Players A to Z, Wes Helms

Wes Helms plays third base for the Marlins. After cups of coffee in 1998 and 2000, Wes came to the majors for good in 2001 and made a good career for himself as a backup third and sometimes first baseman. He did post four good seasons, from age 27 to 30, just when you would expect a player to peak. Since 2006, however, he’s done nothing offensively. He’s someone to keep on the roster if you third baseman is a great hitter but not that good a fielder. Even Helm’s fielding fell off in 2010, so he should have been very happy to get a one-year deal from the Marlins. If his fielding doesn’t recover in 2011, I suspect that will be Wes’s last season.