Issue #537

The goal with The Baseball Buffet series is to provide the best daily dose of relevant baseball info in a smart-brevity format (mostly short bullets, getting to the point, with quick analysis/insights.) Think of it like what baseball fans of a certain age would look forward to in their morning newspaper’s sports section each day!

⚾ Welcome! ⚾

Not too much offseason activity yesterday, with the one news item being a three-team trade involving a player that was rumored to be on the trade block for a while:

Mariners acquire IF/OF Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals. According to an article by Daniel Kramer at MLB, the Mariners, Cardinals, and Rays worked out a three-way trade that brings infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan to Seattle from the Cardinals, 3B Ben Williamson from the Mariners to the Rays, and three minor leaguers and two competitive balance round B picks going to the Cardinals.

  • Much like other St. Louis Cardinals veterans this year, 29-year old Brendan Donovan had been rumored to be on the trading block. An All-Star last year, he ended the season with a .287 BA, .353 OBP, 10 HR, and 32 doubles.

  • He won the NL Utility Gold Glove Award in his rookie season in 2022, and has continued to provide St. Louis with a lot of position flexibility (2B, 3B, 1B, LF, RF, and a little SS too).

  • In determining his 2026 role, the Mariners likely will leverage that flexibility and see how other players do during Spring Training. 22-year old 2B Cole Young was their first-round draft pick (21st overall) in 2022 and played 77 games in Seattle last year. And I’m assuming 20-year old infielder Colt Emerson, although primarily a SS, will be given a look at 3B. He was the Mariners’ first-round draft pick (22nd overall) in 2023, and last year hit .285 with 16 HR and 14 SB across A/AA/AAA.

  • For the Rays, they are getting 25-year old 3B Ben Williamson, who was a rookie for the Mariners in 2025, hitting .253 with 1 HR and 5 SB in 85 games, with a .314 average, 5 HR, and 10 SB in 52 games at AAA. For now he projects to be an infield backup for 3B Junior Caminero, 2B Gavin Lux, and SS Carson Williams and Taylor Walls.

  • The Cardinals are obviously in re-build mode, having already traded away Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado. In this deal with Seattle and Tampa they are picking up RHP Jurrangelo Cijntje and OF Tai Peete from Seattle, OF Colton Ledbetter from Tampa, and Competitive Balance Round B picks (one each from Seattle and Tampa).


Today’s Trivia Question

When Clayton Kershaw is eventually elected to the Hall of Fame, he will be the sixth Hall of Famer that played his entire major league career (AL/NL) with the Dodgers. Can you name the other five?


Countdown to Spring Training!

Continuing with this fun series… Spring Training games are now just 17 days away, so here are some top players who had uniform #17 for extended periods of time (and the teams they wore it with). The following list is an extended version of what I shared in December when I was counting down the last couple of weeks until the end of the year.

  • 1B Todd Helton - Rockies (1997-2013)

  • 3B Scott Rolen - Phillies (1997-2002)

  • 1B Keith Hernandez - Mets (1983-89)

  • OF/1B Lance Berkman - Astros (2000-10)

  • DH/SP Shohei Ohtani - Angels (2018-23), Dodgers (2024-25)

  • 1B Mark Grace - Cubs (1988-2000), D-Backs (2001-03)

  • SP Dizzy Dean - Cardinals (1932-37)

  • OF/DH Nelson Cruz - Rangers (2006-13)

  • SP Camilo Pascual - Senators/Twins (1957-66), later Senators (1967-69)

  • SP Charlie Root - Cubs (1935-41)

  • SP Mel Parnell - Red Sox (1947-56)

  • 3B/LF Kris Bryant - Cubs (2015-21)

  • SP Denny McLain - Tigers (1965-70)

  • SP Frank Lary - Tigers (1955-64) and three other clubs

  • SS Chico Carrasquel - White Sox (1950-55), Indians (1956-58), Orioles (1959)

