Call to the pen
Fansided

The Senior Class

By Bill Felber

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 28: Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers during Opening Day at Miller Park on March 28, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 28: Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers during Opening Day at Miller Park on March 28, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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(Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
(Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

A Full Decade

Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera, March 31, 2008 (traded from Florida Dec. 4, 2007, with Dontrelle Willis for Burke Badenhop, Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Mike Rabelo, Frankie De La Cruz, and Dallas Trahern). Until a series of injuries cost him much of the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Cabrera had been the anchor of the Tigers offense. He hit a league-leading 44 home runs in 2012 and has twice led the AL in RBIs, topping 100 RBIs in each of his first seven seasons with Detroit. He was the AL MVP in both 2012 and 2013.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw, May 25, 2008 (2006 draftee). Kershaw is a five-time NL ERA leader, winning the title annually from 2011 through 2014 and again in 2017. He won the Cy Young Award in 2011, 2013 and 2014, and in 2014 put the MVP award on top of it based on a 21-3 season record.

New York Yankees: Brett Gardner, June 30, 2008 (2005 draftee). Taken in the third round of that mighty 2005 draft, Gardner’s speed, hustle, and reliability have made him a regular in a lineup otherwise known for its power. He has played more than 1,360 games in pinstripes.

Texas Rangers: Elvis Andrus, April 6, 2009 (Traded by Atlanta with Beau Jones, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison and Jarrod Saltalamacchia for Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay). Andrus debuted in 2009 and has held the regular shortstop position in Texas ever since. Barring injury, he will surpass 1,500 games with the Rangers in April.

Cleveland Indians: Carlos Carrasco, Sept. 1, 2009 (Traded on July 29, 2009 by Philadelphia with Jason Knapp, Jason Donald and Lou Marson for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco.) Almost MLB ready at the time of his trade, Carrasco was called up when rosters expanded that season and became a rotation starter in 2011. An arm injury sidelined him for all of the 2013 season.

San Francisco Giants: Madison Bumgarner, Sept. 8, 2009 (2007 draftee). Brought to MLB during the 2009 roster expansion, Bumgarner was recalled from Fresno in mid-season 2010 and played a key role in the first of San Francisco’s three World Series wins. He has an 8-3 post-season record including 14 starts, four of them in the World Series. Bumgarner beat batterymate Buster Posey to MLB by three days.

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