MLB Trade Scenarios: 10 Players Who Could Use a Change of Scenery

It's never too early to look at the trade market. 

Some players on this list are currently in the minors, others are suffering through rapid decline, and a handful could use a fresh team to bolster their capabilities. 

All of these players need a change of scenery, whether it's for playing time, better coaches or another reason.

The most recent beneficiary of a change of scenery is Adrian Gonzalez of the Red Sox. Pundits only dreamed of what Gonzalez could do with that short right field in Fenway Park, and he delivered. In addition, he will regularly be competing for a playoff spot. 

Mark Reynolds

Just when you thought Mark Reynolds couldn't possibly hit any worse, he does. 

After leading the league in strikeouts the past four seasons, through seven games this year he is hitting just .160 with zero home runs.

Reynolds's bat still has pop in it, and the 28-year-old slugger now enters the prime of his baseball career. 

Even when Reynolds led the league in strikeouts, he still drove the ball out of the ballpark. Teams looking for an infielder with pop who can play first and third are in luck, because Reynolds needs a fresh start. 

Marlon Bryd

Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd could be on the move, perhaps to Boston, the Chicago-Sun Times reports. With Red Sox outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford currently on the disabled list, the Red Sox could use another outfield bat to keep up in the competitive AL East. 

On the young season, Byrd is just 2-for-28 and could use a change of scenery, in part to distance himself from a franchise that continues to struggle, despite maintaining a superfluous payroll. 

John Lannan

Lannan is the most likely candidate in this bunch to be traded this season. Lannan was demoted to the minors because of the sudden amount of depth in Washington's pitching staff. 

The offseason acquisitions of Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson, coupled with the return of phenom Steven Strasburg, blocks Lannan from a starting pitcher role with the big league club.  

Lannan requested a trade to the Nationals front office. Lannan is a serviceable pitcher with a career 4.00 ERA. Later on in the year, some team will lose depth in the starting rotation due to injury and demand a pitcher on the trade market. 

Brett Cecil

In a move alike Lannan's demotion to the minor league's, Toronto's Brett Cecil was sent down after a rough Spring Training.

Cecil is perhaps an average major league pitcher at best, with a career line of 26-22 and a 4.64 ERA, but once the season gets going, teams will demand pitchers who are major-league ready.  

The other factor to consider is that Cecil is left-handed, a coveted trait in pitchers. 

Matt Laporta

Indians first baseman Matt Laporta is another player currently playing in the minors. Once an elite prospect, Laporta has not delivered so far in parts of three seasons with a career line of .238/.304/.397.

Laporta could use another team's vision and a new locker room to help further develop the young player. 

Coco Crisp

As previously mentioned, the Red Sox need outfield help. Perhaps we could see Coco Crisp return to Fenway? 

Crisp is now manning left field in Oakland and would move back to his natural center field position in Boston. 

He fills the need the Red Sox have with their two speedy outfielders on the disabled list. The Athletics are not ready to compete this year, and they could use an extra prospect or two by trading Crisp. 

Grady Sizemore

Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore, the second Indian on this list, cannot stay healthy.

Right now at age 29 he should be in the prime of his career, but instead is spending an inordinate amount of time on the disabled list. 

He needs another medical staff to take a look at his recurring injuries and attempt to correct these problems so he can get back to playing baseball at a high level. 

Justin Morneau

Like Sizemore, Twins first baseman Justin Morneau continues to land on the disabled list. 

In the last two seasons, Morneau has played in only 150 games, missing more than a whole season due to injury. 

In addition, Morneau's 2011 season was the worst since his 2003 rookie season, batting just .227 with four home runs.

The Twins, already in last-place at with a 2-7 record, are not going to compete for a postseason berth in the near future. 

They might think about dumping Morneau, whose six-year, $80 million contract ends in 2013 for a couple of prospects to jumpstart the rebuilding process. 

Kendrys Morales

Angels infielder Kendrys Morales' legacy will always be tied to the injury he suffered while celebrating a grand slam homer. 

The signing of Albert Pujols stripped Morales of his starting first baseman job. In 2010 season, he had his breakout year with a .304 batting average with 34 homers. 

Teams would covet the slugger on the trade market, and the Angels would receive a fair amount of value on the other end. 

Gordon Beckham

For some reason, White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham continues to decline, despite the fact that he should be maturing at the plate. 

His batting average from the rookie year onward: .270, .252, .230, and in 2012, .136. 

Those numbers are troubling, and it's clear the White Sox are not able to correct whatever issue Beckham is having at the plate. 

Beckham is still relatively young at 25 years old and should generate some interest out on the trade market.