As teams prepare to travel to Florida or Arizona for spring training in a few weeks, some clubs will be monitoring the progress of players who will switch positions in 2017. The transition is often seamless, as evidenced by the half dozen or so players who were asked to switch diamond spots heading into last season.

Among the better-known veterans who made a trade in 2016 were several All-Stars. Boston’s Hanley Ramirez moved from hot corner to first base for the Red Sox, who expected newly acquired Pablo Sandoval to take over at third base.

The Cardinals, who had an opening at first base, convinced Matt Holliday to leave left field and take over there. Holliday had no trouble filling that new position, but his overall season was marred by injuries.

After signing a one-year free agent deal with the Texas Rangers, Ian Desmond moved from shortstop to left field. The results were quite successful, as Desmond put up the best offensive numbers of his career and helped his new team finish with the best record in the American League.

This season, Desmond will be asked to change positions again, only this time by a different team. The Colorado Rockies, who signed him to a multiyear free agent deal over the winter, need Desmond to move from the outfield to first base.

Other players are expected to join Desmond in the position changes, including a former MVP. Veteran Josh Hamilton, who is now back with the Rangers, will try to play first base for Texas.

Competing with Hamilton for time at first base at Texas will be Joey Gallo, who has spent most of his professional career at third base. The former top prospect hopes to finally duplicate his success in the minor leagues at the major league level.

Trea Turner was strictly a shortstop in the minors, but in his rookie season with Washington last year he had to fill the center field job. Heading into 2017, Nationals manager Dusty Baker will hope he returns to shortstop to accommodate Washington’s acquisition of Adam Eaton from the Chicago White Sox.

Since his Major League debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011, Eric Thames has played in 158 games. Each of those appearances came in the outfield, but he is expected to play first base for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017.