Team-Player Reunions to Keep an Eye on in 2017
By Keaton Moore
After a busy winter, some MLB teams are bringing back familiar faces to their clubhouses. A team-player reunion could be exactly what these ballplayers need to rejuvenate their careers.
Every MLB offseason, teams work to grow stronger through free agent signings and trades. The Cleveland Indians boosted their chances of reclaiming the American League championship with the addition of Edwin Encarnacion. Likewise, the Boston Red Sox seek postseason redemption with their acquisition of Chris Sale.
While Encarnacion, Sale and others find themselves in unfamiliar clubhouses, a number of ballplayers reunite with their former teams in 2017. As we saw in 2015 with A.J. Burnett, who returned to the Pittsburgh Pirates after pitching for them from 2012-2013, a reunion can rejuvenate one’s career. Despite a devastating 8-18 season with the Philadelphia Phillies, Burnett’s former team signed him for one final season. He rewarded their faith and Burnett went 9-8 with a career-low 3.18 ERA, which earned him an All-Star nomination.
Seeing the good a reunion did for Burnett, a few teams, especially the Oakland Athletics, are placing their faith in former ballplayers. Time will tell if their confidence is properly placed, but here is a slideshow of the team-player reunions set for 2017.