13. Mark Loretta  Houston Astros

Loretta has been a disappointment following his strong campaigns of 2003 and 2004 when he averaged .305-15-74-91-5 in 154 games-per-season. Since then his numbers have fallen drastically, averaging .283-4-49-65-6 in 130 games annually. History tells us that the 35-year-old will never regain the level of success he enjoyed during his prime, but he could see a boost in his offensive production with his move to the band box in Houston.

Houston Astros

After participating on a part-time basis over the past two seasons, Burke will enter spring training as the favorite to open the season as the teams’ starting centerfielder. He was named Houston’s 2004 Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .315 with 16 HR, 52 RBI, 93 R, and 37 SB with a .903 OPS for Triple-A New Orleans. It’s worth noting that the 26-year-old hit .379-4-15 with .989 OPS while batting second in the lineup last season. That, incidentally, is where the Astros expect him to hit this season if he can in fact win the starting centerfield job.

15. Adam Kennedy   St. Louis Cardinals

Kennedy is back with the organization that drafted him after spending seven seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. The undersized second baseman has always struggled against left-handed pitching so he will likely lose at bats this year in St. Louis. As of now, the only challenger to Kennedy is switch-hitting Aaron Miles, but he too has been stifled by lefties (.271-3-28 with .684 OPS in 152 games vs. LHP) leaving Kennedy as the teams starting second baseman to open the season.

16. Craig Biggio   Houston Astros

Biggio, a lifetime .283 hitter, posted the worst batting average and on-base percentage of his career (.246 BA and .306 OBP) in 2006. Though his power has picked up in recent years averaging 24 home runs a year over the past three seasons, it has come at the expense of his batting average and OBP. The team’s decision to sign veteran infielder Mark Loretta to a one-year, $2.5 million contract for 2007 indicates they are probably going to offer the future Hall of Famer more days off this season, in what is likely his last professional season. Biggio, 39, will be in his 20th season (all with Houston) and is just 70 hits away from 3,000.