All 30 MLB Teams' Under-the-Radar Offseason Addition Worth Watching
While only the biggest free-agent signings and blockbuster trades capture headlines during the MLB offseason, there are literally hundreds and hundreds of transactions made each winter, both at the major league and minor league levels.
As a result, there are no shortage of under-the-radar additions made to all 30 teams each offseason, and from time to time those unheralded guys wind up making a significant impact.
What follows is one under-the-radar offseason acquisition for each team that is worth keeping an eye on moving forward.
Two different types of players were considered for this list:
- Unheralded veterans who could wind up making an impact at the big league level in 2015 after being acquired via trade, claimed off waivers or signed to minor league contracts.
- Prospects/up-and-coming players acquired via trade that may not have been the marquee piece of their respective deal, but could wind up making a significant impact down the road.
So with that, let's see if we can't find the next Pat Neshek or Yangervis Solarte.
Baltimore Orioles: RF Alex Hassan (Waivers)
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Alex Hassan never received an extended look from the Boston Red Sox, but with the Baltimore Orioles still trying to sort out their outfield situation for the year ahead, he could play his way into a roster spot this spring.
The 26-year-old is a career .291/.396/.436 hitter over parts of six minor league seasons, and his advanced on-base skills could be his ticket to a big league job.
Hassan hit .287/.378/.426 with 31 doubles and eight home runs in a full season at the Triple-A level this past season, and he made his big league debut with a three-game stint in June.
Boston Red Sox: RP Anthony Varvaro (Trade)
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A late bloomer with just 34 major league appearances heading into his age-28 season, Anthony Varvaro has quietly emerged as a solid middle relief option for the Atlanta Braves since the start of the 2013 season.
Over the past two years, the right-hander has made 123 appearances and posted a 2.74 ERA and 1.188 WHIP while recording 19 holds and one save.
Varvaro, now 30 years old, was acquired from the Braves in exchange for reliever Aaron Kurcz and cash. If he can continue to pitch the way he has the past two years, he could work his way into a key bullpen role for the Boston Red Sox.
New York Yankees: RP Chasen Shreve (Trade)
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David Carpenter may be the more established of the two relief pitchers heading to the New York Yankees in the Manny Banuelos trade, but Chasen Shreve could wind up making the bigger impact.
The left-hander was a relative unknown heading into last season, but significantly improved command and a boost in velocity led to a breakout season in the minors.
He lowered his walk rate from 4.3 BB/9 in 2013 to 1.7 BB/9, and wound up posting a 2.67 ERA, 0.984 WHIP and 12.2 K/9 over 46 minor league appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. That earned him a second-half promotion, and he went on to post a 0.73 ERA in 15 games with the Atlanta Braves.
The 24-year-old Shreve should have every chance to stick in the Yankees' bullpen as a third lefty alongside Andrew Miller and Justin Wilson, and with six years of team control left he could be there to stay.
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Tampa Bay Rays: 1B/DH Allan Dykstra (Minor League Free Agent)
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The No. 23 pick in the 2008 draft out of Wake Forest, Allan Dykstra has shown fantastic plate discipline throughout his minor league career, but he has never turned into the offensive force that many expected him to be.
The 27-year-old reached Triple-A for the first time last season, hitting .280/.426/.504 with 23 doubles and 16 home runs in 343 at-bats. He has a .406 on-base percentage and .858 OPS over 2,729 career minor league plate appearances.
The Tampa Bay Rays could certainly use some offense, and Dykstra should have a legitimate chance at winning a bench job this spring, where he could see time at first base and designated hitter.
Toronto Blue Jays: SP/RP Andrew Albers (Minor League Free Agent)
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Canadian-born Andrew Albers made his major league debut as a 27-year-old in 2013, going 2-5 with a 4.05 ERA (3.96 FIP) and 1.183 WHIP over 10 starts for the Minnesota Twins.
Following the team's signings of Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco last offseason, the Twins sold Albers to the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization.
His numbers weren't great, as he finished the year 6-13 with a 5.89 ERA and 1.586 WHIP, but that came in the excessively hitter-friendly KBO.
At the very least he could pitch his way into a bullpen spot for a Blue Jays team with a number of questions in the relief corps, and his ability to also start could make him a valuable swingman replacing Dustin McGowan.
