Brian Barden

Barden spent most of 2007 playing for Arizona's Triple-A club, but the Cardinals claimed him off waivers in August and he served as a utility infielder in St. Louis in September. He didn't do much in the majors for either big league team, and even his time in the minors was a huge step down from the promise he showed in 2006. At 26, it's starting to look like the best he can hope for is to carve out a niche as a utility infielder. He'll likely spend most of 2008 in Triple-A.

A college draftee, Barden's performance has remained virtually the same coming through the system. Barden is a bit like Casey Blake or maybe Wes Helms, capable of being a league-average hitter at third base with an OK glove. He might eventually find his way into a platoon, or even become a stopgap solution if the D'backs trade Chad Tracy.

Barden was a hot prospect a couple of years ago, but his minor league numbers the last three seasons aren't all that impressive given how much El Paso and Tucson inflate offensive statistics. Barden is close to getting the Quadruple-A label, and he's not really in Arizona's plans at the moment.

Barden hit .287/.348/.399 with just three homers in 109 games at Double-A El Paso in 2003, not very good given the park. He'll likely start 2004 back at Double-A.

Barden was Arizona's sixth round pick out of Oregon State in 2002, and in his first pro season, he earned California League all-star honors, hitting .335 in 64 games (eight homers, .502 slugging, .872 OPS). He'll start 2003 at Double-A El Paso. If Chad Tracy struggles or is traded in a deadline deal for a veteran, Barden immediately becomes Arizona's third baseman of the future.