1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft


The 1976 MLB Expansion Draft was held November 5, 1976. This expansion draft was conducted by Major League Baseball to stock the major league rosters of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners, new major league expansion franchises established via the 1977 Major League Baseball expansion that were set to start play in the season.

Background

was promised a franchise by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. During the summer of 1975, there was speculation that the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, or San Francisco Giants could move to Seattle. When none of these plans proved successful, the American League added a team in Seattle. With thirteen teams in a league creating a scheduling nightmare, the league awarded a franchise to Toronto over Washington, D.C. in March 1976.
Players were selected only from American League teams, in keeping with the practices of the A.L.'s expansion of 1961, the National League's expansion of 1962, and the expansion of both leagues in 1969. Beginning with the next expansion in 1993, the new teams would select players from teams in both the American and National Leagues.
Danny Kaye, part-owner of the Mariners, announced the club's first selection.

Draft results

RoundPickPlayerPositionSelected fromSelected byNotes
11OFKansas City RoyalsSeattle Mariners-
12OFBaltimore OriolesToronto Blue Jays-
13PCalifornia AngelsSeattle Mariners-
14PMinnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays-
153BChicago White SoxSeattle Mariners-
16PTexas RangersToronto Blue Jays-
17PBoston Red SoxSeattle Mariners-
18OFOakland AthleticsToronto Blue Jays-
191BDetroit TigersSeattle Mariners-
110DHCleveland IndiansToronto Blue JaysShortly after the draft, traded by Toronto to the Cleveland Indians for Rick Cerone and John Lowenstein. Toronto later reacquired Carty, who played for them in 1978 and 1979.
111PNew York YankeesSeattle MarinersShortly after the draft, traded by Seattle to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Craig Reynolds and Jimmy Sexton.
112PMilwaukee BrewersToronto Blue JaysDid not make big league squad until 1979.
213PKansas City RoyalsToronto Blue JaysImmediately traded on the day of the draft by Toronto to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Alan Ashby and Doug Howard.
214OFCalifornia AngelsSeattle Mariners-
215OFMinnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays-
216PDetroit TigersSeattle Mariners-
217PBaltimore OriolesToronto Blue Jays-
218PCleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners-
219PChicago White SoxToronto Blue Jays-
220OFNew York YankeesSeattle Mariners-
221PTexas RangersToronto Blue Jays-
222PBoston Red SoxSeattle Mariners-
223OFMilwaukee BrewersToronto Blue Jays-
224POakland AthleticsSeattle Mariners-
325CKansas City RoyalsSeattle Mariners-
326PDetroit TigersToronto Blue Jays-
327OFCalifornia AngelsSeattle Mariners-
328PMinnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays-
329PBaltimore OriolesSeattle Mariners-
330SSNew York YankeesToronto Blue Jays-
331PChicago White SoxSeattle MarinersTraded by Seattle before the start of the season to the Houston Astros for infielder Larry Milbourne. Seattle later reacquired Thomas, who played for them between 1983 and 1987.
3321BTexas RangersToronto Blue Jays-
333SSCleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners-
334CBoston Red SoxToronto Blue Jays-
335PMilwaukee BrewersSeattle MarinersTraded in April to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later. The Chicago Cubs later sent Jim Todd to the Mariners to complete the trade.
336IFOakland AthleticsToronto Blue JaysJust prior to spring training, traded by Toronto to the Oakland Athletics for Ron Fairly.
4372BKansas City RoyalsToronto Blue Jays-
438OFMinnesota TwinsSeattle Mariners-
439PTexas RangersToronto Blue Jays-
440OFCalifornia AngelsSeattle Mariners-
4413BNew York YankeesToronto Blue JaysDid not make big league squad until 1978.
442PBaltimore OriolesSeattle Mariners-
443PDetroit TigersToronto Blue Jays-
444PBoston Red SoxSeattle Mariners-
445PMilwaukee BrewersToronto Blue JaysShortly after the draft, sent by Toronto to the Chicago White Sox to complete an earlier deal made to obtain Phil Roof.
4461BCleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners-
447PChicago White SoxToronto Blue Jays-
448POakland AthleticsSeattle MarinersDid not make Seattle's major league squad. Played in minors through 1978.
549IFMinnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays-
550PDetroit TigersSeattle Mariners-
551PKansas City RoyalsToronto Blue Jays-
5522BCalifornia AngelsSeattle Mariners-
553OFNew York YankeesToronto Blue Jays-
554PTexas RangersSeattle MarinersDid not make Seattle's major league squad. Played in minors through 1978.
555PBaltimore OriolesToronto Blue Jays-
556OFBoston Red SoxSeattle Mariners-
557OFChicago White SoxToronto Blue Jays-
558OFCleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners-
559POakland AthleticsToronto Blue JaysReleased by Toronto prior to the start of the 1977 season.
560PMilwaukee BrewersSeattle Mariners-