Jose Vidro

2013

There was no outlook written for Jose Vidro.

2008

Rarely has a .314 average meant so little. Vidro is a slow-footed singles hitter with no power who doesn't drive in runs - pretty much the opposite of the ideal designate hitter. Not only was Vidro's .394 slugging percentage the lowest of any player with at least 250 at-bats as a DH, but only three major league regulars - all middle infielders - had fewer XBH than Vidro's 32. And, stunningly, only 16 of those extra-base hits drove in runs (nine one-run doubles, a two-run double, four two-run homers and two solo homers). Vidro had a mere five extra-base hits with runners in scoring position and grounded into 21 double plays. He had a sub-.700 OPS in mid-July but got hot for six weeks following the All-Star break, hitting .370/.437/.481 with 12 XBH, which disproportionately inflated his season numbers. What's more, he was just inches off his career-high BABIP (.343 in 2000) at .342, which suggests counting on another .300-plus average is folly. All this for $12 million and two traded prospects. What a deal.

2007

Slowed down by knee and hamstring issues, Vidro limped through another poor season at the plate and now appears to be a shadow of his former self. The Mariners appear willing to give him another chance, but Vidro's days as a middle infielder are long gone and what's left of his bat wouldn't appear to be useful as a regular first baseman or DH. Like another switch-hitting second baseman before him, Carlos Baerga, the cliff seems to have arrived more quickly for Vidro than anyone really expected.

2006

Injuries wrecked another season for Vidro, who now faces another challenge aside from his balky knees with the arrival of Alfonso Soriano. Now creeping into his 30s, Vidro could end up being the final victim of Olympic Stadium's rock-hard AstroTurf.

2005

Vidro battled through a knee injury most of the second half before shutting it down in September, but still put up numbers close to his previous few years performance. Hopefully, better health will help him regain that 850+ OPS level, or even get back to the promise of his monster 2000.

2004

Vidro's OBP was up, but his RBIs down, clearly marking the divide between roto ball and real life. With Vlad going, going gone he'll be the main man in the Expos' lineup this year. Assuming Endy Chavez is nowhere to be found ahead of him in the batting order, the RBIs will return -- bringing harmony to our two worlds.

2003

Vidro played a full season despite nagging back and shoulder problems -- in fact at one point he credited the sore shoulder with improving his swing by forcing him to keep the bat level through the zone, though his numbers don't really show an improvement. The health concerns are all that's holding him back from being an elite fantasy second baseman.