Russell Branyan Most traded MLB player ever?

The Game Room
1

Poor Russell. After being drafted by Cleveland in '94 and playing with them for 8 years, his travelling began.

6/7/02 traded to CIN

2/5/04 signed as a free agent w/ ATL

4/25/04 traded back to CLE

7/26/04 traded to MIL

1/6/06 released by MIL

1/31/06 signed by TB

8/24/06 traded to SD

8/7/07 re-signed with CLE!

8/9/07 purchased by PHI

8/31/07 traded to STL

2/20/08 re-signed w/ MIL

12/3/08 signed w/ SEA

2/24/10 RE resigned w/ CLE!!

6/26/10 traded to SEA

2/16/11 signed w/ ARI

5/21/11 released by ARI

5/26/11 signs a 4 year 45 million dollar deal with the CA Angels.

Is this the worst it gets for MLB players? What does his wife and kids think? But, I guess the 45 million deal with the Angels makes it all worthwhile or does it?

2

Sorry, you’re saying the Angels gave Branyan a 4-year, $45 million deal? When did that happen?

Astoundingly, however, Russell Branyan has not moved around as much as some guys. Branyan has played for 10 different teams. OCtavio Dotel, Matt Stairs, Mike Morgan and Ron Villone all played for 12, and at least half a dozen guys played for 11.

Jose Bautista and Dave Kingman played for four different teams in the same season - in fact, Kingman played for a team in each of the 4 divisions that existed at the time. Bautista was actually employed by five teams in one calendar years but only actually played for four.

3

I couldn’t believe the deal he got from the Angels either, but its right here in the LA Times.

Russell’s 16 teams (some more than once) may not be the record, but its up there with some of the worst.

4

Well then the Times is grossly incorrect. I have no idea where they got that info from.

5

To me this is the craziest stretch. This means he spent the 2007-08 offseason with five different teams, three of which he didn’t play for.

I know that Bobo Newsom still holds the records for most times traded back to one team–he played in five separate stints with the Washington Senators. Branyan will tie that if he gets traded back to the Indians.

6

Wait… Russell Branyan was a Cardinal in 2007? Why do I not remember this…

7

Bobo Newsom:
September, 1929: Sent from Macon (South Atlantic) to the Brooklyn Robins (i.e., Dodgers) in an unknown transaction. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)
April, 1931: Purchased by Kansas City (American Association) from the Brooklyn Robins. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)
September 30, 1931: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs from Little Rock (Southern Association) in the 1931 rule 5 draft.
October 2, 1933: Drafted by the St. Louis Browns from the Chicago Cubs in the 1933 rule 5 draft.
May 21, 1935: Purchased by the Washington Senators from the St. Louis Browns for $40,000.
June 11, 1937: Traded by the Washington Senators with Ben Chapman to the Boston Red Sox for Mel Almada, Rick Ferrell and Wes Ferrell.
December 2, 1937: Traded by the Boston Red Sox with Red Kress and Buster Mills to the St. Louis Browns for Joe Vosmik.
May 13, 1939: Traded by the St. Louis Browns with Beau Bell, Red Kress and Jim Walkup to the Detroit Tigers for Mark Christman, George Gill, Bob Harris, Vern Kennedy, Chet Laabs and Roxie Lawson.
March 31, 1942: Purchased by the Washington Senators from the Detroit Tigers for $40,000.
August 30, 1942: Purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Washington Senators for $25,000.
July 15, 1943: Traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to the St. Louis Browns for Archie McKain and Fritz Ostermueller.
August 31, 1943: Purchased by the Washington Senators from the St. Louis Browns.
December 13, 1943: Traded by the Washington Senators to the Philadelphia Athletics for Roger Wolff.
June 3, 1946: Released by the Philadelphia Athletics.
June 5, 1946: Signed as a Free Agent with the Washington Senators.
July 11, 1947: Purchased by the New York Yankees from the Washington Senators.
February 6, 1948: Released by the New York Yankees.
April 12, 1948: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Giants.
June 19, 1948: Released by the New York Giants.
April 14, 1949: Signed as a Free Agent with the Washington Senators.
June 16, 1952: Released by the Washington Senators.
June 16, 1952: Signed as a Free Agent with the Philadelphia Athletics.
November 19, 1953: Released by the Philadelphia Athletics.

Remember, too, that there were only 16 teams back then. He played for 9 different clubs, and made 17 stops in the majors.

8

The $45 million deal is a mistake. The Angels signed him to the minimum. Not that it wouldn’t be in keeping with their organizational philosophy; they’re paying Vernon Wells $23 million to bat .215.

Anyway, it’s worth noting most of the players named so far don’t get TRADED every time. Branyan wasn’t trade from the D-Backs to the Angels; the Diamondbacks fired him, and the Angels signed him up.

9

Maybe because he arrived after the season was over for the Cards that year (Aug 31, 2007) and by the time spring training (2008) came along, he was already traded away.

10

Yeah, I still find it really odd I have this hole in my memory. I went to some of those games. He got 32 ABs. He even hit a home run.

Although after digging up the 2007 baseball-reference.com page, I guess I’m glad parts of that season have apparently been blacked out…

11

Just so we know what kind of player we’re talking about here, Bobo was 211-222 in 20 years, one of only two 200 game winners with a sub-.500 record. Won 20 thrice, lost 20 thrice. Led the league in strikeouts once, and in walks twice. 55th career in innings pitched. He died of cirrhosis of the liver at 55.