Chicago White Sox: RP Dan Jennings (Trade)
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It's been a busy offseason for the Chicago White Sox, with the additions of Jeff Samardzija, Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche, David Robertson, Zach Duke and recently Emilio Bonifacio all making headlines on the South Side.
However, one move that was largely overlooked was the addition of lefty reliever Dan Jennings in exchange for right-handed starter Andre Rienzo.
The 27-year-old Jennings has made 116 appearances and posted a 2.43 ERA in three big league seasons, including a 1.34 ERA and 8.5 K/9 in 47 games out of the Miami Marlins bullpen last year in what was a breakout season of sorts.
Duke is the only left-hander currently locked into a bullpen job, so there is a good chance Jennings earns a roster spot as the second southpaw in what should be a vastly improved White Sox pen.
Cleveland Indians: LF Destin Hood (Minor League Free Agent)
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A second-round pick in the 2008 draft, Destin Hood was selected as the prototypical toolsy outfielder who came out of high school with a wealth of raw talent but little polish.
The 24-year-old reached the Triple-A level for the first time last year, hitting a combined .298/.348/.460 with 26 doubles and 11 home runs over three minor league stops, and that could have him poised to make his major league debut in 2015.
Matt Eddy of Baseball America touched on why Hood could find his way onto the Indians' roster:
"Whatever his flaws, Hood wielded a powerful bat versus minor league southpaws in 2014, hitting .315 and slugging .556 in 117 plate appearances. For an Indians club featuring many left-handed hitting regulars, including an outfield of Michael Brantley, Michael Bourn and David Murphy, Hood might be an option to offer right-handed balance.
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His prospect star has undoubtedly faded seven years into his pro career, but he is still young enough to make an impact, and a change of scenery could do him good.
Detroit Tigers: RP Alex Wilson (Trade)
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Despite their struggles a year ago, the Detroit Tigers have done little to address a bullpen that ranked 27th in the league last year with a 4.29 ERA.
A full season of Joakim Soria and a healthy Bruce Rondon would go a long way, but newcomer Alex Wilson could also play a significant role.
The right-hander was acquired from the Red Sox along with Yoenis Cespedes in the deal that sent Rick Porcello to Boston, and after a terrific 2014 season he'll have every chance to earn a bullpen job this spring.
After going 6-1 with a 4.35 ERA and 8.7 K/9 over 35 appearances in Triple-A, Wilson pitched to a 1.91 ERA and 0.882 WHIP in 18 games at the big league level. The 28-year-old doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he can be a useful middle reliever for a team that could certainly use help in that area.
Kansas City Royals: SP Brian Flynn (Trade)
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A dominant bullpen played a big role in the Kansas City Royals reaching the World Series this past season, and it figures to be a strength of the team once again in 2015.
With the foursome of Jason Frasor, Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland all back, the team could afford to trade former All-Star reliever Aaron Crow, shipping him to the Miami Marlins for left-hander Brian Flynn.
The scouting report on the 24-year-old Flynn, per Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com's Prospect Watch:
"Flynn has the makings of a solid starting pitcher and works with a four-pitch arsenal. His fastball sits around 90 mph and he commands it well, especially in the bottom of the zone. Flynn's curve is more of a "get-it-over" pitch early in counts, but he can work his slider and changeup off of his fastball effectively. (He) has a good feel for pitching and mixes his pitches well, keeping hitters off balance. After spending the majority of the last two years at Triple-A, he is nearly ready for an extended look in the Major Leagues.
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The Royals rotation is set after they signed Edinson Volquez to replace James Shields, but there is very little in the way of depth behind their five projected starters, and if injury strikes Flynn could be the first guy called upon.
Minnesota Twins: RP J.R. Graham (Rule 5 Draft)
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Ranked as the No. 93 prospect in the league by Baseball America heading into the 2013 season, J.R. Graham has been limited to just 107 innings over the past two seasons while dealing with shoulder issues.
A dominant 2012 season put him on the prospect radar, as the right-hander went 12-2 with a 2.80 ERA, 1.061 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 148 innings of work between High-A and Double-A.
The Minnesota Twins are now hoping the 24-year-old can regain that form, as they selected him with the No. 5 pick in this year's Rule 5 draft. He'll be competing for a bullpen spot this spring.
Many already pegged him as a future reliever before the injury problems. With a fastball that can touch the high 90s and a tight slider, he has the stuff to be a solid late-inning arm.
