Clint Robinson

After years of bouncing around a few different organizations and earning a reputation as a Quad-A player, Robinson finally got a real chance in the majors when Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon both began the year on the DL for the Nationals, and he didn't waste it. The left-handed slugger provided the club with a solid bat off the bench, and when plantar fasciitis and oblique issues sidelined Ryan Zimmerman in the second half, it was Robinson who took over at first base without looking out of place. He'll turn 31 just before spring training, so he's not going to develop into anything more but he should be a useful insurance policy.

Robinson spent 2011 at Triple-A Omaha showing he's ready for a taste of the big leagues. Standing in his way are Billy Butler at DH and Eric Hosmer at first base, leaving no defined role ready for Robinson to step into with the Kansas City. At Triple-A he hit .326/.399/.533 with 23 home runs and 100 RBI over 572 plate appearances. Those types of numbers are nothing new for him as he showed an ability to hit for average, hit for power, and get on base at Double-A. Entering his age-27 season, Robinson is no longer considered much of a prospect, but rather a player that needs to be given a chance to show what he can do at the major league level. Unless given a change of scenery, it's likely that Robinson will spend much of 2012 waiting in the wings at Triple-A Omaha again.