  • SP Carl Erskine - Dodgers (1948-59)

  • RP Dick Radatz - Red Sox (1962-66), Expos (1969)

  • 1B Donn Clendenon - Pirates (1961-68), Expos (1969)

  • IB/OF Darin Erstad - Angels (1999-2006), White Sox (2007)

  • 3B Kelly Gruber - Blue Jays (1984-92), Angels (1993)

  • 3B Chris Sabo - Reds (1988-93, 96) and two other clubs

  • 2B/3B Jim Ganter - Brewers (1978-92)


On this day in baseball history…

Here is what stands out to me for this day in baseball history. All quoted descriptions are from baseball-reference.com.

📅 On February 3…

  • 1900: A different kind of ballpark battle. "Rival forces fight for control of the Union Park Ball Grounds in Baltimore. John McGraw's men camp around a fire at third base. Ned Hanlon, his former manager in Baltimore in the 1890s, now manager of Brooklyn and still president of the Baltimore club in the National League, has forces camped around first base."

  • 1975: Herman, Averill and Harris are selected for the Hall of Fame. "Billy Herman, Earl Averill and Bucky Harris are selected for the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee. Herman was a ten-time All-Star second baseman who batted .304 in 15 seasons and played in four World Series. Averill batted .299 or better in nine of his first ten seasons and finished as a .318 career hitter. Harris managed the Washington Senators to two pennants in his first two seasons as a player-manager and later won another Championship as skipper of the New York Yankees."

  • 1977: Dihigo and Lloyd are selected for the Hall of Fame. "The Special Committee on the Negro Leagues elects Martin Dihigo and shortstop John Henry "Pop" Lloyd to the Hall of Fame. Dihigo, born in Cuba, was the greatest two-way player of the 20th Century, a dominant pitcher and also an excellent infielder and outfielder from 1923 to 1945. Lloyd, a standout shortstop and dangerous hitter, played in the Negro Leagues from 1906 to 1932."

  • 1979: The Twins trade Rod Carew to the Angels. "The Minnesota Twins trade star first baseman Rod Carew to the California Angels for outfielder Ken Landreaux and three lesser players (Dave Engle, Paul Hartzell and Brad Havens). Carew, who hit .333 for the Twins in 1978 and is the reigning AL batting champion, had vowed never to play again for owner Calvin Griffith after he made disparaging remarks against black players a few months earlier. He will hit .318 for the Angels this season and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991."

  • 1987: The Expos trade Jeff Reardon to the Twins. "The Montreal Expos send relief ace Jeff Reardon and catcher Tom Nieto to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for pitcher Neal Heaton, catcher Jeff Reed, and two minor leaguers. Reardon will save 31 games for the Twins this season and help the team to its first World Championship."


🎂 Today’s Birthday Boys 🎉

Row 1: Fred Lynn, Slim Sallee, Joe Coleman
Row 2: Bake McBride, Lucas Duda, Rougned Odor

Fred Lynn (1952)

  • 17-year major league career, spanning from 1974-1990, with the Red Sox, Angels, Orioles, Tigers, and Padres.

  • Had an incredible rookie season in 1975, earning both the AL Rookie of the Year Award and AL MVP Award after batting .331 with a .401 OBP, 21 HR, 105 RBI, 10 SB, and leading the AL with 103 runs and 47 doubles

  • Nine-time All-Star, and also won four Gold Glove Awards for his fine defense in CF

  • In 1979 led the AL with a .333 average and .423 OBP, while hitting 39 HR with 116 runs and 122 RBI

  • Was an extremely consistent HR hitter in his 30s, with 21-25 HR in seven consecutive seasons from 1982-1988

  • Hit the first-ever grand slam in an All-Star game on July 6, 1983 off NL pitcher Atlee Hammaker

  • Did well in the postseason in 1975 and 1982 with a cumulative .407/.450/.593 slash line over 15 games and 54 AB

