MLB Power Rankings: Each Team's Most Potentially Disgruntled Player
Trade rumors are as much a part of baseball as the peanuts and the crackerjacks, and each team looks to better itself for the future in any trade, be it the near future or down the road.
However, from time to time, a player may become disgruntled due to a lack of playing time, or some other factor, and it may be in the team's best interest to part ways with that player.
So here is the most potentially disgruntled player on each MLB team, as playing time becomes a more clear-cut issue a month into the season.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Xavier Nady
1 of 30
Nady was signed early in the offseason to give the Diamondbacks some insurance while Juan Miranda eased into the starting role for the first time in his career after appearing in just 33 games last season.
However, the Diamondbacks then went out and signed Russell Branyan to a minor league deal as spring training was beginning, and he made the roster and moved ahead of Nady on the depth chart both at first base and as the team's top pinch hitter. That has resulted in just 21 at-bats and 12 games played for Nady.
Atlanta Braves: Joe Mather
2 of 30
Mather saw limited action during his tenure with the Cardinals, but last season alone he played six different positions proving his versatility, and the former third-round pick back in 2001 has hit minor league pitching well enough to at least have a spot on a big league club.
When he was selected by the Braves off waivers from the Cardinals, it looked as though he had a chance to be the team's fourth outfielder. However, the team chose to carry utility man Eric Hinske as their only backup outfielder, and Mather once again finds himself in the minors.
Baltimore Orioles: Nolan Reimold
3 of 30
Reimold looked to be the third piece to an already impressive outfield that consisted of Adam Jones and Nick Markakis when he burst onto the scene for a .279 BA/15 HR/45 RBI season as a rookie in 2009.
However, he struggled early last season and was demoted, and this offseason the Orioles signed Vladimir Guerrero to be their DH, shifting Luke Scott to left field. That left Reimold in a battle with Felix Pie for the fourth outfielder spot, and Pie won since he can play center field and Reimold cannot.
.png?w=256)
Boston Red Sox: Marco Scutaro
4 of 30
Scutaro was arguably the best utility player in the game during his time with the Athletics, and he used a breakout season with the Blue Jays in 2009 to land a two-year, $12.5 million contract from the Red Sox.
He played well last season, hitting .275 BA, 11 HR and 56 RBI, although in the Red Sox lineup that is the clear weak link. This season, he has slowly begun to lose playing time to Jed Lowrie who has gotten off to a hot start, and he could be on his way back to a reserve role—something he may not be ready to accept given the fact he could start elsewhere.
Chicago Cubs: Blake DeWitt
5 of 30
Entering spring training, it looked as though DeWitt had the upper hand at the majority of the at-bats in a lefty/righty platoon with Jeff Baker at second base for the Cubs. However, Darwin Barney has emerged as the starting second baseman, and Baker has served as a super utility player starting at first, second and third.
That has left DeWitt as essentially the last man off the bench, and he has had just 16 at-bats this season, appearing in 13 games. He is still just 25 years old, and has shown flashes in the past that he can hit at this level. He won't want to waste his prime years as an end-of-the-bench guy.
Chicago White Sox: Mark Teahen
6 of 30
Teahen was hurt much of last season, and this season he found himself in a competition at third base with rookie Brett Morel. He eventually lost out on the starting third-base job, and has once again found himself in a utility role after signing a three-year, $14 million contract prior to last season.
Morel has struggled early, hitting just .217, yet he has received all but six starts at third base this season, and two of those free starts went to Omar Vizquel, as Teahen has started just eight games all season. He is a player with a track record of being a solid hitter, and if he doesn't start seeing more at-bats he could want out of Chicago.
Cincinnati Reds: Jeremy Hermida
7 of 30
Hermida, once a first-round pick by the Marlins in the 2002 MLB draft, and the fourth-ranked prospect by Baseball America heading into the 2006 season, has not had the career that many thought he would.
