Top SS

Top Shortstops

1.    Rickie Burgess (PHI)
Will hit for a good average, but not much power. Solid against LHP, better against RHP. Above average eye. Good speed. Great range. Great arm.

2.    Corey Byrd (ROC)
Dominant against LHP, he really struggles against RHP. Makes contact very well with good power. Can really work the count. Very good defender across the board.

3.    Eddie Lloyd (CH2)
What he lacks defensively (range/glove) he makes up for by being one of the overall best offensive SS in the game. He hits for a solid average with some power. Can drive the ball well. Has a solid eye.

4.    Clay Swisher (ARI)

5.    Carlos Jimenez (NB)

6.    Jorge Marichal (NO)

7.    Lou Coleman (TEX)

8.    Craig Tracy (PIT)

9.    Brett Jackson (ELP)

10. Tyrone Neal (ARI)

Top 3B

1.    Marino Bautista (JAX)
One of the most solid players I’ve ever seen, Bautista is good at everything has. Could be a Silver Slugger and Gold Glover in the same season. He’s only 26 years old.

2.    Kory Sterns (RIC)
Has a great eye and is very good against LHP. He is above average at making contact and against RHP. Good power. Very solid defensively.

3.    Philip Chase (LOU)
The “old man” of the top 10, Chase offers the ability to hit for an elite average, with some power. He drives the ball well. Struggles with strike zone knowledge. Lacks ideal range, but makes the plays he gets to.

4.    Andres Santos (TEX)

5.    Eddie Black (CHR)

6.    Scott Charleston (JAC)

7.    Piper Cambridge (CIN)

8.    Derrick Polcovich (LV)

9.    Matt McKnight (NO)

10. Steven Griffin (CSP)

Top 2B

1.    Brian Ma (LV)
One of the better hitters in the world, Ma might be better served as a COF instead of a MIF. Lacks ideal arm strength. Makes up for that by consistently hitting for a high average with a lot of power. Can work the count. Has some speed and baserunning ability.

2.    Glen Monroe (JAX)
Does a good job of making contact with solid power. Dominates LHP while doing well against RHP. Has a very good eye. Has solid range defensively, but doesn’t have a good arm.

3.    Clarence Downs (NY2)
Dominates LHP. Drives the ball well against RHP. Above average at making contact with above average power. Very good eye. Average defensively.

4.    Pasqual Blanco (HON)

5.    Benito Cedeno (CH2)

6.    Heath Harris (CHR)

7.    Mark Rando (ELP)

8.    Fausto James (CIN)

9.    Davey Tucker (LOU)

10. Charlie James (NO)

Top 1B/DH*

1.    Manny Raben (NB)*

Hits for a lot of power with a solid average. Dominates LHP while being average against RHP. Knows the strike zone well.

2.    Pete Malone (CIN)
Hits for average with some power. Absolutely crushes LHP, but is merely average against RHP. Has a great eye. Decent defensively.

3.    Milton Kramer (CHR)
Hits for power and average, drives the ball well. Walks a lot. Decent defensively.

4.    William Randall (PHI)*

5.    Harry Darwin (ELP)*

6.    Jeff Owens (NB)

7.    Bret Maas (CSP)*

8.    Geraldo Olivares (CHY)

9.    Doug Robinson (CH2)*

10. Hal Thompson (SEA)

Top Catchers

1.    Walt Burke (HON)
Burke hits for power and average while dominating RHP. He knows the strike zone and works it very well. He’s got a great arm, but is a mediocre game caller.

2.    Malachi Wakefield (HON)
Wakefield hits for power and average. He does a good job driving the ball. Has a good eye. Has an accurate solid arm, and can call a game with the best of the best.

3.    Frank Starr (ELP)
Drives the ball very well and knows the strike zone well. Makes decent contact and has solid power. Not an ideal defender, but can hold his own calling a game.

4.    Enrique Canseco (CHR)

5.    Mel Mays (CHY)

6.    Jean Leonard (ROC)

7.    Morris Evans (CIN)

8.    Peter Chong (CHY)

9.    Rolando Frias (LOU)

10. Dan Mercedes (OTT)

Free Agency Recap

1.        RHP Abdul Helton
Signed w/SYR (1 yr/$4.8M)
A very good signing, one year minimizes the risk involved and comes cheaply.
Grade: A

2.        RHP Vic Francisco
Signed w/CLE (4 yr/$18.0M; mutual option; no-trade clause)
A solid signing as Francisco immediately strengthens any bullpen that he belongs to.
Grade: B

3.        1B Bobby Ray Mercedes
Signed w/ATL (5 yr/$32.2M)
Best hitter in free agency, this contract should expire before he begins to decline.
Grade: A

4.        RHP Kenshin Ogawa
Signed w/LOU (5 yr/$40.0M; player option)
The most controversial contract of the offseason, Ogawa is in decline already and Louisville locked him up for 5 more years.
Grade: D-

5.        1B Pedro Navarre
Signed w/SYR (1 yr/$3.3M)
 A solid hitter, Navarre will anchor an already strong Syracuse offense.
Grade: A

6.        DH Yamid Javier
Signed w/SYR (1 yr/$1.0M)
Solid hitter, although hurt now, this was an excellent depth signing.
Grade: A

7.        DH Torey Acosta
Signed w/LOU (1 yr/$2.2M)
Good signing to help boost an offense that struggled last season.
Grade: A

8.        RHP Raul Saez
Signed w/ROC (1 yr/$700k)
Has the ability to really strengthen a bullpen that blew 12 saves last season.
Grade: A

9.        RHP Jim Phillips
Signed w/SYR (2 yr/$12.6M)
After blowing 15 saves last season, Syracuse is really focusing on strengthening the bullpen and Phillips should be key.
Grade: B

10.     LF Louie Gil
Signed w/RIC (2 yr/$8.1M; mutual option)
Already a strong offense, Richmond improves by adding Gil.
Grade: A

11.     RHP Lawrence Schultz
Unsigned

12.     1B Einar Lopez
Signed w/ELP (2 yr/$4.5M)
A solid hitter, should help to improve El Paso’s offense.
Grade: A

13.     C Rolando Frias
Signed w/LOU (1 yr/$3.2M)
The best FA C really addresses a Louisville weakness as he can both call games and hit.
Grade: A

14.     RHP Vinny Iwamura
Signed w/NB (2 yr/$2.8M)
Solid signing, not much risk here.
Grade: A

15.     RHP Howard Lyon
Signed w/SEA (1 yr/$4.0M)
Very good signing as he should help solidify the Seattle bullpen.
Grade: A

16.     RHP Edgard Santana
Signed w/ARI (3 yr/$16.2M)
Another good signing, should provide plenty of quality innings and is still young.
Grade: B

17.     RHP Willie Cela
Signed w/MNT (2 yr/$3.2M)
An “old” pro, Cela’s signing does provide experience at a good price.
Grade: B

18.     3B Scott Charleston
Signed w/JAC (3 yr/$20.8M; mutual option)
Although rated as a SS, he can hit well enough to be a factor at 3B.
Grade: B

19.     RHP Ruben Morales
Signed w/CLE (2 yr/$5.2M)
A very good value signing.
Grade: B

20.     LHP Rex Wheat
Signed w/PHI (5 yr/$44.0M; team option)
Did Philadelphia overpay for a wild pitcher with some talent?
Grade: C