25 MLB stars you probably didn't realize began their career with another team

The prelude to his Hall of Fame career saw Johnson suit up for two seasons north of the border. The second-round pick made just 10 starts during his brief tenure, finishing with a dismal 6.67 ERA. In 1989, Johnson was traded midseason to Seattle as part of a package for Mark Langston. It was the turning point of his career as he'd go on to become one of the game's all-time greats with five Cy Young awards, four of which would come in his third stop in Arizona. 

The Dodgers needed immediate help, so they chose to move Martinez to fix a hole at second base. This was a blunder for Los Angeles as Martinez would go on to win a Cy Young three years after the move to Montreal. His time with the Dodgers was mainly as a reliever, but once he got to Montreal and eventually to Boston, he showcased masterful control. Powered by a lethal changeup, Martinez went on to secure three Cy Young awards in his career. 

Scherzer was a first-round pick by Arizona in 2006. When he debuted in 2008, he flashed but was just a tad inconsistent for the Diamondbacks' liking. Arizona flipped him as part of a major Winter Meetings deal that saw him head to Detroit. The change of scenery prompted Scherzer to adjust his mechanics and quickly become the dominant starting pitcher scouts believed he could be. He won his first Cy Young four years after the trade. There aren't many modern-day pitchers who strung together the list of achievements that Scherzer has, including seven straight All-Star appearances and three Cy Youngs. 

Eight games were all Cruz appeared in with his first team. So it's no wonder that many people fail to associate the slugger with Milwaukee. He was a throw-in with Carlos Lee in a move to acquire Francisco Cordero from Texas. It took him some time in Texas, but eventually he developed into an impactful designated hitter, earning his first All-Star nod in 2009. He'd go on to be a four-time Silver Slugger recipient as well as an ALCS MVP. 

The Orioles grew tired of waiting for Arrieta to turn a corner. As a result, they shipped him to Chicago, where he'd finally come into his own. After posting a 5.46 ERA across 69 games with Baltimore, Arrieta soon became a 22-game winner two years after switching teams. That same season was when he won his first Cy Young award. His dominant run didn't last as long as he would have liked, with injuries playing a part in his slide, but Baltimore surely would have enjoyed having a starter like Arrieta all those years had they stuck with him. 

A toxic relationship was what cut Sheffield’s time in Milwaukee short. Following four on-and-off seasons, the club shipped him to San Diego, jumpstarting his eventual Hall of Fame career. The right-handed slugger was a nine-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger recipient. That first season after the trade, Sheffield paid off immediately by winning the NL batting title with a .330 average to go along with 33 homers and 100 RBI. 

This one is likely the most well-known on the list. After all, Ruth is one of the most storied players in history, but his origin is worth repeating. He actually spent six seasons with Boston, plenty of time to be remembered, but it wasn't until he was sold (yes, sold) to the Yankees for $100,000 that he became the legendary figure. The transaction ushered in an all-time great to one of the largest markets and fueled the rivalry even further. All of his milestones, including his MVP season, All Stars, and seven World Series runs, were with the Yankees. 

Bautista was actually a career journeyman before his eventual late breakout in Toronto. He was drafted by Pittsburgh but made his MLB debut with Baltimore in 2004. At one point, he was in five different organizations in one season. He finally found a home in Toronto in 2008, where he'd become the three-time Silver Slugger outfielder. He also made six straight All-Star games beginning with his age-29 season. 

The Padres sold low on a high-end prospect. After being a top pick in Boston before moving to San Diego, Rizzo batted to a quiet .141 in his time out west. The team moved the 21-year-old to Chicago, where he would finally put it together. Rizzo would receive MVP votes in five straight seasons, just two years after the deal. On top of that, he was a four-time Gold Glove winner.  

It took Werth quite a few years to establish himself. For two seasons, he was in-and-out of Toronto’s lineup, and went on to do the same in Los Angeles for another two years with the Dodgers. He found a home in Philadelphia, earning his first All-Star spot there and becoming a key starter for a World Series team.  

The story with Phillips was that of many high-profile prospects who were inconsistent to begin their careers. Cleveland opted to move on from the second baseman. That would be a big mistake, as he would develop into a Gold Glove infielder with a handful of All-Star Game appearances on his resume. He even won a Silver Slugger in 2011. 

A top prospect with the White Sox, Semien was dealt at the 2014 trade deadline in a win-now move that ultimately didn't pan out. Along with the infielder, Chicago also attached another young talent, Chris Bassitt, for one year of Jeff Samardzija. Semien was given a full-time role in Oakland and eventually grew into a three-time All-Star. Ironically, his defense was a question mark within the Chicago organization, a concern that proved false after he went on to win multiple Gold Gloves. 

