Adam Kennedy

Kennedy came in handy for the Mariners last season as a reliable utility glove and a veteran presence. He didn't do much with the bat, though. He'll take his utility skills to the Dodgers this season after signing a one-year deal in November. Expect Kennedy to fill in at multiple infield positions and be one of the first pinch hitters off the bench.

Kennedy did nothing in his one season in Washington to make the team want a repeat performance, and he was duly cut loose. He signed with Seattle where he'll have a decent chance of making the final cut even though he hit just .249/.327/.327 in 342 at-bats last season - thanks to weak competition in an unsettled infield.

Kennedy had a resurgence after being acquired in late April from Tampa Bay. He gave the A's decent production, splitting time between and second and third base. He's filed for free agency, but has expressed an interest in re-signing with the A's. Like teammate Mark Ellis, Kennedy's value takes a hit if your league counts on-base and slugging percentage. This was by far his best season since 2004, so be careful about paying for last year's stats when it comes to valuating him for 2010.

Kennedy is nobody's idea of a fantasy stud, but in the past he's been able to hit for a decent average and steal some bases. While he only stole seven in 2008, it was encouraging to see him bounce back from the worst season of his career. The Cardinals demonstrated their commitment to Kennedy by non-tendering Aaron Miles and letting Felipe Lopez go to Arizona.

Even before a knee injury prematurely ended his season last August, Kennedy was having the worst season of his career. In seven years with the Angels, Kennedy averaged 18 stolen bases and never hit below .266. The Cardinals expected that kind of production when they signed him to a three-year contract before last season, but he was never able to get going in 2007. Kennedy will probably need a good spring to hold off his competition for the starting job at second base, though he should be considered the frontrunner.

Kennedy was a steady source of 15-20 steals a season with the Angels. Now that he'll start at second base with the Cards, will he be on the move as much? Watch La Russa's lineups this spring; Kennedy batting second--in front of Albert Pujols--could be worth 20 runs as opposed to Kennedy batting seventh in front of "Yetanother" Molina.

Kennedy had a career year at the plate in 2005 posting a .347 average in the first half. He was still hitting .337 in mid-August, but the statistical probabilities caught up with him over the last seven weeks of the season and he closed out the year at .300 even. Kennedy is past the point where any breakout is likely, but he is proving to be nothing if not consistent. He might have to fend off a challenge from Howie Kendrick, by midsummer if not in spring training.

Kennedy had a horrible first half of 2004, hitting .243 through the end of June before batting at a .317 clip over the final three months. Hopefully, you weren’t one of the many owners who dropped him at the All-Star Break to take a flyer on Jose Hernandez. Kennedy’s status for 2005 is in question: he had reconstructive surgery on his right knee in October after tearing both his ACL and MCL on September 20. His return to the field will be May, in the best case scenario, so plan accordingly.

Kennedy struggled last season and his status as the everyday second baseman is in doubt for 2004. With the Angels flush with young talent at SS and 2B, Kennedy may fall into a platoon or even reserve role, or might get traded. His poor batting average may rebound, but the drop in doubles is the most troubling (32 in 2002 / 17 last year). He'll be 28 on Opening Day, and the window on becoming an impact player is closing.

Kennedy arrived on the national scene with his three-homer game in Game 6 of the ALCS, but that wasn't his sum total in 2002, as he quietly put together a rather productive season. Mike Scioscia likes to bench him against lefties for Benji Gil, which lowers his value by a couple notches.