Moises Alou

2013

There was no outlook written for Moises Alou.

2009

For the third straight year, Alou's season was cut short due to injuries. This time, it was an amalgamation of woes that limited him to just 18 games played. It started with hernia surgery during spring training, followed by a left ankle injury that he tweaked during rehab. Three weeks later, he strained his left calf and eventually tore his right hamstring during his minor league rehab assignment while diving for a ball. Alou can mash -- especially lefties -- when he is able to stay on the field, but his health issues may push him into retirement.

2008

Alou showed that he can still rake when healthy last season, posting an OPS over .900 for the fourth year in a row. It's that caveat - "when healthy" - that is the key. Alou played in just 87 games last year, missing two months due to a strained left quadriceps; the third straight year that an injury substantially cut into his playing time. The Mets exercised Alou's 2008 contract and he will be penciled into the middle of the order and in left field (health permitting), but expect him to miss at least 25 games due to injury.

2007

For the second year in a row injuries limited Alou's availability, but he was productive when in the lineup: He's had an OPS between .919 and .923 in each of the last three seasons. Although now 40 years old, he shows no signs of slowing down at the plate. Hitting in the middle of a productive Mets lineup next season, Alou should once again put up nice counting stats. Just don't expect more than 120 or 130 games out of him.

2006

Alou, who looked to be slowing down two years ago, has had two strong seasons in a row. Even if he slides back, his RBI count could be helped if dad would bat him behind Bonds. Talk up his age and missed time and get him cheap.

2005

After a couple of modest seasons in what seemed like the winding down of his career, Alou exploded in 2004 to the tune of .293/.361/.557 at the age of 37. He'll be hard pressed to repeat his 2004 level of performance or games played as the starting right fielder for the Giants.

2004

Alou improved upon a disappointing 2002 last season, posting a serviceable .357 OBP and a .462 SLG. While the resulting .819 OPS didn't kill the Cubs, it didn't do them all that much good from a corner outfield spot, either. Alou was largely able to stay healthy last season, playing in 151 games, but given his injury history, he may have a hard time repeating that number in 2004, considering that he will turn 38 this season. He's in the final season of his three-year, $27 million contract and, barring injury, should spend the season as the Cubs' regular left fielder.

2003

Alou, who will turn 37 next July, struggled through an injury-plagued 484 at-bats in 2002. His numbers -- 275/.337/.419 -- were easily the worst of his career, and one has to wonder how much of his fall-off was due to injury and how much due to his advancing age. On the bright side, the injury that dogged him was a strained calf, and there's no reason to think that it will be as chronic or debilitating as Mark McGwire's knee problems, for example. Alou has hired a personal trainer this offseason and will work on strengthening his legs, so we expect him to be healthy for at least for the start of 2003.