Alexi Casilla

Casilla spent the 2013 season seeing very limited time, mostly as a backup at second base. He is an above-average defender, but does not offer much at the plate. The writing was on the wall in Baltimore, as the Orioles gave him just 25 at-bats in the second half of the season before buying out the 2014 portion of his contract. Casilla went to the Dominican Winter League to try and increase his value, but the jury is out as far as his chances of landing anything more than a minor league deal to compete for a job in spring training.

Casilla began last season as Minnesota's starting second baseman, but moved to a utility role after posting a .585 OPS in the season's first six weeks. He didn't improve much at the plate the rest of the season, but did help fantasy owners by stealing 21 bases. Casilla has a good contact rate and draws some walks, but doesn't have any power. If he gets regular time, Casilla has the speed to produce stolen base totals that can help fantasy teams. He'll be in the mix for playing time at second base for the Orioles after he was claimed off waivers in the winter. However, he failed to stay in the lineup the three times he was given a starting job with the Twins. He's better suited for a utility role as his glove is an asset at three infield positions, but not enough to overcome his weakness at the plate to be a starter.

Casilla enters the season as Minnesota's starting second baseman after he seemed to finally establish himself as an everyday option before struggling with hamstring issues. