Changes: stunning trades and unprecedented free-agent movement have shifted the landscape and affected the balance of power

Sporting News, The, Feb 16, 2004 by Ken Rosenthal

Changes of scenery Players who could benefit from a new situation:

Player               Old team       New team

SS Rich Aurilia      Giants         Mariners
RHP Miguel Batista   Diamondbacks   Blue Jays
1B Hee Seop Choi     Cubs           Marlins
SS Royce Clayton     Brewers        Rockies
RF J.D. Drew         Cardinals      Braves
RF Juan Gonzalez     Rangers        Royals
1B Tino Martinez     Cardinals      Devil Rays
2B Pokey Reese       Pirates        Red Sox
RHP Jeff Weaver      Yankees        Dodgers

Player               Comment

SS Rich Aurilia      Went from 37 homers, 97 RBIs in 2001 to 13 homers
                       and 58 RBIs in 2003.
RHP Miguel Batista   Should prosper with more run support (10-9 with a
                       3.54 ERA in 2003).
1B Hee Seop Choi     Unlike the Cubs, the Marlins actually prefer to
                       use youngsters.
SS Royce Clayton     If anything can revive his slumping offense, it
                       is Coors Field.
RF J.D. Drew         Is a poster boy for the D.L. but has plenty to
                       play for in contract year.
RF Juan Gonzalez     Has missed 172 games the past two seasons but
                       still has 105 RBIs in that span.
1B Tino Martinez     Never adjusted to the N.L. but didn't exactly set
                       himself up to succeed with Tampa Bay.
2B Pokey Reese       Not much offense, but his defense is an upgrade
                       over Todd Walker's.
RHP Jeff Weaver      Isn't guaranteed to make the rotation but is
                       guaranteed not to be booed mercilessly.
--Chris Bahr

Catchers on the move

No fewer than 19 catchers changed clubs in the offseason,
including these expected regulars:

Player            Old team       New team

Michael Barrett   Expos          Cubs
Ramon Hernandez   A's            Padres
Javy Lopez        Braves         Orioles
Damian Miller     Cubs           A's
Chad Moeller      Diamondbacks   Brewers
A.J. Pierzynski   Twins          Giants
Ivan Rodriguez    Marlins        Tigers
Benito Santiago   Giants         Royals

Player            Comment

Michael Barrett   Has produced back-to-back seasons with double-digit
                    homers but hit .208 last season.
Ramon Hernandez   He's coming off a career season (21 homers, 78
                    RBIs), so why did San Diego want Jason Kendall?
Javy Lopez        Don't expect 43 homers, 109 RBIs and a .328 average
                    again. Can he handle a young staff?
Damian Miller     His career .329 OBP is a strange fit for the A's,
                    but he has experience with top-notch staffs.
Chad Moeller      He got his wish for a trade but isn't an established
                    starter.
A.J. Pierzynski   Homers will be even harder to come by at spacious
                    SBC Park.
Ivan Rodriguez    It's difficult to imagine why Pudge backed himself
                    into Detroit.
Benito Santiago   His offense declined in 2003; he'll be counted on to
                    mold a young rotation.--C.B.

Closers in new places

Name              Old team   New team

Danys Baez        Indians    Devil Rays
Armando Benitez   Mariners   Marlins
Keith Foulke      A's        Red Sox
Eddie Guardado    Twins      Mariners
Braden Looper     Marlins    Mets
Jose Mesa         Phillies   Pirates
Arthur Rhodes     Mariners   A's
Justin Speier     Rockies    Blue Jays
Billy Wagner      Astros     Phillies

Name              Comment

Danys Baez        Blew 10 saves in 35 chances last season before
                    losing the job; will take over for Lance Carter.
Armando Benitez   With less pressure and plenty of save opportunities,
                    he should get back on track.
Keith Foulke      Bullpen instantly upgraded; Foulke led A.L. with 43
                    saves last season.
Eddie Guardado    Is Seattle's closer now that Kazuhiro Sasaki has
                    returned to Japan.
Braden Looper     Seemed to look over his shoulder after the Marlins
                    acquired Ugueth Urbina last summer.
Jose Mesa         A battle with no winner: Mesa (6.52 ERA in 2003) vs.
                    Juan Acevedo (6.57 ERA).
Arthur Rhodes     Never has had more than four saves in a season.
Justin Speier     Saved nine games in Colorado; will compete against
                    Aquilino Lopez in Toronto.
Billy Wagner      Just imagine what Philadelphia could have done last
                    season with his heat.--C.B.

Switching spots

Mike Piazza is expected to move from catcher to first eventually, but
these changes will go into effect from the beginning of the season:

Player team                Old   New   Comment

Albert Pujols, Cardinals   LF    1B    Cardinals are left with hole in
                                         left, but there will be less
                                         stress on Pujols' elbow at
                                         first.
Darin Erstad, Angels       CF    1B    All-out efforts in the outfield
                                         were admirable but too often
                                         landed him on the D.L.
Jose Reyes, Mets           SS    2B    Moves over to make room for Kaz
                                         Matsui.
Scott Spiezio, Mariners    1B    3B    Part-time 3B in the past was
                                         signed to be full-time
                                         solution for Mariners'
                                         problems at third.
Miguel Cabrera, Marlins    3B    RF    Moving to outfield full time so
                                         the Marlins can keep Mike
                                         Lowell's bat in the lineup.
Bernie Williams, Yankees   CF    DH    Slowed at the plate and in the
                                         outfield last year; enter
                                         Kenny Lofton.
Julio Lugo, Devil Rays     SS    2B    Struggled defensively at short,
                                         but had career bests in
                                         homers and RBIs last season.
Shawn Chacon, Rockies      SP    CL    Elbow problems--and the lack of
                                         a better alternative--
                                         prompted a move to the
                                         bullpen.--C.B.