Doug Slaten

Slaten was sharp at Triple-A Reno after struggling with the D-Backs in his situational role for the second straight season. The Nationals claimed him off waivers in hopes that he can regain his previous form at serve as a viable LOOGY for them in 2010.

Slaten served as a lefty specialist again in 2008, while he was productive when matched up exclusively against left-handed bats, holding them to a .232 average and striking out just less than a batter per inning. Unfortunately, the wheels fell off after the All-Star break and he ended up spending time back at Triple-A. In fairness, Slaten returned from microfracture knee surgery and his ineffectiveness may have been a byproduct of having to rehab throughout the offseason rather than having a typical winter and spring to prepare. Either way, his ceiling doesn't reach beyond the lefty specialist gig, and he'll have to compete for that spot during spring training.

Slaten is Arizona's left-handed option out of the bullpen and he performed well in his first full season in the majors, but the song remains the same on how you should approach him: look elsewhere for relief help because he won't work enough innings to generate adequate numbers for your squad.

Pay attention, because this is going to follow Slaten's name for the next decade: lefty specialist, a fairly good one, with no fantasy value.

Opponents hit .391 off Slaten in the Arizona Fall League last year, which matched his 6.28 ERA and 2.16 WHIP - and he was still added to the 40-man roster. Chalk it up to that great Double-A strikeout rate. He's got a strong chance to become a major league lefty specialist by 2007.