Alberto Callaspo

Callaspo was acquired by the A's at the trade deadline in July, and he posted a .759 OPS for the A's in 180 plate appearances. Callaspo does not steal any bases, but he does find a way to hit around 10 homers per year. He is a useful utility player for an MLB team, but not one who provides a lot of fantasy value. He will likely be a part-time player for the A's in 2014, and should see most of his time at second base against left-handed starters as he has been better from the right side of the plate over his career (he hits .300 against lefties for his career) than the left (only .262 against righties).

Callaspo still hasn't shown any signs of matching his production from 2009, but the Angels seem happy to accept his mediocre production at a low price, at least for the time being. He put up a .252/.331/.361 batting line with 10 homers, 55 runs, 53 RBI and four steals last year, and while a modest improvement on those numbers seems likely, a big leap would come as a major surprise. Callaspo's lone strong offensive skill, plate discipline, only helps fantasy owners in OBP leagues, and he really doesn't have much upside to speak of. The good news is that he's locked in as the Angels' starting third baseman, and won't be losing at-bats to Maicer Izturis anymore now that Izturis has moved on to Toronto.

Callaspo posted a .605 OPS after a midseason trade to the Angels in 2010, but he performed much better at the plate last season, posting a career-high .366 OBP. He will open 2012 as the Angels' starting third baseman, but he may see a drop in playing time even after last year's improvement - Maicer Izturis will likely see most of his action at third, and Mark Trumbo may get a shot there as well in the wake of the Albert Pujols signing.

Callaspo broke out for the Royals in 2009 with 73 RBI and a .813 OPS, but he struggled with the stick last season, especially following a midseason trade to the Angels. In 58 games with Los Angeles last season, Callaspo knocked in just 13 runs and posted a .605 OPS. Callaspo probably is not as good as he was two years ago, but he is not as bad as he was last season, either. Still, he offers little speed, and on an Angels team that lacks power, Callaspo could wind up being a utility player so the team can add some pop at third base.

Callaspo burst onto the scene in 2009, hitting .300/.356/.457 with 11 home runs and 73 RBI. Although Callaspo is a major league-ready hitter, he is a defensive liability, and his role for 2010 in uncertain. Speculation around the organization late in the year suggested Callaspo would be the designated hitter in 2010 if Mike Aviles returned to form from Tommy John surgery. In the offseason, Callaspo was the center of trade talks and may be a strong bargaining chip for general manager Dayton Moore. In any event, Callaspo can be regarded as a solid second-base option in most leagues if he's able to secure regular playing time.

Callaspo floundered for his first few months with the Royals. He started just 22 games at four different positions through the end of June, when he was served with a DUI and placed on the DL with an undisclosed injury. He returned in late August, and found regular playing time at second base with Mark Grudzielanek out. Callaspo hit .330/.371/.423 with five doubles and two triples from August 29 on, a span which included an 18-game hitting streak. The double-digit steal potential from earlier in his career seems to be gone, as he tried taking a base just three times in 2008. Grudzielanek will probably not return to the Royals in 2009, and the team may hand the reins to Callaspo, barring an offseason move. In that role, Callaspo should be able to maintain a high average while seeing time at both middle infield spots.

Callaspo entered the 2007 season with plenty of upside as Arizona's utility man. Injuries to Chad Tracy and Orlando Hudson opened the door for him to see regular at-bats, but Callaspo flat-lined at the major league level after tearing up Triple-A pitching the previous season. Defensively, his glove is good enough to play second base, shortstop, third base and in the outfield. Even though he hit just .215 in 144 at-bats for the D-Backs, Callaspo maintained his reputation as a tough hitter to strike out, fanning just 14 times. With regular playing time, Callaspo could produce double-digit steals without hurting owners in batting average. A change of scenery may also do him well, as he'll compete for playing time around the infield with the Royals after being traded from Arizona.

Being dealt to the D'backs, who are just as loaded in the infield as the Angels, didn't help Callaspo. He's a terrific judge of the strike zone (27:56 K:BB at Triple-A Tucson last year), with enough power to prevent pitchers from just pounding fastballs at him. He could start for 15-20 teams and lead off for half of those, but barring a trade, he'll be stuck as a fifth infielder.

A Venezuelan signed in 2001, Callaspo has the defensive skills to play shortstop, but has been used at second base much of the time because of Erick Aybar. Callaspo, like Aybar, is a skilled contact hitter, owning a career average of .310, including a .316/.345/.448 line this year in Triple-A. He's not as fast as Aybar, but is very comparable in other ways. Callaspo is about six months ahead of Aybar developmentally, and could acquit himself well in the majors early in '06.

Callaspo is one of the better infield prospects in the Anaheim system along with Eric Aybar. He rarely walks or strikes out and is a solid defender with average speed and doubles power. We'd like to see his walk rate increase a bit, but those minor-league doubles could turn into home runs in a year or two.

Callaspo, 20, saw all of his action at low Single-A Cedar Rapids in 2003, hitting .327 in 514 AB while stealing 20 bases. Callaspo is one of the better infield prospects in the Anaheim system along with Eric Aybar.

Callaspo is one of the better infield prospects in the Anaheim system along with Eric Aybar. A strong year at Class A could put him on a fast track for the majors.