Jason Michaels

Michaels played his usual role last year, starting occasionally in the outfield and contributing as a pinch-hitter for the offense-strapped Astros. The team has an affinity for Michaels, picking up his option for this season. He has some pop as a right-handed bat off the bench, and will fill his usual fourth outfielder role with the team in 2011, but considering that he hasn't delivered double-digit homers since 2004, there's really not much to get excited about.

Michaels was a part-time player for his third team in three years in 2009. He was streaky for most of the season, and never found a groove coming off the bench. The Astros re-signed him to reprise that role in 2010 on the strength of his .311/.400/.557 line in very limited duty after the All-Star break last season.

Michaels probably stretched his talent a bit too thin after coming over to Pittsburgh from Cleveland during the 2008 campaign. A valuable bench man, Michaels came through with plenty of clutch hits with the Bucs, as evidenced by his 44 RBI in just 102 games. Pittsburgh has plenty of younger options to give at-bats to, so Michaels will be plying his trade in Houston after signing a one-year deal with the Astros in December.

Michaels was presented with a chance to take over the everyday duties in left field when David Dellucci went down in June and responded with an 11-game hitting streak. He slumped in July and August and eventually saw his playing time erode against right-handers as Ben Francisco showed he could handle them. Dellucci will be back and with Francisco and Franklin Gutierrez both pressing for playing time, it's hard to imagine Michaels carving out much more than a platoon situation again in 2008.

Michaels has been very good in odd seasons, so if the pattern holds 2007 should be a lot better than 2006. Envisioned as the Tribe's No. 2 hitter, Michaels got hurt in April and was never the same. For the year, he scored a career high in runs and stolen bases, but struggled to get on base and struck out an alarming rate. That said, the Tribe hedged its bets by grabbing David Dellucci in the offseason and may be looking to keep Michaels at 300 at-bats, where he seems to be more effective.

Michaels is more valuable in real baseball than in fantasy. As a fourth outfielder, he's a manager's dream. He hits for a good average, can play any outfield position well, hustles and never complains. But statistically, he's a one-category player if he doesn't hit for power, which he didn't in 2005. Michaels has drawn some interest in the trade market and might find himself with a full-time job one of these days.

Michaels emerged as a contender for the center field job for the Phillies after posting cumulative totals of .283-17-69 in his first three seasons, amounting to a good rookie year. The acquisition of Kenny Lofton clouds his playing time future, but it appears now that it will be he, and not Marlon Byrd, that shares the job with Lofton. Michaels strikes out a lot and was never regarded as a hot prospect, but he deserves a chance to show if he can keep his success up over a full year.

Injuries in the outfield gave Michaels a chance to show his stuff, and he responded with career-highs in several offensive categories, including a .569 slugging percentage. He could get a shot at more playing time if Pat Burrell continues to stumble.

Michaels, 26, filled in last season when Doug Glanville struggled early on. In 105 at-bats, he hit .267. Along with Ricky Ledee, Jeremy Giambi and Eric Valent, Michaels will fight for the fourth and fifth outfielder spots.