Houston Astros: RP Will Harris (Waivers)
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The Houston Astros made a splash on the relief pitching market during the winter meetings, signing Pat Neshek (two years, $12.5 million) and Luke Gregerson (three years, $18.5 million) to multiyear deals to set up incumbent closer Chad Qualls.
Another reliever they added earlier in the offseason could also wind up making a significant impact, as right-hander Will Harris was claimed off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Nov. 3.
The 30-year-old had a 4.34 ERA and 10.9 K/9 in 29 appearances in the majors, and was absolutely dominant in Triple-A with a 0.99 ERA and 1.182 WHIP over 43 appearances.
It was something of a surprise that he spent time in the minors to begin with, as he was one of the Diamondbacks' more reliable relievers in 2013, when he had a 2.91 ERA and 9.1 K/9 in 61 games. At any rate, he should provide the Astros with a solid middle relief arm to bridge the gap to their new late-inning weapons.
Los Angeles Angels: 2B Josh Rutledge (Trade)
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For the first time since the days of Adam Kennedy, someone not named Howie Kendrick will be the primary second baseman for the Los Angeles Angels, as Kendrick was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the winter meetings.
Shortly after dealing Kendrick, the Angels made a far less publicized move to acquire his potential replacement, trading reliever Jairo Diaz to the Colorado Rockies for Josh Rutledge.
Rutledge, 25, burst onto the scene in 2012 when he was called up to replace an injured Troy Tulowitzki. He went on to post a .775 OPS with 33 extra-base hits in 277 at-bats, and he was a popular pick to break out heading into the 2013 season.
Instead, he has struggled to duplicate that success over the past two years, losing his job to slick-fielding DJ LeMahieu in the process.
The offensive potential is still there for him to be a plus offensive option at second base, and he figures to have the upper hand over the likes of Grant Green, Taylor Featherston, Johnny Giavotella and Alex Yarbrough for the starting gig, so he could yet make a significant impact on an everyday basis.
Oakland Athletics: 1B Mark Canha (Rule 5 Draft)
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Mark Canha has done nothing but hit since being taken in the seventh round of the 2010 draft by the Miami Marlins out of the University of California, and he is coming off his best all-around season to date in 2014.
The 25-year-old hit .303/.384/.505 with 28 doubles, 20 home runs and 82 RBI in a full season for Triple-A New Orleans. The Marlins opted against adding him to the 40-man roster, and the Oakland Athletics scooped him up with the No. 2 pick in the Rule 5 draft.
After trading some significant pieces this offseason in the likes of Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss and Derek Norris, the A's will certainly be looking for creative sources of offense this spring.
Nate Freiman, another former Rule 5 selection, might be Canha's biggest competition for a roster spot. He hit just .218/.269/.448 over 87 at-bats last season, though, so look for Canha to have the upper hand when camp kicks off.
Seattle Mariners: RP David Rollins (Rule 5 Draft)
14 of 30The Seattle Mariners boasted the No. 1 bullpen in baseball last season, pitching to a 2.59 ERA as a group, and for the most part they return their relief corps intact.
One player they will be looking to replace, provided they don't re-sign him before the offseason is over, is left-hander Joe Beimel. As it stands, Charlie Furbush is the only left-hander assured of a roster spot to begin the season.
That makes Rule 5 draft selection David Rollins, a lefty reliever from the Houston Astros organization, one to watch this spring as he looks to edge out Lucas Luetge, Edgar Olmos and whoever else the team decides to add to the mix between now and the start of camp.
Rollins, 25, split last season between the rotation and bullpen in Double-A, making 12 starts and 17 relief appearances. All told, he finished the year 3-4 with a 3.81 ERA, 1.231 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 78 innings.
Texas Rangers: 1B/OF Kyle Blanks (Minor League Free Agent)
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The Texas Rangers have done a nice job finding diamonds in the rough in recent years, and their next scrapheap contributor could be 28-year-old slugger Kyle Blanks.
Always an imposing figure at 6'6" and 275 pounds, Blanks looked like a star in the making when he posted an .868 OPS with 10 home runs in just 148 at-bats as a rookie in 2009.
However, myriad injuries, including a pair of shoulder surgeries, have kept him from reaching his full potential. He has made a grand total of 690 plate appearances in the five years since his rookie season, hitting .230/.310/.381 with 28 doubles and 20 home runs.
