Can You Identify the MLB Team If We Give You Three of Their Current Players?

SPORTS

By: Daniel Yetman

6 Min Quiz

Image: Wiki COmmonsa by Keith Allison

About This Quiz

There are a handful of teams in the major leagues that are permanently stacked with talent. Each year, the Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox have a revolving cast of guys that are perennial MVP candidates. It's no coincidence that these are also the three teams with the highest payrolls going into the 2019 season.

For small market teams to compete with these big spenders, they need to build a robust farm system to bring in fresh talent before their players are due for a payday.

The last time the Yankees finished last in their division was 1990 and before that 1966. Since 1995, they've won the AL East division 15 times. If there weren't for teams like the Yankees in the league, baseball wouldn't be as entertaining.  

In 2001, the Diamondbacks matched up against the Yankees in a David versus Goliath type matchup. They defeated the Yankees in seven games to keep the Bronx Bombers from winning their fourth straight World Series. 

How well do you know the rosters of each team in the league? We don't doubt that you can rattle off the names of players on the Yankees or Red Sox, but how about the White Sox or Padres? If you're ready to put your 2019 baseball knowledge to the test, let's get started!

With Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Luke Voit, it's no wonder this team set the MLB all-time home run record last year. Which team are they?

The Yankees hit a combined total of 267 home runs last season which broke the single-season record set by the Seattle Mariners in 1997. Stanton led the team with 38 dingers, and four players hit exactly 27.

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Albert Pujols, Mike Trout, and Shohei Ohtani play for which West Coast team?

The Los Angeles Angels always seem to have a star-filled roster, but they haven't made it to the league championship since their World Series win in 2002. However, Mike Trout is locked up for the next decade, so perhaps another World Series is coming soon.

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Can you name the young team anchored by Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, and Welington Castillo?

At the beginning of the 2019 season, there was talks of the White Sox making a run at signing Manny Machado. Even though Machado ended up going to San Diego, expect the talent-loaded White Sox to creep near the top of their division in the next few years.

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This team has been arguably the best team in the league over the past five years. Their roster includes Justin Verlander, Michael Brantley, and Jose Altuve. Which team are they?

The Astros have won more than 100 games in each of the last two seasons, and as of June 2019, they're on pace to win more than 100 games again. The last time they finished below .500 was in 2014 when they won 70 games.

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There aren't many veterans on this team besides Nelson Cruz, Byron Buxton, and Jonathan Schoop. What team is it?

The Twins haven't made it past the AL Division Series since losing to the Angels in the AL Championship Series in 2002. However, their young core could change that in the next couple of years. Maybe they'll soon win their first World Series since 1991.

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This team is famous for doing well with a low budget. For which team do Matt Olson, Khris Davis, and Scott Piscotty play?

The Oakland Athletics consistently have one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. In 2019, they're ranked 26th. Can you guess what team is No. 1? That honor belongs to the Red Sox at about $226 million.

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This American League team is home to Miguel Cabrera, Nicholas Castellanos, and JaCoby Jones. Who are they?

The Tigers won their last World Series in 1984. They went through a streak of four playoff appearances from 2011 to 2014, but they've only finished over .500 once since then. They're coming off two seasons with only 64 wins.

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This team is home to upcoming superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. You might also recognize the names Randal Grichuk and Marcus Stroman. Their team's name is the _______.

The Blue Jays are the only team north of the border since the Expos moved from Montreal to Washington. They're home to one of the most highly touted prospects of the last decade. If Vlad Jr. is anything like his dad, he has a long, successful career ahead of him.

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Which team is loaded with speedy players, including Billy Hamilton, Adalberto Mondesi, and Whit Merrifield?

The Royals made it to back-to-back World Series in 2014 and 2015. Unlike the Rangers who made back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011, the Royals had a happy ending in 2015 when they took home the championship.

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Josh Donaldson, Freddie Freeman, and Nick Markakis are among the leaders of which NL team?

The Atlanta Braves were one of the most successful teams in the league throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. They made it to the playoffs every year from 1995 to 2005. They currently have a young core, so don't be surprised if they make another playoff run soon.

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They play in the most hitter-friendly park in the league. Players on their roster include Trevor Story, Ian Desmond, and Nolan Arenado. Who are they?

Coors Field, where the Rockies play, is one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the league because of the elevation. The team installed humidifiers to try to keep balls inside the park, but it's still a home run paradise.

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Which NL Central team is home to Mike Moustakas, Ryan Braun, and Jesus Aguilar?

The NL Central is one of the most competitive divisions in the league right now. The Brewers managed to edge out the Cubs in 2018, but in 2019, the Brewers, Cardinals, and Cubs are all fighting for first place. Even the Reds and Pirates are league average teams.

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Can you name the team for which Joey Votto, Eugenio Suarez, and Jesse play?

The last time the Reds won the NL Central was 2012. They lost the National League Divisional series to the Giants that year. They haven't finished over .500 since 2013 and are coming off a 67 win season last year.

