Players sometimes chase cash or glory, or they just want to move on from a toxic situation. Here's a listing of the players that changed zip codes heading into the 2015 campaign.
CATCHER
Yasmani Grandal (LAD), Russell Martin (TOR), Miguel Montero (CHC), Derek Norris (SD), A.J. Pierzynski (ATL)
Martin signed a lucrative deal this winter to head to Toronto, where he should be able smack the ball around in a very friendly hitters ballpark. Montero will make the move to the Windy City, where he will join an up-and-coming Cubs offense as he tries to bounce back from a .243/.329/.370 with 13 home runs in the desert. Norris moves from one of the best offenses in the American League a season ago to a revamped Padres lineup. There is a different culture in San Diego, so let’s see if he can repeat.
FIRST BASE
Corey Hart (PIT), Adam LaRoche (CWS), Michael Morse (MIA)
Hart will have to prove he is healthy before the Pirates will trust him with consistent at-bats as he looks to re-establish his value. LaRoche makes the move from the National League to the American League and will be slotted behind one of the best power hitters in Jose Abreu, which should pay dividends. Morse will head to South Beach, where he will join Giancarlo Stanton and a Marlins lineup that should produce plenty of offense. He will be right in the middle of things.
SECOND BASE
Dee Gordon (MIA), Howie Kendrick (LAD)
Kendrick makes the move across the freeway to join the Dodgers and will give his new team both a solid glove and bat. Gordon brings his lightning speed to a Marlins offense that, on paper, should produce plenty of runs with him being atop the batting order.
THIRD BASE
Josh Donaldson (TOR), Brett Lawrie (OAK), Casey McGehee (SF), Will Middlebrooks (SD), Martin Prado (MIA), Pablo Sandoval (BOS)
Donaldson, who is coming off of back-to-back 20 homer, 90 RBI seasons, was sent to Toronto for Lawrie. Now in the American League East, there is a good chance he logs his first 30 home run season playing in much more favorable ballparks. McGehee returned from Japan and was productive in 2013. He'll be hard-pressed to have as much success in San Francisco. Middlebrooks is long on talent and pedigree, but to this point, he's mostly floundered at the big league level after an impressive 2012. Lawrie missed 92 games last season, hitting .247 with only 12 home runs and 38 RBI, and has blamed the artificial turf at the Rogers Center for his absences. He will get plenty of chances to prove himself as long as his health holds up in Oakland. Prado will move back to third base after playing the majority of the second half at the keystone for the Yankees. His multi-position eligibility will once again make him a worthy fantasy investment. Sandoval will take his bat to one of the more hitter-friendly ballparks in the league, where he will look to log his first 20 home run effort since 2011. As long as he doesn’t start off as slow as last season and stays healthy, we could be in for a treat in his first year out of the Bay Area.
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius (NYY), Jed Lowrie (HOU), Hanley Ramirez (BOS), Jimmy Rollins (LAD)
Rollins will play with the second team in his 14-year career after being dealt to the Dodgers during the winter meetings. Although he is clearly on the downside of his career, hitting atop the Dodgers lineup will have benefits for this veteran shortstop. Ramirez will make the move to the outfield after signing with the Red Sox as a free-agent this offseason but will hold shortstop eligibility in 2015. Batting in the middle of the Red Sox lineup could bring him back to the top of his game, if he can simply maintain his health.
