The Baseball Buffet for 2/4/2026

Santana will turn 40 in early April, and has played 16 years in the major leagues mostly with Cleveland, but then also spending one-year or otherwise brief stints with seven other clubs.

For his career he has 335 HR, 1,136 RBI, a .241/.352/.425 slash line, and a 112 OPS+. He has a good eye and is the active leader in walks with 1,330.

In 2025 he played for the Guardians until being released in late August, then was signed for the final month by the Cubs. Overall he hit .219 with 11 HR, 54 RBI, and 7 SB in 124 games.

He was a catcher early in his career but then shifted to 1B and has become very good defensively, winning a Gold Glove Award in 2024.

Outlook: Although Santana is a switch-hitter, over his career he has generally hit LHP better than RHP. The Diamondbacks have Pavin Smith who is a left-handed hitting 1B/OF, who definitely hits RHP better than LHP. So bringing on Santana sets up a nice platoon for these two at 1B, with Santana likely also getting some ABs at DH.

SP Whitey Ford - Yankees (1953-67)

SP Dwight Gooden - Mets (1984-94)

SP Ted Lyons - White Sox (1932-42, 46)

SP Hal Newhouser - Tigers (1939-53)

1B/DH Jason Giambi - Athletics (1995-2001, 09)

SP Frank Viola - Twins (1982-89)

OF Al Oliver - Pirates (1969-77)

OF Reggie Sanders - Reds (1991-98) and six other clubs

OF Ray Lankford - Cardinals (1990-2001)

3B Aramis Ramírez - Pirates (1998-2003), Cubs (2003-2011), Brewers (2012-15)

C Brian McCann - Braves (2005-13, 19)

SP/RP Ellis Kinder - Red Sox (1948-55)

OF Garret Anderson - Angels (1994-2008)

3B/LF Jim Ray Hart - Giants (1963-73)

C Will Smith - Dodgers (2019-25)

OF Andre Ethier - Dodgers (2006-2017)

SP Scott McGregor - Orioles (1978-1988)

C Terry Kennedy - Cardinals (1978-80), Padres (1981-86), Giants (1989-91)

RP Ron Perranoski - Dodgers (1961-67, 72), Twins (1968-71), Tigers (1971-72)

C Paul Lo Duca - Dodgers (1999-2004) and three other clubs

3B Dean Palmer - Rangers (1989-97), Royals (1997-98)

1882: Players will carry their own bats and uniforms. “National League players are now responsible for carrying their own bats and uniforms on road trips. They are also required to purchase and keep clean two complete uniforms, including the white linen ties to be worn on the field at all times.”

1957: Joe McCarthy and Sam Crawford are selected for the Hall of Fame. "Manager Joe McCarthy and outfielder Sam Crawford are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. McCarthy, the winningest manager in major league history, won nine pennants and four consecutive World Championships with the New York Yankees. Crawford, one of the greatest hitters of the deadball era, finished his career with 309 triples, first on the all-time list.”

1969: Bowie Kuhn is named the new MLB commissioner. “Attorney Bowie Kuhn is named commissioner, succeeding Spike Eckert. Kuhn receives a one-year contract paying him $100,000. Major league owners turned to Kuhn after failing to agree on either of two other candidates, Mike Burke of the New York Yankees and Chub Feeney of the San Francisco Giants. The early favorite, John McHale, took his name out of the running early, as he had accepted the job of President of the expansion Montreal Expos a short time before Eckert was ousted.”

First-round draft pick (26th overall) in 1983 by the Brewers

18-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1986-2003, with the Brewers, Blue Jays, Cubs, Pirates, Diamondbacks, and Phillies

Three-time All-Star as a closer for the Brewers

Had 20+ saves four times early in his career, and then continued as a non-closer lefty reliever for many more years

He is seventh all-time with 1,064 games pitched, in part due to his durability as he never went on the disabled list in his entire career.

Overall had 158 saves, a 3.64 ERA, and a 117 ERA+

After retiring he became a sportscaster and has been a regular on the MLB Network since 2009

He is the uncle of Zach Plesac, who so far has pitched six seasons in the major leagues

10-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2009-2018, with the Mariners, Tigers, Nationals, Astros, Red Sox, and Rangers.

In 2011 had a 3.33 ERA over 21 starts for the Mariners, but a lack of run support gave him a 3-12 record. He was traded to the Tigers at the trade deadline and went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA to help Detroit run away with the AL Central.

His career year came in 2014 with the Nationals when he posted a 16-6 record with a 2.41 ERA over 25 starts

Overall had a 83-92 record, a 3.72 ERA, and a 109 ERA+

15-year major league career, spanning from 1901-1918, mostly with the Tigers and Senators

Was versatile in the field, primarily playing 2B but also seeing action at 1B, 3B, SS, and all three OF spots

Had some speed, with 20+ SB four times and a high of 40 SB in 1908

Was a light hitter, with a career .257 average and only 9 HR in 4,341 plate appearances

He was known as a baseball trickster with a good sense of humor (see his Wikipedia page for more)

11-year major league career, spanning from 1912-1922, mostly with the Cardinals, Phillies, and Pirates

Was mostly an OF, but also saw action at all four infield positions

Had some speed, with 24 SB in 1915 and 29 SB in 1916, and also 12 triples in both 1916 and 1920

He went by the nickname Possum, the origin of which is unclear and could be from his childhood or from his frequent tales of possum hunting in the woods (see his SABR-Bio)

Overall had 116 SB and a .269 average

Judge tops star-studded list of best right fielders in MLB, by Brian Murphy at MLB, 2/3/2026

Here are 15 prospects primed to bounce back from injury in 2026, by Ben Weinrib at MLB, 2/3/2026

3 Yankees who should exceed projections in 2026, by Brian Murphy at MLB, 2/3/2026

Here are 3 compelling storylines for Red Sox as camp nears, by Ian Browne at MLB, 2/3/2026

Appreciating David Robertson, by Allen Settle at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 2/4/2026

Not All Winners of Back-to-Back MVP’s at Each Position are HOFers, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 2/4/2026