Sean Burroughs

Burroughs was traded from San Diego to Tampa Bay in December. He's got a shot of getting at least a left-handed platoon share of the third base job in 2006; we'll see if he finally takes advantage of that chance. His new park will help him at bit. Check the spring box scores to see if Burroughs will play enough to be of value in either AL or mixed leagues.

Once considered untouchable, the 200-plus pound third sacker has been rumored in many a deal as the Padres have become disenchanted with his inability to progress at the plate. The 24-year-old has developed into a fine defender and makes routine contact, but his .365 slugging in 2004 was the lowest in the majors for regular third basemen. Improvement on his two home runs is expected in 2005, but a he's not likely to be a fantasy stud in the upcoming year.

The young third basemen improved in every way conceivable in 2003, and looks to have finally arrived after a couple of years of being on the verge as a top prospect. Posting a .352 on-base percentage in 517 at-bats, he showed an excellent eye and great discipline for a hitter with less than a half-year of experience, and his defense was vastly improved. At six-foot-two and well in excess of two hundred pounds, his lack of power is surprising. It's likely he'll improve on last season's .402 slugging numbers as his career unfolds, but it's obvious that comparisons to Troy Glaus and some of the other modern-day third-sackers would be a mistake. Looking for a more apt comparison, perhaps Wade Boggs with more gap potential, or maybe Keith Hernandez.

Last year?s odds-on favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year wound up losing most of the 2002 season to a nagging shoulder injury, spent a month and a half back in the minors and generally frustrated those who had anointed him as the next big thing. Burroughs had surgery in October to repair a frayed labrum and a partially torn rotator cuff and should be back to full strength by spring training. Expect a rebound to more respectable numbers with an average above .300, little power and even less speed.