Ezequiel Carrera

An abundance of injuries left vacancies all over the Jays' outfield in 2017. Carrera was a main beneficiary, playing in a career-high 110 games. Although his .248 batting average dipped from previous years, the volume of playing time allowed the 29-year-old to post career highs in many categories. Carrera's 0.39 BB/K ratio was the best since his rookie season, and his .108 ISO power, although weak for an outfielder, was the second-highest mark of his six-year career. On the other hand, Carrera's lack of speed was a disappointment. Despite reaching base at a personal-best .323 clip, he managed just seven steals in 11 attempts. The team's outfield lacks depth, but Carrera didn't demonstrate or contribute enough to warrant a starting gig in 2017.

Since breaking into the majors in 2011, Carrera has found himself without regular at-bats at any point in his major league career. Last season, he played in 91 games for the Blue Jays, but only saw 172 at-bats. Despite the low volume, Carrera still hit for a solid .273/.321/.372 slash line with three home runs and 26 RBI. Often used as a pinch runner, simply because the Blue Jays lacked any real speed threats off the bench before acquiring Ben Revere, Carrera only attempted three stolen bases, going 2-for-3 in the process. Despite his low number of stolen base attempts, he was actually quite an accomplished base stealer in the minors, swiping 43 bases in Triple-A in both 2013 and 2014 while playing 105 or fewer games at both stops. Following the Jays trading Ben Revere to Washington, there is an easier path to playing time, but Michael Saunders and Dalton Pompey are still better bets for fantasy production.

Carrera started off the 2014 campaign in Triple-A Toledo, where he hit .307/.387/.422 with six homers and 43 steals in 374 at-bats. He appeared destined to spend the rest of the minor league regular season with the Mud Hens until Detroit traded away starting center fielder Austin Jackson in an unexpected three-team deal to land pitcher David Price. With Jackson out of town, Carrera was called up to Detroit to split time in center field with Rajai Davis. While not a straight platoon, Carrera was able to crack the lineup a couple times per week for the final two months of regular season. He finished the year with a slash line of .261/.301/.348 with five extra-base hits, 12 runs and seven steals in 69 at-bats. The improved plate discipline Carrera flashed in Toledo (0.74 BB/K ratio) didn’t carry over to his time with the Tigers, as he drew just three walks compared to 14 strikeouts. While Carrera had his struggles at the plate, he provided the Tigers with a legitimate threat on the bases and decent defense in center field. Designated for assignment by the Tigers during the offseason, Carrera landed in Toronto where he will compete for a similar depth role.

Carrera has flashed decent speed (18 steals in 116 games) over parts of two seasons with Cleveland but his poor plate disciple (8:35 BB:K) figures to limit both his batting average and his base-stealing chances. There's some stolen-base upside here if he can land in a starting role, but a poor approach at the plate figures to limit his other stats. Working as an outfield option off the bench is likely the best fit for his skill set, and that appears to be the plan with the Indians' addition of Nick Swisher in free agency.

Carrera parlayed injuries to Michael Brantley and Grady Sizemore into a semi-regular gig for the Indians, hitting .243 with 10 steals in 68 games. He's never hit for any power in the minors but does do a reasonable enough job of controlling the strike zone to give himself a chance to utilize his speed on the basepaths. He has some stolen-base upside as he competes for a reserve spot this spring that could bear fruit if he becomes the primary option to replace the brittle Sizemore in center field at any point.

Carrera struggled in his first exposure at Triple-A, hitting .281/.343/.351 for the Seattle and Cleveland organizations, after leading the Double-A Southern League in batting average (.336) in 2009. His complete lack of power cut into his walk total as Triple-A pitchers pounded the strike zone without fear and he's going to have to develop some power if he wants to avoid being nothing more than a defensive replacement and pinch-runner.

Carrera was one of the lesser-known pieces of the J.J. Putz trade from a year ago, but it's easy to see why the Mariners coveted him. He led the Double-A Southern League last season in both batting average (.337) and OBP (.441) and stole 27 bases. He has outstanding plate discipline with 59 walks to 62 strikeouts, and is a top-notch defensive outfielder. Carrera has little power (just 18 XBH among 111 hits in 91 games), but uses his speed as a slap hitter to beat out infield singles (he also notched 15 bunt hits). The Mariners have plenty of outfield prospects at the moment, and Carrera needs more seasoning, but the Mariners thought enough of him to put him on the 40-man roster in the offseason.