Josh Barfield

Barfield opened the season as Cleveland's starting second baseman, but struggled and eventually lost his job to Asdrubal Cabrera. Big things were expected out of him once he escaped the confines of PETCO Park in an offseason trade, but that never materialized. He's still young enough to recapture some of the power he flashed in San Diego and he did manage to steal 14 bases last season, but his future with the Indians is in doubt. With Cabrera manning second and Jhonny Peralta holding down shortstop, there's simply nowhere for Barfield to play on a regular basis unless the Indians get creative and move Peralta over to third, Cabrera to his natural position of shortstop and Casey Blake to an already crowded corner outfield situation.

Barfield was traded to Cleveland during the offseason, where he’s likely to assume the Indians starting second base job. The Indians are expected to place Barfield and his low .318 OBP toward the bottom of the order, which is not great for his fantasy value. However, Barfield hit eighth for a good portion of the 2006 season and posted solid power numbers (13 homers, 58 RBI and 32 doubles in 539 AB). He's a good sleeper pick in 2007, especially if the Indians offense clicks in front of him.

Barfield rebounded nicely from a dicey 2004 in Double-A Mobile, putting up decent numbers in Triple-A Portland at the age of 22. He may not have the range to play second in the big leagues, but the trade of Mark Loretta certainly clears a path for him to give it a go. Ultimately, Barfield could wind up in the outfield, but in 2006, if he breaks camp with the team, he's not a bad end-game middle infielder.

The Padres' top prospect struggled in 2004, failing to get into a groove after a hamstring injury slowed him initially. He still led the Southern league in RBI and should return to form in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in the upcoming season. A legitimate power threat at second base, he's not likely to make a major league dent until 2006.

The son of former big league outfielder Jesse Barfield has quickly become one of the top prospects in all of baseball. He obliterated the High Single-A competition in the California League in 2003 by posting a .337 batting average with 16 home runs and 128 RBI, quite an accomplishment for a 20-year-old middle infielder who played through a wrist injury most of the season. The Padres signed Mark Loretta to a two-year deal recently and currently have Ramon Vazquez as well. Barfield won't be rushed and should see his first tough test playing for Double-A Mobile of the Southern league in 2004.

Barfield earned honors as the Padres’ Minor League co-Player of the Year after a season in which he hit .306 and stole 26 bags in A ball. The 20-year old son of former major leaguer Jessie Barfield posted a horrendous 26/105 BB/K rate, but led the Midwest league in hits with 146. Pitch selection is the biggest roadblock in the path of this prospect’s success. Watch him closely in 2003.