2025 Baseball Eligibles (23)
Adam Jones began his career in Seattle, but after two years, he was traded to the Orioles, where he had the best part of his career. An Oriole from 2008 to 2018, Jones was an All-Star in 2009, and then four years straight beginning in 2012. The Centerfielder had good power numbers, belting at least 20 Home Runs seven times, with his best year coming in…
Known for his versatility, playing at Second, Short, and in the Outfield, Ben Zobrist played the bulk of his career with Tampa, a team he was twice an All-Star and had three 20-Home Run seasons with. In terms of advanced metrics, Zobrist led the American League in bWAR on the strength of his .405 OBP and elite defensive year, though it did not get him…
Brian McCann played the bulk and best part of his career with the Atlanta Braves, the team he was the primary Catcher for from 2006 to 2013. McCann quickly became one of the top offensive Catchers in the National League. While he was with Atlanta, McCann went to seven All-Star Games, earned five Silver Sluggers, and had seven 20 Home Run years, all of which were…
Carlos Gonzalez played ten of his twelve seasons with the Colorado Rockies (2009-18), where the Outfielder was a three-time All-Star. Gonzalez had his best year in 2010, when he led the National League in Hits (197) and won the Batting Title (.336), and would have five other seasons where he eclipsed the 20 Home Run mark. Gonzalez was also a three-time Gold Glove winner and won…
A 19-year veteran, C.C. Sabathia debuted with the Cleveland Indians in 2001, and showed immediately that he was a star, finishing 17-5, leading the AL in H/9 (7.4), and had it not been for Ichiro Suzuki, would have been named the American League Rookie of the Year. Sabathia remained the ace of the Cleveland staff for the next six seasons, going to the All-Star Game…
Clay Buchholz made history in 2007 when he threw a no-hitter in his second-ever start, and the Red Sox would go on to win the World Series. Buchholz would, however, not be a part of the BoSox playoffs, as he was shut down due to shoulder issues, but there were far more accolades to come. Buchholz would have an up-and-down career, with his best year in…
Curtis Granderson came up through the Detroit Tigers organization, first making their team in 2004 and cementing himself as a starter in the Outfield two years later. Granderson led the AL in Triples in 2007 and 2008, and he made his first All-Star Team in 2009, the year he had his first 30-year Home Run season. Granderson was traded to the Yankees in 2019, and he…
Dustin Pedroia debuted in 2006 with the Red Sox two seasons after being drafted in the second round, and it did not take him long to prove that he belonged in the upper tier of American League players. Playing at Second Base, Pedroia was still considered a rookie in 2007, and he would win the Rookie of the Year award with a .317 Batting Average…
Felix Hernandez played his entire MLB career with the Seattle Mariners, the team where he would become the "King" of the Pacific Northwest and all of Baseball. “King Felix” made his first appearance in the Majors in 2005, and after showing gradual improvement over his first few seasons, Hernandez took the throne in 2009, leading the American League in Wins (19), H/9 (7.5), and finishing…
Fernando Rodney had one of the more unique celebrations after a save, as he mimicked shooting an arrow from the mound. As he is a member of the 300-Save club, we got to see it often. Rodney had a long career, 17 years in total, playing for Detroit (2002-09), Los Angeles (AL) (2010-11), Tampa Bay (2012-13), Seattle (2014-15), Chicago (NL) (2015), San Diego (2016), Miami (2016),…
Francisco Liriano had an interesting career, constantly dealing with injuries and poor performance, yet he was one of the best flamethrowers of the game when he was on. Liriano went to his first and only All-Star Game as a rookie with the Twins in 2006, but he was not able to immediately follow up due to Tommy John surgery. The Dominican came back in 2008, and…
Hanley Ramirez won the National League Rookie of the Year in 2006 when he was with the Florida Marlins, and for the rest of the decade, he was one of the top Shortstops in the NL. Ramirez had at least 100 Runs as a rookie, and he hit that mark in his first four years, including leading the league with 125 in 2008. An All-Star three…
Ian Desmond played his first seven years in the Majors with the Washington Nationals, where the infielder would have his best success in Baseball. Desmond's run in Washington included three Silver Sluggers, three 20-plus Home Runs years, and an All-Star campaign in 2012. The Shortstop signed with Texas in 2016, where he was an All-Star for the second time, and afterward, he concluded his career with…
Ian Kinsler made his first appearance in the Majors with the Texas Rangers in 2006, and he quickly cemented himself as one of the better Second Basemen in the American League. Over his career, Kinsler showed power and speed with four 20-plus HR seasons, blasting 257 in total with 1,999 career Hits. He nearly matched his HR tallies in Stolen Bases, swiping 243 bags, and was…
Ichiro Suzuki played his first nine seasons of pro baseball with Orix in Japan, where he was a three-time Pacific League MVP and seven-time Pacific League Batting Champion. In 2001, Ichiro was eligible to play in Major League Baseball, and the Mariners outbid everyone for his rights, though some skeptics thought that he would be too slight to succeed as he had in Japan. Those skeptics were…
Jason Vargas can be best be described as a journeyman Starting Pitcher, completing his career with a .500 record (99-99) with stops in Florida, New York (NL), Seattle, Los Angeles (AL), Kansas City, and Philadelphia. His best year was in 2017 when he was a surprise American League leader in Wins (18) as a Royal. Vargas also was an All-Star that year.
After multiple attempts to escape Cuba to play baseball in North America, Kendrys Morales was finally successful in late 2004. The Los Angeles Angels signed Morales, and the switch hitter would debut for the team in 2006, though it was not until 2009 where he proved his worth as a bona fide Major League Player in a 34 Home Run and 108 RBI year. 2009 would…
Mark Reynolds was arguably a one-tool player, as he had power, but not much else. Playing 12 seasons with stays in Arizona, Baltimore, Cleveland, New York (AL), Milwaukee, St. Louis, Colorado, and Washington, Reynolds smacked 298 Home Runs and had 1,283 Hits, but batted only .236 and struck out a whopping 1,927 times, including leading his respective league four years in a row (2008-11). Reynolds was…
Mark Trumbo was the 2011 runner-up for the American League Rookie of the Year to Tampa’s Jeremy Hellickson, and in that year, the Angels’ First Baseman hit 29 Home Runs. Trumbo would not be a balanced player, but he did have a solid power game over his career. He went to the All-Star Game in 2012 and had 30-plus HR years in 2012 and 2013. Traded to…