Top 15 MLB Stars Who Need a Change of Scenery
Top 15 MLB Stars Who Need a Change of Scenery
Isn’t it great when someone finds the perfect spot they fit in life? That unfortunately is not the case for everyone. In fact while you might think someone that makes a million bucks doing what they love to do is always happy, that isn’t the case. In Major League Baseball sometimes guys just need a change of scenery to help jump start their careers again. If a player isn’t happy in a situation, he usually doesn’t perform to his highest level of ability. That is a reason for he and the team to part ways in my opinion.
Of course it isn’t always a situation where a player isn’t happy. From time to time a guy might love his team but still need a change of scenery whether he knows it or not. Countless times a young team superstar has been traded away in a fire sale trade and his career exploded when it happened. In this situation it can be a little shaky but there is no denying when a player has outgrown his surroundings, he would be better somewhere else.
Justin Upton is a good example of both. He liked playing in Arizona but the Arizona Diamondbacks front office weren’t happy with him for whatever reason. Though he tried his best the situation eventually just got to where everyone finally agreed it was time to go. Truth be told they should have parted ways a year earlier. What happened when Upton changed scenery? He only leads the majors in homers and won NL player of the month for April. That’s pretty clear evidence that a change sometimes makes a huge difference.
What follows is a glancing look at the top 15 MLB players that need just such a change in scenery. Some of them are all over trade rumors and some are not. You might be surprised who you find in there.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
15-David Price - Tampa Bay Rays
Seeing the way James Shields has enjoyed his change to the Kansas City Royals leads me to believe that Price would just be better off somewhere else. That is especially true with even more good young pitching coming up behind him. It’s only a matter of time anyway so he might as well get the most of it.
14-Carlos Quentin - San Diego Padres
Any time someone goes through the dramatic situation that Quentin has gone through this season they need a change. But not just that, he needs a change for productivity as well. Check his AL numbers versus his NL ones. No wonder Paul Konerko took up for him in April, he hit for much better average over there.
13-Rickie Weeks - Milwaukee Brewers
I think Rickie has overstayed his welcome in Brewers territory. He was a great young star but has faltered as the years have gone by. He is still young and talented enough to make a big splash somewhere, it just needs to be with a different team.
12-Chase Utley - Philadelphia Phillies
Utley might be Mr. Phillie but he is approaching the latter years of his career. Considering his name has come up in rumors and the Phillies seem to be years away from seriously competing, I think Utley would make a huge impact if he landed on a strong contender like the New York Yankees.
11-Matt Diaz - Miami Marlins
Though he has never really been a constant starter, he was always platoon material at the very least. His numbers as a Marlin are just terrible. Diaz has more left in his tank than batting in the one-hundreds for average. New digs might shake his talent loose and restart his career.
10-Alfonso Soriano - Chicago Cubs
The rumors of Soriano moving have been around for almost as long as he has been with the Cubs if not longer. The thing is that he is still a very productive hitter and would be a huge impact player for a contending team that needed an outfielder. Who couldn’t use a .300 plus hitter that regularly hits 30 homers and over 100 RBI? Very few that I know of. Any one of them would be a welcome change for the last several years of his career.
9-Cliff Lee - Philadelphia Phillies
I realize some think that the Phillies are not going to be getting rid of talent this year but this isn’t really about that. Lee is a potential shut down pitcher that seems to fair slightly better in the American League. As he approaches the last quarter of his career I think he would be more consistent if he knew every start counted towards a pennant.
8-Bronson Arroyo - Cincinnati Reds
Arroyo already figures he will be the odd man out in Cincinnati so what kind of work environment must that be? He is still productive, don’t get me wrong. At the same time, how much more comfortable would he be if he changed to new scenery where he more confidently knew his future career path?
7-Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays
Truthfully, how many times have you forgotten how good Evan Longoria is? Come on now, tell the truth. I realize the Rays have him signed through about a year before the end of time but nothing is impossible in the business of baseball. I think Longoria really would bring his name into the future hall-of-famer territory if he had a big change in teams.
6-David DeJesus - Chicago Cubs
When DeJesus was with the Kansas City Royals he averaged around a .300 average and was productive year in and year out. Though he still is somewhat productive, he isn’t playing to his potential. I think that is because of his surroundings and not because of his age for sure. He hasn’t been the same since he began hopping from team to team. If a team would make him their guy somewhere, he would not disappoint.
5-Barry Zito - San Francisco Giants
Zito had a great run in the AL with the Oakland Athletics but since coming to the National League has never really hit his stride. He won fifteen games one season but also lost 17 a couple of years before that. What does he need to get comfortable again? I think he needs a shift back to the AL. I hear the Baltimore Orioles and many others need pitching.
4-R.A. Dickey - Toronto Blue Jays
Dickey is a quality pitcher. He just hasn’t looked like one this year because he’s in the wrong league. Seriously I looked at his numbers before the season started and expected some of this because as good as he was in the NL (cy-young award means pretty stinking good), he never had those numbers in the AL. Struggling as he has been, he had one of his best starts of the season against, you guessed it, a NL ball club. Sure it could be a coincidence and I know he just got there but if I had his ear I’d be whispering for him to find a way to move.
3-Justin Morneau - Minnesota Twins
How many times have you heard that Morneau is on the way out in Minnesota? How long can he be expected to perform at the same high level while he constantly expects to be dealt here or there? As good as he has been and as consistent as he has been, I think Morneau could have the best five years of his career with a drastic change of scenery.
2-Jake Peavy - Chicago White Sox
Peavy is the White Sox elder statesman. He is the veteran star pitcher that showed Chris Sale and others the ropes in Chi-Town. Why can’t he be someone’s hero though? Shouldn’t he have the chance over the last several years of his career to shine brightly and bring in world series titles to contending teams? Peavy needs a switch to get this done.
1-Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers
You might be surprised to see Braun’s name on here and you might not. I for one wouldn’t be surprised if he went somewhere besides the Brewers very soon. To say the least he needs to. As good as Braun is, he sometimes is the lone reason for applause in Milwaukee. I’m not saying they always have bad teams but Braun could be so much larger of a figure and a factor with a constant contender. Look for big things from Ryan Braun if he gets the change he needs.
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