OUTFIELD
Melky Cabrera (CWS), Yoenis Cespedes (DET), Michael Cuddyer (NYM), Torii Hunter (MIN), Matt Kemp (SD), Nick Markakis (ATL), Brandon Moss (CLE), Wil Myers (SD), Alex Rios (KC), Justin Ruggiano (SEA), Justin Upton (SD)
Cabrera thrived in year two with the Blue Jays slashing .301/.351/.458 with 16 home runs and 73 RBI. His recent success landed him a lucrative deal with the White Sox (three years, $42 million) where he is slated to bat in front of Jose Abreu, which is a hitter’s dream. Cespedes will be playing on his third team in the last two seasons, as he is now a part of one of the best offenses in all of baseball. Although his new home ballpark isn’t ideal for hitters, it is hard to imagine he will be limited, considering his plus-power. Kemp will get to start over with the Padres as he joins a revamped lineup that also features both Myers and Upton. If able to get to 500 at-bats, there is no reason to he can’t build off of his 2014 production. Moss will take his big bat to Cleveland, where he will look to log his fourth straight 20-home-run season. His offseason hip surgery is somewhat of a concern, although reports indicate a full recovery is likely. Myers was sent packing to the reworked Padre organization. He is coming off of a down year in which he slashed .222/.294/.320, so he still has something to prove, though the talent is there. Upton was one of the best power hitters in the National League last season. Despite a bigger home ballpark, Upton should finish with his usual numbers. Rios failed to reach 500 at-bats in 2014, resulting in the worst offensive production in three years (four homers, 54 RBIs, 54 runs). He will now get to start over with the Royals, but expectations should be tempered.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Billy Butler (OAK), Nelson Cruz (SEA), Kendrys Morales (KC), Garrett Jones (NYY), Delmon Young (BAL)
Butler will attempt to replace the lost production of Brandon Moss in Oakland. Cruz led the American League with 40 home runs, which landed him a lucrative deal with the Mariners (four years, $57 million). He faces a drastic change in ballparks moving from Camden Yards to Safeco Field, but 25-plus home runs should still be expected. Morales will join a revamped Royals lineup and will be relied upon to be the big bat in the middle of the lineup. He failed to do much between the Twins and Mariners last season, so he has a lot to prove.
STARTING PITCHER
Brett Anderson (LAD), A.J. Burnett (PIT), Rubby De La Rosa (ARI), Ross Detwiler (TEX), Nate Eovaldi (NYY), Jesse Hahn (OAK), Jason Hammel (CHC), Dan Haren (MIA), Andrew Heaney (LAA), Mat Latos (MIA), Jon Lester (CHC), Justin Masterson (BOS), Kris Medlen (KC), Wade Miley (BOS), David Phelps (MIA), , Rick Porcello (BOS), Ervin Santana (MIN), Alfredo Simon (DET), Edinson Volquez (KC)
Lester signed a very lucrative deal to be reunited with Theo Epstein in the Windy City as he comes off of the best season of his career. Porcello will join a Red Sox starting rotation that is in desperate need of experience. He will likely take a hit moving from a spacious park to one that is hitter friendly, but is still just about to enter his prime. Simon is coming off of a solid season in which he set career-marks in just about every category. A move to the American League may hurt his production. Santana pitched his way to a lucrative deal for his skill set, joining a terrible Twins staff outside of Phil Hughes. He will be a nice complement to the staff ace. Heaney was first moved to the Dodgers as part of the Dee Gordon trade but never unpacked, as he was later moved to the Angels for Howie Kendrick. He has a lot of upside but still has a lot to prove at a young age (23). Medlen was signed to a two-year deal with the Royals after not being offered a deal by the Braves following another Tommy John surgery. He will need to prove his health before being put back on the map.
RELIEF PITCHER
Aaron Crow (MIA), Ernesto Frieri (TB), Luke Gregerson (HOU), Jason Grilli (ATL), Jim Johnson (ATL), Andrew Miller (NYY), Jason Motte (CHC), Pat Neshek (HOU), David Robertson (CWS), Jordan Walden (STL)
Gregerson will be the likely candidate to close for the Astros this season, although he has only 19 saves in his 6-year career. Miller signed a very lucrative deal to join the Yankees and will likely be used in both setup and closer situations. Although Dellin Betances is the frontrunner for the closer role, Miller is still worth monitoring this spring. Motte will serve as depth to Hector Rondon for the Cubs. Motte is two years removed from a 42 save season. Robertson received a big payday from the White Sox after proving he can handle the ninth inning.