Josh Phegley

Phegley has been pigeonholed as an option to play primarily versus lefty pitching, based on early-career success against southpaws. However, for the past few seasons, he's been more effective versus right-handers, serving as another example why it takes righty swingers 2,000 plate appearances against lefties (approximately 10 years of full-time play) before he truly owns his splits. The reality is Phegley isn't especially productive in either scenario, even when factoring in the low expectations of the current catching inventory. Phegley spent the early part of 2018 alternating between Oakland and Triple-A Nashville before being promoted for good June 4. He played sparingly, appearing in only 39 games and posting a .631 OPS in 69 plate appearances versus righties and a .504 mark in 33 trips to the dish with the platoon edge. Phegley will return to Oakland, reprising his part-time role. Even in deep two-catcher formats, there are better options.

Phegley's ceiling as a short-end platoon player is well established as he enters his age-30 season, as he has hit just .207/.249/.343 in 451 career chances against right-handed pitching. His numbers against lefty pitching aren't great, but they are much more respectable (.253/.290/.425). Phegley puts the ball in play often enough (16.1 strikeout percentage last season) and his batting average seems likely to rebound as his .223 BABIP corrects toward the mean. He can also run into one on occasion although the power has dipped in recent seasons as Phegley has battled through a variety of injuries (knee issues in 2016, concussion and an oblique injury in 2017). Even if something were to happen to primary catcher Bruce Maxwell, the A's would likely find a way to avoid expanding Phegley's role too much. He's only worth considering in deep two-catcher formats.

After Stephen Vogt underwent elbow surgery prior to the start of the 2016 season, Phegley was expected to carry a heavier load early on. Unfortunately, a decrease in power and health ended up limiting the 28-year-old to just 78 at-bats over the course of the season. During the times he was able to play, his slugging percentage and performance against left-handers endured precipitous drops from the previous season. He only put up a .658 OPS against southpaws (as compared to his .709 OPS versus right-handers). His season was then cut short when he suffered a setback while recovering from July surgery to remove a cruciate ligament cyst from his right knee. His past numbers should carry some weight as he fights for a roster spot during spring training. Vogt appears poised to see a good deal of starts at DH while Bruce Maxwell may have passed Phegley on the organizational depth chart at catcher. It is possible, however, that the A's will keep three catchers out of spring training, given Vogt's likely deployment at DH.

Phegley moved to Oakland in the offseason as part of the Jeff Samardzijia trade and spent most of the season as a right-handed platoon mate for Stephen Vogt. Phegley appeared in 72 games for the A's hitting .249 with nine homers. Phegley was more effective against lefties, posting a .788 OPS as opposed to a .709 against righties. He started the season strong with a .805 OPS at the break, but faded late in the season with an OPS under .700 in the second half. Phegley could have some hidden power upside as he has flashed a bigger power in the minors, including a 23-homer season in Triple-A in 2014. Assuming he is recovered from a late-season concussion, Phegley should be back in his platoon role and could also see some at-bats against righties when the A's move Vogt out from behind the plate to first base or DH to give him a rest.

After earning an extended look with the big club in 2013, Phegley spent much of 2014 at Triple-A Charlotte. He displayed 20-plus home run power for the second straight year, but did not earn a call up to the major leagues until September. Phegley enters 2015 as A's likely No. 2 option following a November trade from the White Sox, though he could find himself in the starting role following a flurry of trade in Oakland.

Is Phegley the White Sox's catcher of the future? It looked like he may be after he hit home runs off David Price, Matt Garza and Anibal Sanchez in his first five games in the majors. Then the answer became much more unclear after he hit just one more home run over his next 60 games to go with a .223 OBP. Defensively, he threw out 30 percent of would-be basestealers, but he also had a hard time blocking wild pitches. He heads into 2014 as a slightly better option than Tyler Flowers, but the two will likely battle it out for the team's starting catcher job.