Jorge Cantu

Various nagging injuries sapped Cantu's power in 2009, but he made up for the lost home runs with better contact and a 100-RBI season. He could head back to first base if the Marlins deem none of their youngsters ready for regular duty, but assuming his arbitration asking price is within Florida's self-imposed means, Cantu will stay at third base, try to stay healthy and look to rebound to the 30-homer level, even though something closer to 20 is more likely.

Cantu didn't make anyone forget Miguel Cabrera, but he rebounded to his 2005 level at the plate and provided the Marlins with the stability they needed at third base. He showed some improvement with his batting eye and is heading into his age 27 season so further improvement is certainly possible, but his erratic defense at the hot corner could see him shift to first base at some point, a position at which his current level of production isn't quite as special. His career is definitely back on track, though.

Cantu hit much better, albeit in a very small sample size, after the trade to Cincinnati last year. He signed with the Marlins this offseason and could win the starting third base job after the Miguel Cabrera trade. He'll battle with Jose Castillo for the job, and possibly Alfredo Amezaga. He'll more than likely end up in a platoon with Castillo.

Even though Cantu missed six weeks early in the season with a broken foot, he had a .773 OPS at the end of June, not far off his 2005 numbers. But things went south quickly after the All-Star break, especially in the power department. One could blame both the foot injury and that darned WBC for wearing Cantu down as the season went on. Still, he did post the best walk rate of his pro career in 2006. If he shows he's healthy in the spring, Cantu has much more upside than a lot of the names in the lower half of your second base cheatsheet.

Cantu was Tampa Bay's most pleasant surprise in 2005. However, we'd like to give him one more year before we jump on his bandwagon for good. The power he showed as a 22-year-old at Triple-A in 2004 didn't go away, and that's a good sign. However, Cantu needs to either improve his plate discipline (18 unintentional walks in 631 PA last year), or, like teammate Carl Crawford, prove he can get on base consistently without walking much, which is a rare feat. Cantu doesn't field well at either second or third base (worst range factor in the bigs at second last year, and would have been the worst at third if he'd had enough innings to qualify), so eventually, the Rays may move him to first base if his glove doesn't improve.

Cantu impressed in the last two months of the season, although his .341 major league OBP is better than he ever posted in six years in the minors. Furthermore, only in the first part of 2004 had he ever posted a slugging percentage in the minors as high as his .462 mark with the Rays. He's got promise, but may wind up a utility man or at third if the Rays sign a veteran or two for their infield.

Cantu had the best offensive year of his pro career in 2003 at Triple-A. Unfortunately, with Julio Lugo now entrenched as the incumbent at shortstop at Tampa Bay and B.J. Upton closing fast, his window of opportunity to become the Devil Rays' shortstop is just about gone. Look for him to start 2004 at Triple-A again, but perhaps at third base since there is an organizational need there.

Slick-fielding shortstop prospect who turns just 21 in the spring. Hit only .242 in 131 games at Double-A, then only .246 in 20 games (19 at shortstop) in the Arizona Fall League. Ticketed for Triple-A in 2003 and maybe the bigs in 2004, although he's got to improve at the plate.