The Baseball Buffet for 2/15/2026

I won’t recount here his recent turbulent history with the Phillies—you can read Cassavell’s article for some of that. Sticking to the numbers, Castellanos turns 34 in early March, and had one of the least productive seasons of his career in 2025, batting .250 with a .294 OBP, 17 HR, 72 runs, and 72 RBI (his 2025 numbers added up to a below league-average 88 OPS+).

Castellanos has hit 20+ HR six times, and was an All-Star for the Reds in 2021 with a .309 average, 34 HR, and 100 RBI. He was an All-Star again in 2023 with the Phillies, batting .272 with 29 HR, and 106 RBI.

Outlook: Castellanos strikes out a lot (1,617 K in his career) and is a defensive liability in the OF, but for the relatively small amount the Padres will be paying this could turn out to be a great addition. While he has never played 1B in the majors, Cassavell notes he has worked out some at 1B and he would be a natural platoon with Gavin Sheets who doesn’t hit LHP well at all. He’ll no doubt pick up plenty of DH at-bats, and he can also spell Ramón Laureano in LF and Fernando Tatis Jr. in RF as needed.

Márquez turns 31 in about a week and has pitched for the Rockies since 2016. His best season came back in 2018 when he had a 14-11 record, a 3.77 ERA, and 230 K. Injuries have slowed him at times since then, including the need for Tommy John surgery in 2023, which limited him to only five major league starts in 2023/24. In 2025, like many on the Rockies, he struggled and put up a 3-16 record and 6.70 ERA over 26 starts and 126.1 IP.

Canning was a second-round draft pick by the Angels in 2017, and pitched some for them from 2019-21, before missing the entire 2022 season due to injuries. He pitched 127 innings in 2023 and then finally had a full season in 2024 with a 5.19 ERA over 171.2 IP and 32 appearances (31 starts). The Mets signed him as a free agent for 2025, and he was doing well with a 7-3 record, a 3.77 ERA, and 70 K over 76.1 IP when he ruptured his Achilles and was done for the year.

Outlook: The Padres’ rotation has three spots locked up by Nick Pivetta, Michael King, and Joe Musgrove. Márquez and Canning (if he is ready) will compete for the other two spots with Randy Vásquez, JP Sears, Marco Gonzales, Kyle Hart, Triston McKenzie, and Matt Waldron.

Chafin is 35 years old and has pitched 12 years in the majors. He started his career with six full seasons for the Diamondbacks, but since then has pitched for seven different clubs.

In 2025 he split his time between the Nationals and Angels, and overall had a 2.41 ERA with 36 K in 33.2 IP over 42 appearances.

Outlook: Chafin is the third left-handed free agent that the Twins have signed this offseason (Taylor Rogers and Anthony Banda), and will compete with them and incumbent Kody Funderburk for the LHP spots in Minnesota’s bullpen.

1988 Topps Robin Yount folder

1992 Beckett magazine with Robin Yount cover

1989 Paul Molitor Starting Lineup Figure

(7) 1984 Fun Foods Buttons

(15) different oversized cards

(11) different 1980s team stickers

(60) all different Robin Yount cards

(35) all different Paul Molitor cards

All different cards of other 1980s Brewers stars including Ben Oglivie (7), Cecil Cooper (7), Sal Bando (5), Gorman Thomas (9), and Ted Simmons (10)

… and a few other miscellaneous items!

1B Albert Pujols - Cardinals (2001-11, 22), Angels (2012-21)

C Johnny Bench - Reds (1967-83)

3B George Brett - Royals (1975-93)

OF Joe DiMaggio - Yankees (1937-42, 46-51)

3B Brooks Robinson - Orioles (1957-77)

1B Hank Greenberg - Tigers (1934-41, 45-46), Pirates (1947)

1B Jeff Bagwell - Astros (1991-2005)

1B Freddie Freeman - Braves (2010-21), Dodgers (2022-25)

SS Lou Boudreau - Indians (1939-50)

3B David Wright - Mets (2004-2018)

OF Brian Downing - Angels (1978-90), Rangers (1992)

SS/3B Vern Stephens - Browns (1942-47), Red Sox (1948-52)

SS Nomar Garciaparra - Red Sox (1996-2004) and three other clubs

SS Corey Seager - Dodgers (2015-21), Rangers (2022-25)

3B Bill Madlock - Pirates (1979-85)

1B/3B George Scott - Red Sox (1966-71, 79), Brewers (1972-76)

OF Ron Gant - Braves (1987-93) and four other clubs

2B Ian Kinsler - Rangers (2006-13), Red Sox (2018)

C/LF/3B B.J. Surhoff - Brewers (1987-95)

2B Ray Durham - White Sox (1995-2002) and three other clubs

OF Carlos González - Rockies (2009-18)

OF Jim Northrup - Tigers (1967-74)

OF Geoff Jenkins - Brewers (1998-2007)

3B Bob Horner - Braves (1978-84), Cardinals (1988)

1910: A variety of resolutions and rules are adopted. “Both major leagues adopt resolutions banning syndicate baseball, which allowed owners to have financial interests in more than one team. The National League votes for a 154-game schedule to open on April 12th, which the American League has already adopted. Other rules: umpires must announce all team changes to spectators; batting orders must be delivered to the umpire at home plate before the game; a batter is out if he crosses the plate from one batter's box to the other while the pitcher is in position to pitch; a baserunner is out if he passes another runner before the latter has been put out.”

