It’s rare, but there are instances where a mere $50,000 investment can yield substantial returns. That’s just what happened when Cleveland signed José Ramírez as an international amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in Nov. 2009.

Ramírez debuted in Sept. 2013, at just 20 years old. He’d play a part-time role with the team over the next two seasons, but has been a fixture in the Indians/Guardians infield ever since. Now in his 14th season with the franchise, Ramírez entered play on Saturday with a .278/.353/.502 (131 OPS+) slash line for his career, with 405 2B, 291 HR, and 961 RBI. The seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner also has eight Top 10 finishes in AL MVP voting (including each of the last six seasons).

Ramírez was 1-for-6 on Saturday against the Athletics (a 14-6 Cleveland win). His hit (a double) came in the fifth inning off A’s left-hander Jacob Lopez. Two pitches later, Ramírez stole third — the 300th stolen base of his career.

In doing so, Ramírez became just the second player in franchise history to reach 300 career steals, joining Kenny Lofton (452).

He is also just the third third baseman (min. 50 percent of their games at the position) to reach the mark, joining Chone Figgins (341) and Hans Lobert (316).

Three other active players have 300-plus steals in their careers: Starling Marte (361), José Altuve (326), and Trea Turner (318).

There are very few baseball fans who are unfamiliar with Randy Johnson. The Hall of Fame left-hander was one of the most dominant pitchers the sport has ever seen.

Johnson was first drafted out of high school in 1982 by the Braves in the 4th round, but he preferred to attend the Univ. of Southern California. Three years later, the Expos would select him in the 2nd round of the 1985 Draft. He’d debut in Montreal late in the 1988 season, making four starts with solid results (3-0, 2.42 ERA, 26.0 IP) to close out the year.

Early in his second season with Montreal, the Expos traded Johnson along with right-handers Gene Harris and Brian Holman to Seattle for left-hander Mark Langston and a PTBNL (RHP Mike Campbell). Langston produced solid results for the Expos — a 12-9 record and 2.39 ERA (148 ERA+) in 176.2 IP, totaling 4.9 bWAR — but the team finished with an 81-81 record and in 4th place in the NL East. Langston left in free agency following the season.

Johnson stepped into the Mariners’ rotation and remained a fixture there until midway through the 1998 season, when Seattle traded the pending free agent to the Astros for right-hander Freddy García, infielder Carlos Guillén, and a PTBNL (LHP John Halama).

The 6’10” southpaw posted a 130-74 record and 3.42 ERA (128 ERA+) in 1838.1 IP during his ten years in Seattle, with 2,162 strikeouts (10.6 K/9; 28.1 K%). Johnson was a five-time All-Star and won his first Cy Young Award (1995) with the franchise.

Seattle first honored Johnson in 2012 by inducting him into the Mariners Hall of Fame (in a joint ceremony with catcher Dan Wilson, who caught more games than anyone in club history).

Three years later, Johnson appeared on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot for the first time. He received 97.2% of the votes (named on 534/549 ballots) and was inducted into Cooperstown that summer. While this has typically been a common point for teams to retire a player’s jersey, the Mariners couldn’t; No. 51 was already being worn by Ichiro Suzuki (who wouldn’t retire until 2019).

Ichiro famously sent Johnson a handwritten letter upon joining the Mariners, asking to wear the No. 51 with the team — a story Johnson referenced during his speech.

Suzuki appeared on the BBWAA ballot in 2025 and was a near-unanimous choice to be elected, being named on 393/394 ballots (99.7%). Just two weeks after the HOF induction ceremonies, the Mariners held their own day at T-Mobile Park to honor the longtime right fielder and retire his jersey number. The team announced plans to honor Johnson with a ceremony of his own sometime in 2026.

On Saturday, that day finally came, and now the No. 51 is officially retired by the organization for both players. Ken Griffey Jr. (No. 24) and Edgar Martínez (No. 11) are the only other players in team history to have their numbers retired.

Johnson gave an 11-minute speech as part of the ceremonies ahead of Seattle’s game against the Royals, per MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer. Each of the living members of the team’s Hall of Fame was in attendance, aside from manager Lou Piniella and left-hander Jamie Moyer (who each sent in congratulatory videos).

Before Johnson stepped to the microphone, Mariners chairman and managing partner John Stanton announced to the crowd that the team would unveil a statue of Johnson outside the ballpark next season. It will mark the sixth statue erected at T-Mobile Park, joining Dave Niehaus (2011), Griffey (2017), Martínez (2021), Suzuki (2026), and one of “Mike Cameron and Mark McLemore raising the American flag in 2001” that will be installed/unveiled later this season.

In a fun twist, Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock did his best Johnson impression during the game. Hancock worked 7.0 IP, allowing a single earned run on six hits while striking out a career-high 14 batters. (Kansas City won 3-2 in 10 innings)

Jonathan Lucroy spent a dozen years in the big leagues, making his debut in May 2010 after being selected in the third round of the 2007 Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, out of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Lucroy’s first seven seasons came with Milwaukee, where he made a pair of All-Star appearances while hitting .284/.342/.436 (110 OPS+).

With the Brewers falling out of contention in 2016, Lucroy was traded (with RHP Jeremy Jeffress) at the deadline to the Rangers for RHP Luis Ortiz, OF Lewis Brinson, and OF Ryan Cordell. Lucroy would suit up with seven more teams over the remainder of his career. All told, he’d slash .274/.335/.416 (102) in 4591 PA with 217 2B, 108 HR, and 548 RBI, totaling 17.5 bWAR (17.2 with Milwaukee).

At the time of his retirement, Lucroy led all Brewers catchers in hits (806), doubles (157), homers (79), RBI (387), runs scored (346), and was second in games behind the plate (725). He was added to the club’s Wall of Honor in Aug. 2022.

Lucroy received another honor on Saturday, as the UL Rajin’ Cajuns retired his No. 21 jersey ahead of their game against Georgia State. Lucroy hit .356 during his collegiate career, adding 35 home runs.

There have been 115 players selected in the MLB Draft out of ULL, according to Baseball Reference. Lucroy is just the second to have his jersey retired by the school, joining Yankees left-hander Ron Guidry (No. 3).

Long-time head coach Tony Robichaux, who led the team from 1995 until his sudden passing in July 2019 from a heart attack, also had his No. 36 retired. The Cajuns had a 910-588-2 record and a single College World Series appearance (2000) under his guidance.

The Boston Red Sox returned home for their first series following last week’s dismissal of Alex Cora and six coaches. In case there were any doubts, Boston fans are not done making their opinion of the moves heard. A small plane flew above Fenway Park during Friday’s game, towing a banner reading “FIRE CRAIG! SELL THE TEAM!”