Garrett Atkins

With the 2011 Major League Baseball season just around the corner, some teams may still be looking to add some extra fire power to their rosters.  With that being said, there's still an array of talent available on the market.

Most of the time a free agent is going to add depth to a teams roster, but not necessarily give you an everyday starter.  Every now-and-then you can find a former All-Star who can still be a productive starter.

So who are the top 10 available free agents?

On Monday, I profiled some of the potential landing spots for Garrett Atkins, who was non-tendered by the Rockies.

I expected the Orioles to be one of the main suitors for Atkins' services given their need for a third baseman and a power hitter. As I wrote at the time:

While things may be quiet in terms of Mets activity, the Orioles are wasting no time in building their club up for the 2010 campaign and beyond.

Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun are reporting that the Orioles have inked former Colorado Rockie, Garrett Atkins , to a one year deal.

Garrett Atkins is a man without a job, yet he is still gainfully employed.

It may sound like the ultimate contradiction, but it’s merely a sign of the times in Major League Baseball.

Many teams are currently at a tipping point with overpriced, underperforming veterans.

One question, hundreds of answers. Which member of the Colorado Rockies had the greatest offensive season at his position?

Is Larry Walker the greatest player to grace Coors Field? Has any shortstop had a more productive year than Neifi Perez? Just which pitcher swings a better bat than Mike Hampton? Does Matt Holliday deserve a spot in the all-time Rockies' outfield?

The Oakland A's need to shore up their third base position. With Eric Chavez continuous injury streak looking like it's never got to resolve itself, it's time for the A's to look into acquiring the replacement for Chavez.

That means a player who has power from the right side of the plate, will hit for a reasonable average so (more than .265 and provide stellar defense at the hot corner—in other words, a proven commodity. No more prospects Billy Beane—we already have enough of those.

In the 2000 amateur draft, the Colorado Rockies selected UCLA first baseman Garrett Atkins in the fifth round.

With Todd Helton firmly entrenched at that position for the Rockies, Atkins converted to third base in AA in 2002 and continued there in AAA before being getting called up early in the 2005 season. He went on to finish fourth in the Rookie-of-the-Year voting that year after posting a .287/.347/.426 batting line with 13 HR and 87 RBI in 519 ABs.

We have entered the Twilight Zone of spring training.

This is the time where most of the players still getting time on the fields are just looking not to get injured before the season starts while still getting enough work in to earn their paychecks when the games finally start to matter.

Since we have arrived at this most agonizing of hours when Opening Day can be seen on the horizon, but five days still await the first pitch, it's about time for an official, dyn-o-mite 2009 preview of yours, mine, and our Colorado Rockies.