Brad Eldred

Eldred doesn't hit the ball frequently enough to stay in the major leagues. In 2007 he failed to contribute to the Pirates as a backup first baseman/outfielder/pinch hitter, going 5-for-46 before being sent to Triple-A. Designated for assignment in December, Eldred will likely need to mash at Triple-A with another organization before earning another chance in the big leagues.

Nicknamed "Big Country," the 6-foot-5, 275-pound first baseman does just about everything in a big way, whether it's hitting the long ball or striking out. While a broken thumb wiped out most of Eldred's 2006 season -- he hit .226 with three homers in 18 games at Triple-A -- he bashed 78 home runs combined in 2004 and 2005. His only major league experience came in 2005, when he played in 55 games for the Pirates and hit 12 dingers in 190 at-bats. Unfortunately, he also struck out 139 times between Triple-A and the majors that year. Eldred's an all-or-nothing batter who has too many holes in his swing to be relied upon. He's already 26 and his prospect window is closing quickly.

Due to the trade for Sean Casey, Eldred will likely spend the bulk of the 2006 season with Triple-A Indianapolis. Nicknamed Big Country, the 6-foot-5, 275-pound slugger has hit a combined 78 home runs in the last two years between the major and minor leagues. Eldred's kryptonite, not surprisingly for a power hitter, is the strikeout. He whiffed an alarming 77 times in 197 at-bats with the Bucs in 2005. He'll have to improve his pitch recognition before he becomes a major league regular, but if he can, a long string of 30-to-40 home run seasons is within reach.

The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Eldred, was named the Pirates 2004 Minor League Player of the Year after batting .301 with 38 home runs and 137 RBI (tops in the minors) in 130 combined games with High Single- A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona. The 24-year-old was selected as the Carolina League MVP despite being promoted to Altoona in July. The knock on the big guy is that he has a long swing and strikes out too much, but his power can’t be ignored. Eldred's exploits have certainly put him on the Pirates radar and the next logical step for him would be to see if he can continue to mash at the Triple-A level.