With all of the talk about Figgins, Beltre, and DeRosa, there is another third baseman who could be looking for a job rather soon and might be worth a look. Garrett Atkins, who was a monster in 2006 but whose production has slipped in each subsequent season, is owed $7 by the Rockies, who will certainly not pay him that considering he no longer starts at 3rd base for them (The job was taken by Ian Stewart.) If they are unable to trade him, the Rockies are expected to release him before November 20th. The Phillies are on the short list of teams looking at him. His upside might be higher than Pedro Feliz, but he is far from a sure thing. He batted .226 this past season, and one GM has said he has lost his swing. That being said, I’d like to see what Milt Thompson could do with him, because if you could get anything close to what he gave the Rockies a few years ago, this infield would be a beast. Add Mark DeRosa as a utility infielder/pinch hitter/back up plan at 3rd, and I think you’d have your 3rd base situation settled. (Acknowledgement to my coffee shop guy, Jon at Beauty Shop Cafe, who upon my entrance this morning, greeted me with, “What do you think about Garrett Atkins?”)