Adrian Cardenas

Cardenas hit well at Triple-A Sacramento (.314/.374/.418), though one would expect that given that it marked his third year with prolonged exposure to Triple-A pitching. While he shows a good eye at the plate, he doesn't offer much of anything in terms of power and that pretty much matches the profile of former teammate Cliff Pennington. After making gains in his walk (nine percent) and contact rates (89 percent) at Triple-A, the Cubs were interested in acquiring the former prospect on waivers during the offseason. He's in the mix for playing time at second base with his new club since Starlin Castro is locked in as the everyday shortstop.

Cardenas was returned to Double-A Midland midseason after another flop at Triple-A Sacramento, the second straight year a return trip to Midland was required after a slow start at Triple-A. His return to Sacramento later in the season was better but not great, and he now has 393 at-bats at Triple-A Sacramento with a .665 OPS to show for it with just two home runs. Time is running out for him to project as anything more than a utility player.

A strong start at Double-A Midland earned Cardenas a quick promotion to Triple-A Sacramento but he was demoted back to Midland after 17 games (.177/.254/.258). He hit well again at Midland, earning another look at Triple-A where he was better (.289/.351/.430 in 121 at-bats), but still failed to show much power against advanced pitching. He's too young, having just turned 22 years old, to hold the lack of power against him, but it will have to develop at some point if he wants to separate himself from a generic middle infielder (little pop, so-so average and only the occasional stolen base) once he does reach the majors.

Cardenas gives the A's another middle-infield prospect after being acquired in trade that sent Joe Blanton to Philly. His power (16 doubles, five homers in 419 minor-league at-bats) fell off from 2007 (30 doubles, nine homers in 499 at-bats) as he advanced and virtually disappeared once in the A's system (five doubles, one homer in 158 at-bats). He projects as a better option down the road than Cliff Pennington, but will likely spend most of the year at Double-A Midland. If he can't hit for power in Midland, you can move him way down on your prospects list.

Cardenas, a supplemental first-round pick in 2006 (37th overall), hit a solid .295 as a 20-year-old at Low-A Lakewood, with 30 doubles and nine home runs to go along with his 79 RBI. His understanding of the strike zone is a big positive, as he struck out a mere 80 times in almost 500 at-bats. He made the switch from shortstop to second base in 2007, which just means he's now blocked by Chase Utley instead of Jimmy Rollins. It'll be a few years before the Phillies have to worry about that, however, since Cardenas probably won't be ready to play every day until 2010 or 2011.