The Baseball Buffet for 2/12/2026

Bassitt turns 37 later this month and has pitched 11 years in the major leagues mostly with the Athletics and the Blue Jays. He has started 30-33 games in each of the past four season, and led the AL in wins with a 16-8 record for the Blue Jays in 2023.

In 2025 he had an 11-9 record, a 3.96 ERA, and 166 K in 170.1 IP. With shorter rotation needs in the playoffs, the Blue Jays opted to use Bassitt out of the bullpen and he rose to the occasion only allowing 1 ER in 8.2 IP, including making five appearances in the World Series.

Outlook: His postseason bullpen work notwithstanding, for $18.5 million the Orioles surely intend Bassitt to be part of their starting rotation. I’m assuming he’ll join Shane Baz, Trevor Rogers, and Kyle Bradish somewhere in the top four spots, with I guess Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer now competing for the fifth spot.

The 31-year old Phillips has pitched eight years in the major leagues. mostly with the Rays and Dodgers. He had 24 saves and a 2.05 ERA for LA in 2023, then his numbers slipped a bit in 2024 to 18 saves and a 3.62 ERA.

In 2025 he pitched only briefly before needing Tommy John surgery in June.

Outlook: The Dodgers signed Edwin Díaz to be their primary closer, and are hoping for good things from Tanner Scott as well. Phillips likely won’t be ready until the second half, but he could be a welcome bullpen reinforcement at that point.

The 37-year old Mikolas has pitched 10 years in the major leagues, and also three in Japan back in 2015-17. He had a 2.84 ERA and led the NL in wins with an 18-4 record in 2018, his first season with the Cardinals.

He started 31-35 games in each of the past four seasons for St. Louis, with a 8-11 record and 4.84 ERA over 156.1 IP in 2025.

Outlook: Having dealt away ace MacKenzie Gore, the Nats’ rotation now looks to include Mikolas along with Cade Cavailli and Brad Lord. Foster Griffin is coming back over to the US after doing well in Japan, and Josiah Gray is returning from Tommy John surgery that kept him out in 2024. Also in the mix are Jake Irvin, Andrew Alvarez, and Mitchell Parker, with DJ Herz just placed on the 60-day IL as he continues to work back from Tommy John surgery.

Montgomery has pitched eight years in the majors, starting his career with the Yankees but then pitching for three other clubs. This includes the Rangers as he joined them at the trade deadline in 2023 and was part of their World Series championship run.

He struggled in 2024 for the Diamondbacks with a 6.23 ERA over 117 IP and 25 appearances (21 starts). Now 33 years old, Montgomery is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery (the second of his career) that kept him out in 2025.

Outlook: The Rangers have six starters to begin the year in Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore, Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker, and Jacob Latz. So whenever Montgomery can make his return he’ll provide extra rotation depth or replace anyone who has gone down with injuries of their own.

Sánchez has played 11 years in the majors, beginning with an exciting partial rookie season with the Yankees in 2016 during which he hit 20 HR and slashed .299/.376/.657 in 53 games. He later hit a career-high 34 HR for the Bronx Bombers in 2019, his second of two All-Star campaigns.

He later played with five other clubs, including the Brewers in 2024 when he hit 11 HR with a .220 average in 89 games. In 2025 he was with the Orioles but injuries limited him to just 29 games.

Outlook: Now 33-years old, Sánchez will presumably be William Contreras’ backup as catcher, and also get some ABs as a DH.

The 37-year old Hendricks actually started his major league career with Minnesota in 2011, but struggled as a starter for several seasons. He did far better as a reliever for the Blue Jays in 2015 and then really became elite as a closer for the Athletics in 2019 with 25 saves and a 1.80 ERA, his first of three All-Star seasons.

With the White Sox he led the AL with 38 saves in 2021, and then posted another 37 saves in 2022. He then was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and after making only five appearances in 2023 needed Tommy John surgery too.

In 2025 he pitched only briefly in the minors and then also briefly with the Red Sox, struggling with a 6.59 ERA over 13.2 IP in 14 appearances before going on the IL again.

Outlook: Giving Hendricks a shot during Spring Training is a low-risk move by the Twins to see if he has much left after having pitched only 18.2 IP in the majors over the past three years.

OF Carl Yastrzemski - Red Sox (1961-83)

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

C Yogi Berra - Yankees (1948-63), Mets (19650

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

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 (1930-43, 46)

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

OF Ryan Braun - Brewers (2007-20)

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

C Javy López - Braves (1992-2003)

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

3B/SS/1B Ray Boone - Indians (1949-53), Tigers (1953-58), White Sox (1958-59)

C John Roseboro - Dodgers (1957-67)

2B/3B Tony Taylor - Phillies (1960-71)

OF Ian Happ - Cubs (2017-25)

1880: Boston drops season ticket prices by 14%… or $2. “The Boston Red Caps cut the price of season tickets from $14 to $12 after the team failed to win its third straight National League pennant last season.”

