Jerry Blevins

Referring to Blevins as a lefty specialist isn’t fair since he faces his share of right-handed hitters, but his primary job is to get lefty swingers out. Still, Blevins threw at least a full inning in 23 of his 75 appearances, accounting for 25 of the 49 frames he threw on the season. That left just 24 innings for the other 50 outings, most of which were focusing on left-handers. The southpaw’s strikeout rate versus righties was an impressive 25 percent, but it was tempered by a high 21 percent walk rate, the main contributor to a high 1.37 WHIP. The Mets exercised Blevins' option, so he’ll be back in a setup role, where he accrued 19 holds last season. His double-digit K/9 is mixed-league worthy, except he won’t get the desired volume of strikeouts since he isn’t apt to throw much more than 50 stanzas. As such, Blevins is relegated to NL-only, unless your league scores holds.

Following a 2015 season that was wiped out almost entirely by injury, Blevins rebounded in impressive fashion in 2016. The 33-year-old posted a 2.79 ERA, and though he was used primarily as a lefty specialist, he was effective against righties as well when given the chance, as he worked to a .182 average against by right-handed batters. Appearing in a career-high 73 games, Blevins also honed in on his command, with an impressive 11.1 K/9 and 3.5 K/BB. His frequent usage may have had an adverse effect though, as Blevins seemed to wear down a bit toward the end of the season with a 7.20 ERA over 10 appearances in September. At 33, Blevins is unlikely to find a new level to his game, but he should at least get steady work after re-signing with the Mets.

On the surface, Blevins' first season in Washington was not a good one. The left-hander staggered to a 4.87 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 57.1 innings, but the inflated rates were primarily due to facing too many righties. Versus left-handed batters, he allowed just a 2.51 ERA and 40:6 K:BB ratio in 32.1 innings along with a .153/.202/.217 slash line, numbers more in line with his last two seasons in Oakland. The Nationals don't have anyone else in their bullpen who fits in a standard LOOGY role, so if manager Matt Williams can limit Blevins' plate appearances to mostly same-side matchups, he should put up a much better line in 2015 and might even be marginally useful for fantasy purposes.

Blevins turned in another solid season of relief for the A's in 2013, compiling a 3.15 ERA over 60 innings and even tossing in five wins for good measure. His extreme flyball tendencies seemed to fit very well with a cavernous home park in Oakland, as his ERA has been significantly lower than his xFIP in each of the past three seasons. Blevins has improved his K:BB ratio in each of the last two years (1.86 to 2.16 to 3.06) and should continue to serve as an effective middle reliever, but he'll do so for the Nationals, after being acquired by Washington in December.

In his sixth year of service in Oakland, Blevins had his best season in 2012. After spending a couple of months in Triple-A in 2011, Blevins has been solid and ended 2012 with an ERA under 2.50 and a WHIP around 1.00. Blevins filled a very important role as a left-handed reliever who can also be used against righties. Blevins only gave up one home run to a left-handed hitter all year (Michael Saunders in April) and held lefties to a staggering .235 slugging percentage before pitching well in the postseason. Blevins slots in the A's bullpen in the sixth or seventh inning, or in situations with multiple lefties coming up.

Blevins was designated for assignment three times during the course of last season, which should be a pretty clear indication of how the A's view him. Although he continues to miss bats at an acceptable clip (8.26 K/9IP), Blevins' walk rate jumped for the second straight year (4.45 BB/9IP), and the free passes will prove to be problematic if it's a trend he's unable to reverse. He's been semi-effective at times in the majors, and the trade of Craig Breslow as part of the Trevor Cahill deal could open the door for the lefty specialist role in 2012.

Blevins had success (23.2 IP, 21 hits, 27:4 K:BB) against lefties in 2010 but struggled (25.0 innings, 33 hits, 19:14 K:BB) against righties, which should be enough to convince the A's that his future is as a lefty specialist. Blevins' bullpen mate, Craig Breslow, seems better cast to get the occasional righty out, which should limit Blevins to more middle-inning work and limit his exposure in late innings.

A poor spring and subsequent struggles to start the regular season resulted in Blevins' demotion to the minors after he was all but handed a late- inning lefty specialist role at the start of spring. He returned to the majors in September and pitched well (18 innings, 12 hits, 20:3 K:BB ratio), and he should pair with Craig Breslow to give the A's two effective lefty relievers.

Blevins figures to benefit from the departure of both Alan Embree and Huston Street, and could begin the year as the A's designated lefty option in the late innings. He allowed just 11 hits and three walks in 15 innings against lefties after his recall in early July, though it's hard to envision a scenario where he'll be asked to close out more than a couple of games.

The A's managed to pry Blevins away from the Cubs in the Jason Kendall trade, when unloading the contract was more than enough from the A's perspective. Blevins struggled in six September games for the A's, but he managed a nice season split among two levels in the minors (77.1 innings, 55 hits, 18 walks, 102 K and just three home runs). Being 6-6 and left-handed should allow him to carve out a role in the A's bullpen for 2008.