After a solid first full season in 2007 when he hit.296 BA, 18 HR and 63 RBI, he has struggled to hit for a high average and the Reds mark his third team in the past three years. However, he is still just 27 years old and still has the potential to figure it out, but he won't get a chance as the Reds fifth outfielder, bouncing between Class-AAA and the major league bench.
Cleveland Indians: Jensen Lewis
8 of 30
Lewis made his debut with the Indians in 2007, and recorded 13 saves the following season, spending some time as the team's closer. In total, he has posted a 3.68 ERA over 161 big league appearances.
He posted a career-best 2.97 ERA last season in 37 appearances, but he was outrighted to Class-AAA during spring training and has yet to see action with the Indians this season. With teams constantly looking for relievers and Lewis only 27 years old, he has every right to wonder why he is pitching in the minors.
Colorado Rockies: Mike Jacobs
9 of 30
Jacobs has hit for power everywhere he's gone throughout his career, including a 32-home run season with the Royals in 2008, but he struggled to find major league action with the Mets last season, and finds himself in Class-AAA with the Rockies this year.
He has started the season on fire with .371 BA, five HR and 18 RBI in just 62 at-bats; however, on the Rockies bench, Jason Giambi (.167), Ian Stewart (.077), Jose Lopez (.161) and Ryan Spilborghs (.175) are all struggling mightily. There is no reason Jacobs shouldn't be in the majors.
Detroit Tigers: Scott Sizemore
10 of 30
Sizemore opened the 2010 season as the Tigers starting second baseman, but after hitting just .224 through 48 games, he was demoted to Class-AAA for the remainder of the season.
This spring, he lost out on the second base competition to Will Rhymes, who took over for Sizemore last season and hit over .300 in limited action. However, this season Rhymes is hitting just .185, while both of the team's utility players in Ramon Santiago (.192) and Don Kelly (.238) are struggling as well. At 26 years old, Sizemore is no longer a prospect and he will look to get a call-up soon if the trio continues to struggle, or he could look to be moved.
Florida Marlins: Emilio Bonifacio
11 of 30
Bonifacio was the talk of the baseball world last season when he got off to a torrid start after the season's first couple weeks. While he eventually cooled down, he still proved to be a valuable player for the Marlins last season.
This season, he has not found as many chances to get into the lineup, and when Logan Morrison went down with an injury, the team chose to give his at-bats to call-up Scott Cousins instead of Bonifacio. Teams are always in need of solid utility players, and he could look to move out of Florida soon.
Houston Astros: Brett Myers
12 of 30
The Astros took a chance on Myers last season, signing him to a one-year, $7 million deal when there was little interest for him on the free-agent market. He responded with the best season of his career, posting a14-8 record and a career-best 3.14 ERA.
He was rewarded with a two-year, $23 million contract this offseason, but the Astros are a bad team and, much like Roy Oswalt last season, Myers could grow tired of pitching for a team with no chance of competing. Look for him to be elsewhere before the season is over.
Kansas City Royals: Eric Hosmer
13 of 30
Hosmer was the eighth-ranked prospect in all of baseball entering the 2011 season, and the top overall first-base prospect, a full nine spots ahead of the Braves' Freddie Freeman.
He is coming off a season in which he hit .338 BA, 20 HR and 86 RBI in his first action above Class-AA, and so far this season at Class-AAA he has been even better with a line of .380 BA, one HR and 10 RBI. Meanwhile, the Royals first baseman Kila Ka'aihue has struggled mightily with a .186 average in 70 at-bats.
The Royals are playing well, and could use Hosmer now, but they will most likely wait to call him up until summer in an effort to push back his arbitration eligibility.
Los Angeles Angels: Jeff Baisley
14 of 30
Baisley spent six seasons in the Athletics minor league system prior to this year, after being taken in the 12th round of the 2005 MLB draft.