The Rangers inked him to a minor league deal, worth $1 million if he can crack the roster, and he should have a real shot at securing a bench job. A clean bill of health and a move to hitter-friendly Arlington could make him one of the better non-roster invites of the year.
Atlanta Braves: CF Mallex Smith (Trade)
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Pitcher Max Fried was undoubtedly the marquee prospect heading to the Atlanta Braves in the deal that sent Justin Upton to the San Diego Padres, but he's by no means the only impact player they received in the six-man trade.
Mallex Smith might be the most intriguing piece of the trade, as the 21-year-old outfielder is coming off a 2014 campaign that saw him hit .310/.403/.432 with 41 extra-base hits and 88 stolen bases between the Single-A and High-A levels.
Currently ranked as the No. 18 prospect in the Atlanta Braves system by Jonathan May of MLB.com's Prospect Watch, he offered up the following scouting report:
"Smith's top-of-the-scale speed doesn't just show up once he's reached base. His approach at the plate lets his speed work for him. He is willing to bunt for hits and puts the ball into play often with a slashing swing. He has minimal power, though, and he'll have to prove he can continue to be successful as he faces more advanced pitching.
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Smith capped off his breakout season with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .307/.408/.339 with 12 runs scored and four stolen bases in 15 games.
Miami Marlins: SP Kendry Flores (Trade)
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The Miami Marlins' decision to trade third baseman Casey McGehee to the San Francisco Giants this offseason was not an easy one, according to president of baseball operations Michael Hill.
"Extremely difficult decision because he did mean so much on the field and in the clubhouse, a true pro in every sense in the word," Hill told Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel.
The Marlins received a pair of pitching prospects in return for the veteran, and the fact that Kendry Flores was one of them likely made the deal much easier to swallow for the Marlins brass.
The 23-year-old right-hander had a 4.09 ERA, 1.259 WHIP and 112 strikeouts in 105.2 innings at the High-A level last year.
His four-pitch repertoire and plus command give him a relatively high floor, and he should be able to find some way to make a positive contribution, whether it's as a back-of-the-rotation starter or plus relief arm.
New York Mets: RP Sean Gilmartin (Rule 5 Draft)
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Heading into the 2013 season, Baseball America ranked J.R. Graham as the No. 2 prospect in the Atlanta Braves system, with Sean Gilmartin close behind at No. 4. Now both guys are set to pitch elsewhere in 2015 after being selected in the Rule 5 draft.
The New York Mets took Gilmartin with the No. 14 selection, and he should have as good a chance as anyone selected to stick in the majors.
The Mets have a handful of lefties vying for bullpen spots, with Josh Edgin the only real safe bet to break camp with a job. Gilmartin will need to beat out Dario Alvarez, Jack Leathersich and whoever else the team adds between now and the start of camp.
The 24-year-old Gilmartin spent all of last season as a starter, posting a 3.71 ERA, 1.297 WHIP and 133 strikeouts in 145.2 innings of work between Double-A and Triple-A.
Philadelphia Phillies: SP Tom Windle (Trade)
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Zach Eflin and Ben Lively, who were acquired in the Jimmy Rollins and Marlon Byrd trades respectively, should both crack the Philadelphia Phillies' top-10 prospects to open the season.
They are not the only impact pitching prospects the organization has added this offseason, though, as former second-round pick Tom Windle also has a chance to be a good one.
The 22-year-old lefty was ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers system heading into last season by Baseball America, and he did little to hurt his stock in a strong showing at the High-A level.
He finished the year 12-8 with a 4.26 ERA, 1.371 WHIP and 111 strikeouts in 139.1 innings pitched. After spending much of his college career as a reliever, he may wind up in the bullpen, but there is No. 2 starter potential there if everything comes together.
Washington Nationals: 1B Clint Robinson (Minor League Free Agent)
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Blocked by Eric Hosmer in Kansas City, Edwin Encarnacion in Toronto and Adrian Gonzalez in Los Angeles, Clint Robinson has never really gotten a fair shake at a major league job despite terrific offensive numbers throughout his minor league career.
The 29-year-old is a career .302/.381/.510 hitter with 141 home runs and 587 RBI over eight minor league seasons.
He hit .312/.401/.534 with 31 doubles, 18 home runs and 80 RBI in a full season in Triple-A last year, his fourth season playing at that level.
