Jim Edmonds

He hasn't played since 2008 and will turn 40 this season, but he did hit 19 home runs with the Cubs in 2008. He'll battle to win a reserve outfielder role with the Brewers.

Left for dead after a terrible start in San Diego, Edmonds was highly productive for the Cubs, posting a .256/.369/.568 line with 19 homers and 49 RBI in 250 at-bats. That's elite production for a center fielder, though keep in mind he was the left-handed side of a platoon with Reed Johnson. Edmonds has since filed for free agency, and we expect the 38-year-old to find a significant role somewhere. The usual caveats apply for someone with his age and injury history.

For the third year in a row, the injury-prone Edmonds saw declines in his batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs, doubles, RBI, runs and stolen bases. Moving to PETCO Park won't help that trend as he'll take over as San Diego's center fielder after being traded from St. Louis. He'll likely be platooned against left-handed pitching, so expect a decline in his playing time even if healthy. Edmonds turns 38 this year, and the eight-time Gold Glove winner will probably need to move to corner outfield spot soon, with first base and designated hitter not far behind.

Edmonds' season was his worst in over a decade, other than an injury-plagued 1999. He missed more than 50 games in 2006, many of them due to a June concussion that lingered for months. His shoulder bothered him so much that he needed surgery in November. Still the Cardinals rewarded him with a nice two-year extension that will keep him in center field -- where he's still one of the best -- through 2008. Perhaps they noticed that he drove in 70 runs in just 350 at-bats last year and extrapolated it over a full season, but fantasy owners should not be fooled into making the same mistake.

Edmonds' numbers took a big downturn last year from his 2004 levels, dropping 38 points in batting average, 13 HR, 22 RBI and more than 100 points in slugging. He typically slows down in the second half and 2005 was no different, when his numbers dropped across the board. Despite all this, he's still a heck of a hitter, though you might want to use him as trade bait if he posts big numbers in the first half.

A special player who continues to improve, Edmonds had career highs for home runs (42), RBI (111) and slugging percentage (.643). Add to the mix that he won his fifth straight gold glove and you have the complete package. Despite nagging injuries in 2004, Edmonds did not land on the disabled list and kept his numbers headed in the right direction. For whatever reason, Edmonds was most comfortable in the fifth spot in the lineup, hitting .330 with a 1.192 OPS. With Scott Rolen and Albert Pujols in the lineup, the Cardinals can afford to leave him there.

Most of the attention Edmonds gets is for his glove, but he's been a ridiculous hitter since going to St. Louis. Declining playing time due to nagging injuries is a concern. There are enough people who just don't like him that he might be undervalued in your league.

Edmonds put up another very solid season for the Cardinals in 2002, going .311/.420/.561, which was right in line with his first two seasons in St. Louis: .304/.410/.564 in 2001 and .295/.411/.583 in 2000. Nagging injuries (a sprained wrist and a sore knee) limited Edmonds to just 476 at-bats last year, but that’s par for the course for the often reckless centerfielder. Edmonds is prone to deep slumps and long hot streaks over the course of the season, but as wildly inconsistent as he seems to be over short periods, few players in the league have turned in such consistent year-end totals.