There’s something to be said about a way a player reacts in their environment. Some guys thrive in the limelight, while others prefer a quiet way of doing things in a smaller market. Regardless of how they or the general managers feel, there is clearly evidence to support that some guys would work better in a different change of scenery. It’s hard to say in some cases, but the reality is that baseball is more than what anyone sees in a particular player’s performance on the field. Deep down there is an overwhelming outbreak of activity in their minds and hearts anytime they step to the plate, take to the mound or rush onto the field. These eight players are certainly ones who need it.
B.J. Upton Atlanta Braves
B.J. Upton may seem like an odd choice, but a lot of it has to do with his brother Justin. B.J. was one of the first major signing of this last offseason. He had been batting a moderate .255 with a solid glove for the Tampa Bay Rays, but everyone, including himself, knew that there were greener pastures outside of St. Petersburg. So, the Atlanta Braves, needing a new centerfielder, pulled the trigger. Everyone seemed pleased by the deal. Even the Rays made better for it as they now had room for Desmond Jennings to fill in. But, the Braves weren’t quite done yet. They traded the likes of Martin Prado, Randall Delgado and a few prospects to the Arizona Diamondbacks for J-Up and Chris Johnson. Justin has put on a show with the Braves while B.J. is off to the worst start of his career. Any number of theories can come into play: It could be his brother, it could be the National League, it could be that he’s no longer playing indoors, etc. As sweet as the deal looked from the start no one is currently benefitting from B.J.'s presence in a Braves uniform. It sounds ay too early, but the stats are clearly showing.
Ben Zobrist Tampa Bay Rays
Yet another odd choice, and yet another current/former member of the Rays; Ben Zobrist has been an offensive (in a good way) powerhouse for the Rays since 2009. He’s made one All-Star Game appearance (2009) and has cracked the Top-20 in MVP voting three times in his career; with an eighth place finish in 2009 being his best. There’s no doubt that Zobrist would be a fine addition to any team, it just seems like Zobrist is not reaching his potential in Tampa. A guy like him, especially with his ability to play multiple positions, might be a better suit with a National League team like the Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies or Chicago Cubs. With the Nationals he’d be better off at second base as a fine replacement for the ever-slumping Danny Espinosa, but with the other two he could be used anywhere.
Josh Beckett Los Angeles Dodgers
It almost seems like forever ago that Josh Beckett was arguably one of the best pitchers in baseball. He came within a few votes of winning the AL Cy Young award with the Boston Red Sox in 2007 and then nearly again 2011. Since then, Beckett has been less than mediocre. During his last run with the Red Sox under Bobby Valentine, he was a loose cannon. Even now with the Dodgers he’s a shell of what he once was. The fact of the matter is that Beckett still has the talent; he just needs a catcher he works well with, a coach that will help him and a smaller market where he can be the star. Need proof of that? Take a good look at A.J. Burnett.
Howard Kendrick Los Angeles Angels
Howie Kendrick is arguably one of the best all-around second baseman in the game. As a member of the Los Angeles Angels, his “star power” is fading as he surrounding by guys making three times as much as he is, but Kendrick is the one doing all of the work. Kendrick works well with others and has been pretty good about letting his work do all of the talking; however, he’s also the kind of guy who would thrive with a team that more about being fundamentally solid rather than a team assembled an owner and general manager who think they can buy themselves a World Series trophy. Teams like the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, and the Kansas City Royals would be a perfect fit for his talent. He’d be able to break out a little bit more and actually have a decent chance to make a playoff run as all three of these teams are finally doing what they can to get out of the cellar. The Angels are just a sinking ship with too much treasure on board.
Alex Rios Chicago White Sox
Alex Rios has had a number of good seasons. In 2012 he hit .304 and finished 15th for the American League MVP award; however, very few people knew about it because no one really talked about the Chicago White Sox outside of Robin Ventura’s first run as manager, Chris Sale and how poorly Adam Dunn is doing. Rios is a career-.278 hitter and hits a fair amount of home runs despite his size. He has a decent-enough glove to be a good fit in any outfield, but the teams he’s been on have been such a let down. He’s a diamond in the rough and it’s shocking that no team has tried to cut a deal to extract him. Seriously, this is one guy that can go anywhere and be an instant sparkplug for a flailing offense.
Adam Dunn Chicago White Sox
GET HIM BACK IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE!!! He averaged over 38 home runs for seven straight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks and Nationals. He also hit for an average of .251 combined for all three teams. Seriously, get him out of the American League.
Chase Headley San Diego Padres
It’s awesome to see a player so loyal to the team that brought him up; however, it’s also hard to watch that player stick it out with a team that always comes up short. Chase Headley is clearly the best player on the San Diego Padres; he proved it last season by nearly winning the NL MVP on top of his Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. Headley is a solid third baseman with a lot of power and consistency in his swing. Any team would love to have a guy like him and it’s rather surprising that more haven’t tried to make deals for him especially around the trade deadline. Headley definitely doesn’t belong with another mediocre team. He belongs with a contender.
Ricky Nolasco Miami Marlins
Deep down inside, Ricky Nolasco is an amazing pitcher waiting to jump out. The only problem is that Nolasco doesn’t have anyone around him to help him reach his potential. From 2008-2010 Nolasco went 42-26 with a 4.36 ERA and 528 strikeouts. While the ERA isn’t that great, it is something that can be worked with. At 31-years-old Nolasco is starting to crumble a little bit; however, if he were to join a team with a respectable pitching coach he will be able to find his control again and dominate behind a team that will hopefully be able to generate some run support. The New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics might be the best fits for him.