Given the length injury history of Ryan Zimmerman and the stalled development of Tyler Moore, there is a chance Robinson finally gets an extended look with the Washington Nationals. If nothing else, similar offensive production should be enough to get him some time as a bat off the bench.
Chicago Cubs: SP/RP Mike Kickham (Waivers)
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Obviously, the additions of Jon Lester and Miguel Montero, among others, have been the talk of the offseason on the North Side as the team looks to take the next step forward in what has been a lengthy rebuilding process.
However, one other significantly lower-profile newcomer to keep an eye on this spring is left-hander Mike Kickham.
The 26-year-old is a former top prospect of the San Francisco Giants, ranked as high as the No. 5 prospect in their system heading into the 2013 season, according to Baseball America.
He has spent the bulk of the past two seasons as a starter in Triple-A, going 8-8 with a 4.43 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 148.1 innings this past season. His chances of starting in Chicago are slim, but he has the fastball/slider combination to be a useful relief arm, and a strong spring could land him a bullpen job.
Cincinnati Reds: RP Jose Mijares (Minor League Free Agent)
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Little has been done by the Cincinnati Reds this offseason to address a bullpen that ranked 26th in the league last year with a 4.11 ERA, but one guy that could help is right-hander Jose Mijares.
The 30-year-old opted out of his minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox last March and wound up not pitching at all in 2014, but prior to that he had been a solid middle reliever for the Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants.
Mijares made 60 appearances for the Giants in 2013, pitching to a 4.22 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in 49 innings of work.
If Sean Marshall continues to deal with injury issues and is not ready to go by Opening Day, Mijares could join Manny Parra and closer Aroldis Chapman as the team's southpaw options out of the bullpen to open the season.
Milwaukee Brewers: IF Luis Jimenez (Waivers)
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The Milwaukee Brewers received very little in the way of offensive production from their bench last season, as their pinch hitters combined for a .624 OPS with just nine extra-base hits in 212 at-bats.
Enter Luis Jimenez, who was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels after a solid showing at the Triple-A level last year.
The 26-year-old hit .286/.321/.505 with 34 doubles and 21 home runs in 469 at-bats, while also swiping 12 bases and scoring 67 runs.
Jimenez can play both corner infield spots. If he does enough to impress this spring he could find his way into some platoon work with newcomer Adam Lind at first base.
Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Clayton Richard (Minor League Free Agent)
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The Pittsburgh Pirates and pitching coach Ray Searage have done a terrific job with their reclamation projects over the past few years, helping guys like Francisco Liriano, Edinson Volquez and Vance Worley get their careers back on track.
Looking at their roster for the upcoming season, if anyone is going to be this year's bounce-back arm in Pittsburgh, it could be left-hander Clayton Richard.
The 31-year-old enjoyed a solid three-year stretch in San Diego from 2010-12, going 33-32 with a 3.88 ERA and 1.338 WHIP as one of the team's better starters.
The wheels came off in 2013, though, as he had a 7.01 ERA in 52.2 innings before shoulder surgery ended his season, and he made just four minor league starts last year. With the injury now behind him, he will have a chance to prove he's healthy and capable of being useful rotational depth this spring.
St. Louis Cardinals: RP Marcus Hatley (Minor League Free Agent)
25 of 30The St. Louis Cardinals hit on perhaps the best under-the-radar signing of all last offseason when they inked reliever Pat Neshek to a minor league deal, and it's once again a reliever that could wind up making an out-of-nowhere impact for them.
On the surface, Marcus Hatley, 26, is little more than organizational depth, as he has spent parts of the past three seasons pitching at the Triple-A level in the Chicago Cubs organization.
His 2014 numbers were nothing special, as he posted a 4.60 ERA and 1.383 WHIP in 45 appearances.
However, a closer look shows a significant improvement in his walk rate (5.2 BB/9 in 2013 to 2.5 BB/9) and a career-best strikeout rate (11.1 K/9), in what could be a sign of a pitcher finally turning a corner in his development.
The Cardinals will give him a long look this spring as a non-roster invite, and they can only hope he'll be half as good as Neshek was last year.
Arizona Diamondbacks: SP Jeferson Mejia (Trade)
26 of 30The motivating factor in the Arizona Diamondbacks trading catcher Miguel Montero was undoubtedly money, as they will save $40 million over the next three years, but they also landed a pair of solid low-level pitching prospects in the deal.
