Eduardo Perez

Perez came to Seattle last season from Cleveland in a midseason trade for prospect Asdrubal Cabrera to platoon at designated hitter. With the Indians, Perez killed lefties to the tune of a 1.048 OPS in 88 at-bats, but he floundered with the Mariners in his speciality role, posting a surprisingly low .549 OPS in 65 at-bats against left-handers. A free agent, Perez likely will land somewhere in the offseason to resume his platoon role.

Given how well he hit Randy Johnson last year, AL East teams should be lining up to sign Perez this offseason. Perez rebounded nicely from a nasty ankle injury that cost him most of 2004, and he can help as a righthanded platoon player at all four corners.

Perez's season ended in May when he ruptured his Achilles' tendon trying to run out what would have been his first MLB triple since 1995 (betcha he doesn't try that again). He's healthy coming into 2005 and will likely get 200 or more plate appearances as a platoon starter at the corners or as a pinch hitter.

Perez walked into perhaps his best possible big-league opportunity for 2004 when he signed with the Devil Rays. He joined an organization that desperately needs right-handed bats (check), a manager that loves multi-position versatility (check), a big league team with an unsettled third base situation (check), and a ball park well-suited for right-handed doubles power (check). Look for Perez to get perhaps as much as 300 at-bats, split between third base, DH, and the occasional corner outfield start.

Perez had his moments coming of the bench for the Cardinals last season, as he swatted 10 home runs and nine doubles in 154 at-bats for a passable .455 slugging mark. But, he hit just .201 and drew 17 walks while whiffing 36 times. At age 33, Perez may be brought back as a source of right-handed pop off the bench, but last season, modest as it was, is probably his ceiling.