Jeromy Burnitz

Burnitz put up substandard corner outfielder numbers at sea level last season, and he's not getting any younger. He's still got a little pop in his bat, so the short right-field porch at PNC Park may help his numbers. He's a major batting average liability, however.

Burnitz finally put together a solid batting average in 2004 to go with his power production, but his career-high .283 came courtesy of hitting .322 at Coors. Now no longer on the Rockies, he should still hit around 30 homers, but shouldn't come close to his 2004 average.

Despite hitting over 30 home runs again, Burnitz could not get his on base percentage over .300, which bodes poorly for future success. He swung for the fences on every pitch, missing far too often. He'll have a better home-road platoon split in 2004, having spent 2003 playing in two of the worst parks for hitters, now going to Coors Field. 21 of his 31 homers came on the road last year.

Burnitz's second stint in the Big Apple looked just like his first, with the power-hitting outfielder struggling to make contact. Burnitz finished at .215, his worst average ever, and failed to hit at least 20 homers for the first time since he split his season between Cleveland and Milwaukee in 1996. Burnitz probably won't be as bad in 2003, but he won't get back to the monster numbers he put up in Milwaukee from 1997-2001, when he averaged 32 home runs and 102 RBI. Take him as a last resort.