Five Players Likely To Switch Positions On the Baseball Diamond Next Season

At the end of every baseball season, some players are faced with the possibility of switching teams. A small percentage of others must face what can be an even harder adjustment, which is switching positions.

Last year Eugenio Suarez of the Cincinnati Reds had to switch from shortstop to third base, while Miguel Sano of the Minnesota Twins transitioned from third to right field. For Suarez the move was relatively smooth, but Sano struggled so much that manager Paul Molitor moved him back to third at the end of the season.

Chicago’s Kyle Schwarber moved from behind the plate to left field for the Cubs before a spring training injury ended his season, and veteran outfielder Matt Holliday of the St. Louis Cardinals was frequently asked to fill a vacancy at first base. Schwarber may be making another switch in 2017, while Holliday faces an uncertain position and team as he enters free agency.

This winter will be no different, in that numerous players will probably have to learn to take over at spots that were not their regular positions last year. Here are five of the most noteworthy probable candidates to move from one regular position to a new one.

Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies

The runner up for 2010 Most Valuable Player will continue to be the subject of trade talks, but if he stays in Denver there is discussion about moving him from the outfield to first base in order to solidify what has been a revolving door since Todd Helton retired back in 2013.

Devin Mesoraco of the Cincinnati Reds

He has missed the last two seasons because of severe injuries, the first of which had the club toying with moving him from catcher to the outfield. The club backed off from that decision last winter, only to have their middle of the lineup All-Star suffer another season-ending injury.

Travis Shaw of the Boston Red Sox

The son of a former Big League pitcher may move from third to first so that Brock Holt can take over at third. That move would free up left field for Andrew Benentendi and probably result in Hanley Ramirez replacing David Ortiz as the designated hitter. Shaw played fifty games at first last year and Holt seventeen at third, so the transition should not be difficult for the Red Sox.

Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals

The lead off hitter not long ago moved from second to third to accommodate Kolten Wong, and now he will likely move across the diamond to fill the club’s void at first base.

Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays

Early in he career he was a third baseman before coming into his own as a right fielder. Entering free agency in 2017 he will likely move from right field to first base if he re-signs with Toronto, which has to make outfield room for either Melvin Upton or Michael Saunders given the possible departure of free agent Edwin Encarnacion.

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