Ross Gload

Gload struggled to accumulate at-bats last season until Ryan Howard went down with an injury, but made the most of his opportunities when he got them however and managed decent numbers despite seeing only 128 at-bats. Howard rarely takes a day off so unless injuries strike again, Gload figures to see limited action at first base. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. indicated this offseason that Gload could be used in a platoon with Ben Francisco if rookie Domonic Brown fails to seize the starting right field job in camp this spring. That would give Gload some value in deeper NL-only leagues as he'd pick up a decent number of at-bats.

Gload's batting average dropped for a fourth straight season, and it's getting harder to remember that he once seemed like a solid platoon option at first base and DH. He's just a bench bat at this point, and not an especially good one, but he'll fill a utility role after signing with the Phillies.

Gload picked up a career-high 388 at-bats in 2008 despite putting up a career-low .348 slugging percentage. The Royals sat him to audition Ryan Shealy for almost the entire month of September. Shealy did an adequate job, and the team's acquisition of Mike Jacobs in the offseason should spell a return to the bench as a left-handed reserve for Gload, who should again see time at first base and in the outfield.

Last season was possibly the first time Gload was viewed as more than just a reserve, playing in 102 games and receiving a career-high 320 at-bats. He might have played more if not for a quadriceps injury that kept him out of 42 games. Despite the .759 OPS, he has nice power from the left side of the plate. However, with Mark Teahen or Billy Butler (or Ryan Shealy) taking over at first in 2008, it looks as though Gload's time as the team's everyday first baseman is over. He should still fill in as a reserve at first and in the outfield.

Last year Gload finally stuck in the majors for an entire season at age 30. He can't field well enough to play extended innings, but can hit well, hit for power and be a stabilizing presence. Given his versatility in the outfield at first base, Gload should see much more time in the lineup after being traded to the Royals from the White Sox this offseason.

Injuries and a roster crunch robbed Gload of a chance to repeat his 2004 big league performance, despite monster numbers at Charlotte when he was healthy. Second chances are rare for Quadruple-A players -- expect major league at bats to be few and far between for the slugger, who turns 30 just after Opening Day.

Injuries to Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez opened the door for Gload and he charged through like a bull, putting up numbers right in line with his Triple-A numbers -- better, actually, given the adjustment factor from the minors. The Sox are overstocked at outfield and 1B/DH, so it's hard to see where he's going to get the at-bats, but it'd be criminal if he didn't get them.

Gload will be 28 this season, and his chances to prove he's something more than a Quadruple-A player -- especially when he's stuck behind Paul Konerko and Frank Thomas on a depth chart -- are dwindling.