Ronnie Belliard

Lower body issues limited Belliard to 96 games and under 300 at-bats last season, but in between DL stints, he racked up the best slugging percentage and OPS of his career. At 34, it's hard to imagine him repeating that performance (if not the injuries) but his splits indicate that at worst he's still got a couple of years left in him as a lefty-killer off the bench.

Belliard ended up getting a full workload with the Nationals thanks to Cristian Guzman's injury and Felipe Lopez's inconsistency, and he gave them about what he gave the Indians in '04-'05, namely a solid batting average with a little bit of power. Signed to a two-year deal just prior to the trading deadline, he'll head into '08 again projected for a bench role unless the club parts ways with Lopez or Guzman.

The Cardinals acquired Belliard before the trading deadline last season. Although he once showed a strong batting eye early in his career, Belliard has lost that strength as his power has mildly improved. After he hit .237 and didn't do much more in the post-season, the Cardinals signed Adam Kennedy. Belliard, who will be nearly 32 on Opening Day, should last a few more years in the league as a backup, but his days as an everyday second baseman are probably over.

Belliard showed his breakout season of 2004 was not a fluke, amassing a .775 OPS in 2005 -- one-hundredth of a point above 2004. He hit a career-high 17 home runs and fought through numerous nagging injuries to play in 145 games. Turning 30 just after Opening Day, Belliard shouldn't be expected to improve much more, but he hardly needs to be better to be one of the top offensive second basemen in the American League.

Belliard had a good comeback year for the Indians, setting career highs in most major categories. He stayed healthy and hit well leading off (.303), with runners in scoring position (.284) and on the road (.299). He did commit 14 errors, tying for second in the AL, and will start the spring as the starter at second base but will need to hold off Brandon Phillips and Jose Hernandez. Belliard could be a good bargain in 2005 for those fantasy owners who don't expect too much power or speed out of him, or in leagues where he's viewed as a bum.

Belliard was released by the Rockies to make way for the infield of the future in Colorado, and to avoid going to arbitration with him. He's on the downside of an entirely average career, though he showed signs of life last season, rebounding a bit for a dismal 2002 campaign. Belliard's no superstar, but if he can retain his health and stay away from the post-game buffet, he'll be worth the two dollar bid you should be able to get him for.

Belliard is hoping for new life in a new organization, and could have a great opportunity with the Rockies, who have unsettled situations at both 2B and 3B. His conditioning has been an issue in the past, as has his ability to stay healthy. Still, his base skills are good enough to at least consider him for the starting job, and his defense might be better than that of Pablo Ozuna and Brent Butler.