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Red Sox SS Tsung-Che Cheng was Part of 5 MLB Teams in 6 Weeks in the Offseason originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tsung-Che Cheng is currently a crucial piece of the Boston Red Sox historic winning streak, showing off his fantastic glove at shortstop while being useful in the 9-spot in the batting order.
This winter, though, he had no idea what team he'd ben playing for in 2026.
Cheng was a part of five different MLB organizations in the span of six weeks during January and February.
That's how it sometimes goes for a guy on the fringes of the major leagues -- but he doesn't often then usually become a part of a double-digit win streak at the MLB level that very same year.
Cheng had come to professional baseball in the U.S. in 2019 when he signed as an international free agent from Taiwan with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He was with the Pirates' organization through January 1 of this year, and soon after, things got crazy.
Players on the fringes have a spot on the 40-man roster until it's needed to make room for another acquisition, and then they can cycle around.
So in early January, the Pirates designated Cheng for assignment to remove him from the 40-man, which places him on waivers.
On Jan. 7, the Tampa Bay Rays claimed Cheng.
The Rays kept Cheng for less than two weeks until he was back on waivers, and this time the Mets claimed him on Jan. 16.
Rinse and repeat: The Nationals claimed Cheng off waivers from the Mets on Jan. 28.
And then the Nats waived Cheng, too, so the Red Sox claimed him on Feb. 6.
It wouldn't have been improbable for Boston to decide to use that spot differently themselves, too, but they stood firm and kept Cheng.
Now, it's paying off.
But it's been quite the ride for Cheng to get here, not even really being a part of any of these teams other than some paperwork for a week or two.
The Red Sox sure are glad to have him.
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