Eight Veterans Who Will Wear Different Uniforms in 2020
No Longer Will Anthony Rondon Wear This Washington Nationals Uniform
It was strange last spring to first behold Manny Machado, who had been with the Baltimore Orioles his entire career, wearing a San Diego uniform. The same was true for Bryce Harper, who exchanged his long-time Washington Nationals uniform for that of the Philadelphia Phillies.
It was not just the free agents like Machado and Harper who looked out of place in new outfits, but also some players who switched teams through trades. Yasiel Puig changed from Dodger blue to Cincinnati red, while Paul Goldschmidt left behind his Arizona jersey to don that of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Those notable changes took some time to get used to but, according to baseball columnist Chris Landers, there are several such images that he still has not come to terms with in almost a hundred years. In his January 10,2020 article on MLB.com, Landers is still shocked whenever he sees a picture of Babe Ruth in a Braves uniform instead of Yankee pinstripes.
While none of them will be as odd as beholding Babe in Boston threads, there will be some changes that will take some getting used to in the 2020 season. Here are eight veterans who, after having spent at least the first five years of their career with the same club, will be wearing new uniforms when Spring Training begins next month.
Madison Bumgarner
World Series Most Valuable Player Bungarner, when won the championships with the Giants, is moving from San Francisco to the Arizona Diamonbacks.
Alex Gordon
Thirteen years after playing outfield for the Kansas City Royals, free agent Gordon will be suiting up in a yet undetermined uniform come late February.
Cory Kluber
In spite of winning a Cy Young Award and being runner-up several other times, the long time ace of the Cleveland Indians was traded to the Texas Rangers over the winter.
Anthony Rondon
He won the World Series with the Washington Nationals, but just several weeks after that celebration the third baseman signed a lucrative free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mikel Franco
All of his potential had yet to be maximized in his six years with the Philadelphia Phillies, so the third baseman will be given a new start as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Hyun Jin Ryu
The reliable starter spent six years with Dodgers, but now he will be part of the rotation for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Zack Wheeler
Wheeler has been with the Mets since 2011, when New York traded Carlos Beltran to get the young right hander. Because he has left for Philadelphia, Wheeler will not get to play under the guy for whom he was traded.
Julio Teheran
After nine years with Atlanta, the right hander is now departing after signing a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
