One of many warmest sights in baseball in 2023 was seeing Andrew McCutchen again in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform. It simply regarded proper, didn’t it?
Seeing Cutch again with the franchise the place he bought his begin, the place he received the 2013 NL MVP Award, made you’re feeling like every part was coming full circle and all was proper on the planet. We bought an analogous expertise the yr earlier than with Albert Pujols’ return to St. Louis. Generally, you simply wish to see an outdated pal again in his outdated uniform.
There are nonetheless many, many free brokers available on the market, and searching by way of the listing, yow will discover some enjoyable potential reunions between notable gamers and considered one of their outdated groups — not least of which may very well be McCutchen heading again to Pittsburgh once more.
Listed here are some gamers we’d like to see again of their outdated jerseys in 2024. Gamers are listed in alphabetical order.
Elvis Andrus, INF, Rangers
12 seasons with TEX (2009-20)
Andrus performed his final recreation with the workforce he got here up with in 2020, which is why you may not bear in mind it. He has been with the A’s and the White Sox since then, with the Rangers changing him with Corey Seager — which was not a foul deal. However when you bear in mind the notorious David Freese Fall Traditional triple in 2011, the primary participant the digital camera captures who’s not celebrating is Andrus, who holds his fingers over his head in disbelief. The Rangers have now vanquished that historical past with their first World Sequence title. Possibly they let Elvis — who’s ranked second in most video games performed as a Ranger — come again and exorcise these demons himself.
Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Reds
6 seasons with CIN (2010-15)
Youngsters, collect ‘spherical grandpa right here and let him inform you the story of again when Chapman was being groomed to be a starter. He was! Chapman began 13 video games for Triple-A Louisville again in 2010, and the Reds had been significantly contemplating protecting the Cuba native within the rotation. They wised up in ‘12 and made him their nearer, after which he made 4 consecutive All-Star groups. He has been with the Yankees, Cubs, Royals and Rangers since then, profitable two World Sequence rings alongside the way in which. Maybe a return may very well be within the offing for a Cincinnati membership that would use some aid assist? (They need to positively preserve him within the bullpen this time.)
Josh Donaldson, 3B, A’s
4 seasons with OAK (2010, 2012-14)
The Bringer of Rain had the worst yr of his profession in 2023, as he struggled by way of accidents, which resulted within the Yankees ultimately simply flat-out releasing him. (He was picked up by the Brewers and wasn’t a lot better with them.) However perhaps one final go-around with the workforce he broke in with may rejuvenate him on the tail finish of his profession. It’s not like bringing a Bash Brother again, but it surely’s not that removed from it.
Wealthy Hill, LHP, Cubs
4 seasons with CHC (2005-08)
It’s not solely clear whether or not Hill will pitch in 2024, and it’s not just like the Cubs want yet one more pitcher who doesn’t throw very arduous, however c’mon: What may very well be extra becoming than Hill returning to the franchise he broke in with method again in ‘05? Hill is a wholly completely different pitcher than he was again then, and the Cubs, properly, they’ve gone by way of rather a lot since ‘05 themselves. He has at all times felt like an ideal match at Wrigley anyway. In the event that they received’t do an entire season, perhaps only one extra recreation?
Craig Kimbrel, RHP, Braves
5 seasons with ATL (2010-14)
Whereas we’re having reliever reunions with unique groups, how about Kimbrel in Atlanta? The Braves drafted Kimbrel method again in 2007, and he joined the massive league workforce three years later, profitable the Rookie of the Yr Award in ‘11 and main the NL in saves for 4 straight seasons. Once you shut your eyes and consider Kimbrel, don’t you consider him as a Courageous first? If he makes it into the Corridor of Fame, it’s possible the workforce that’ll be on his plaque. Letting him say goodbye to the followers who first cheered for him could be a superb solution to (doubtlessly) ship him off to Cooperstown.
Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays
10 seasons with TB (2008-17)
All proper, so this one has to occur, proper? Longoria is the all-time Rays chief in primarily each counting stat: WAR, at-bats, video games, whole bases, runs, doubles, residence runs and RBIs. (He’s really 9 hits behind Carl Crawford. Give him that one, too!) He’s the perfect participant in franchise historical past, and the one who ushered of their new age of success after years within the growth wilderness. He’s recent off a World Sequence look. He’s Evan Longoria! They’re the Rays! This has to occur!
Hyun Jin Ryu, LHP, Dodgers
6 seasons with LAD (2013-14, 2016-19)
For years, the South Korea native was often known as a man who couldn’t keep on the mound however was downright dominant when he was on the market. Then in 2019, he made 29 begins and put up a 2.32 ERA, ending second in NL Cy Younger Award voting alongside the way in which. That bought him a pleasant four-year contract with Toronto. Whereas that resulted in additional accidents and significantly much less dominance, Ryu nonetheless appears to have some actual worth when deployed rigorously. And you might bear in mind the Dodgers being in want of some beginning pitching final October — or actually all all through ‘23.
Carlos Santana, 1B, Guardians
10 seasons with CLE (2010-17, 2019-20)
Santana, just a little like José Ramírez, was a persistently underappreciated star for his first eight years in Cleveland, taking part in a strong first base, hitting for energy and at all times, at all times getting on base. Don’t forget, this man had a .379 OBP in that 2016 World Sequence in opposition to the Cubs. He has bounced round since then as an occasional Commerce Deadline acquisition, however he’d assist a Guardians workforce that would at all times use an offensive enhance. He can nonetheless get into one, too. Santana smacked 23 homers final yr, just one fewer than Ramírez, really.
Justin Turner, 1B/DH, Mets
4 seasons with NYM (2010-13)
Oh, you thought I used to be going to say Dodgers, didn’t you? Effectively, positive, it might really feel proper to see Turner — who was superb for the Purple Sox in 2023 — again in Dodger Blue. However I’m arguing we return even additional, all the way in which to ‘13. After that season, Turner was infamously non-tendered by the Mets earlier than heading to Chavez Ravine and turning right into a cult hero. He has gone by way of rather a lot since ‘13. Heck, all of us have.
Michael Wacha, RHP, Cardinals
7 seasons with STL (2013-19)
St. Louis has already signed three beginning pitchers, so it would look like a tricky squeeze right here, however you’ll be able to by no means have sufficient pitching. Wacha has reinvented himself up to now two seasons after some ugly struggles with the Mets and Rays, however he was by no means higher than he was with the Cardinals, significantly throughout that unimaginable 2013 postseason run when he was practically unhittable (and received the NLCS MVP Award). Lance Lynn, additionally part of that ‘13 workforce, is again. How about Wacha?