The Angels could go the safe route and give the starting 3B job to 31-year old switch hitting Chone Figgins OR they could give 24-year old righty swinging Brandon Wood the starting job and make Figgins into a super utility man like he was when he came up. Figgins played in 116 games for the Angels last season and he was 125 for 453 (.276 avg, .685 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 1 homer, 22 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. He has improved defensively at the hot corner as he only made 6 errors there while showing average range in 105 games last season for the Angels. No matter what the Angels decide to do at 3B look for Figgins to get at least 500 at bats as long as he can stay healthy.

24-year old righty swinging Brandon Wood was once known as a super prospect but the gleam has left him the last couple of years. He played in 55 games for the Angels last season and he was 30 for 150 (.200 avg, .551 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 5 homers, 13 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Wood only made 2 errors in 32 games at 3B for the Angels last season while showing pretty good range. He also played in 103 games in AAA-ball in which he was 117 for 395 (.296 avg, .970 OPS) with 82 runs scored, 31 homers, 84 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. It might make sense to start Wood at 3B if he has a good spring as the Angels need to replace the power of departed Mark Teixeira.

32-year old Rob Quinlan is still around to back up whoever starts at 3B for the Angels in 2009. He played in 68 games for the Angels last season and he was 43 for 164 (.262 avg, .637 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 1 homer, 11 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Quinlan’s not the best defender in the world however as he made 4 errors in 39 games at 3B while showing below average range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: B-

25-year old Erick Aybar and 28-year old Maicer Izturis are both switch hitters who will likely share the shortstop position for the Angels in 2009. Aybar played in 98 games for the Angels last season and he was 96 for 346 (.277 avg, .698 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 3 homers, 39 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Aybar made 18 errors in 96 games at shortstop last season for the Angels but he still showed good range.

Maicer Izturis played in 79 games for the Angels last season and he was 78 for 290 (.269 avg, .691 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 3 homers, 37 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Izturis showed average range in 52 games at shortstop last season for the Angels while making only 2 errors.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: C

25-year old righty swinging 2B Howie Kendrick is the complete package as he’s a good hitter and defender, but, he always seems to get injured. Kendrick played in 92 games for the Angels last season and he was 104 for 340 (.306 avg, .754 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 3 homers, 37 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Kendrick also shows good range in the field and he only made 4 errors in 92 games at 2B for the Angels last season. I really believe that Kendrick could win a batting title soon if he can just get enough at bats to qualify for it.

24-year old righty swinging Sean Rodriguez will likely start 2009 in AAA as he didn’t play too well for the Angels last year. He played in 59 games for the Angels in 2008 and he was 34 for 167 (.204 avg, .593 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 3 homers, 10 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He only made 2 errors in 51 games at 2B last season for the Angels but he didn’t show much range. Unless something happens to Kendrick, Maicer Izturis or Erick Aybar, I think Rodriguez will spend most of 2009 in AAA ball. He played in 66 games in AAA ball last season and he was 76 for 248 (.306 avg, 1.042 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 21 homers, 52 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.

28-year old Maicer Izturis and 25-year old Erick Aybar are both switch hitters who are battling for the starting shortstop job. The loser of the competition will probably back up at SS, 2B and 3B for the Angels next season. Izturis played in 23 games at 2B last season for the Angels and he made 2 errors while showing outstanding range. Aybar played only 2 games at 2B last season and he didn’t make any errors.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: B