn Dodgers club's treasury for the past 15 years, gains a controlling 80 percent interest in the team.”

1918: Kid Gleason takes over as White Sox manager. “Kid Gleason replaces Pants Rowland as Chicago White Sox manager following the team's skid to fifth place. Gleason will win the American League pennant as a rookie skipper, but it will be tarnished by the improprieties of eight members of the so-called "Black Sox" in the 1919 World Series.”

1966: Eddie Mathews is traded to the Astros. “After 15 seasons with the Braves in three different cities, Eddie Mathews is traded to the Houston Astros. The future Hall of Fame third baseman is the only person to play for the Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves.”

1972: Roberto Clemente dies in a plan crash. “Pittsburgh Pirates superstar Roberto Clemente dies in the crash of a four-engine plane over the Atlantic Ocean. The 38-year-old Clemente was supervising the delivery of relief supplies to the earthquake victims of Managua, Nicaragua. The cargo plane, a DC-7 that departed from San Juan Airport in Puerto Rico, crashes shortly after takeoff. In 18 major league seasons, Clemente batted .317, won the 1966 MVP Award, and led the Pirates to World Championships in 1960 and 1971. Shortly after his death, the Hall of Fame's Board of Directors votes to waive the usual five-year waiting period for Clemente, paving the way for his election to Cooperstown in 1973.”

1974: Catfish Hunter signs a big free agent contract. “Free agent pitcher Catfish Hunter, who posted a 25-12 record with the Oakland Athletics, signs with the New York Yankees ending an unprecedented bidding war when he inks a five-year, $3.75 million dollar contract. This is triple the salary of any other major league player.”

Hall of Famer

16-year major league career, spanning from 1878-1893, mostly with Chicago and Boston in the National League, but also played some with four other clubs

Was versatile in the field, mostly playing a mix of C and RF, but also seeing action at all of the other positions, including 12 games as a pitcher

Was a high-average hitter, with two batting titles of .354 in 1884 and .388 in 1886

Also led his league in doubles three times, and runs three times, with five seasons of 120+ runs even though he never played more than 125 games in a season

Stolen base statistics are not available for the first half of his career, but from 1886 forward he had 20+ SB seven times, with highs of 84 SB in 1887 and 68 SB in 1889

Overall had 1,357 runs, a .307/.368/.438 slash line, and a 138 OPS+

16-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1985-2000, mostly with the Twins and Mets

Started out as primarily a starting pitcher, and was both a starter and reliever for the 1986 World Series champion Mets, with a 10-7 record and 3.88 ERA over 141.2 IP

Later became a closer, posting 25+ saves eight times

Three-time All-Star as a reliever, including in 1991 when he had 42 saves and a 2.35 ERA for the World Series champion Twins. Was outstanding in the postseason that year, with five saves and 1.08 ERA in seven appearances

Overall had an 86-81 record, 318 saves, a 3.57 ERA, and a 118 ERA+

11-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2013-2023, mostly with the Rays and White Sox

Had 30+ saves three times, including 37 saves and a 1.91 ERA in 2016, his one All-Star campaign.

Led the AL with 47 saves in 2017

Overall had 159 saves, a 3.36 ERA, and a 125 ERA+

10-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2011-2020, mostly as a reliever for the Kansas City Royals

Was an good setup man early in his career, including posting a 2.35 ERA in 84.1 IP in 2012 and a 1.41 ERA in 70 IP in 2014

All-Star in 2015 with a 2.71 ERA and 2016 with a 2.75 ERA

Had a career-high 26 saves in 2017, but also saw hie ERA that year rise to 4.25

Generally did well for the Royals in the postseason in 2014-2015, with a 1.26 ERA in 22 appearances, with 38 K in 28.2 IP

Overall had 61 saves, a 3.21 ERA, and a 133 ERA+

14-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1995-2008, and playing for eight different clubs

Two-time All-Star, including his career-year in 2003 with the White Sox when he posted a 21-9 record, with a 2.90 ERA, and led the AL 207 strikeouts. He came in distant second to Roy Halladay in the AL Cy Young Award vote.

Won 10-12 games in six other seasons

Overall had a 126-114 record and a 4.65 ERA

260 - Joe Nathan

254 - Rick Aguilera

120 - Glen Perkins

116 - Eddie Guardado

108 - Ron Davis

104 - Jeff Reardon

7 offseason storylines to watch entering 2026, by MLB writers, 12/30/2025

Here are the wackiest, weirdest, wildest plays of the 2025 Minor League season, by Benjamin Hill at MLB, 12/30/2025

Mr. Baseball and Others, RIP, by Matt Veasey at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 12/31/2025