The 2023 MLB season will have some rule changes worth monitoring.

How long games last on average with the pitch clock, along with how pitchers and hitters adjust their routines to comply with it, will be fascinating aspects of the season to follow.

But outside of the rules, there will be other noteworthy changes.

For example, key players will change positions because of the offseason moves of their respective teams.

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How will Fernando Tatis Jr. look in right field? Can Andrew Vaughn fill José Abreu's shoes at first base? Yordan Alvarez is an everyday left fielder now, ready or not. We won't overlook it here.

In this exercise, we examine position changes for some of MLB's top players in 2023.

 

Bryson Stott to Second Base

Stott is moving from shortstop to second base with the arrival of Trea Turner, who signed with the Phillies for 11 years and $300 million.

The 25-year-old is a decent defensive shortstop with the potential to be a really good second baseman. At 6'3", he's taller and more athletic at the position.

The Phillies' former No. 1 overall prospect played 47 games at second base and 83 at shortstop last season.

This move upgrades the Phillies' middle infield immensely, with arguably the top free-agent shortstop plucked from the market and a top prospect sliding over to second.

What also helps is Stott's flexibility and willingness to move around. A year ago, he was competing with Didi Gregorius at shortstop but also seeing time at third base while Alec Bohm figured things out.

 

Tommy Edman to Shortstop

It might not seem like Edman is switching positions, since he played almost as many games at shortstop (80) as he did second base (89).

This season, though, Edman's the everyday shortstop. His performance there last year warrants it, committing just two errors in those 80 appearances, per FanGraphs. He won the Gold Glove at second base in 2021 and was a finalist for the newly created utility position last season.

It's time for Edman, who turns 28 in May and has just two more years under contractual team control, to change the course of his career.

Edman is highly motivated to perform well at shortstop after watching the offseason free-agent contracts dealt to others at the position. John Denton of MLB.com noted at spring training that Edman was watching the market with a keen eye as Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson signed deals that could be similar to his future.