8 notable players facing a position change in '25

It feels like an annual Spring Training tradition: ¡°Wait, THAT guy is playing THERE?¡±

While seeing star players in new places on the diamond happens every year, it¡¯s not always easy to keep track each offseason of who is headed where.

Don¡¯t worry: We¡¯ve got you.

Whether it¡¯s to stay healthy, to improve their team¡¯s defense or simply to get the most out of the roster around them, several of MLB¡¯s biggest names will be taking on new roles in 2025. Here¡¯s a rundown of where each of them will be on the field this season.

Mookie Betts, Dodgers
New position: Shortstop

Betts has already tried his hand at shortstop, starting 61 games there for L.A. in 2024 -- all before being hit by a pitch that fractured his left hand in June. He returned in August and moved back to right field for the rest of the Dodgers¡¯ World Series-winning season, but general manager Brandon Gomes confirmed at the Winter Meetings in December that Betts will be the starting shortstop in 2025.

A six-time Gold Glove Award winner in the outfield, Betts struggled at short last season, accounting for -4 Outs Above Average at the position and often misfiring on throws to first base. But with the benefit of a full offseason to correct those issues, Betts -- drafted out of high school as a shortstop back in 2011 -- should be better defensively, or so the Dodgers hope. If not, L.A. certainly has other options at short, including Kiké Hernández, Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edman.

Jose Altuve, Astros
New position: Left field (maybe)

The career Astro was open to a move to the outfield from second base if it meant Houston could manage to bring back free-agent infielder Alex Bregman. But even with Bregman (more on him below) signing with the Red Sox, Altuve is still going to test out his skills in left field. He is expected to spend time during Spring Training in left, a position he¡¯s never played before in MLB -- all 1,749 of Altuve¡¯s career regular-season starts have come at second base.

Altuve ranked 36th of 37 qualifying second basemen in 2024 with -9 OAA, so a move to left field would allow the Astros to improve their defense at the keystone and would let slugger Yordan Alvarez spend more time at designated hitter. Whether the veteran Altuve can hold his own in left remains to be seen, but if it helps Houston win, he¡¯s certainly willing to try.

Mike Trout, Angels
New position: Right field

After yet another injury that significantly limited his playing time -- a torn meniscus surgically repaired twice -- Trout once again simply wants to stay on the field. His impending move to right field from center is aimed at helping with that, intending to ¡°limit the overall beat down and the wear and tear¡± on the 33-year-old¡¯s body. Trout has averaged just 66.5 games a year for the past four seasons and hasn¡¯t played more than 140 games since 2018.

The move to the corner outfield might be strange at first for Trout, who hasn¡¯t started a Major League game in right field since he was a rookie on May 17, 2012. He has played only center field since 2014 and owns just 17 career appearances in right, but given the potential benefits of keeping Trout on the field, a little rust could be well worth it for the Angels and their star player. The defensive benefits are intriguing: One-time top prospect Jo Adell, an AL Gold Glove finalist in right field last season, is in line to get his chance in center for the first time, while 2016 No. 1 overall Draft pick Mickey Moniak will split time with Adell.

Alex Bregman, Red Sox
New position: Second base (maybe)

Bregman has said he¡¯s willing to play wherever manager Alex Cora deploys him -- but where will that be? With Rafael Devers insistent about staying at third base and teammate Triston Casas backing him, Bregman¡¯s natural position at the hot corner might be in jeopardy. For what it¡¯s worth, Bregman has been the better defender: He won the 2024 AL Gold Glove at third, while Devers¡¯ -6 OAA were tied for 36th among 43 qualifying third basemen.

Still, Bregman could wind up at second base, where he has made nine career appearances but none since 2018. If he does, he will likely be a consistent starter at a position where the Red Sox have sorely needed one. Eleven players started at least one game at second base for Boston in 2024, by far the team¡¯s most at any non-pitcher position.

Willson Contreras, Cardinals
New position: First base

Contreras caught a couple bad breaks (literally) in 2024, fracturing his left arm when he was hit by a batter¡¯s backswing behind the plate in May and fracturing his right middle finger when he was hit by a pitch in August. He was limited to 84 games, but he hit 15 homers and put up a team-leading .848 OPS -- excellent offensive numbers for a catcher and still solid ones for a first baseman.

With Paul Goldschmidt¡¯s departure in free agency, first is wide open for Contreras, who has never played more than five games there in any season. He did play a good bit in left field with the Cubs as a rookie in 2016, but he¡¯s made nearly all of his defensive appearances behind the plate. Being able to keep him healthy and give Iván Herrera (.301 AVG, .800 OPS in 2024) the bulk of the playing time at catcher could pay significant dividends for St. Louis.

Oneil Cruz, Pirates
New position: Center field

Standing 6-foot-7 and blessed with a cannon for an arm, Cruz is a must-watch player no matter where he is on the field. Seeing him in center field for a full season for the first time should be enjoyable in 2025. After 24 errors and below-average defense at shortstop caused the move late in 2024, Cruz performed well in his debut at a new position: He recorded +2 Outs Above Average in 22 starts in center.

Cruz¡¯s speed and arm strength have already earned him praise from his fellow Pirates outfielders as he enjoys a full offseason to train in center field. He¡¯s on track to be Pittsburgh¡¯s eighth Opening Day center fielder in as many seasons, so the Bucs would surely be happy to have a long-term solution at the position. In 2025, Cruz will get a continued opportunity to prove he¡¯s exactly that.

Clay Holmes, Mets
New position: Starting pitcher

Holmes might not be leaving New York, but his new role with the Mets figures to look quite different from his high-leverage spot in the Yankees¡¯ bullpen. The right-hander commanded a three-year, $38 million deal with his new club to become a starter -- something he hasn¡¯t done in the Majors since he was a rookie in 2018 with the Pirates. (He started all of four games.)

But relievers-turned-starters have found great success of late, and Holmes could be the latest. The Mets have proven adept in revitalizing starters such as Sean Manaea and Luis Severino in recent years, and Holmes could be their latest gem. Especially with Frankie Montas shut down for 6-8 weeks due to a lat strain and now Sean Manaea likely to be on the injured list for Opening Day, the Mets would love some length and reliability out of Holmes in 2025.

Jonathan India, Royals
New position: Left field? Third base?

Traded to the Royals from the Reds in November for starter Brady Singer, India is set to learn a new position in his first year with Kansas City. In addition to second base, India and returning Royal Michael Massey will each be taking Spring Training reps in left field, a position neither has played before in the Major Leagues.

In 2024, India -- who has played exclusively second in the Majors -- was rated as a plus fielder for the first time by Outs Above Average. The 2021 National League Rookie of the Year was drafted in 2018 as a third baseman and will be receiving occasional reps at the hot corner with the Royals, too. But with MJ Melendez¡¯s struggles in left (-6 OAA in 2024), Kansas City could benefit from trying India and Massey in the outfield.