Robinson Canó, Bartolo Colon Among Former MLB Players Drafted to New League in Dubai
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A handful of former MLB stars are headed overseas.
The first-ever Baseball United Draft took place Monday, as the four teams competing in the newly-formed league in Dubai were able to fill out their respective rosters. Baseball United will become the first professional baseball league in the Middle East or Southeast Asia, making the draft a momentous occasion for the sport's reach internationally.
Right-handed pitcher Karan Patel went No. 1 overall to the Mumbai Cobras. The San Antonio native had been part of the Chicago White Sox's farm system since 2017, but he never advanced beyond Double-A.
Former Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorious got scooped up by the Dubai Wolves with the No. 3 pick. While the 33-year-old from the Netherlands never made an All-Star appearance in his 11-year big league career, he racked up 999 hits, 134 home runs and a 17.8 WAR before getting let go by the Seattle Mariners earlier this summer.
The Wolves drafted another former Yankees and Mariners infielder at No. 6 – Robinson Canó.
Canó is the highest-earning second baseman in MLB history, and he strung together a potentially Hall of Fame-worthy resume with eight All-Star Games, five Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves, a World Series ring, 2,639 hits, 335 home runs, a 68.1 WAR and a .301 career batting average. However, Canó twice tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, getting suspended for 80 games with the Mariners in 2018 and a full season with the New York Mets in 2021.
Former San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval went to the Abu Dhabi Falcons at No. 4. "Kung Fu Panda" won three World Series with the Giants, making two All-Star appearances along the way, before eventually fizzling out with the Atlanta Braves as a 35-year-old in 2021.
The Cobras selected former Braves and Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons with the No. 8 overall pick. Simmons won four Gold Gloves and earned MVP votes in three separate seasons, but the 34-year-old from Curacao has yet to appear in the majors since July 2022.
Perhaps one of the most decorated players to join Baseball United is pitcher Bartolo Colon, who went No. 16 overall to the Karachi Monarchs.
Colon made four All-Star appearances and racked up 247 wins and 2,535 strikeouts over the course of 21 MLB seasons. He won the AL Cy Young with the Angels in 2005, and "Big Sexy" managed to build up a cult following thanks to his stints with the Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics and Mets.
The last time Colon appeared in an MLB game was when he was 45 years old with the Texas Rangers in 2018. He was most recently listed at 5-foot-11, 285 pounds, and he turned 50 years old last spring.
Colon officially retired as a member of the Mets back in September.
Among the other notable players who heard their names called in the Baseball United Draft were Braves All-Star pitcher Jair Jurrjens, Rangers and Red Sox reliever Robbie Ross, White Sox outfielder Alejandro De Aza and Colorado Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario. Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, who signed a $73 million megadeal with Boston in 2014, went No. 37 overall.
Baseball United will begin competition in the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 24. Two All-Star teams will face off in a two-game series at Dubai International Stadium.
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