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.
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