Todd Redmond, RHP TOR: Redmond spent part of the 2014 season on the Caesars AAA so they were happy to bring him back for 2015. He was a full time reliever for the Blue Jays in 2014 after making 14 starts for them in 2013. He was able to handle a heavier workload than the typical reliever and finished 11th in RP IP in MLB. The overwhelming majority of his work came in low leverage situations and he often went six or more days without being used. He's the last man in the bullpen and saved for extra innings or mop up duty. Redmond walks a very tight rope as he gets groundballs at low 32.7% clip, has historically been prone to home runs (last year was an exception), and doesn't strike out batters at an above average rate. He will likely regress and post an ERA closer to four than three in 2015, but the volume of his innings gives him some value.
Bryan Anderson, C OAK: Here is the A's current catching depth chart: Stephen Vogt (Caesar! but 15 games at C last year), Josh Phegley (career .553 OPS in 76 games), Anderson/Luke Carlin (34 years old)/Blake Forsythe. This is a bet on the A's running out of catchers. Anderson was a top 100 prospect earlier in his career after being drafted by the Cardinals out of a California HS in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. He peaked at #85 on the Baseball America list and #71 on the Baseball Prospectus list after hitting .298/.350/.388 in AA Springfield as a 20 year old. He made it to AAA the next season and his progress stalled as he dealt with numerous injuries. He made his MLB debut in 2010 and got at least an AB in each of the last three seasons, but they've all been for different teams. The A's purchased him from the Reds late last season when he hit .320/.397/.538 in AA and AAA including a .964 OPS vs RH. Anderson could be a viable lefthanded member of a platoon. Phegley hits right handed and Vogt could continue seeing the majority of his time at COF and 1B, meaning Anderson will get a shot to play a lot. The A's could go another direction, but the Caesars expect to see Anderson take an April AB in MLB for the first time since 2010.
Juan Jaime, RHP ATL: Jaime checks in at 6'2, 200 and can easily touch the upper 90s. He was signed way back in 2004 by the Nationals as an amateur out of the Dominican Republic, but was released following the 2009 season. Following a stint in the Mexican League, the Braves signed him in 2012 and assigned him to the Carolina League. He progressed through the system, including a stint in the 2013 Arizona Fall League, to make his MLB debut last summer. In the Braves system he threw 134.1 innings and struck out 206, good for a 13.8 K/9. Unfortunately he also walked 97 in those innings. The same problems plagued him in his brief debut last summer. In 12.1 MLB innings he struck out 18 while walking nine. He showed progress in the Domincan Winter League recording a 25/6 K/BB ratio in 16.1 IP. If he can continue this progress and exhibit some form of control, he could be a viable major league reliever. He obviously has a strong fastball and his curveball and splitter can both be average. He'll be 28 in August so age is not on his side.
Rafael Lopez, C CHC: The Cubs entered the offseason with Wellington Castillo as their starting catcher and Lopez serving as his backup. After trading for Miguel Montero and signed veteran backup David Ross, both are potentially ticketed for AAA, but it's likely Castillo is traded. Lopez has the upside of being an offensive minded MLB backup, but he's already 27 and just cracked AAA and MLB last year, so his opportunity is fleeting. He was drafted in the 16th round of the 2011 draft from Florida State and has always been old for his level in his journey through the minor leagues. That's played some of a role in his career .281/.371/.401 line. He bats lefthanded and has had significant platoon splits at AA and AAA. He has only thrown out 31% of minor league basestealers which would rate him among the worst in MLB. It's unlikely he sees MLB time before September and if the Cubs are as good as many think they will be, he won't even get an opportunity then.
Rafael Lopez, C CHC: The Cubs entered the offseason with Wellington Castillo as their starting catcher and Lopez serving as his backup. After trading for Miguel Montero and signed veteran backup David Ross, both are potentially ticketed for AAA, but it's likely Castillo is traded. Lopez has the upside of being an offensive minded MLB backup, but he's already 27 and just cracked AAA and MLB last year, so his opportunity is fleeting. He was drafted in the 16th round of the 2011 draft from Florida State and has always been old for his level in his journey through the minor leagues. That's played some of a role in his career .281/.371/.401 line. He bats lefthanded and has had significant platoon splits at AA and AAA. He has only thrown out 31% of minor league basestealers which would rate him among the worst in MLB. It's unlikely he sees MLB time before September and if the Cubs are as good as many think they will be, he won't even get an opportunity then.
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