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Dexter Fowler, Matt Carpenter, and Adam Wainwright are all part of one of the most successful NL franchises of all time. Which team is it?

The Cardinals are consistently a threat to win the pennant. After starting the 2010s with a World Series in 2011, another deep run in 2012, and a World Series appearance in 2013, they've gone through a cold streak. However, they're making another playoff push in 2019.

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They're one of the most iconic teams in the league. They're also home to Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts, and Chris Sale. Who are they?

Since breaking the 'Curse of the Bambino' in 2004, the Red Sox have been on fire. They went on to win the World Series in 2007, 2013 and 2018. They're off to a slow start in 2019, but it would be foolish to count them out.

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Do you know where Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward, and Khris Bryant play?

Like the Red Sox, the Cubs are another team who broke a 100-year curse. In 2016, they managed to defeat the Indians in seven games to take home their first World Series since 1908. Do you think it will be another 100 years until their next one?

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Which small market team is home to Tommy Pham, Blake Snell, and Ji-Man Choi?

Since coming into the league in 1998, the Rays have had their ups and downs. From 1998 to 2007, they never won more than 70 games in a season. However, since then, they've had six seasons with more than 90 wins.

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Zack Greinke, Adam Jones, and Greg Holland get to enjoy sunny weather year round. What is the name of their team?

The Diamondbacks won their first World Series in only their fourth year in the league. With some help from Randy Johnson, they took down the Yankees in seven games. They haven't been back to the World Series since.

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If you watch this team play, you'll see Rougned Odor, Elvis Andrus, and Hunter Pence. They are the _______.

The Rangers had some good teams in the early 2010s highlighted by two back-to-back World Series appearances. As heart-breaking as it is to lose in the World Series once, can you imagine doing it two years in a row? In 2011, they came within a strike from winning before the Cardinals came back to win game six and then game seven.

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Can you name the home team of Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson, and Justin Turner?

The Dodgers have won the NL West every year since 2013. They've lost two straight World Series titles, coming within a game from winning in 2017 when they lost to the Astros. Will 2019 finally be their year?

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Do you know which team these players play with? Josh Bell, Chris Archer, Felipe Vazquez

It's been 40 years since the Pirates last won a World Series. In 1979, they took down the Orioles in seven games. Since then, they've finished near the bottom of the NL Central most years, although they did make the playoffs from 2013-2015.

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They've been one of the best teams in the National League over the past 20 years. They're also home to Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey, and Kevin Pillar. Who are they?

From 2010 to 2014, the Giants were unstoppable every other season. They won three straight even-year World Series before the Cubs broke the streak on their way to their own World Series title.

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Which team has a rotation consisting of Aaron Nola, Jake Arrieta, and Jerad Eickoff?

The Phillies have missed the post-season seven years in a row. However, with the addition of Bryce Harper, it looks like they're serious about putting themselves back into contention. Is there another parade coming to Philadelphia?

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They have the longest current World Series drought. Francisco Lindor, Jason Kipnis, and Carlos Santana also play here with the ________.

The Indians came close to winning a World Series in 2016 before falling in game seven against the Cubs. Their window to win is very much right now. If they want to end their 70-year World Series drought soon, it will have to be in the next couple of years.

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This team is home to Manny Machado, Ian Kinsler, and Eric Hosmer. Which team is it?

The Padres haven't made the playoffs since 2006. Their last World Series appearance was in 1998 when they lost to the Yankees. The Padres are still hunting for their first World Series title. They may still have to wait a while.

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They traded many of their most established players before the season but are still home to Felix Hernandez, Edwin Encarnacion, and Domingo Santana. Which team are they?

The Mariners won a record 116 games in 2001, giving them the record for most wins in a single season. However, they lost to the Yankees in the AL Championship series in five games that season and haven't been back to the playoffs since. Considering they're now in rebuilding mode, it might be another few years before they're back.

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They're expected to be near the bottom of the league in 2019. Their roster includes Jonathan Villar, Trey Mancini, and Chris Davis. What team are we talking about?

The Orioles had the worst record in baseball in 2018 with a 47-115 record and .290 winning percentage. They're on a slightly better pace as of June 2019 but are still projected to lose more than 100 games.

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Curtis Granderson, Starlin Castro, and Martin Prado all play here. Which team is it?

The Marlins have spent most of their history near the bottom of their division. However, they've managed to win two World Series in their short history. In both 1997 and 2003 they won the championship as a Wild Card team.

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We can't say Bryce Harper plays here anymore, but you can find Juan Soto, Adam Eaten, and Max Scherzer with the __________.

The Nationals have had some of the best pitching in the league over the past 10 years, but they haven't been able to make it past the National League Divisional Series. If they want to win a World Series now, they'll have to do it sans Bryce Harper.

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Pete Alonso, Jacob deGrom, and Noah 'Thor' Syndergaard all play on which team?

Since 2000, the Mets have been to two World Series, but they haven't won a World Series since 1986. They might not have as large of a fanbase as the Yankees, but they still have a loyal following in Queens.

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