Brandon Wood

Wood was basically handed the starting third-base job during spring training last season, but he looked anything but major league ready by hitting just .156 and striking out 36 times in the season's first two months. Due to his early struggles and an injury that cost him a few weeks, Wood was pushed to a backup role and saw just 104 at-bats from June through September. Although Wood could use a little more seasoning after finishing with a .146 batting average and woeful 6:71 BB:K ratio, he will turn 26 this season and is out of options. This is a make-or-break spring training for Wood, and the Angels were wise to give him time in the Arizona Fall League during the offseason to showcase him for potential suitors.

It's long past time to stop thinking about him as the next big thing. Wood has struck out in a third of his MLB at-bats, walked seven times in that span and is no longer a shortstop. His Triple-A numbers aren’t that good when you consider park and league context, and even there he's struck out in a quarter of his at-bats. The Angels should get what they can for him in trade and let him be Kevin Kouzmanoff for another organization.

Wood split last season between Los Angeles and Triple-A Salt Lake and again proved that his bat is potent enough to play in the majors, hitting 31 home runs with Salt Lake and smacking another five with the Angels. Still, as has been the case throughout his career, Wood struck out way too much and will have to improve his eye at the plate before seeing success at the major league level. Wood’s 2009 value will depend on where he fits on the Angels’ roster, which may not be determined until spring training. Still, Wood will be only 24 years old next season, and depending on what the Angels do with their free agents, could be in a position to see extended playing time at third base.

Wood has been one of the Angels' top prospects for a long time as a shortstop, but the team moved him to third base in 2007 as a way of trying to get his bat in the lineup soon. Following the trade of Orlando Cabrera to the White Sox, it appears Wood will finally get a chance to prove if he's the real deal this season - at least at one of his positions. Wood is good enough defensively to stay at third, and that allows the Angels to play the more-athletic Erick Aybar at shortstop. Wood strikes out a lot, but has very good power for an infielder and has shown that he can get on base. Don't expect huge numbers right away, but it shouldn't be long before Wood is mentioned in the same breath as the other prominent young third basemen in the league.

Set aside the expectations created by his ridiculous 2005 season. Wood slugged .552 as a 21-year-old in the Texas League. That's impressive. On the downside are his strikeout rate (one every three AB and climbing) and his defense, which will move him to third base very soon. He'll be a viable fantasy player at either spot as soon as he hits the majors.

A first-round pick in 2003 out of high school in Arizona, the 20-year-old Wood shed his good-field/no-hit high school label, emerging as one of the top power prospects in the entire game. Slamming 53 doubles and 43 home runs in one season will change your reputation. Wood has superb power, and is also a solid defensive shortstop, although he may move to third base eventually. His one weakness is plate discipline: his 48/134 BB/K ratio is unattractive, and scouts say he swings at stuff outside the zone too often. That may be exposed by pitchers at a higher level. Still, we're talking about a shortstop that collected 101 extra-base hits in a single season at the age of 20. His batting average may come down, but it's hard to see how his power will disappear.

Wood is arguably the best shortstop prospect in low Single-A. He was the prize shortstop in the 2003 draft and his bat projects as a serious plus at an offensively bereft position. There is talk, however, that a change of positions may be in the cards depending on how he develops.