Rey Ordonez

2013

There was no outlook written for Rey Ordonez.

2004

Ordonez had said for years that, if he didn't have to bat in front of the pitcher all the time, he'd deliver much better offensive numbers. Tampa Bay gave him that chance in 2003, and, lo and behold, Ordonez responded with the best month of his career before he went down, eventually for the year, with a knee injury (in what was either very unfortunate timing, or very fortuitous, if you thought Ordonez was going to come back down to earth). If he winds up on an AL team in at least a hitter-neutral park, or Colorado, Ordonez might be worth a flyer. Otherwise, he may be hard-pressed to prove 2003 wasn't a fluke. He'll compete for a backup job in San Diego and could contend for the starting job if rookie Khalil Greene falters.

2003

The Mets paid off virtually all of the last year of Ordonez' contract in a desperate attempt to clear him off their roster, and luckily for them, they found the Devil Rays, who were equally desperate in their need for a decent defensive shortstop. They got perhaps one of the best in Ordonez, but unfortunately, defense provides no value in the roto world. Over the last two seasons of full-time play at Shea, Ordonez averaged .250 with no power (just four homers) or speed (just five steals) with a woeful OPS of .633. With Brent Abernathy the likely regular at second, we wonder if Colorado will get more offensive production from its pitchers in 2003 than Tampa Bay will get from the middle of its infield.