Josh Barfield

Josh Barfield is the son of Jesse Barfield. Like his father, Josh has skills. In 2006 he hit .280 with the Padres. Had we not had Asdrubal Cabrera in the wings, Josh would have been allowed to play through his slump. More work would have gone into shortening his stroke, teaching him some plate discipline and getting him to hit to all fields. Some other team will invest that work, and it should bear fruit. We should not give Barfield away as we did Brandon Phillips. Barfield has value. I favor letting him and Marte fight it out in spring training and keep one of them. Likely that means Barfield goes to AAA. That would not be bad. Let's not be in so much of a hurry to dispose of the Barfield "problem" that we give away another player with potential, ala Brandon Phillips.