Pro Sports

Plenty of high-profile players wearing new uniforms

Posted March 24, 2017 7:00 am

By ROB MAADDI

FILE - At left, in a March 21, 2017, file photo, Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale throws in the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees, in Tampa, Fla. At right, in a June 21, 2016, file photo, Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale delivers during a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston. Sale traded socks _ or Sox _ from white to red. (AP Photo/File) The Associated Press

Chris Sale traded socks - or Sox - from white to red. Edwin Encarnacion took his big bat to Cleveland. Aroldis Chapman returned to the Bronx.

Plenty of All-Stars, Cy Young winners and MVPs are wearing new uniforms this season.

The biggest move occurred when the Boston Red Sox acquired Sale from the Chicago White Sox. The five-time All-Star left-hander left a team that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2008 for one that's won three World Series titles since 2004.

Encarnacion left Toronto for the team that beat the Blue Jays in last year's ALCS. He averaged 39 homers and 110 RBIs over the past five seasons in Toronto and gives the Indians a major boost.

Chapman is back in New York after spending the first half of last season with the Yankees before he was traded to the Chicago Cubs and helped them win the World Series.

Here's a 25-man roster of familiar faces in different places this season:

STARTING LINEUP

1. CF: Dexter Fowler. Jumped from World Series champion Cubs to rival St. Louis. Gives the Cardinals stability atop the batting order.

2. RF: Adam Eaton. Traded from White Sox to defending NL East champion Nationals. He'll play center field in Washington between Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper.

3. DH: Kendrys Morales. Joined Blue Jays to help fill Encarnacion's void after spending past two seasons with the Royals.

4. 1B: Encarnacion.

5. C: Brian McCann. Traded from Yankees to Astros, giving Houston's stacked lineup another slugger.

6. SS: Ian Desmond. Returns to NL to join Rockies after one season playing outfield in Texas. He'll play first base for Colorado, but he's back at shortstop on this squad.

7. LF: Matt Holliday. Signed with Yankees following 7 1/2 seasons in St. Louis. The seven-time All-Star will likely DH in New York though he'll see some action in left field.

8. 2B: Brandon Phillips. Waived no-trade clause to go to rebuilding Braves after 11 seasons with Reds.

9. 3B: Howie Kendrick. Comes east after spending his entire career in Los Angeles - nine seasons with Angels and last two with Dodgers. Kendrick is playing left field for Philadelphia but he starts at third to fill this lineup.

BENCH

1B: Chris Carter. Landed with Yankees after swatting 41 homers for Milwaukee last season to tie for NL lead.

INF: Jimmy Rollins. Former NL MVP is trying to land a roster spot with San Francisco as a utility man after playing all but one-third inning of his 17-year career at shortstop. Has bounced from Dodgers to White Sox to Giants after 15 seasons in Philadelphia.

OF: Michael Saunders. All-Star for Blue Jays last season and will start in right field for Phillies.

OF: Carlos Beltran. Returns to Houston after spending half the 2004 season with the Astros and hitting eight postseason homers for them.

C: Matt Wieters. Left Baltimore for Washington to replace All-Star Wilson Ramos, who joined Tampa Bay and is still recovering from knee surgery.

STARTING ROTATION

Sale.

Edinson Volquez. Goes from Royals to Marlins.

Jaime Garcia. Lefty joins Braves after eight seasons in St. Louis.

Jered Weaver. Stays in California, switching to Padres after 11 seasons with Angels.

R.A. Dickey. Knuckleballer returns to NL East after four seasons in Toronto. One of two 40-plus former Cy Young award winners signed by Braves.

LONG RELIEVER

Bartolo Colon. Other veteran Braves signed to bolster rotation. He'll be long man on this staff.

BULLPEN

Chapman.

Mark Melancon. Signed with Giants after finishing last season in Washington.

Sergio Romo. Went from San Francisco to rival Dodgers.

Wade Davis. Traded from Royals to Cubs to replace Chapman.

Santiago Casilla. Stays in Bay Area, going from Giants to A's.

___

More MLB coverage: https://www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

FILE - In this March 21, 2017, file photo, New York Yankees' Matt Holliday hits a 2-run home run in the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox in a spring training baseball game, in Tampa, Fla. Holliday signed with the Yankees after 7 1/2 seasons in St. Louis. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this March 21, 2017, file photo, New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman throws against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game, in Tampa, Fla. Chapman is back in New York after spending the first half of last season with the Yankees before he was traded to the Chicago Cubs and helped them win the World Series. (AP Photo/John Raoux, FIle) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2017, file photo, Atlanta Braves infielder Brandon Phillips fields a grounder at the teams spring training facility in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Phillips waived a no-trade clause to go to the rebuilding Braves after 11 seasons with the Reds. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2017, file photo, Washington Nationals center fielder Adam Eaton laughs while taking batting practice during a spring training baseball workout in West Palm Beach, Fla. Traded from White Sox to defending NL East champion Nationals, Eaton will play center field in Washington between Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2017, file photo, Cleveland Indians' Edwin Encarnacion poses for a picture on photo day at the team's baseball spring training facility in Goodyear, Ariz. Encarnacion left Toronto for the team that beat the Blue Jays in last year's ALCS. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, FIle) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2017, file photo, St. Louis Cardinals' Dexter Fowler, right, talks with Matt Carpenter during a spring training baseball workout in Jupiter, Fla. Fowler jumped from World Series champion Cubs to rival St. Louis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2017, file photo, Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Kendrys Morales gets ready for batting practice during baseball spring training in Dunedin, Fla. Morales spent the last two seasons with the Royals. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP, File) The Associated Press

FILE - This March 4, 2017, file photo shows Colorado Rockies first baseman Ian Desmond fields a ball during the first inning at a spring baseball game in Scottsdale, Ariz. Desmond joined the Rockies after one season at Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this March 15, 2017, file photo, Houston Astros' Brian McCann celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Washington Nationals, in West Palm Beach, Fla. McCann was traded from the Yankees to the Astros. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Baseball Content Providers MLB Pro Sports Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.