1940: The Tigers’ Hank Greenberg shifts to the OF to make room for Rudy York, who is shifting from C to 1B. “The Detroit Tigers' roster lists Hank Greenberg as an OF. The willingness of the team's leading power hitter to switch, at a contract boost, from 1B allows manager Del Baker to find a position for Rudy York. Also on the list are Dick Bartell, picked up from the Chicago Cubs for Billy Rogell and Pinky Higgins, who had been shopped around. The four, along with Barney McCosky and Charlie Gehringer, produce the stuff that will move the Tigers from fifth to first, although its .588 mark will be as low as that of any pennant-winner yet.”

Hall of Famer

14-year major league career, spanning from 1888-1901, mostly as a CF and LF with Philadelphia and Boston in the National League

Was a high-average hitter, winning two batting titles with a .340 average in 1891 and a .380 mark in 1893, then hit a career-high .403 in a the high-offense 1894 season

Nicknamed "Sliding Billy", he was also an elite base-stealer, leading his league five times, including four 100+ SB seasons. He was the all-time leader in SB until Lou Brock surpassed him, and eventually Rickey Henderson surpassed them both.

Scored 100+ runs in 11 seasons, including 198 runs in 1894 and 166 runs in 1895. Also led his league in walks five times.

Overall had 1,697 runs, 914 SB, 1,189 walks vs. only 362 strikeouts, a .344/.455/.432 slash line, and a 141 OPS+

17-year major league career, spanning from 1971-1987, mostly with the Dodgers and Cubs

Six-time All-Star

Played 3B and was part of the long-running Dodgers infield that also included SS Bill Russell, 2B Davey Lopes, and 1B Steve Garvey

Hit 20+ HR ten times, with career highs of 30 HR and 110 RBI in 1977

Had 7 HR in 45 postseason games, and was World Series Co-MVP (along with Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager) in 1981 after going 7-20 with a HR and 6 RBI

Overall had 316 HR, 1,139 RBI, a .261/.354/.445 slash line, and a 121 OPS+

14-year major league career, spanning from 2006-2019, as a catcher for the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Pirates

Four-time All-Star, and won a Gold Glove Award in 2007

Hit 15+ HR six times, including 20+ HR three times

Had some speed early in his career, with 10+ SB in each of his first four seasons, and a high of 21 SB in 2007

Overall had 191 HR, 101 SB, a .248/.349/.397 slash line, and a 101 OPS+

So far has had a 17-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2008-2024, mostly with the Reds and Giants

Had a 19-9 record and 2.78 ERA in 2012 for the Reds, then was an All-Star in 2014 with a 20-9 record, a 2.25 ERA, and NL-leading 242 K.

Was an All-Star again in 2016 for the Giants, posting a 18-5 record and 2.79 ERA

Overall so far has a 144-113 (.560) record, a 3.52 ERA, and a 116 ERA+

Has not yet retired, pitching in the Dominican Winter League in both 2024/25 and 2025/26

9-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1928-1936, mostly with the Athletics, White Sox, and Dodgers

Led the AL in wins with a 24-8 record in 1929. Posted records of 22-13, 21-7, and 19-13 over the next three seasons.

Did very well in the World Series from 1929-1931, with a 1.58 ERA and 56 K in 62.2 IP

Overall had a 127-93 (.577) record, a 4.38 ERA, and an even 100 ERA+

11-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1995-2005, spending seven seasons with the Expos and his remaining time with five other clubs

Converted to being a reliever early in his career, and had 20+ saves seven times. This included 34 saves with a 1.30 ERA in 1998, leading the NL with 41 saves for the Expos in 1999, and then posting 40 saves for Boston in 2002.

As noted at Wikipedia, "His baseball career was cut short after the 2005 season, as he was arrested by Venezuelan authorities for attempted murder, for which he served seven years in prison."

Overall had 237 saves, 814 K in 697.1 IP, a 3.45 ERA, and a 128 ERA+.

15 must-watch hitters in Spring Training, by Jared Greenspan at MLB, 2/14/2026

These players could crack next year’s Top 10 lists, by Theo DeRosa at MLB, 2/14/2026