Brian

Barton

The 24-year-old Barton, who went undrafted two years ago after a fine career at the University of Miami, is hitting .300/.402/.486 with 24 steals in 26 attempts. He’s not a future regular, but maybe a career as a reserve is a possibility.

By trading Jim Edmonds the Cardinals created a potential opening for their top prospect, who hit .275/.381/.551 with 29 homers, 37 doubles and 70 walks in 128 games at Double-A in 2007. “He’s going to get lots of opportunity,” Mozeliak said. “It’s time to give him that shot, but we don’t want to put undo pressure on him. The club doesn’t need him to be in the Opening Day lineup. We just feel that some time this year he’s going to be a contributing member of this club. What you don’t want to see happen is he becomes a yo-yo from one level to another. If we want to give him this opportunity we are prepared to give him the at-bats. We have to be patient. You have to decide if he can add to the major-league team and if he can, you don’t want that to come at the cost of impeding his development.”

“They’re not hot on Barton at all,” said a scout from a National League club. “And while he might be the best talent out there this year, there are a lot of questions about his (knee) surgery that he’s kind of taken a backseat.” BA believes the Rays could either trade the pick, as they did last year, or go for a reliever. They also report that the Marlins like Chris Lubanski at No. 4 and that some team could go after Jeff Allison hoping for a Josh Hamilton-type miracle.

The Indians felt like they could leave Barton unprotected after September knee surgery, but it looks like he will be taken. The former University of Miami projects as a long-term reserve, though there could be a few teams out there that see him as a starter.

Barton was rumored to be going with the first pick, first to the Rays and then to San Diego in a trade. Undrafted out of the University of Miami, he became one of the Indians’ top prospects while hitting .323/.412/.511 for Single-A Kinston and Double-A Akron in 2006. He remained solid in Double-A last season, but he stumbled upon a promotion to Triple-A and then underwent knee surgery in September. He projects as a long-term reserve, and the Cardinals, assuming they’re keeping him, may have to pick between him and Skip Schumaker for a roster spot next spring.

It’d be the second year in a row a team traded up with the Rays to select an Indians outfielder coming off surgery. Last year, it was the A’s and Ryan Goleski, though they didn’t know about the surgery at the time and he ended up not making the team. BA also reports Tigers right-hander Randor Bierd could go next, with Houston moving into Pittsburgh’s slot. Rays right-handers Evan Meek is also a possibility if the Pirates keep the pick. Finally, Astros catcher Lou Santangelo might go third to the Royals.

Rasmus will be given a chance to win the starting center field job at camp, which would push Rich Ankiel back over to right field. If Rasmus fails to make the team, he’d likely continue to develop in Triple-A, while Skip Schumaker, Ryan Ludwick, Brian Barton and Juan Gonzalez compete for a right field/reserve job. Schumaker is thought to be the frontrunner.

“He’s had some soreness, and he’s been restricted to not pushing it,” manager Tony La Russa said. “So he’s going to get it looked at.” It sounds as though the Cards could stash Barton on the DL for the beginning of the season. That would increase Juan Gonzalez’s chances of making the team.

He was recalled for a cup of coffee Wednesday in order to keep a roster spot warm until newly acquired Nate McLouth arrived.

Barton hit .268 with two homers and 13 RBIs as a rookie in 2008. The former Rule 5 pick spent all of last season on the Cardinals roster as a reserve outfielder. Barton was unable to make the big league roster out of camp.