  • Overall had 306 HR, 1,111 RBI, a .283/.360/.484 slash line, and a 129 OPS+

  • See the article “10 moments that defined Fred Lynn” by Ian Browne at MLB

  • And here are some videos: his ASG Grand Slam, a Bio video, and two clips from his appearance on Fantasy Island:

Video (0:46):
1983 All-Star Game

Video (25:10):
The Fred Lynn Story - Red Sox Bios

Video (0:57)
Clip 1 from Fantasy Island episode

Video (0:32)
Clip 2 from Fantasy Island episode

Slim Sallee (1885-1950)

  • 14-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1908-1921, mostly with the Cardinals and Giants

  • Had 15+ wins six times, including an 18-7 record and 2.17 ERA in 1917, and then a 21-7 record and 2.06 ERA in 1919

  • Frequently pitched in relief on days he wasn't the starter, such that he started 306 games during his career but came out of the bullpen another 170 games and had 36 saves

  • Overall had a 174-143 (.549) record, a 2.56 ERA, and a 114 ERA+

Joe Coleman (1947-2025)

  • 15-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1965-1979, mostly with the Senators and Tigers, but also spending some time with five other clubs

  • Had a three-year peak for the Tigers with a 20-9 record, 236 K, and 3.15 ERA in 1971; a 19-14 record, 222 K, and 2.80 ERA in 1972 (his one All-Star campaign); and a 23-15 record, 202 K, and 3.53 ERA in 1973

  • Overall had a 142-135 record and a 3.70 ERA

Bake McBride (1949)

  • 11-year major league career, spanning from 1973-1983, mostly as a CF and RF with the Cardinals and Phillies

  • Won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1974 after batting .309 with 30 SB and 81 runs

  • Was selected as an All-Star in 1976 as he hit .335 that year but missed most of the second half of the season due to injuries

  • Had 25+ SB five times

  • Apparently was given the nickname Bake after his father who also had that nickname (see SABR-Bio)

  • Overall had 183 SB, a .299/.345/.420 slash line, and a 109 OPS+

Lucas Duda (1986)

  • 10-year major league career, spanning from 2010-2019, mostly with the Mets

  • Hit 25+ HR three times

  • Played some RF and LF early in his career, but primarily played 1B

  • Overall had 156 HR, a .239/.334/.448 slash line, and a 115 OPS+

Rougned Odor (1994)

  • 10-year major league career, spanning from 2014-2023, mostly as a 2B with the Rangers

  • Hit 30+ HR three times, and had 10+ SB four times

  • Overall had 178 HR and a .230 average

Currently active players who were born on February 3 include MIA Anthony Bender, SEA Andrew Knizner, and ATH Brooks Kriske.


Baseball Quote of the Day

One of today's Birthday Boys (see above) is Fred Lynn, so here are two good quotes from him:

"One man doesn't make a team. All the awards are great, but they are secondary to winning. If we didn't win, none of these awards would mean anything."

"I was never afraid of anyone, but had serious respect for Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson. It was pretty tough to hang in there against their breaking pitches when their fastballs are whizzing by you at nearly 100mph."

⚾ I hope you enjoyed the newsletter today! ⚾


Today’s Trivia Answer

The five lifetime Dodgers in the Hall of Fame are: Roy Campanella, Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson. (As noted in the question, I’m only counting time spent in the AL/NL—Roy Campanella also played eight years in the Negro Leagues, while Jackie Robinson played one.)


Good Reads

Here I am providing one or more links to baseball articles I’ve enjoyed recently, whether by writers at MLB.com or elsewhere.

See recent issues of The Baseball Buffet for more recent good reads!

Did you know? I wrote a 600+ page book with the same title as this newsletter/blog? Now Taking the Field: Baseball’s All-Time Dream Teams for All 30 Franchises was published in early 2019, by ACTA Sports. It is available at Amazon and most other major booksellers.

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