10. Brian Barton, OF, Cardinals: Barton's stock has been climbing the past two weeks.
Not only is the former Cleveland Indians prospect scalding the ball, one of the other outfield candidates for the Cardinals, 38-year-old Juan Gonzalez, is having health issues.
Also in Barton's favor: his ability to get on base, he can play all three outfield positions and he bats right-handed. Most of the Cardinals outfielders are left-handed hitters.
Barton is a career .317 hitter in 354 career Minor League games. Signed by the Indians as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Miami, he owns a career .417 on-base percentage in the Minors.
The 25-year-old played the majority of last season at Double-A Akron and was promoted late in the season to Triple-A Buffalo. He ranked second in the Eastern League with a .314 batting average and was fifth with a .416 on-base percentage. Barton stole 21 bases last season in 31 attempts.
"He runs well, he's an excellent worker," Cards manager Tony La Russa said. "[I] think he's had generally good at-bats where he's handled different type pitches."
Another consideration is money. The Cardinals will be obligated to pay Gonzalez's $750,000 contract if he makes the 25-man roster while Barton would only cost the Major League minimum ($390,000) plus the $50,000 Draft price.
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