Jeremy Reed

Reed's bat hasn't developed as hoped, and now he finds himself out of the organization after his trade to the Mets in the J.J. Putz deal. Reed started last year at Triple-A Tacoma but by June was in a center-field platoon in Seattle. He was a streaky hitter, though, without much power. Reed likely will be a fourth outfielder this season, but he needs to hit consistently to have any kind of future with the Mets.

Reed hit .300 at Triple-A last year and led Tacoma with 92 runs, but he is a man without a future in the Mariners organization. The Mariners have plenty of outfield prospects, and Reed is a half season away from turning 27. Reed still has a problem with lefties (.618 OPS vs. LHP/.864 vs. RHP), too. He had 55 extra-base hits (37 doubles) and 14 stolen bases last year, so he would figure to pique someone's interest. Until that happens, there's not much to invest in. Reed could compete for a bench spot as a backup outfielder, though, as the Mariners likely would rather him waste away on the pine than a prospect.

Reed's future with the Mariners is not promising. Injuries and manager Mike Hargrove's questionable decision to platoon Reed in center field stunted his development last season. After Reed hit .200 in just 105 at-bats against lefties in 2005, Hargrove apparently determined he was forever hopeless against southpaws, platooning him in center with Willie Bloomquist from the season's start last year. A broken thumb ended his 2006 in early July and, if the Mariners don't deal him, Reed now finds himself on the bench in a crowded outfield situation. It'd be nice to see what the former top prospect, still only 25, could do with consistent at-bats.

Reed exceeded expectations in the field last season with dazzling glove work, but severly disappointed at the plate with an impotent bat most of the year. After hitting .397/.470/.466 in 18 games as a late-season call-up in 2004, Reed went .254/.322/.352 last season. While he doesn't have home-run power (three HR), he has gap power, hitting 33 doubles, good for seventh among American League outfielders. But for the first time since his first pro season in 2002, Reed struck out more times last year than he walked (74/48). For those in keeper leagues, though, it's way too early to give up on Reed. He remains a good prospect, which is why he drew significant trade interest this offseason.

Reed was the key piece in the Freddy Garcia trade last season, and the early returns attest it was a steal for the Mariners. In 18 games after his September call-up for the Mariners, he hit for a .470 OBP and .935 OPS. He didn't exhibit much power (just 4 XBH) but he showed a keen eye at the plate with seven walks to four strikeouts in 58 at-bats. He's a lock to make the club this spring and probably will start in center field with Randy Winn moving to left.

Reed's 2003 didn't put him on the prospect map; it put him on the prospect star chart. He started off by smacking around High-A pitching for a couple of months at a .333/.431/.477 clip, then really turned it on after a promotion to Double-A, hitting .409./474/.591 down the stretch. He walks more than he strikes out, and rarely strikes out; he could have been a little more selective on the basepaths, but that's just nit-picking. Reed looks like a Lenny Dykstra for the 21st century. Here's hoping Chicago doesn't waste time with a Mookie Wilson clone once Reed is ready.