With the injury to Kendry Morales, the Angles turned to prospect Mark Trumbo to fill the void at first base, and he has hit just .229 in 83 at-bats, and has drawn just two walks thus far. Baisley, meanwhile, is tearing the cover off the ball at Class-AAA in what could be one of his final chances to land on a big league club, hitting .405 BA, four HR and 21 RBI. If that does not earn him a call-up, nothing will.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Marcus Thames
15 of 30
Thames signed with the Dodgers this offseason after serving as the Yankees top bat off the bench last season and hitting a solid .288 BA, 12 HR and 33 RBI in 212 at-bats.
He was slated to platoon in right field with Jay Gibbons, but the Dodgers have since called up Jerry Sands, who was the team's sixth-ranked prospect entering the season, and he has gotten the majority of the at-bats. Also a right-handed hitter, it looks as though Sands will be the other half of the platoon when Gibbons returns from injury, and Thames will be scrapping for at-bats.
Milwaukee Brewers: Nyjer Morgan
16 of 30
Morgan has run into issues in the past because of his attitude, and that is why he found himself out of Washington. Early this season he has been the Brewers' fourth outfielder, occasionally stealing starts from Carlos Gomez in center field.
However, Gomez is hitting just .250 in 88 at-bats, while Morgan is hitting a robust .455 in 22 at-bats. That could lead to some controversy sooner rather than later, and if Morgan doesn't get his chance at an everyday job and keeps hitting, don't be surprised if he says something.
Minnesota Twins: Kevin Slowey
17 of 30
Slowey has been solid since being called up late in the 2007 season, and he has won at least 10 games each of the past three seasons. Last season was his best year to date, as he went 13-6 with a 4.45 ERA in 28 starts.
However, he lost out on the fifth spot in the rotation this spring, and now the 27-year-old has been relegated to the bullpen. While he provides the Twins with terrific depth at starting pitcher should someone go down with an injury, there is no way he is ready to accept a relief role at this point in his career.
New York Mets: Jenrry Mejia
18 of 30
Mejia is still only 21 years old, and it is understandable that the Mets would want to give him a chance to get a little more seasoning in the minors before they hand him a spot on the big league club.
That would be fine and good, had the team not called him up last year and allowing him to make 33 appearances, three of which were starts. He has shown in his four seasons in the minors that he has little left to gain from time in the farm system, and he has shown improved command this season. Look for him to be up as soon as the Mets fire sale begins. If not, look for him to be frustrated.
New York Yankees: Andy Sisco
19 of 30
Sisco was once one of baseball's top young pitching prospects after the Cubs drafted him in the second round of the 2001 draft. However, he never appeared in a game for the Cubs, and has bounced around ever since, posting a 5.18 ERA in 151 career relief appearances.
After spending last season at Class-AA for the Giants, the Yankees signed the 6'10" left-hander to a minor league deal this offseason. He has thrown nine scoreless innings of relief so far this season at Class-AAA, and while a guy like Mark Prior is just looking for a second chance, Sisco is still just 28 and needs a return to the majors to get his career back on track.
Oakland Athletics: Conor Jackson
20 of 30
Prior to the 2006 season, Jackson was the 17th-ranked prospect in all of baseball, and he looked destined to be the next star in Arizona. He didn't disappoint that season, winning the Diamondbacks starting first-base job and hitting .291 BA, 15 HR and 79 RBI. He posted two more similar seasons before missing most of 2009 with a case of valley fever.
He was traded last year and struggled to find playing time in Oakland, where he once again sits this year as the team's backup in the corner outfield spots and at first base. Still only 29 years old, there is no reason Jackson can't return to form with regular playing time.
Philadelphia Phillies: Kyle Kendrick
21 of 30
Kendrick, much like Kevin Slowey of the Twins, has a solid track record as a starter but has been relegated to the bullpen just as he is approaching his prime.
Kendrick went 11-10 last season in 31 starts, posting a respectable 4.73 ERA, yet with the addition of Cliff Lee the Phillies have moved him to middle-inning work. He has done well in that role, with a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings pitched, but he would certainly rather be in the rotation.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Ryan Doumit
22 of 30
Doumit, who has proven to be one of the better offensive catchers in the league when healthy, has long wanted out of Pittsburgh, and he has seen action in right field and at first base over the years in an effort to get more playing time.
