Scott Feldman

[Brandon Glick]

Scott Feldman is a 13-year MLB veteran who played for six teams in his career, including half of the 2013 season with the Chicago Cubs. He was involved in one of the most important trades in franchise history.

Originally drafted in the 41st round by the Houston Astros in 2002, the Texas Rangers took Feldman in Round 30 in 2003, securing the commitment of the College of San Mateo product and converting him into a reliever. After a Tommy John surgery and up-and-down minor league career, the Rangers converted him back into a starter in 2008, and he became a mainstay in their rotation from 2008-12, including drawing the Opening Day nod in 2010. After a strong postseason performance in 2011 as the Rangers made their second-straight run to the World Series, Feldman dealt with injuries and had his team option declined prior to the 2013 season.

That's when the Cubs swooped in, signing Feldman to a one-year, $6 million deal in free agency. He was the team's No. 4 starter for the first half of the 2013 campaign, pitching to a 3.46 ERA in 15 starts (91 innings) heading into July. His presence on a young team was valuable, especially in a good-not-great rotation that featured Jeff Samardzija, Matt Garza, Edwin Jackson, and Travis Wood. However, the struggling 49-59 Cubs were never expected to compete, and Feldman was one of the best rental starters on the market. Thus, on July 2, 2013, the front office pulled the trigger on a history-altering trade, sending Feldman and backup catcher Steve Clevenger to the Baltimore Orioles, in exchange for pitchers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop.

The trade reunited Feldman with his first manager, Buck Showalter, though the Orioles would ultimately miss the playoffs with an 85-77 record, despite a strong second-half effort from the big righty (4.27 ERA in 15 starts). Of course, the deal worked out a tad better for Chicago, as Arrieta and Strop became Cubs icons who played massive roles in the team's 2016 World Series championship.

After the season, Feldman signed in free agency with the Houston Astros, becoming their 2014 Opening Day starter. He had a good tenure in Houston, pitching to a 3.64 ERA in 73 appearances (52 starts) before getting moved back to the bullpen in 2016 and getting traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline. He then signed with the Reds in free agency and was subsequently named their Opening Day starter for the 2017 season. He became the 52nd pitcher in MLB history to start on Opening Day for at least three different teams. He retired after the campaign, and now, according to his LinkedIn profile, he is an entrepreneur and investor.

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