« Astros To Designate Rowland-Smith For Assignment | Main | Royals Designate Lucas May For Assignment »

How Teams Obtained Their Opening Day Starters

You can define a No. 1 starter in any number of ways, but in one respect, managers around the game have already done the work for us. Here's a list of the pitchers who got the Opening Day nod this year and how their current teams acquired them:

Draft Picks (15)

• Luke Hochevar, Royals - Selected in the first round of the 2006 draft (1st overall).
• David Price, Rays - Selected in the first round of the 2007 draft (1st overall).
• Justin Verlander, Tigers - Selected in the first round of the 2004 draft (2nd overall).
• Tim Stauffer, Padres - Selected in the first round of the 2003 draft (4th overall).
• Ricky Romero, Blue Jays - Selected in the first round of the 2005 draft (6th overall).
• Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers - Selected in the first round of the 2006 draft (7th overall).
• Mike Pelfrey, Mets - Selected in the first round of the 2005 draft (9th overall).
• Tim Lincecum, Giants - Selected in the first round of the 2006 draft (10th overall).
• Jered Weaver, Angels - Selected in the first round of the 2004 draft (12th overall).
• Jon Lester, Red Sox - Selected in the second round of the 2002 draft.
• Yovani Gallardo, Brewers - Selected in the second round of the 2004 draft.
• Trevor Cahill, Athletics - Selected in the second round of the 2006 draft.
• Josh Johnson, Marlins - Selected in the fourth round of the 2002 draft.
• C.J. Wilson, Rangers - Selected in the fifth round of the 2001 draft.
• Mark Buehrle, White Sox - Selected in the 38th round of the 1998 draft and later extended.

Free Agent Signings (8)

• C.C. Sabathia, Yankees - Signed a free agent contract worth $161MM over seven years in December, 2008.
• Derek Lowe, Braves - Signed a free agent contract worth $60MM over four years in January, 2009.
• Ryan Dempster, Cubs - Signed a free agent contract worth $52MM over four years in November, 2008.
• Carl Pavano, Twins - Signed a free agent contract worth $16.5MM over two years in January, 2011. The Twins originally traded for him in 2009, but Pavano has since hit free agency.
• Kevin Correia, Pirates - Signed a free agent contract worth $8MM over two years in December, 2010.
• Brett Myers, Astros - Signed a free agent contract worth $5.1MM for one year in January, 2010 and later extended.
• Livan Hernandez, Nationals - Signed a free agent contract worth $900K for one year in February, 2010 and later extended.
• Chris Carpenter, Cardinals - Signed a free agent contract worth $500K for one year in December, 2002 and later extended.

International Free Agent Signings (3)

• Felix Hernandez, Mariners - Signed as an amateur free agent in July, 2002.
• Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies - Signed as an amateur free agent in April, 2001.
• Fausto Carmona, Indians - Signed as an amateur free agent in December, 2000.

Trades (3)

• Roy Halladay, Phillies - Acquired from the Blue Jays in a December, 2009 trade that sent Michael Taylor, Travis d'Arnaud and Kyle Drabek to Toronto and later extended.
• Edinson Volquez, Reds - Acquired from the Rangers in a December, 2007 trade that sent Josh Hamilton to Texas.
• Ian Kennedy, Diamondbacks - Acquired from the Yankees in a December, 2009 trade involving the Yankees and Tigers.

Waiver Claims (1)

• Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles - Acquired from the Indians in a January, 2007 waiver claim.

---

Lijit Search

---

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner