CC Sabathia. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)

Every MLB team's greatest ex-Indians player

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Former Cleveland catcher Yan Gomes is heading to the World Series with the Washington Nationals, and he’s not the only member of the 2017 Indians playoff roster that is likely to appear in this year's Fall Classic.

Both the Yankees and Astros feature a pair of ex-Indians players on their rosters. New York's lineup includes Edwin Encarnacion and Gio Urshela while Michael Brantley and Joe Smith are in Houston’s dugout. Seeing so many familiar faces still alive in the playoffs sparked an interest in ex-Indians players and how they fared after leaving the Tribe either via trade or free agency.

In order to find the players who had the biggest impact on another franchise after their time in Cleveland, we consulted the database at Baseball-reference.com and applied a formula that considers All-Star appearances, championships, postseason awards and longevity with the new club.

In most cases, there are multiple examples of players who either began or appeared early on in their careers with the Indians before moving on to success with other clubs.

Below is an example of one such player from each major league team, along with a few other names considered. Let us know what you think of the picks in the comments section.

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NEW YORK YANKEES — C.C. Sabathia

Cleveland: 2001-08.

New York: 2009-19.

Notable: In 11 seasons with the Yankees after signing as a free agent, Sabathia won a World Series during his first year in the Bronx and amassed 134 wins. He was selected to three All-Star Games and led the American League in wins twice.

Also considered: Roger Maris, Allie Reynolds, Tommy John, Oscar Gamble, Chris Chambliss, Mel Hall.

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CC Sabathia. (Frank Franklin II, Associated Press)

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BOSTON RED SOX — Manny Ramirez

Cleveland: 1993-2000.

Boston: 2001-08.

Notable: Ramirez bolted Cleveland as a free agent. He was third in the AL in MVP voting as he helped the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2004. He led the league in home runs (43), slugging (.613) and OPS (1.009) that year. He was an All-Star in each of his eight seasons with Boston and won six Silver Slugger awards.

Also considered: Luis Tiant, Alan Embree.

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Manny Ramirez. (Elsa, Getty Images)

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TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Joe Carter

Cleveland: 1984-89.

Toronto: 1991-97.

Notable: Carter was dealt to the Padres after the 1989 season and traded to Toronto in 1990 where he won back-to-back World Series titles with the Blue Jays and appeared in five All-Star Games. He finished third in AL MVP voting in 1993, the year he won Game 6 of the Fall Classic with a walk-off home run.

Also considered: Pat Tabler.

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Joe Carter. (Rick Stewart, Getty Images)

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TAMPA BAY RAYS — Danys Baez

Cleveland: 2001-03.

Tampa Bay: 2004-05.

Notable: After amassing a 4.1 bWAR in three seasons with the Tribe, Baez signed with Tampa and posted a 2.86 ERA in 67 appearances for the Rays during an All-Star season in 2005.

Also considered: Albie Lopez.

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Danys Baez. (Orlin Wagner, AP)

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BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Jeremy Guthrie

Cleveland: 2004-06.

Baltimore: 2007-11.

Notable: A first-round pick in 2002 by Cleveland, Guthrie appeared in just 16 games for the Indians before being selected off waivers by the Orioles. He found a small degree of success in four seasons with Baltimore, winning 41 games, but never really flourished, leading the AL with 17 losses in 2009 and 2011.

Also considered: Hoyt Wilhelm.

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Jeremy Guthrie. (Dave Reginek, Getty Images)

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CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Jim Thome

Cleveland: 1991-2002.

Chicago: 2006-09.

Notable: Thome's second stop after leaving Cleveland found him closer to home on the South Side where he hit 134 of his 612 career homers with the White Sox. Thome was an All-Star in 2006 and finished 12th in AL MVP voting.

Also considered: Joe Jackson, Minnie Minoso, Albert Belle, Sherm Lollar, Jack Parkman, Thornton Lee.

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Jim Thome. (AP Photo, Charles Rex Arbogast)

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MINNESOTA TWINS — Mudcat Grant

Cleveland: 1958-64.

Minnesota: 1964-67.

Notable: Cleveland traded the All-Star right-hander to the twins for George Banks and Lee Stange in June. Grant went on to lead the league in wins and shutouts in 1965 as an All-Star for Minnesota. He finished sixth in the MVP vote that season.

Also considered: Bert Blyleven, Stan Kovaleski.

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Jim "Mudcat" Grant. (Gene Herrick, AP)

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KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Lou Piniella

Cleveland: 1968.

Kansas City: 1969-73.

Notable: The Indians signed Piniella as an amateur free agent at the age of 18, but he only appeared in six games for Cleveland before being selected by the Seattle Pilots in the 1968 expansion draft. He was traded to KC in spring training and went on to win the AL Rookie of the Year award that season. He led the AL in doubles as an All-Star in 1972 before being traded to New York in 1973.

Also considered: Jason Grimsley.

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Lou Piniella. (Ed Zurga, Getty Images)

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DETROIT TIGERS — Rocky Colavito

Cleveland: 1955-59.

Detroit: 1960-63.

Notable: Colavito's trade at the start of the 1960 season sparked an outcry from fans. He went on to become a two-time All-Star for the Tigers and finish eighth and 16th in MVP voting in 1961 and 1962 respectively.

Also considered: Ray Boone, Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta, Hank Aguirre, Ed Killian, Milt Wilcox.

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Rocky Colavito. (AP Photo)

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HOUSTON ASTROS — Doug Jones

Cleveland: 1986-91.

Houston: 1992-93.

Notable: Jones left Cleveland for free agency after the 1991 season as the franchise leader in saves with 128. He was selected to the 1992 All-Star Game and finished 14th in National League MVP voting that season, posting a 2.8 bWAR.

Also considered: Michael Brantley.

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Doug Jones. (Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Bartolo Colon

Cleveland: 1997-02.

Los Angeles: 2004-07.

Notable: Colon pitched four seasons in Anaheim and picked up his only career Cy Young Award in 2005 for the Halos when he won an AL-best 21 games.

Also considered: Luis Valbuena.

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Bartolo Colon. (Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)

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SEATTLE MARINERS — Richie Sexson

Cleveland: 1997-2000.

Seattle: 2005-08.

Notable: Sexson finished 15th in AL MVP voting in 2005 after clubbing 36 home runs and driving in 121. He followed that up with a career-high 40 homers in 2006.

Also considered: Franklin Gutierrez.

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Richie Sexson. (Nick Laham, Getty Images)

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TEXAS RANGERS — Julio Franco

Cleveland: 1983-88, 1996-97.

Texas: 1989-93.

Notable: Franco earned a Silver Slugger award for the Indians in 1988 before he was traded to the Rangers for Jerry Browne, Oddibe McDowell and Pete O'Brien. He went on to appear in three straight All-Star Games for the Rangers, and winning three more Silver Sluggers. He finished 15th in AL MVP voting in 1991 after leading the league with a .341 batting average.

Also considered: Buddy Bell, Shin-Soo Choo.

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Julio Franco. (Art Bello, AllSport)

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OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Dennis Eckersley

Cleveland: 1975-77.

Oakland: 1987-95.

Notable: Eckersley was an All-Star in 1977 before he was traded to Boston in a five-player deal. When he later joined the A's, Eckersley became one of the most dominant closers in history, winning the 1992 AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP in the same season.

Also considered: Coco Crisp.

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Dennis Eckersley. (Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images)

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NEW YORK METS — Tommie Agee

Cleveland: 1962-64.

New York: 1968-73.

Notable: A top Indians prospect dealt to the White Sox after the 1964 season in a multi-team trade that brought Rocky Colavito back to the Tribe, Agee went on to win Rookie of the Year in 1966 for the Sox before joining the Mets in a 1968 trade. Agee led the Mets to the 1969 World Series title, with a home run and two outstanding defensive plays in center field during a 5-0 Game 3 win.

Also considered: Asdrubal Cabrera.

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Tommie Agee. (Harry Harris, AP)

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ATLANTA BRAVES — Chris Chambliss

Cleveland: 1971-74.

Atlanta: 1980-86.

Notable: Named AL Rookie of the Year in 1971, Chambliss was dealt to the Yankees three years later and went on to win two championships in the Bronx. He was traded to Toronto in 1979 and immediately flipped to Atlanta, where he played for seven seasons, earning NL MVP votes in 1982 after posting a 2.8 bWAR with 20 home runs and 86 RBI.

Also considered: Kenny Lofton.

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Chris Chambliss, left, and Bob Horner, right. (Joe Sebo, AP)

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WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Ronnie Belliard

Cleveland: 2004-06.

Washington: 2007-09.

Notable: An All-Star in his first year with the Indians, Belliard posted a 3.6 bWAR in three seasons with the Nationals.

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Ronnie Belliard. (Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)

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PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Von Hayes

Cleveland: 1981-82.

Philadelphia: 1983-91.

Notable: After finishing seventh in the AL Rookie of the Year vote in 1982, the Indians traded Hayes to Philadelphia in a deal that brought Julio Franco to the Tribe. Hayes went on to play nine years for the Phillies, finishing eighth in NL MVP balloting in 1986 and earning an All-Star bid in 1989.

Also considered: Cliff Lee, Jim Thome.

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Von Hayes. (G. Paul Burnett, AP)

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MIAMI MARLINS — Dennis Cook

Cleveland: 1992-93, 1995.

Miami: 1997.

Notable: Cook was a journeyman lefty who appeared in 68 games for the Indians in the mid-1990s, but found himself on the right team at the right time in 1997 when he joined the Marlins for their World Series victory over the Indians. He appeared in three games that fall against his former team, striking out five and allowing just one hit.

Also considered: Edward Mujica.

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Dennis Cook. (Otto Greule Jr., AllSport)

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CHICAGO CUBS — Rick Sutcliffe

Cleveland: 1982-84.

Chicago: 1984-91.

Notable: An All-Star in his second year with the Indians, Sutcliffe was traded midway through the 1984 season to the Cubs where he went on to win 16 games and the NL Cy Young. He played eight years in Chicago, appearing in two more All-Star Games and finishing second in the 1987 Cy Young race.

Also considered: Glenallen Hill.

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Rick Sutcliffe. (Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)

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PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Brian Giles

Cleveland: 1995-98.

Pittsburgh: 1999-2003.

Notable: The Indians drafted Giles in 1989 in the 17th round. By 1998, the left-handed hitting outfielder had established himself at the major league level. But the Indians needed bullpen help, so they shipped Giles to Pittsburgh for lefty Ricardo Rincon. Giles went on to appear in two All-Star Games for the Pirates, hitting no fewer than 35 home runs in each of his first four full seasons with the Pirates.

Also considered: Jay Bell, Jose Mesa.

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Brian Giles. (David Maxwell/AFP/Getty Images)

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CINCINNATI REDS - Brandon Phillips

Cleveland: 2002-05.

Cincinnati: 2006-16.

Notable: Phillips came to Cleveland as part of the Bartolo Colon trade from Montreal. He played in just 135 games before being traded to Cincinnati for a player to be named later, but immediately paid dividends for the Reds. Phillips went on to appear in three All-Star Games and won four Gold Glove Awards at second base. He garnered MVP consideration in 2007 (22nd) and 2012 (13th) and holds a lifetime .332 batting average with an .886 OPS in 59 games against the Indians.

Also considered: Sean Casey.

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Brandon Phillips. (Joe Robbins, Getty Images)

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ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Ryan Ludwick

Cleveland: 2003-05.

St. Louis: 2007-10

Notable: Ludwick appeared in 73 games over three seasons in Cleveland and signed with the Cardinals. He flourished during the 2008 season, earning an All-Star appearance and Silver Slugger Award while finishing 16th in NL MVP voting with 37 home runs and 113 RBI. He was never quite able to match that output, making stops in Texas, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. But in 2010, Ludwick was part of the three-team trade that saw the Indians send Jake Westbrook to the Cardinals and San Diego send Corey Kluber to the Tribe.

Also considered: Jake Westbrook.

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Ryan Ludwick. (Rob Tringali, Getty Images)

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MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Jeromy Burnitz

Cleveland: 1995-96.

Milwaukee: 1996-2001.

Notable: Burnitz appeared in 80 games for the Indians after joining the club via trade from the Mets in 1994. The Indians flipped him to Milwaukee in exchange for Kevin Seitzer at the trade deadline in 1996. He went on to post a 15.7 bWAR in six seasons with the Brewers, earning MVP consideration in 1997 and 1998 while making his only All-Star appearance in 1999.

Also considered: Rick Manning, CC Sabathia.

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Jeromy Burnitz. (Brian Bahr, AllSport)

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LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Brett Butler

Cleveland: 1984-87.

Los Angeles: 1991-95.

Notable: Butler and Brook Jacoby joined the Indians before the 1984 season in a trade that sent Len Barker to the Braves. After four years with Cleveland, Butler signed as a free agent in San Francisco and eventually made his way to the Dodgers where he made his only career All-Star appearance in 1991. That year, he led the NL in runs scored and walks and finished seventh in MVP voting.

Also considered: Jeff Shaw, Tom Candiotti.

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Brett Butler. (Harry How, AllSport)

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COLORADO ROCKIES — Rafael Betancourt

Cleveland: 2003-09.

Colorado: 2009-15.

Notable: Betancourt was dominant in 68 appearances out of the Indians bullpen in 2007, posting a 4.3 bWAR and 0.756 WHIP as the Tribe reached the ALCS. Traded to Colorado, the right-hander remained steady for six more seasons, including a 2010 campaign that saw him go 5-1 with a 3.61 ERA in 72 outings and 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

Also considered: Jerry DiPoto.

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Rafael Betancourt. (Joe Robbins, Getty Images)

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SAN DIEGO PADRES — Kevin Kouzmanoff

Cleveland: 2006.

San Diego: 2007-09.

Notable: Known for hitting a grand slam on the first pitch he ever saw in the big leagues, Kouzmanoff played in just 16 games for the Indians at the end of the 2006 season. He was traded to the Padres that November for Josh Barfield, where he smacked 59 home runs in three seasons and drove in at least 74 runs every year.

Also considered: Graig Nettles.

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Kevin Kouzmanoff. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

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SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Jeff Kent

Cleveland: 1996.

San Francisco: 1997-2002.

Notable: Kent was a trade deadline rental at the end of the 1996 season who went on to sign as a free agent the following year with the Giants. In six seasons with San Francisco, Kent was a three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and won the 200 NL MVP award batting .334 with a 1.021 OPS

Also considered: Bud Black.

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Jeff Kent. (Jamie Squire, Getty Images)

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ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Matt Williams

Cleveland: 1997.

Arizona: 1998-2003.

Notable: Williams was already a four-time All-Star and perennial Gold Glove Award winner when the Indians traded for him prior to the 1997 season. He helped the Tribe to the World Series that year before being traded to Arizona in order to be closer to his family. He went on to hit 99 home runs in six seasons with the Diamondbacks, appearing in the 1999 All-Star Game and finishing third in the NL MVP race that year.

Also considered: Jay Bell, Brian Anderson.

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Matt Williams. (Matt York, AFP, Getty Images)

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