Don't Trade Me, Bro!

Much like a little kid who's forced to leave his childhood home behind for a new place, baseball players take a little time to settle in comfortably once they've been traded to another team. Of course, in both scenarios, it's just a way of life: it's rare for people to live in the same house or town their entire lives, and unless management or the home town loves you, most players don't play for one team their entire career. Clearly, there are multiple exceptions; Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera are, strangely, the only ones I can think of off the top of my head. Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer, and Chipper Jones also come to mind, after a moment of thought. But the average player is not usually a one-team man. Kyle Farnsworth has played 11 seasons for 6 different teams, one of them twice, Alex Rodriguez has played with 3, and even Seattle and Arizona franchise pitcher Randy Johnson played for Montreal, Houston, New York and San Francisco. Plenty of players are members of multiple teams in both leagues in their careers.

In many cases, a player takes some time to readjust when he's traded to another team or league. For instance, Jorge Cantu has struggled a little since he was traded to Texas: although he's an excellent player, and he's had a hit in almost every game he's played in since this, he's only scored a single run in that time. Roy Oswalt finally got his first win after being traded to the Phillies. Lance Berkman has had some good hits for New York, but has yet to hit a home run or play much in the field. Players can't automatically get into the groove with a new team, because it takes time to not only become acclimatized to the new physical setting, but also become familiar and friendly with their new teammates. Like a high schooler who transfers to a new school halfway through the year, it can be difficult for players from another team to come in and suddenly click with everyone. More often than not, it's an important play, a game-changing hit, or throwing a win that makes a new player become popular in their clubhouse. Even then, it may not be that easy: A-Rod has finally passed 600 homers, he played a huge part in bringing the 2009 World Series trophy to New York, and always manages to make spectacular plays...and yet, the Yanks fans still boo him quite often, making it clear that it's Jeter's city until he retires. Some players, though, make a pretty wonderful showing when they show up in a new town that gains them the affection of the home fans; but for the most part, players have to do some big things to make it in a new place.