Sargent looks at 10 players making the transition...


Changing teams can be hard. Just ask Octavio Dotel. Changing leagues, for many players, can be even harder. Sure, Pedro and Clemens and The Big Unit did it just fine. But we can’t hold everyone to that standard. Here is a list of 10 players to look out for in your AL-only leagues who are newcomers to the Junior Circuit.

10. Nyjer Morgan (OF, Cle)
I know, I know. It’s a stretch. But reports are coming in that Tony Plush has yet to arrive to camp, and the ever-volatile Morgan never lacked natural talent. After spending a year in Japan, he’s back in the Majors and in the AL for the first time in his career. While you don’t want to waste an early pick on Morgan, he could be a nice pickup later in the draft, as I’m sure he’ll be untouched. Remember, this is a guy who swiped 42 bags in 2009 with Pittsburgh and Washington, and batted .307 in 120 games. The talent is there; let’s just hope the attitude isn’t.

9. Logan Morrison (OF, Sea)
Seattle’s newly potent(-ish) offense will benefit greatly from an otherwise middle-of-the-road player like Logan Morrison. Also one to run his mouth a little too much, Logan Morrison has never really been as good as he thought he was. This year might change that, however, as he’s actually got some people to drive in on the Mariners (not many, but more than the Marlins). His best season was 2011, when he batted a measly .247 but knocked 23 homers in 123 games. He’ll be cheap, and depending on the size of your league, there could be a lot of relative bang for that buck.

8. Ricky Nolasco (P, Min)
Nolasco is notably the only pitcher on this list, as it is obviously much harder for a pitcher to move from the NL to the AL than the other way around. But Nolasco, who had spent his career on the Marlins until last season, had an outstanding second half with the Dodgers, going 8-3 with a 3.52 ERA. In a relatively weak (in my opinion) AL Central, Nolasco could look at 13-15 wins and a sub-3.50 ERA. Again, a cheap option that could pay off.


7. Corey Hart (OF, Sea)
Hart missed 2013 with knee issues (not related to his wearing sunglasses at night…), but is making the move from Milwaukee to Seattle to join new Mariners Morrison and Robinson Cano (2B, NYY). Hart has hit a respectable .276 in his career, and hit 87 homeruns and drove in 248 runs between 2010 and 2012 in Milwaukee. A viable option in the middle of the draft for most leagues.

6. Dexter Fowler (OF, Hou)
Fowler has been shipped from Colorado to the AL West, and despite being sidelined recently with a sore neck, could make a huge splash on an otherwise splashless Astros team. Fowler will be entering his seventh year in the bigs, and he’s put up a .270 batting average to go along with a .365 OBP, 376 runs scored, and an astonishing 53 triples. If the Astros need anything, it’s getting runners as close to home plate as possible. If he’s healthy through the rest of spring, don’t wait too long before picking up Fowler.

5. Norichika Aoki (OF, KC)
Aoki, who’s been playing baseball since 2002, has only been in the Majors since 2012. In the last two years in Milwaukee, he’s batted .287 with 50(!) stolen bases, and 161 runs scored. He’s entering a Royals lineup with the likes of Eric Hosmer (OF, KC) and Billy Butler (DH, KC) that will have no problem driving in this speed demon. He’s also reliable—playing in 155 games last year and 151 the year before.

4. David Freese (3B, LAA)
David Freese is coming off his worst season of his five-year career (.262/9 HR/60 RBI), which may have contributed to him getting traded to the Angels. But his productivity beforehand should not be discounted for all you fantasy managers. Freese is a World Series MVP (2011, StL), and put up stellar numbers in 2012 (.293, 20 HR, 79 RBI). There is possibly no better lineup to be in than the Angels’, so you can expect Freese to put up some respectable numbers this year, as well.

3. Carlos Beltran (OF, NYY)
One of the best switch hitters of our generation, Carlos Beltran came darn close to his first World Series last year. You can bet that a competitor like that is going to work his butt off to make sure he gets the job done this year. Beltran, who will turn 37(!) in April, is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, batting .296 and hitting 24 HR over 145 games. In the AL, he’ll have some new opportunities to DH, giving him more longevity and, for you, more productivity.

2. Brian McCann (C, NYY)
The words ‘short porch’ are thrown around a lot when talking about Yankee Stadium, but they must be music to Brian McCann’s ears. Overpaid as he might be, McCann is bound to make use of that porch, as he enters this season averaging 26 HR and 97 RBI in his nine-year career in Atlanta. He’s also a lifetime .277 hitter, but he’s hit as high as .333 and .301 in ’06 and ’08. As far as AL catchers go, McCann is almost undoubtedly your best bet.


1. Shin-Soo Choo (OF, TEX)
I couldn’t, in all good conscience, put a Yankee at the top of this list. Choo had a very productive season in his sole year in Cincinnati, batting .285 and hitting 21 HR. A career .288 hitter, Choo will get plenty of protection batting leadoff in the new and improved Texas lineup. He is an early round draft pick for sure, which is likely not news to any of you seasoned fantasy players.


Honorable Mentions:

¨ Edward Mujica (RP, Bos) coming to Boston could be a huge support to an already excellent bullpen.


¨ Bryan LaHair (OF, Cle) was a pretty solid bat for Chicago at the beginning of last year, so look for him to have a hot start in the AL Central.