Juan Encarnacion

Encarnacion tied a career high with 19 HR in 2006 and was seemingly the healthiest Cardinals hitter during the regular season. However, he claimed during the playoffs that a lingering wrist injury was strongly affecting his hitting and that he might need surgery. If the wrist is strong in 2007, Encarnacion should play almost every day at a corner outfield spot. The 33 SB he had in 1999 are distant memory -- he hasn't topped six steals in a season since 2003.

On the surface, Encarnacion had one of the best years of his career in 2005, but the only real difference at the plate between it and the year before was about 60 points of batting average. His tools-based game continues to erode with age -- his stolen base total for '04-'05 combined is still worse than his previous single season low -- and if he's not hitting at least .270, he's not going to contribute to a major league attack. The Cardinals, then, will just have to hope he hits .270.

Whatever boost the Marlins may have gotten from Paul LoDuca, Encarnacion helped neutralize with his amazing out-making ability (.299 OBP in 2004, although he managed a .320 rate with Florida). Given a shoulder injury that sapped his power too, Encarnacion was a true offensive black hole down the stretch last year. Offseason surgery should restore the extra base hits he lost to the injury, but won't save all the rallies he kills from the bottom half of the batting order.

Encarnacion had a superficially good year, just missing a 20/20 season, but like always, he had major trouble simply getting on base. He's a five tool player who lacks that sixth tool -- baseball instinct -- to tie it all together.

Encarnacion set career highs in a few categories in 2002, but the only one that mattered was walks. Florida doesn't seem to be the best environment to learn plate discipline, but his walk rate dropped only slightly after the trade from Cincinnati. If he can keep improving it, career highs in the counting categories might become an annual event. He could just as easily revert to his old ways under Jeff Torborg's "tutelage", though, and become a fantasy bust once again.