Aaron Boone

Boone battled more knee trouble, but when he was healthy he proved to be a valuable bench player for the Marlins and even won a share of the first base job at one point in the season. At-bats should be tougher to come by in Washington, however, with Ryan Zimmerman entrenched at third and Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young both available to play first.

After losing the third base job in Cleveland to Andy Marte after a disappointing year, Boone moves to the Marlins as a versatile reserve infielder. He'll fill the role vacated by Wes Helms when he signed with the Phillies.

Boone was a disappointment in his return from two knee surgeries and a year off. Brought in to bolster the team's defense and provide a veteran bat in the lineup, Boone did his job in the field but had the worst hitting season of his career. Boone had streaks of 22 and 21 games without an error and had only 11 entering September, when he choked during the pennant race with seven. The Indians showed they believe he can do better in 2006 by picking up his $5 million option. He's unlikely to do worse.

Boone spent 2004 rehabbing the ACL in his left knee, which he tore up in a pickup basketball game in January 2004. The Indians signed him in June, despite already having a 32-year-old third baseman of their own in Casey Blake. Boone could supplant Blake at third, especially if Blake struggles with the glove. If he can't dislodge Blake, he will play a utility role between third, first, the outfield and DH, and will supplement the Indians' lefty hitters. Boone might hit 20 homers in 2005, but that may be the only category you'll get from him.

Boone agreed to a one-year, $5.75 million deal with the Yankees to avoid arbitration, and so he'll be playing for his next contract as he becomes a free agent after the 2004 season. He hit .267 with 24 homers, 23 steals and 96 RBI but only batted .254 with six homers in 189 at-bats with the Yankees. This year will test if his AL stint was simply an adjustment period or if Boone really will have trouble with American League pitching. Although he hit the pennant-winning home run versus Boston, Boone had a poor postseason as well so he'll be out to prove himself in a much more stressful environment than he was used to in Cincinnati. He'll have dual-eligibility in many leagues, having played 19 games at 2B and five games at SS.

If you were somehow able to wait until mid-May to acquire Boone, you did a wonderful job of skimming the cream off the top. Twenty-four of his 26 homers and 27 of his 32 stolen bases came after May 11th. The power numbers seem to be real – prior to 2002, his slugging percentage had improved for four consecutive years. While you shouldn't expect a repeat of his 32 stolen bases in 2003, Boone's steals didn't come completely from out of the blue – in 1999 Boone stole 17 bases. Lastly, pay close attention to your league's Games by Position requirements – Boone played 16 games at shortstop in 2002.