Peeking In the Record Book

Twenty-thirteen could be a big year for Jim Thome, if he manages to make an MLB team and get in games. With 50 more strikeouts, Thome will become the sport's all-time Whiffer King, passing Reggie Jackson with 2,598 futilities.

Bobby Abreu also has his sights set on posterity. If the 38-year-old outfielder can get into 59 games this season, he'll move into the Top 10 for games played without a World Series appearance, with 2,406. (Fittingly, Rafael Palmeiro is first with 2,831.)

Sadly, Thome and Abreu have entered involuntary retirement mode. The Twins have allegedly kicked Thome's tires and found him wanting at 42, while the Orioles have suggested they might bring in Abreu if the alternatives gag them in Spring Training.

But there are others who can look up the history's ledger and see opportunities to climb into the top reaches. Alex Rodriguez, for example, is seventh of the home run list, but can pass Willie Mays for fourth with just 14 more jacks. He's also within 99 hits of 3,000 and 47 RBIs of fourth place (passing Barry Bonds). The price for all that is five more Ks, which would move him ahead of Sammy Sosa (2036) to third all-time. But there's good news in that regard. Adam Dunn, a much more prolific fanning machine, sits just one strikeout behind ARod and figures to play fulltime for the White Sox, who owe him $30 mil over the next two years.

His teammate is 12 hits from 10th place on the all-time list. Where Derek Jeter has an advantage is that last year's injury -- a broken ankle -- isn't keeping him off the field in 2013. ARod could be out all season with his hip woes, and will almost certainly miss most of the first half. With 132 more safeties Jeter clips Cap Anson for sixth place, after accumulating 216 last year. Jeter can also move up to 15th on the strikeout list ahead of Manny Ramirez with 70 more strike-threes. He fanned 90 times last year.

Albert Pujols is starting to introduce himself to the record books. With 25 more dingers, he becomes the 26th member of the 500 Club. Another five puts him in the top 25, ahead of Eddie Murray. 

On the hill, Mariano Rivera's next save breaks the all-time save record of 608, currently held by Mariano Rivera. Aside from Trevor Hoffman's 601, Rivera is already 130 saves ahead of anyone else, pending his last season in 2013. With 31 more saves, Jason Isringhausen can move into 11th place with 331. Joe Nathan is two behind Izzy.

Andy Pettitte leads all MLB pitchers in career wins with 245, good for 51st in history. Two more cracks the top 50 and 15 more gets him to 41st place. Roy Halladay leads active pitchers in finishing what he started with 66 complete games, nearly twice as many as second-place CC Sabatha (35). That slots him in at 644th on the all time list, just 683 behind Cy Young.

Some other active players will move up the hierarchy in their particular specialties. Todd Helton is four doubles from the top 20. Carl Crawford cracks the top 100 with four more triples, and gets to 49th in stolen bases with 24 more thefts. Ichiro, now at 51st in steals, gets to 41st with 30 more. Juan Pierre, now 19th all-time, needs 32 to swipe 15th place from Kenny Lofton, with 623.

Finally, there is the fine work of Paul Konerko, who can pass Frank Robinson for 20th all-time by grounding into eight more double plays. Don't laugh: 12 of the ballers in front of him are Hall of Famers. Nonetheless, he's probably more focused on the 78 home runs he needs for 500. At 37, and with 96 in his last three seasons, it seems likely. Go Paulie.