The Mariners knew Jones could be among the best at his position. Ultimately, they opted to utilize his promise to make a deadline deal for a starting pitcher. Baltimore then received an eventual face of the franchise as Jones flashed his defensive prowess, earning four Gold Glove awards. He also made five All-Star games, including in his second season after the deal. 

The Phillies had Sandberg, a future Hall of Famer, suit up for 13 games before moving him to Chicago. A year in, they moved him to second base, a position where he won nine consecutive Gold Glove awards and eventually an MVP. Eventually, Sandberg returned to the city where he began, but this time as a manager for three seasons.

Can you believe a team released Big Papi? That's what happened when Minnesota cut Ortiz after parts of six seasons with the big club. Boston scooped him and was rewarded with 31 homers and 101 RBI in his first season. That would begin a legendary run with the Red Sox where the Hall of Famer made 10 All-Star Games, won seven Silver Sluggers, and, more importantly, three World Series. He became a playoff hero, with no series more impressive than his 2013 World Series MVP run, during which he batted .688. 

Hoffman's origin story is something out of a movie. The Reds actually drafted him as a shortstop before converting him to a pitcher in the minors. Then the Florida Marlins selected him in the 1992 Expansion Draft as their closer. He even recorded the first save in Marlins history. Eventually, he was moved for another star on this list, Gary Sheffield. With San Diego, he developed a deadly changeup that propelled him to be the first closer ever to reach 500 and then 600 saves in a career. The seven-time All-Star was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2018. 

The Astros lost the eventual Gold Glove winner and All-Star outfielder in the 1997 Expansion Draft after opting not to protect the young prospect. They weren't the only team to move him that season, though. Tampa Bay, which chose him sixth in the draft, shipped him away to Philadelphia before ever playing a game in the Sunshine State. In turn, the Phillies received a player who batted .312 in his first season with them and went on to become a 30-homer, 30-steal player. 

A 2025 Hall of Fame inductee, Kent was dealt in 1992 at the deadline to New York in a package for David Cone. It was a rare time when moving the highly-touted prospect worked out as Toronto won the World Series that season. That being said, it sparked Kent's stellar career, which took some time to fully break out once he ended up in San Francisco. There, he became a five-time All-Star and an eventual MVP. 

Houston gave Lofton 20 games before selling low on the speedy outfielder. Instantly, Lofton demonstrated his immense talent, setting the AL-rookie record with 66 stolen bases. This would kick off a run of five straight seasons in which he would lead the league in steals. His resume includes six All-Star nods and four Gold Gloves. Along the way, he helped revive Cleveland baseball, playing a significant role in their multiple World Series appearances in the 90s. 

No one remembers Konerko's time out west. That's because it spanned just 37 games across two seasons. He eventually ended up in Cincinnati, where he spent only 26 games before moving again. Konerko found a home in the White Sox organization, where he would become a face of that franchise in the early 2000s. He spearheaded the team's run to the 2005 World Series, winning ALCS MVP honors along the way. 

Fans know Hernandez all too well thanks to his playoff heroics over the past few years with Los Angeles. Before becoming a three-time World Series champion, he bounced around organizations. He was called up in Houston in 2014, eventually moving to Miami in a trade. After just 18 games with the Marlines, they shipped him out west, where he became one of the most reliable platoon players in the game. 

The Mets had one of the greatest arms in baseball in their building. Control issues plagued his early years, however, which is why New York moved on from the man they uncovered in teh 12th round of the 1965 draft. He was dealt to Los Angeles, where he rewarded the Angels with the league's most strikeouts in his first season. That would begin a 22-year run where he'd hurl seven no-hitters, make eight All-Star Games, and have a Hall of Fame career for the ages. 

Houston frequently shows on this list, which speaks to their scouting department but also to a bit of impatience. Either way, Hernandez is another eventual All-Star that they found but moved on from. He played sporadically for two seasons there before moving to Toronto, blossoming into a Silver Slugger and All-Star after a few years of harnessing his raw power north of the border. 

Detroit needed an arm after an injury to Max Scherzer, so they moved on from their powerful shortstop. His new club, Cincinatti, switched him to third base, where he would grow into one of the game's best home run hitter wih four 30-plus homer seasons with the Reds. The two-time All-Star has a real shot at joining the 400 home run club before his career wraps up. 

The Reds saw Encarnacion as their third baseman of the future. They gave him five years to show he can be a superstar, but he just never put it all together. He found his way to Toronto in 2009, a city that would welcome him with open arms. Encarnacion rewarded them with multiple 40-homer seasons and five seasons in which he earned MVP votes.