1981: Carlton Fisk becomes a free agent. “A contract violation by the Boston Red Sox makes All-Star catcher Carlton Fisk a free agent. In 1980, he batted .289 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI. Fisk will eventually sign a multi-year contract with the Chicago White Sox, for whom he will play during the balance of his career.”

1994: Negro Leagues’ star Ray Dandridge dies at 80. “Third baseman Ray Dandridge dies in Palm Bay, Florida, at the age of 80. The former Negro Leagues star batted .322 for his career and gained election to the Hall of Fame in 1987.”

Hall of Famer

13-year major league career, spanning from 1924-1937, as an OF for the Cardinals and Reds

Hit .330+ in four consecutive seasons, including leading the NL with a .349 average in 1931

Had three consecutive seasons with 25+ HR, 100+ RBI, and 100+ runs

Late in his career he was an All-Star in 1933 and had the first hit in All-Star Game history, a single in the second inning while batting cleanup for the NL team

Overall had 164 HR, 833 RBI, a .317/.372/.526 slash line, and a 133 OPS+

11-year major league career, spanning from 1940-1953 (missing 1943-45 for military service), all spent as a CF with the Red Sox

Seven-time All-Star

Had highs of a .316 average in 1946 and then a .328 mark in 1950

Scored 100+ runs six times, including leading the AL with 131 runs in 1950 and 113 runs in 1951

Also led the AL with 11 triples and a modest 15 SB in 1950

Overall had 1,046 runs, a .298/.383/.419 slash line, and a 111 OPS+

First-round draft pick (22nd overall) in 1972 by the Athletics

16-year major league career, spanning from 1975-1990, with the White Sox and Tigers

Three-time All-Star

Was a good defensive CF, shifting to RF at the end of his career

Hit 17-24 HR eight times, and led the AL with 44 doubles in 1979

Overall had 215 HR, 973 runs, a .273/.355/.442 slash line, and a 121 OPS+

Late first-round draft pick in 2007 by the Reds

11-year major league career, spanning from 2011-2021, mostly as a 3B with the Reds, Mets, and White Sox

Two-time All-Star

Had 25+ HR four times, with highs of 40 HR and 98 RBI in 2016

Overall had 218 HR, a .241/.318/.445 slash line, and a 107 OPS+

9-year major league career, spanning from 1946-1954, mostly with the Cardinals, Pirates, and Cubs

Was a part-time catcher and played in 90+ games three times, including in 1951 when he had a career-high 11 HR

Overall had a .257/.354/.385 slash line and 97 OPS+

After retiring had a long and varied career on radio and television, including many years as a lead baseball announcer for NBC

9-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1966-1974, all with the Astros

Had a career-high 235 K in 1969, then was an All-Star in 1971 when he posted a 16-10 record with a 2.45 ERA and 180 K

Overall had a 104-92 (.531) record, a 3.15 ERA, and a 109 ERA+

Wilson tragically died on January 5, 1975 in what was ruled an accident at his home (see Wikipedia and SABR Bio).

11-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1967-1977, with the Tigers, Padres, Orioles, Braves, Yankees, and Indians

With the Orioles he went 20-8 with a 2.90 ERA and 187 K in 1971, then was an All-Star in 1972 ending the year with a 2.65 ERA, even though he had a losing 16-18 record

In 1974 with the Yankees he had a 19-15 record and 3.07 ERA

Overall had a 122-129 record, a 3.54 ERA, and an even 100 ERA+

5-year major league career in the Negro Leagues, spanning from 1944-1948, with the Philadelphia Stars

Four-time All-Star as a shortstop

According to the data available at baseball-reference.com, he was a high-average hitter with a .343 average over 1,010 at-bats, but had almost no power with only 3 HR

After his five seasons in the majors he played from 1949-1956 in the minors, mostly with Portland of the PCL

7-year major league career, spanning from 1884-1890, mostly as an OF with the Phillies

We lack SB data from his first two seasons, but he had 30+ SB in each of his other five, including highs of 102 SB in 1887 and 99 SB in 1889

He wasn't a high-average hitter, with only a .245 mark for his career

Died at only 27 years old after contracting tuberculosis

49 - Albert Belle (1998)

44 - Jermaine Dye (2006)

43 - Frank Thomas (2000)

42 - Frank Thomas (2003)

42 - Jim Thome (2006)

41 - Adam Dunn (2012)

41 - Paul Konerko (2004)

41 - Frank Thomas (1993)

15 players who could be up for the next notable extension, by Mark Feinsand at MLB, 2/11/2026

Predicting each club's No. 1 prospect in 2028, by Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo, and Sam Dykstra at MLB, 2/11/2026

When Being Really Good Every Year Becomes a Problem, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 2/11/2026

Luis Arraez’s Wise Gamble, by Allen Settle at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 2/11/2026