The Caesars are pleased to announce their first free agent signings of the 2014-15 offseason:
Alberto Callaspo, IF ATL: The Caesars lost Braves IF Phil Gosselin in the Rule 5 draft earlier this season which opened a hole for a reserve infielder. Callaspo is eligible to start at 2B or 3B and off the bench at 1B. Callaspo had the worst season of his career in 2014, hitting .223/.290/.290 for the A's. His season was marred by a mid-season trip to the 15-Day DL for a strained right hamstring. He returned to the A's after the minimum required stay and a one game rehab stint, but he never seemed to get going. He had been hitting .234/.308/.309 prior to the injury but struggled to a .197/.248/.246 line afterwards. He has now hit the DL twice in as many seasons with right leg strains and the effect is noticeable. He has only attempted three steals in the past two seasons after attempting at least seven in each season from 2010-2012.
Callaspo has been a free agent every BSL offseason. He was originally signed in March 2013 by the Legends for one year, $1,250,000. SOS signed him ahead of the 2014 season for $2,300,000 and bought him out a $2,000,000 option for this season for $300,000.
Gregor Blanco, OF SF: This will be Blanco's first go around the BSL AL as he played for Menace in 2013 and the Monarchs in 2014. He was non-tendered after both seasons and was projected to earn $5.5 million this year. The Caesars had explored the possibility of acquiring Blanco for last year's stretch run but were unable to find a match.
Blanco posted the best OPS+ of his career in 2014 and struck out less than ever. He has played in at least 140 games and every outfield position in his three years with the Giants and was tendered a contract for 2015 and projects to start in left field for them. Since he is eligible at CF, the Caesars will play him there. Blanco is an extremely capable CFer and has posted a higher UZR/150 than highly regarded defenders like Jacoby Ellsbury, Denard Span, and Leonys Martin since 2012.
Carson Smith, RHP SEA: This is Smith's BSL debut as he went unsigned following his September callup in 2014. Smith pitched 8.1 IP without allowing a run and posting a 10/3 K/BB for the Mariners last September. Since being drafted in the 8th round of the 2011 Draft from Texas State, Smith has posted a 2.55 ERA in 155 minor league innings at A+, AA, and AAA. Most impressive is his 11.2 K/9 paired with a 3.4 BB/9. Smith only threw 43 AAA innings in 2014 as he battled back, finger, and oblique injuries. The Mariners and Caesars expect him to be fully healthy come Spring Training 2015 and envision him as a potential set-up man.
Mariners' manager Lloyd McLendon was a big fan of Smith's September work saying, "I love his sinker. We’ve thrust him into the midst of a pennant race, and he’s done a nice job. He’s got real good stuff. He throws strikes, and he’s not afraid. He’s pretty impressive." Baseball Prospectus noted that Smith just missed the Mariners' Top 10 prospect list following the 2013 season observing, "The fastball is pretty nasty, thrown with plus velocity and lots of movement, and if the slider can tighten up, he has late-innings potential." ESPN's Keith Law felt that Smith would be limited to a RH specialist role, but Smith actually held left-handed hitters to a .539 OPS in 2014, 71 points lower than right-handed hitters.
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