5 Players Taking over for Departed Free Agents You Need to Know for 2012

Baseball players are constantly under a lot of pressure, both when they are on and off the field. From behaving appropriately and setting good examples for the kids that look up to them through living up to their expectations and not falling short in meeting their salaries.

Truly, they handle a lot of pressure day in and day out.

Perhaps the biggest stress a ball player must deal with, especially one that will last an entire season, is when a particular player is taking over for another recently departed player—usually via free agency.

The players on this list are facing just that situation. Each of these players is taking over for a major talent that departed for another city and, as such, the player left to fill in will inevitably be compared to his predecessor.

In almost all of the cases, the replacement player makes a lot of money and in all five cases, the replacement player is taking over for a major, highly-paid predecessor. Pressure? Indeed.

Mat Gamel

Mat Gamel of the Milwaukee Brewers will certainly be feeling the pressure when he takes the field for the first time in 2012. No, it's not because Gamel hasn't had any major league at-bats, but instead it's because he is taking over for Prince Fielder.

Fielder left Milwaukee this winter to sign with the Detroit Tigers and, in doing so, he left a huge hole in the line-up for the Brewers. Gamel will no doubt be looked upon to help fill that hole now.

Tough act to follow...

Yu Darvish

Although he hasn't been named the ace of the staff—at least not yet—Japanese import Yu Darvish will certainly be carrying a heavy burden trying to replace C.J. Wilson in the Texas Rangers staff.

Wilson helped lead the Rangers to not one, but two World Series in the past two seasons. Although not victorious in either, the Rangers clearly took a hit when he left (especially since he left for division rivals, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim).

The burden of making up this lost talent will fall on Darvish for three reasons:

Firstly, because he is the new face in the rotation. While Neftali Feliz hasn't been a starter, he is well known to Texas fans.

Secondly, Darvish's record in Japan shows he has the stuff to be a legitimate ace.

Finally, Darvish's massive contract will make him an easy target for scrutiny if he or the Rangers start to have problems.

Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran will not be taking over at first base for Albert Pujols this spring. Lance Berkman will be playing there, but he will be taking over for Pujols in the Cardinals offense.

With Albert Pujols leaving St. Louis to sign with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Cardinals acquired Carlos Beltran to help fill the void left in their lineup. Talk about some big shoes to fill.

Coming off a World Series victory and with Adam Wainwright coming back into the rotation, any stumbling the Cardinals may do will almost certainly be blamed on the bullpen, as much of the team this year looks the same as the team that won the World Series last year (minus Albert and plus Beltran, of course). Thus, the offense will be an easy target for scrutiny.

Ruben Tejada

Ruben Tejada, the New York Mets' young shortstop, will be taking over for Jose Reyes. Frankly, I don't think neither the Mets nor their fans are expecting much from Tejada, especially in the offensive department, so his expectations are probably pretty low.

That said, given all that is going on with the Mets, I would not be surprised if Tejada is putting added pressure on himself not only to make up for Reyes being gone but to help re-energize the franchise.

Jonathan Papelbon

In a past life, he was beloved by all Red Sox fans and would close out the game for that organization. Now, Jonathan Papelbon has taken his talents to Philadelphia, where he will hope to continue to close out games, but now for the Phillies.

Papelbon has to be feeling the pressure this year because, although he rebounded a bit last year, the talk of him declining continue to hover. Furthermore, Papelbon is joining a depleted bullpen after both Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson left for other teams this winter.

Also, Papelbon is now pitching in a very hitter friendly-park (something that could cost him some games in the ninth inning) and with all the injuries to the Phillies lineup, Philly fans won't be as convinced about the offensive prowess of their team this year.

Closers, by nature, have a very pressure-filled, stressful job, but for Papelbon, that pressure is going to be extremely high in 2012.