Kevin Frandsen

Frandsen did everything the Nationals asked of him last season, playing four different positions while covering for the club's various injuries over the course of the year and supplying manager Matt Williams with a reliable right-handed bat off the bench. Rather than look for an upgrade on the free agent market, Washington brought him back on a modest contract for another go-round, but given the 32-year-old's lack of power (career high of five home runs in 2007 and 2013), speed (career high of four steals in 2007) or even a clear path to consistent at-bats (career high of 264 ABs in 2007) it's hard to see any way he could provide consistent fantasy value even in the deepest of leagues.

Frandsen accumulated more than 200 plate appearances with the Phillies for the second year in a row. It is a major accomplishment for a guy who did not even see time in the majors in 2011. His batting average regressed severely last year as his inflated BABIP from 2012 corrected itself. Frandsen's career contact rate is 90 percent, so he is capable of posting a decent batting average, but he does not offer much beyond that. The Phillies will open the season with Frandsen in a reserve role, but at-bats may be harder to come by as Darin Ruf figures to earn starts at first base when Ryan Howard gets a day off, and the Phillies may carry a younger player like Freddy Galvis or Cesar Hernandez as their second utility infielder, which would also take playing time away from Frandsen.

Frandsen got an opportunity with the Phillies last season after Placido Polanco went on the disabled list in late July. He made the most of his opportunity and took the starting job away from Polanco, who ended the year on the bench. Frandsen's .338 batting average was aided by a .366 BABIP, which far exceeds his career average. A downward correction is likely coming this season. Despite that, Frandsen makes contact at a solid rate, so he should continue to hit for a decent batting average. The problem is he offers little else. The Phillies are expected to carry him as a utility player this season, but he could find himself with significant at-bats if the team does not sign a free agent third baseman, or if second baseman Chase Utley struggles with knee injuries again this year. A stress fracture in Frandsen's left leg limited his playing time a bit toward the end of last season, but he is expected to be fully recovered for spring training.

Frandsen signed a minor league contract with the Phillies this offseason which included an invitation to spring training. He spent last year in the minors, but also missed 50 games after being suspended for testing positive for ritalinic acid. He has a shot at earning a bench job this spring if he can beat out Michael Martinez.

Frandsen filled in for the Angels last season when several infielders went down with injuries, but he hit just .250/.294/.319 in 160 at-bats. The Angels decided not to tender Frandsen a contract after the season, making him a free agent. Frandsen will wind up in spring training somewhere, but expect him to begin next season in the minors.

Returning from a lost 2008 season thanks to a torn Achilles' tendon, Frandsen failed miserably in his attempt to win the Giants' second-base job last year, hitting just .140 over 50 at-bats. His performance in Triple-A wasn't overwhelming either (.791 OPS), and at age 27 with San Francisco locking up its middle-infield situation, Frandsen is more likely to spend additional time in the minors than he is with the Giants in 2010.

Frandsen tore his Achilles' tendon during spring training last year, limiting him to just one at-bat during the season's final game. He has solid plate discipline but lacks power and speed. The Giants do like him, but Frandsen will enter 2009 battling Emmanuel Burriss and Eugenio Velez for the starting job at second base. He's likely to be a bench player.

Frandsen got an extended look at second base over the final month last season and he responded well at the plate with a .370/.427/.479 line in 73 September at-bats. However, he has just a .683 OPS in 357 career at-bats and lacks both speed and power. With the Giants eager to get someone to take Ray Durham's contract off their hands, it's possible the team enters 2008 with Frandsen as the starting second baseman. It’s also possible he's relegated to a utility role if Durham remains in a San Francisco uniform. Either way, Frandsen projects as a below average regular, and he won't hit many home runs or steal many bases even if given the starting gig.

Frandsen hit just .215/.284/.323 in 93 at-bats last season, which was at least partially due to playing through a fractured jaw. Still, he looked like San Francisco's starting second baseman this year until Ray Durham was re-signed, relegating him to a utility role. He still might be the team's future at the position and tore up the AFL during the offseason, leading the loop in on-base percentage (.480), finishing second in batting (.388) and third in slugging percentage (.588). There should be plenty of opportunities next year with such an aging San Francisco infield, but Frandsen enters the season as a backup.