Jan. 20, 2011—Who remembers Joe Crede? Well, Crede is finally back in professional baseball. In his last year, Crede helped the 2009 Minnesota Twins to the AL Central title.

But after being out of baseball for a season due to chronic back pain, Crede signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Rockies, pending a physical. 

Crede had previously spent his career mostly with the White Sox, including a nine-year stint with the club from 2000-2008. After his tenure with the White Sox, he spent a season with the Minnesota Twins in the 2009 season, but after 90 games, he was forced out due to his back problems.

Crede is a career .254 hitter, but his strong defensive skills (.965 career FLD%) suggest that he may be a back-up (no pun intended) to Ian Stewart at third base. 

An All-Star in 2008 and a Silver Slugger in 2006, Crede brings some pop to a Rockies lineup that may already be stacked. Crede has 140 homers to his name, and his 30 home-run season in 2006 season suggest that he may be able to help the Rox this year. 

The thing that us fans must realize is that Crede has been out of baseball for nearly a year and a half, and if he wants to help the Rox this year, he will have to demonstrate that he has stayed in shape and kept on a strict schedule involving baseball activities. 

All the Rox know is that too much depth can never hurt a system. 

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