David DeJesus

The DH on a discount missed significant time in 2014 with a fractured hand that happened on a check swing follow through. When he did play, the skills held up as he continues to be a guy that can work counts and get on base. He is a good baserunner, but he is no longer a stolen base threat. In fact, he was 0-for-3 in 2014. The other thing he cannot do is hit lefties as he has a .222/.296/.285 line against them over the past six seasons. What you are left with is a player who is DH-only in most league formats, who also sits against all lefty starters, and is typically pulled for pinch hitters late in close games. DeJesus has scored more than 60 runs just twice in the past five seasons and hasn’t hit over .265 since 2010. In short, he’s a zero-category DH that is endgame material in AL-only leagues.

DeJesus began the season with a struggling Cubs team, playing 84 games and hitting six home runs with 27 RBI before he was traded to the Nationals in August. Less than a week later, he was flipped again to the playoff-contending Rays. He quickly became a regular in the lineup, hitting .260/.328/.413 over 35 games in Tampa Bay. Following the season, he agreed to a two-year contract to remain with the Rays. Though DeJesus does not excel in any one offensive category, the Rays seem to like him as a left-handed bat with solid defense that can play all three outfield positions. He will likely be used in a matchup-based rotation in the outfield for the Rays in 2014.

DeJesus turned in a typical year with a solid on-base percentage, modest power and a handful of steals. At 33, he's not part of the Cubs' long-term plans and could even get dealt midseason, but his solid defense and approach at the plate should land him an everyday role. Looking for similar production across the board, as he'll likely platoon and see most of his starts against right-handed pitching.

DeJesus hit poorly as a semi-regular for the A's in 2011, posting a .240/.323/.376 slash line in 442 at-bats. His road numbers (.701 OPS) were only marginally better than his home production (.695 OPS), with nearly half of his production coming over his final 130 at-bats. The Cubs signed him to be their primary right fielder in 2012, and it's worth noting that he's managed to hit .290 or better in four of the past seven seasons. As a result, he has marginal roto value, but a good average with low double-digit homers and a handful of steals seems to be his upside.

DeJesus missed the second half of the 2010 season with torn ligament in his right thumb and was shipped west to the A's in November. Coming off an injury and entering a tougher hitter's environment in Oakland, DeJesus' prospects don't look too much brighter on the west coast then they did in the midwest.

DeJesus is a consistent player as his 2009 numbers mirrored that of the previous two seasons. He struggled during the first half, hitting a lowly .253 though June. After the All-Star break, DeJesus showed increased plate discipline and broke out of his first-half slump, batting .319 due to a 17-game hitting streak. Defensively, DeJesus has quietly become one of the better left fielders in the American League and tied for second in the American League with 13 outfield assists. He will not wow fantasy owners with gaudy numbers, but DeJesus can be looked upon for roster depth.

DeJesus set career-highs in nearly all offensive categories in 2008, hitting 12 home runs to go with a .307/.366/.452 line and 73 RBI. His .338 BABIP isn’t all that far off from his .332 in 2006, so it may be safe to assume that his .291 and accompanying .260 batting average were anomalies. The addition of Coco Crisp has many buzzing about the possibility of DeJesus getting moved out of town, but it is more likely that he will be moved to left field and further down in the Royals’ batting order, possibly to the No. 3 spot.

DeJesus isn't your prototypical leadoff hitter. He is not the fastest guy on the team, but he is good at putting the ball in play or drawing a walk. Not a historically good walker, he took a team-high 64 free passes last season. While Joey Gathright may play himself into an everyday gig, DeJesus has solidified himself in the middle to push Gathright to a corner position. With the middle of the lineup expected to rebound from their 2007 power-outage, look for DeJesus to again help a fantasy team in runs scored.

DeJesus is a rough-and-tumble type of player who gets banged up bouncing off of outfield walls and rumbling around the bases. When healthy, he hits around .300 with a decent eye and a touch of power. That's great from a center fielder, but not as great from left field, which is where DeJesus played when Joey Gathright entered the picture in June. A plethora of young corner outfielders and Gathright's inability to hit will push DeJesus back into center field and to the top of the batting order.

DeJesus is not Carlos Beltran, and he is not a leadoff batter. That learned, he's a solid baseball player that the Royals should be thankful to have. In his sophomore season, he improved his power, and the Royals improved how they deployed him (having him attempt only 10 steals). More improvement can be expected because he worked from behind in the count a greater percentage of the time in 2005. A late-season shoulder injury knocked him out of action for September, but the Royals rested him rather than force him back quickly. He'll be fine in the spring.

The day Carlos Beltran was traded away, David DeJesus was brought up from Triple-A Omaha and planted in center field. Unfazed by an early season 1-for-23 slump in Kansas City, DeJesus settled in and earned the team’s most-valuable player award. He had hitting streaks of more than 10 games twice, showing consistency. However, he was also consistent at getting picked off or caught stealing, successfully winning the base-running war just eight times in 19 tries. He’s decent in center field, hits well, and may run well eventually, but he is no Beltran. The comparisons, however, will hover for his entire career, which should be a very nice career.

The heir-apparent to Carlos Beltran in Kansas City's center field will probably have to wait another season to surprise his critics. Each year, he's been told he doesn't have the skills or talent, and each season, he advances and impresses. A decent Arizona Fall League season under Frank White's managing displayed the power he lacked earlier in his minor league career.