The New York Yankees made history with a stunning offensive display as they welcomed back former pitcher Nestor Cortes, now with the Milwaukee Brewers. In a remarkable first inning, the Yankees hit four home runs, including three back-to-back-to-back homers from Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Aaron Judge on the first pitch they saw. This marked the first time in MLB history that a team homered on the first three pitches of a game. Tyler Wells capped off the inning with another homer, giving the Yankees a commanding lead early on. Despite the onslaught, the Brewers showed resilience by scoring in the second inning, demonstrating their ability to chip away at the deficit.

Nestor Cortes faced a nightmarish return to Yankee Stadium, allowing four home runs in just the first inning against his former team, the New York Yankees. The sequence began with consecutive homers from Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Aaron Judge, with Judge hitting a staggering 468-foot blast. Cortes's struggles continued as Austin Wells added another home run, making it an unforgettable inning for the pitcher and a triumphant one for the Yankees.

Cortes managed to finish the inning without further disaster, striking out Trent Grisham after allowing two additional Yankees players to reach base. This outing has raised concerns about Cortes's form, especially given it was his return to a stadium where expectations are high. The Yankees capitalized on his mistakes effectively, showcasing their power-hitting capabilities early in the game.

Mark Leiter Jr. of the New York Yankees and Dennis Santana of the Pittsburgh Pirates faced setbacks in salary arbitration, with Leiter being awarded $2.05 million instead of his requested $2.5 million, while Santana will earn $1.4 million compared to his $2.1 million request. The arbitration decisions reflect a broader trend, with teams winning three out of the last four cases. Notably, Mickey Moniak of the Los Angeles Angels successfully negotiated a $2 million salary against a higher request, while Alex Vesia of the Los Angeles Dodgers avoided arbitration altogether by agreeing to a $2.3 million contract.

The arbitration results for Leiter come off a mixed season where he posted a 4.50 ERA in 60 appearances, including a strong postseason showing. Santana's performance was also solid, with a 3.89 ERA over 62 appearances for the Yankees and Pirates last season. As the arbitration period continues, several players, including Brendan Donovan and Nathaniel Lowe, are slated for hearings, adding more intrigue to the offseason.

Mickey Moniak has emerged victorious in his salary arbitration case against the Los Angeles Angels, receiving a raise to $2 million, while the team had proposed $1.5 million. This decision comes from the arbitration panel after hearing arguments from both sides.

Mark Leiter Jr. is also in the spotlight, becoming the first player to face a hearing with the New York Yankees since 2017. He requested $2.5 million, while the Yankees countered with an offer of $2.05 million. His decision will be announced alongside that of Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia and Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana.

Meanwhile, San Diego pitcher Michael King reached an agreement with the Padres for $7.75 million, after being acquired from the Yankees in the trade for Juan Soto. In addition, Milwaukee catcher William Contreras agreed to a $6.1 million deal, showcasing his standout performance from the previous season.

Moniak's statistics from last year included a .219 batting average with 14 home runs and a career-high 49 RBIs. This was his first arbitration eligibility after earning $770,000 previously. Several other players, including Luis Rengifo of the Angels and Nathaniel Lowe of the Nationals, are also set for hearings, highlighting a busy arbitration season.

Mickey Moniak is seeking a substantial raise, requesting $2 million in salary arbitration, while the Los Angeles Angels propose $1.5 million for the outfielder's first arbitration eligibility. Moniak's performance last season included a batting average of .219, 14 home runs, and a career-high 49 RBIs, earning him $770,000 in 2023. The arbitration decision is expected soon from the panel of Melinda Gordon, Samantha Tower, and John Woods, as the Angels navigate contractual discussions with several other players, including Luis Rengifo, who seeks $5.95 million.

Meanwhile, the arbitration process has already seen right-hander Jovan Oviedo lose his hearing, resulting in an $850,000 salary rather than the $1.15 million he requested. Another pending decision involves Pittsburgh's Dennis Santana, who asked for $2.1 million against the team's offer of $1.4 million. As the arbitration hearings continue, teams and players alike are keenly focused on the financial implications of negotiations.