Marlon Anderson

Anderson, who was re-acquired by the Mets in July after he was waived by LA, continued to show why he is one of the best pinch-hitters in the game, going 10-for-29 (.345) with one homer and 14 RBI in that role for the Mets. Anderson signed a two-year, $2.2 million deal to remain with the team and will serve as a utility option at both second base and in the outfield as well as a left-handed pinch-hitter off the bench.

Little was made of the August 31 deal that brought Anderson from Washington to Los Angeles for minor league reliever Jhonny Nunez, but the veteran played a key role down the stretch for the Dodgers. With Andre Ethier hitting the rookie wall, Anderson stepped in and batted .375/.431/.813 in 64 at-bats, helping propel the Dodgers into the playoffs. Don't think, however, that this will equate to regular playing time in 2006, as Anderson will return to his role as the team's fourth outfielder, accumulating perhaps 250 at-bats. He's a possible solution as a fifth outfielder in NL-only leagues.

Anderson was a jack-of-all trades last season for the Mets, seeing time at first, second and the outfield, but his biggest impact was as a pinch-hitter. In 56 pinch-hit at-bats, he had a .321/.375/.406 line and parlayed those fine numbers into a two-year, $1.8 million deal with the Nationals, where he'll fill a similar role.

Anderson hit .333 as a pinch hitter, including three pinch-hit home runs in 2004. His defense at second base, which used to be a strength, is average and declining. That leaves him in a utility role, which isn't exactly a perfect fit. He'll try to win a bench spot with the Mets this spring.

A lot of run-of-the-mill players peak at age 27 or 28; Anderson's best season by far was in 2001, at the age of 27. His 2003 numbers (except for the steals) looked like his 2002 numbers, but they were cause for celebration in Tampa Bay, mostly because all Anderson had to do was make people forget Brent Abernathy. Interestingly enough, Anderson shows up on a few of the leaderboards in this year's Bill James Handbook. Anderson was in the top ten in the league in batting average with RISP (.341), had the second-best steal rate in the league (86 percent, 19-of-22), and was in the top ten in the league for best OPS versus curveballs (.903). He'll compete for playing time at second base with the Cardinals.

Anderson has developed a little power, hitting 19 homers in the last two seasons, but doesn't walk often enough (42 BB in 539 IP in 2002), and his defense is atrocious enough to cause him to lose a potential starting job.