The player with the longest time on his team

We’re all looking forward to different kinds of roster changes this offseason: That’s the point of this time of year, after all. Teams change and bring players very fast. And all this makes one appreciate even more those who stay in the same place.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at that player who has had the most time with his current organization. Instead of starting with their first major league game, let’s look at the day they came into the organization, either in a trade, via free agency, the draft, or as an international free agent. (Current free agents don’t count; sorry, Freddie Freeman.

Blue Jays: Ryan Borucki, LZ

Acquired: 15th round of the 2012 Draft

The left-handed reliever may not have shined during his days with the Blue Jays – he has a 4.23 ERA in 64 games in four years – but he has been enduring; he was selected in the 15th round by Toronto in the 2012 Draft.

Orioles: Trey Mancini, OF

Acquired: 8th round of the 2013 Draft

There aren’t many experienced players on the Orioles’ roster, but Mancini has been their rock since he was selected in the eighth round of the 2013 Draft.

Rays: Kevin Kiermaier, CF

Acquired: 31st round of the 2010 Draft

The fantastic center-field defender has spent nearly 12 years with the Rays, an impressive accomplishment for a franchise known for changing payroll a lot.

Red Sox: Christian Vazquez, C

Acquired: 9th round of the 2008 Draft

The Puerto Rican is one of those receivers who seem to have been around for several teams, although he hasn’t really been to another club.

Yankees: Kyle Higashioka, C

Acquired: 7th round of the 2008 Draft

The two longest-serving players in the Yankees are receivers: Gary Sanchez is second to Higashioka, who was selected in the 2008 Draft. This will obviously change if Brett Gardner, currently a free agent, returns to New York.

Guardians: José Ramírez, 3B

Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent, 2009

The Dominican is not yet 30 and has been with Cleveland since 2009. But will he follow in the footsteps of many of his contemporaries, eventually signing elsewhere?

Royals: Salvador Pérez, C

Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent, 2006

The Venezuelan just celebrated his 15th anniversary with the Royals and after his recent contract extension, everything seems to indicate that he will end his career in Kansas City.

Tigers: Miguel Cabrera, BD

Acquired: Trade with the Marlins, 2007

Venezuelan Cabrera is one of only two listed here (along with Nick Ahmed) to be acquired via exchange. December will mark the 14th anniversary of the day the Tigers got Cabrera from the Marlins. Two other players involved in that move, Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller, are also still active.

Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent, 2009

He surpassed Jorge Polanco by a matter of a few days: When the Twins signed Kepler in 2009, he was 16 years old and received a bonus of US $ 800,000, the highest for a player born in Europe (Germany).

White Sox: Tim Anderson, SS

Acquired: 1st round of the 2013 Draft

He was their pick in the first round of the 2013 Draft and now he’s at the center of everything they are as a team. This is how these things are supposed to turn out.

Angels: Mike Trout, CF

Acquired: 1st round of the 2009 Draft

Other players chosen by the Angels in that 2009 Draft: Patrick Corbin, Randal Grichuk and Garrett Richards.

Athletics: Matt Olson, 1B

Acquired: 1st round of the 2012 Draft

The question now is how much time Olson has left in Oakland.

Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent, 2007

The Venezuelan is just 31 years old, which means that he has spent almost half his life in the Astros organization.

Mariners: Kyle Lewis, OF

Acquired: 1st round of the 2016 Draft

Logically it was not going to be any of all those players obtained recently. It’s Lewis, chosen in the 2016 Draft, the current veteran in Seattle.

Rangers: Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS

Acquired: 4th round of the 2013 Draft

The Rangers infielder is not yet 27 years old, but he has been part of the club – and covered different positions – since he was chosen in the fourth round of the 2013 Draft.

Braves: Johan Camargo, Utility

Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent, 2010

Obviously, everyone presumes that Freddie Freeman (2nd round of the 2007 Draft) will return to this position at some point in the offseason, but not just because everyone is bragging it means that he will pass.

Marlins: Brian Anderson, 3B

Acquired: 3rd round of the 2014 Draft

This is the player you would assume would be here, but you also have to assume that some of the current young starters are going to stay with this club for a long time.

Acquired: 9th round of the 2010 Draft

These players were drafted by the Mets ahead of Jacob deGrom in 2010: Matt Harvey, Blake Forsythe, Cory Vaughn, Matt den Dekker, Greg Peavey, Jeffrey Walters and Kenny McDowall.

Nationals: Stephen Strasburg, RHP

Acquired: 1st round of the 2009 Draft

The flamethrower has spent plenty of time on the disabled list in the past two years, but the 2009 top pick – and the 2019 World Series hero – is still here.

Acquired: 2nd round of the 2011 Draft

The only player in the Phillies organization who was there the last time the club made the postseason is… Roman Quinn.

Brewers: Tyrone Taylor, OF

Acquired: 2nd round of the 2012 Draft

With 12 home runs and 43 RBIs nine years after being selected in the second round of the draft, Taylor seems to have finally established himself in Milwaukee.

Cardinals: Yadier Molina, C

Acquired: 4th round of the 2000 Draft

The only player on this list whose tenure with a single team spans five presidential terms in the United States.

Cubs: Willson Contreras, C

Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent, 2009

Contreras is the only one on this roster who even predates Theo Epstein’s arrival with the Cubs organization.

Pirates: Jacob Stallings, C (before his move to the Marlins)

Acquired: 7th round of the 2012 Draft

The recent winner of the Golden Glove was selected in the seventh round in 2012, also known as the Mark Appel Draft of the Pirates.

Acquired: 2nd round of the 2002 Draft

Of the 51 players the Reds selected in the 2002 Draft, only three made it to the majors: Votto, Chris Denorfia and… Nick Markakis (chosen in the 23rd round but who did not sign with Cincinnati and was later selected 7th overall a year next for Baltimore).

Acquired: Trade with the Braves, 2013

Originally drafted by the Braves in 2011 from the University of Connecticut, Ahmed was part of a major 2013 trade between Arizona and Atlanta that involved Justin Upton and Martin Prado (among many others).

Dodgers: Julio César Urías, LZ

Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent, 2012

This is my favorite answer on this list. With Clayton Kershaw in free agency, the longest-serving player in the organization is Urías, who signed as an international free agent in 2012 and is now… 25 years old.

Giants: Brandon Crawford, SS

Acquired: 4th round of the 2008 Draft

With Buster Posey retiring, Crawford and his namesake Brandon (Belt) are the only two players left from that 2014 World Series champion team.

Parents: Dinelson Lamet, RHP

Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent, 2014

I bet this is not the first name that crossed your mind. Lamet was slightly older than most international free agents when he signed. So it is probably a bit older than you might think. The right will turn 30 next season.

Rockies: Charlie Blackmon, OF

Acquired: 2nd round of the 2008 Draft

This is an organization that has dedicated itself to preserving continuity, and no one exemplifies that better than Blackmon.