With a change of scenery and regular at-bats, perhaps with a team like the Dodgers, Doumit could return to his 2008 form when he posted a .318 BA, 15 HR and 69 RBI season. He would certainly welcome the move.
San Diego Padres: Everth Cabrera
23 of 30
Cabrera came out of the gates strong in 2009, posting a .255 BA, two HR, 31 RBI and 25 SB and finishing eighth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.
However, he slumped last season to a .208 average and was sent down after 76 games. The Padres then acquired Jason Bartlett and Orlando Hudson in the offseason, leaving Cabrera as a Class-AAA player. He has started off solid in the minors and could be dealt at some point.
San Francisco Giants: Mark DeRosa
24 of 30
The Giants were the surprise team of the league last season, and they made it to the playoffs in part because of the additions of Pat Burrell and Cody Ross in the outfield.
The team signed DeRosa, one of the top free agents, to a two-year, $12 million contract, and he made a minimal contribution before sitting out the rest of the season due to injury. Now that he is healthy, the Giants have an abundance of outfielders, and DeRosa could once again find himself in a utility role, although he could start for a number of teams.
Seattle Mariners: Dustin Ackley
25 of 30
Ackley, the second overall pick in the 2009 draft, opened his first professional season at Class-AA last season, and he was given a chance to win the everyday second-base job out of spring training this year.
However, in the interest of keeping him from being arbitration eligible for one more season, he opened the year at Class-AAA, watching a platoon of Jack Wilson and Adam Kennedy patrol second base. If he is not called up soon, the Mariners have nothing to gain by leaving their top hitting prospect in the minors while they are already in the midst of a rebuild.
St. Louis Cardinals: Fernando Salas
26 of 30
The biggest story coming into this season was the contract status of Albert Pujols, but the Cardinals attention has quickly turned to the closer's role, where Ryan Franklin has struggled mightily.
Salas, a promising relief prospect who had 19 saves last season at Class-AAA, has recently been called up. He should have every chance to win the closer's job before the team looks elsewhere for a replacement, or else the 26-year-old is not part of the Cardinals' future plans.
Tampa Bay Rays: B.J. Upton
27 of 30
Upton, still just 26 years old, has been at the center of trade talks since his dugout confrontation with Evan Longoria last season, and while he has shown glimpses of greatness, he has yet to live up to being the second pick in the 2002 draft.
With the emergence of Sam Fuld, the Rays could look to deal their once-top prospect, in a trade that could fetch them a good deal of young talent. It seems like a deal that would be best for both sides.
Texas Rangers: Michael Young
28 of 30
After the Rangers signed Adrian Beltre this past offseason, it seemed a foregone conclusion the team would deal incumbent third baseman Michael Young at some point before the season began.
He has stuck around as the team's designated hitter and super utility player, but he could still be dealt at some point, as one of the most consistent hitters of the past decade, and a great fielder to boot, should have an everyday position without having to move around the diamond,
Toronto Blue Jays: Brett Lawrie
29 of 30
This past offseason, many expected the Brewers to make a big move in dealing slugger Prince Fielder. Instead they acquired starting pitchers Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum, giving up one of their top prospects in Lawrie in the process.
Aaron Hill struggled last season after a breakout year in 2009, and he is off to a slow start again this year, hitting just .242 in 62 at-bats. Lawrie, meanwhile, is tearing up Class-AAA pitching to the tune of a .407 batting average in 81 at-bats, and he deserves a chance at a big league job, despite the fact he is only 21 this season.
Washington Nationals: Ross Detwiler
30 of 30
While Drew Storen has emerged as the Nationals closer, and the team has a solid pitching staff in place, Detwiler has done nothing to discourage the team from giving him a spot on the big league staff.
Still just 25 years old, Detwiler has 24 career big league appearances, 19 of which were starts. With a number of pitchers struggling this season for the Nats, he deserves a shot at a big league job, or should get a shot elsewhere.
.png?w=480)
