Hanley Ramirez and 10 MLB Players Who Should Switch Positions

Victory is a goal common for every MLB franchise. To attain it, particular players must occasionally move from where they have become accustomed.

The following individuals, for example, should consider changing their preferences.

Several are unsigned free agents, but whatever organizations ultimately accept them would benefit from having them deviate from their natural positions.

The majority of these athletes currently belong to teams. However, they are either unqualified to play positions they've occupied in past seasons, or preventing their teams from building championship-caliber rosters.

Surely, general managers want players who are willing to sacrifice comfort for winning.

Prince Fielder (Free Agent): 1B to DH

No team—or fan, for that matter—is going to pay Prince Fielder to play first base. Ironically, fielding, throwing and lateral movement aren't included in his skill set.

They want to see him swinging from his heels at home plate because he is an extra-base hit machine, a run producer with immense power and plate discipline.

He's very valuable, just not in the same class as all-around first basemen like Mark Teixeira, Adrian Gonzalez and Albert Pujols.

Reports from the MLB Winter Meetings implied that the Milwaukee Brewers are moving on. Any National League club would be a poor fit for him, anyway.

Fielder would be best utilized as a designated hitter on an American League team where he could solely focus on batting while remaining in the lineup every day.

Juan Pierre (Free Agent): LF to 2B

Juan Pierre is only four years removed from his last position change.

A longtime center fielder, he was pushed over to left as a Los Angeles Dodger when up-and-coming Matt Kemp became an every day major leaguer. Similarly, all 2,695.1 defensive innings of his Chicago White Sox tenure were served in left field.

Just as his weak throwing arm prompted that earlier switch, it may force him to move once again in 2012.

At 34, Pierre still has blinding speed, but an outfielder's arm? There's doubt that he ever did.

Pierre is a top-of-the-order hitter—always has been. I imagine, though, that he would be less of a defensive liability at second base where every potential target is within a close proximity.

Eduardo Nunez (New York Yankees): SS to LF

The New York Yankees are actively searching for a heir to shortstop Derek Jeter, but Eduardo Nunez is not the one they seek.

He had a lengthy tryout for the role in 2011 while Jeter was on the disabled list. He flaunted considerable offensive ability . . . and the hand-eye coordination of a toddler.

He committed 20 errors combined at shortstop and third base over a half season's worth of innings. Those included fielding and throwing mistakes alike, which lead me to conclude that he is a poor defensive player.

Anyway, the Yankees might lose fourth outfielder Andruw Jones to free agency. General manager Brian Cashman will be hesitant to turn towards his farm system, which lacks suitable replacements at the position.

This scenario would be ideal for Nunez.

He has sufficient arm strength—albeit not accuracy—and agility to spare Brett Gardner or Curtis Granderson in the field if a tough left-handed starter were to oppose the team.

Jhonny Peralta (Detroit Tigers): SS to 3B

Jhonny Peralta was a third baseman for the Cleveland Indians for much of 2009 and 2010. Now a regular on the Detroit Tigers, he ought to convert back.

Sure-handed as he was this past season at shortstop, Peralta doesn't have ideal range for the position.

Meanwhile, the Tigers struggled to get production from the hot corner. Brandon Inge was dreadful (.197 batting average) over 300-plus plate appearances and not likely to be retained beyond 2012.

If Peralta were to shift to third base, then perhaps Detroit could pursue a free agent like Rafael Furcal to fill the vacancy.

Carlos Lee (Houston Astros): LF/1B to DH

I've already discussed Prince Fielder, but voilà—obesity strikes again!

Carlos Lee has clearly invested his $100 million dollar contract in something since signing with the Houston Astros five offseasons ago.

Lee sticks out among Houston's collection of young players. Even if required to eat a large percentage of his 2012 salary, you can bet the rebuilding Astros are eager to deal him away.

He has gradually transitioned from left field to first base. It's hard to believe, though, that any MLB team would want him to start at either position.

Comparable to the aforementioned Fielder, Lee has ball-bashing prowess.

Expect to see him DH-ing for an American League club by July's non-waiver trade deadline.

Jayson Werth (Washington Nationals): RF to CF

Twelve months removed from signing a seven-year agreement with the Washington Nationals, Jayson Werth is definitely staying put . . . in the U.S. capital, at least.

However, a move on the diamond is imminent.

Former No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Harper is slicing through minor league opponents as if they were tissue paper. He is accustomed to right field, Werth's usual position.

There honestly isn't much heated debate surrounding this proposition because Werth apparently enjoys center field.

He and Harper should be able to coexist.

Alfonso Soriano (Chicago Cubs): LF to 1B

Former Chicago Cubs' first baseman Carlos Pena has declined arbitration. If he leaves, what will general manager Theo Epstein do?

Rather than make an ill-advised, long-term offer to free-agent Prince Fielder, he should utilize the one that his predecessor, Jim Hendry, unfortunately presented to Alfonso Soriano in November 2006.

Soriano has almost exclusively manned left field in five seasons as a Cub and it ain't working. His defense has suffered as his speed has deserted him.

In the prime of his career, he played an inadequate second base, so that isn't a logical position switch at this point.

Without the luxury of a designated hitter, the Cubs will have to station Soriano somewhere.

At first base, hopefully he will cost his team fewer runs.

Wilson Betemit (Free Agent): 3B to 1B

Wilson Betemit has tried everything except pitching, catching and center field in parts of nine MLB seasons. He hasn't earned praise for his glove at any position.

He's an above-average hitter hoping to stick somewhere as a starting infielder.

Most often in his career, Betemit has been used at third base, but this throw didn't impress the scouts.

I envision him joining a team that can plug him in at first base and keep his arm by his side. The Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays might be interested. 

Emilio Bonifacio (Miami Marlins): 3B to 2B

There isn't a more prototypical utility player in the game today than Emilio Bonifacio.

After only a few major league seasons, he has totaled 17 or more starts at six different positions!

In 2011, he proved that he could contribute at the plate over a 150-plus game workload. Naturally, the Miami Marlins would like to play him regularly again this summer, but without having to constantly relocate him.

For reasons I'll explain in the next slide, Bonifacio will move to second base.

Hanley Ramirez (Miami Marlins): SS to 3B

Emilio Bonifacio's primary positions are shortstop and third base. He'll be on the right side of the infield, however, because newly-introduced Marlin Jose Reyes will start at the former and—hopefully—ex-shortstop Hanley Ramirez will stop whining and adapt to third.

Ramirez's haters were really riled up by his comments immediately following the Reyes signing. Specifically, he claimed that he was unwillingly to switch positions and that he preferred to be traded to another club.

There's no other way to spin it—he was being selfish.

Anyway, these reassuring words from team President David Samson suggest that Ramirez has acquiesced.

Although Ramirez was merely a pedestrian defensive shortstop through 2011, he should make this adjustment rather seamlessly.

His bulky build and powerful throwing arm are akin to Alex Rodriguez's.

A-Rod shifted to the foul line to play alongside an All-Star shortstop and that worked out pretty well for the New York Yankees.