Eric Patterson

The Padres acquired Patterson from the Red Sox in December. Patterson will likely slot in as a reserve infielder/outfielder, though the oft-injured Orlando Hudson was signed to handle second base in San Diego. Although he hit just .214 last season, he showed promise at Triple-A in 2009, hitting .307/.376/.494. He has good speed as well. Versatility remains his greatest asset, though.

Patterson spent most of the season playing regularly at Triple-A Sacramento and occasionally surfacing in a reserve role when the A's needed an extra body. His season at Triple-A (.376 OBP, 43-for-49 in stolen base attempts) shows promise, but he was never able to wrest away a full-time role in Oakland despite injury troubles that required the A's to dip into their bench for significant at-bats at times. There's not a job waiting for him when spring begins, so it looks like another year spent in an occasional reserve role for Patterson. His speed potential will necessitate a look if his role expands due to injury.

Patterson flopped when given a brief look at regular playing time after being acquired by the Cubs mid-season, and the re-signing of Mark Ellis to a multi-year deal eliminates the small chance that Patterson had of winning the second base job this spring. The A's already have a designated speedster off the bench in Rajaj Davis, so Patterson is going to have to distinguish himself with the bat in order to stick in a reserve role.

The 24-year-old Patterson had a good year at Triple-A, getting on base at a good clip, running well and even showing a bit of pop. The Cubs called Patterson up briefly during the September roster expansion, but they sent him back down after he was late to the ballpark on a game day -- something he had also done in the minors. As a result, it wouldn't surprise us to see Patterson traded, and depending on where he wound up, he could be slotted in at second base or in the outfield. His bat is obviously more valuable from second, but if he stays with the Cubs, there's probably more opportunity in the outfield.

Patterson took a step back at Double-A last season, getting on base less and slugging worse than he did in 2005 at low-A. On the bright side, his passable plate discipline held steady. Also, the decline was largely due to a lower hit rate on balls in play, which is often the product of luck. So, the question is whether Patterson was lucky in 2005 or unlucky in 2006. It's likely somewhere in between which means that Patterson, at age 23, is just a middling prospect. The Cubs seem to realize that, signing Mark DeRosa (however foolishly) to a three-year deal this offseason. Like his brother Corey, Patterson is a big-time base stealer, so he'll be useful if and when he makes the majors—most likely in 2008.

While older brother Corey's star has dimmed, the less touted Patterson's is on the rise. Patterson tore up Low-A a year ago, hitting for average, getting on base and even showing a little pop. He also stole 40 bags. Patterson struggled in a 30 at-bat callup to Double-A, however, and while that sample size is too small to be conclusive, keep in mind that at 22, tearing up Low-A isn't a major feat. Patterson held his own in the Arizona Fall League (at least for a second baseman), but we'll have to reserve judgment until we see him replicate his success at Double-A where he'll likely start out in 2006.