Ronny Cedeno

Cedeno has now become a utility infielder, more known for his glove than his bat, as his days of starting are long past. He split his time between second and short last year with the Mets; a role he likely will fill with whatever club he signs with as a free agent. As a result, his value is limited mostly to AL/NL-only formats and simulation leagues where owners can benefit from his defense.

Fantasy owners looking for mediocrity need look no further than Mr. Cedeno. The shortstop hit .249/.297/.339 in 413 at-bats with just two homers and two stolen bases in 2011. The bigger the pressure situation, the smaller Cedeno's bat plays. He hit .265 with the bases empty, .228 with runners in scoring position and .083 with the bases loaded. Cedeno's 30:93 BB:K ratio accurately expresses his plate discipline. He's known for a periodic hot streaks of two weeks or so, but he's otherwise left to the waiver wire. Cedeno is still just 28, but projects as a backup after two seasons as a starter in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates re-signed Cedeno in the offseason but are open to alternatives at shortstop in 2011. Cedeno hit .256/.293/.382 with eight homers and 38 RBI in a career-high 468 at-bats, numbers that were as disappointing as they were inconsistent. Cedeno compiled unpredictable monthly batting average marks on the low range of .121 and .208 while also delivering marks of .329 and .295. Fantasy owners might do well to consider Cedeno as a waiver-wire pickup during his hot stretches as he's simply too inconsistent to count on regularly.

Provided he fully recovers from injured hamstrings that caused him to miss the end of 2009, Cedeno will enter the 2010 campaign as the team's No. 1 shortstop. For the season, Cedeno batted .208/.256/.337 but went .258/.307/.394 in 155 at-bats with Pittsburgh after coming over from Seattle in the Jack Wilson trade. He hit .299 for the Bucs in August but went south after breaking his right pinky. The organization is looking to shore up its middle infield. If Cedeno ends up getting the majority of starts, then he could reach double-digit dingers. His batting average won't likely approach .300, but he could prove to be a decent in-season pickup.

After a strong April, Cedeno struggled the rest of the way last season, posting a .269/.328/.352 line on the year. Cedeno strikes out far too much for a player that doesn't hit for power and only draws a modest amount of walks. With starting shortstop Ryan Theriot reaching base at a .387 clip last year, and Mark DeRosa and Mike Fontenot also producing with the bat, Cedeno is slated for a utility role at best - assuming he isn't traded.

Once one of the club's top infield prospects, Cedeno has slipped behind Ryan Theriot and even Mike Fontenot. With Mark DeRosa still in the mix as well, Cedeno will attempt to make the club as a utility infielder. On the bright side, Cedeno tore up Triple-A Iowa for the second time in three years, and he won't turn 25 until just before spring training. He'll need to improve his contact and walk rates, though.

Cedeno got a chance to play last year and aside from showing good range in the field, he disappointed with erratic throwing, horrendous plate discipline and no power. He did put up good Triple-A numbers at age 22, so there's still some hope for him down the road. But in 2007, he'll have to battle for a roster spot with Cesar Izturis, Mark DeRosa and even Ryan Theriot, who are all likely to be ahead of him.

Cedeno will be in the mix for the starting shortstop job along with Neifi Perez, though either player could move to second base if Todd Walker were dealt. Cedeno had a nice season at Triple-A in 2005, improving his contact rate, hitting for average and even showing a little bit of power. He held his own in 80 major league at-bats late in the year before fracturing a bone in his hand, and was third in the Venezuelan Winter League in batting at .362 (47-for-130) at press time. Cedeno can steal a few bags as well, so if he locks down a starting job (which is by no means guaranteed given that his manager would move heaven and earth to play a veteran over a young player), he could be a nice end-game pickup.