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Nomadic All-Stars? 8 players in reach of record
- Updated: December 31, 2016
The Detroit Tigers signed reliever Octavio Dotel to a one-year contract on Dec. 9, 2011, signifying a historic day in Major League Baseball history.
Dotel’s deal with the Tigers marked the 13th franchise he would play for, breaking the record previously held by right-hander Mike Morgan, pinch-hitter Matt Stairs and left-hander Ron Villone.
Signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets in 1993, Dotel made his MLB debut for New York in 1999. The right-hander then went on to play for the Astros (2000-04), Athletics (2004-05), Yankees (2006), Royals (2007), Braves (2007), White Sox (2008-09), Pirates (2010), Dodgers (2010), Rockies (2010), Blue Jays (2011), Cardinals (2011) and Tigers (2012-13).
“I’ve been all over the place, but it’s not for bad,” Dotel told ESPN in 2012. “It’s for good, because every time I’m traded or I sign as a free agent, somebody wants me. It means I’m important — for some reason.”
It might have had something to do with his 3.32 career ERA as a reliever or the fact that he struck out 1,143 batters over 951 innings as a Major Leaguer. His lifetime .203 batting average against facing right-handed hitters probably didn’t hurt either.
Dotel never made an All-Star team, but he did win a World Series with St. Louis in 2011.
Dotel’s spot in history, however, could be in danger thanks to some current big leaguers who have traveled nearly as much as the record-holder himself.
Here is a look at some of the active veterans who have a chance to claim the record.
The favorite
Edwin Jackson, RHP, free agent Jackson has played for 11 different franchises, the most among active players, in 14 seasons. His next team will be his 12th, unless he signs with the Rays, Dodgers, Cubs, White Sox, D-backs, Braves, Cardinals, Padres, Nationals, Marlins or Tigers. The right-hander has already suited up for more than a third of the teams in MLB, and the 33-year-old has as good of a chance as anyone to break the record (Dotel pitched until he was 39).
On July 27, 2011, Jackson was traded twice, going from the White Sox to the Blue Jays and then to the Cardinals (in a deal with Dotel, coincidentally enough). Since he never …
