What does it mean to be a champion?
Is it coming up with the Mariners, instantly becoming a fan favorite by unleashing a godly curveball, and being generally lovable? No.
Is it signing with the Mariners as a free agent, riding their coattails across the Pacific, injuring yourself, and ending your Seattle career with more innings in Japan than in America? Also no.
Unfortunately, archaic rules state that in order to be a champion, one must actually be on a team that wins the World Series. Despite not playing much in the 2019 postseason, or at all in Roenis Elías’ case, both he and Hunter Strickland were technically members of the Washington Nationals, meaning they are now champions of baseball forevermore.