Mike Carp

Carp's first season with the Red Sox was a successful one, as he turned in a career-high .227 ISO while serving as a part-time player. Even when he is used as part of a platoon, Carp has issues making contact (26.0 K% against right-handed starters), but he has shown a good enough eye throughout his time in the big leagues (career 8.7% walk rate) to hold his own. Look for a similar supply of at-bats to be given to Carp in 2014, as he will likely move between left field and first base with David Ortiz holding down the DH spot.

Three DL stints disrupted Carp's season last year, preventing him from accomplishing anything at the plate. Defensively, the Mariners finally gave up on the idea that Carp could play an adequate left field. He moved back to first base for good in July. Where that leaves Carp, though, remains to be seen with Kendrys Morales, Justin Smoak and Mike Morse in tow to share first base. Most likely it means a new organization as he's out of minor league options. If he's not moved in the offseason, he'll need a dynamite spring to force the Mariners' hand.

Carp entered last season looking like a player in need of a new organization as he was blocked at first base and unimpressive in his brief cup of coffee. A lackluster 15-game stint in June did nothing to change that perception. When he returned in mid-July, though, he revived his career, hitting immediately upon his return and carrying a .305 average into late September before cooling. Of course, two hot months does not a major leaguer make, and his .345 BABIP, .72 contact rate and 19:81 BB:K hint at underlying issues. But Carp showed good power with 30 extra-base hits in 79 games and will compete for the left-field job in spring training. In fact, manager Eric Wedge anointed Carp the everyday left-fielder already, but spring training could change that.

Carp appears to be without a future in the Mariners organization after the club acquired first-base prospect Justin Smoak in the Cliff Lee deal last season. Smoak will start the season with the big-league club, leaving Carp to begin again at Triple-A Tacoma. Carp saw action in 14 games with Seattle last season but did a whole lot of nothing. At Tacoma, he belted 29 homers and 17 doubles. His season ended in late September with a partially torn muscle in his right foot, but he's expected to be healthy for spring training.

Carp faces a bit of a murky future in Seattle where the Mariners would like to get more out of their first baseman than Carp can probably provide. A gap hitter, Carp totaled 41 extra-base hits last season at Triple-A Tacoma, but he's not a true power hitter like last year's first baseman Russell Branyan. His defense isn't doing him any favors, either, especially with a new regime that places special emphasis on fielding. If the Mariners don't re-sign Branyan or bring in a power-hitting free agent, Carp could indeed win the position as he has good plate discipline and little competition standing in his way.

Carp, who struggled in 2007 after breaking his right ring finger, played his way back into top-tier prospect status. Despite a horrific six-week slump between July and August, Carp hit .299 with 17 homers and 72 RBI in 478 at-bats at Double-A Binghamton, but did not receive a September callup. His plate discipline and line drive stroke have drawn comparisons to Nick Johnson, though he is subpar defensively. After earning a spot on the Mets' 40-man roster, Carp was dealt to the Mariners in a three-team, 12-player trade and he is expected to open 2009 at Triple-A Tacoma, with an opportunity to compete for Seattle's starting first base job in 2010.

Carp spent nearly the entire spring in big league camp, drawing comparisons to Nick Johnson, but saw his progress stall when he broke his right ring finger protecting his face while sliding into second base. He missed seven weeks with Double-A Binghamton and was never able to get into a consistent groove at the plate, finishing at .251/.337/.387 with 11 homers and 48 RBI in 97 games. Carp is subpar defensively, had a .418 OPS against lefties last year and also struggled in the Arizona Fall League, so he will need a big 2008 at the plate to move back up into the upper eschelon of Mets prospects.

Carp was the Mets' minor league player of the year at High-A St. Lucie. He was mentioned as a sleeper before 2006 and did little to dispel that notion by increasing his power as the season wore on. Carp slightly improved his K:BB ratio but still needs work in that regard, though he did have a solid OBP last season. With Brett Harper coming back from injury, Carp may be the Mets' best young first-base prospect.