The one to keep an eye on will be 20-year-old right-hander Jeferson Mejia, who was part of the Chicago Cubs international spending spree in 2013, signing for an $850,000 bonus.
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com's Prospect Watch offered up the following scouting report:
"Since signing, Mejia has added strength, with room for even more muscle in his 6-foot-7 frame. His fastball can reach up to 97 mph, but he more typically works around 92-94. He gets good life on the pitch and throws from a sharp downhill plane. Mejia's hard curveball and deceptive changeup both elicit swings and misses at their best, but are less advanced than his fastball. Like most young pitchers, he needs to improve his command, control and consistency.
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Mejia had a 2.48 ERA, 1.175 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 40 innings in the Arizona Rookie League last year, and he will continue to be brought along slowly, but there is tremendous potential there.
Colorado Rockies: RP Justin Miller (Minor League Free Agent)
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Despite the surprise performance of guys like LaTroy Hawkins and Tommy Kahnle, the Colorado Rockies bullpen was still far from a strength last season, as they ranked 29th in the league with a 4.79 ERA.
One name worth keeping an eye on is non-roster invitee Justin Miller, who was originally drafted by the Rockies back in 2006, before eventually joining the Detroit Tigers organization in 2008.
The 27-year-old was terrific in Triple-A last season, posting a 1.81 ERA and 0.940 WHIP with 39 strikeouts in 44.2 innings of work.
He did not fare quite as well in his first taste of big league action, with a 5.11 ERA in 12.1 innings of work over eight appearances, but it was nonetheless a successful all-around season. Now he will have a chance to break camp in the Rockies' pen if he can turn in a solid spring performance.
Los Angeles Dodgers: C/2B/3B Austin Barnes (Trade)
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New president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has wasted little time reshaping the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in his first year at the helm, and perhaps the most intriguing piece he has added this offseason is prospect Austin Barnes.
Originally drafted as a second baseman in the ninth round of the 2011 draft, Barnes has turned into a versatile defender and solid all-around player.
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com's Prospect Watch with the scouting report:
"Initially a second baseman entering pro ball, Miami moved Barnes behind the plate in 2013, and he showed some solid tools there. He's also a capable defender in the infield. A solid-average hitter, Barnes uses the whole field, really understands situational hitting and is an above-average baserunner. His instincts and his makeup allow him to play above his tools. Barnes is still improving defensively, but he'll likely end up as the kind of versatile player big league managers like to have on their roster.
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The 25-year-old Barnes hit .304/.398/.472 with 31 doubles and 13 home runs last year between High-A and Double-A, and it may not be long before the Dodgers have another Justin Turner-type player on their hands.
San Diego Padres: SP Aaron Northcraft (Trade)
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A steady riser since being taken out of high school in the 10th round of the 2009 draft, Aaron Northcraft was largely overlooked in the trade that sent Justin Upton from the Atlanta Braves to the San Diego Padres.
The 24-year-old put up terrific numbers in Double-A last season, going 7-3 with a 2.88 ERA, but struggled in his first taste of Triple-A action.
He doesn't have overpowering stuff, but with a solid four-pitch repertoire, a workhorse build and a bulldog demeanor there is no reason he can't have a long career as a No. 4-starter type.
Northcraft may not have the same ceiling as Max Fried, the key piece the Padres shipped to the Braves in the aforementioned trade, but it's not out of the question to think he could wind up enjoying the better big league career.
San Francisco Giants: IF Carlos Triunfel (Minor League Free Agent)
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The San Francisco Giants have made very few additions to the roster this offseason, both at the major league and minor league levels, but one guy worth keeping an eye on is infielder Carlos Triunfel.
Triunfel was once viewed as one of the top prospects in baseball, after he reached the High-A level and held his own during his pro debut as a 17-year-old in 2007.
That was enough to earn him the No. 62 spot on the Baseball America Top 100 heading into the 2008 season, and the No. 89 spot the following year, but he struggled to duplicate that performance in subsequent seasons.
Ehire Adrianza, Joaquin Arias and Matt Duffy are the leading candidates to win utility bench jobs, but a former top prospect like Triunfel is always worth keeping any eye on, especially considering he is still just 24 years old.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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