In a Wednesday column, FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal noted that a few of the game’s elder statesmen -- Frank Thomas, Luis Gonzalez and Jim Edmonds -- failed to find major league jobs last spring. The nation’s economic downturn was blamed, as owners were more inclined to go with young players instead of veterans with their best days in the rear-view mirror.

Rosenthal figures the squeeze on older guys will continue this winter, and for some of them, it will be driven by the position they play. He points out that a host of veteran first base-DH types will be looking for work. The names he mentions were Jim Thome, Carlos Delgado and Jason Giambi; Aubrey Huff, Nick Johnson, Mike Sweeney and Hank Blalock. Gary Sheffield may be another casualty, but the 40-year-old veteran believes he’ll be playing in someone’s outfield in 2010.

Rosenthal make an interesting point, especially for guys who are designated hitters -- or should be, based on their defensive performance or injury history. That would include Thome, Giambi, Johnson and Sweeney. The 39-year-old Thome, with 564 career home runs, still has a shot at becoming the seventh player to reach the 600 plateau. Although only a few DH jobs with regular playing time may be available, he should be the one guy who is guaranteed to get one, based on his .865 OPS for the White Sox.

Looking at the DH spot on American League clubs, it’s surprising how few jobs are held by established run producers who rank among the game’s best hitters. Boston’s David Ortiz is one, though his bat seems to be on the decline as he endures his worst year since joining the Red Sox in 2003. Thome is another, though now he’s solely a pinch-hitter for the Dodgers after being dealt by the White Sox on Monday.

Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr. and Cleveland’s Travis Hafner would have fit that description a few years ago, and perhaps the Rays’ Pat Burrell will be better in his second season in the AL next year. He had averaged 31 homer and 99 RBIs a year over his previous four seasons with Philadelphia, and he may bounce back after having to adjust to a new league in 2009.

Arguably the most productive designated hitters this season have been Thome, Toronto’s Adam Lind, Baltimore’s Luke Scott, Jason Kubel of the Twins, and the Yankees’ Hideki Matsui. Of this group, only Thome and Matsui are DH-only players.

Looking to 2010, only five AL clubs appear set at DH. That may seem to counter Rosenthal’s point, but a more in-depth look suggests otherwise. Among the nine teams that have some wiggle room to make a change at the position, six of them are small-market or rebuilding teams -- or both. They include the Orioles, Blue Jays, Royals, White Sox, Mariners and Rangers.

Among this group, the White Sox have shown a willingness to spend money if a free agent or player on the trade market is a good fit, but the Thome deal may have been made with the idea of making room next season for talented catching prospect Tyler Flowers. He and A.J. Pierzynski could share catching duties, and both could stay in the lineup regularly by getting plate appearances at DH. If Flowers flounders in spring camp, perhaps a veteran will be signed.

There may be a DH opening in Baltimore, as the O’s are looking at Scott to man first base next season, but that may be a temporary scenario with first-base prospect Brandon Snyder on the way up and rookie Michael Aubrey currently getting a look on the roster. The Royals seem likely to stick with Mike Jacobs, despite his 2009 struggles. The Blue Jays may give 31-year-old rookie and power source Randy Ruiz a chance to stick next spring, despite his dismal 23-8 strikeout ratio in 65 at-bats. The Rangers have to like what they have seen from outfield prospect Julio Borbon since he was recalled in early August, and he and the three outfield regulars could share a lot of the DH time in 2010. Seattle faces a decision on pending free agents and DH candidates Griffey and Sweeney.

The three AL teams most likely to spend money on an aging veteran to DH are the Yankees, Tigers and Angels.

In New York, Matsui and Johnny Damon have had solid 2009 seasons, but both will be free agents. The 35-year-old Damon, playing in left field, is having one of the best seasons of his career; the 35-year-old Matsui has rebounded nicely from a knee injury, though he hasn’t played in the outfield in 2009. The free-spending Yankees could re-sign either left-handed hitter -- or both, with Damon returning in left -- or they could go in a different direction and sign Thome or one of the other DH options.

The Tigers traded for Aubrey Huff in mid-August, and have given him most of the DH at-bats against right-handers, but the 32-year-old veteran has struggled mightily and becomes a free agent at year’s end. On the other hand, injury-prone Carlos Guillen, soon to be 35 years old and still signed for two more years, may be heading toward full-time duties as Detroit’s DH. If he’s unable to stay healthy enough to play regularly in the field, the Tigers will have only one way to make room for his bat in the lineup. Interestingly, Magglio Ordonez, whose playing time is inching him closer to having his option vested for 2010, has been far more productive at the plate as a DH than an outfielder.

The Angels also may have a DH opening if they don’t re-sign Vladimir Guerrero and Bobby Abreu over the winter. Abreu and the Angels are talking, and he seems a good bet to return to right field next spring. That move alone would keep Gary Matthews Jr. on the bench, despite having two years remaining on a $50 million contract. If the Angels re-up with Guerrero, there’s no opening for a free-agent DH.

There will be few first-base openings in either league, as well, so it’s likely at least a few major league veterans among the group mentioned by Rosenthal will be hard-pressed to fine regular work. Perhaps Carlos Delgado and Hank Blalock will find a first-base gig in Oakland or Cleveland if they’re willing to take less money. Nick Johnson may be a good fit in a place where he won’t be depended on to play 125 games, and Thome should sign somewhere. Otherwise, it might be a frustrating winter for a number of major league veterans in search of job.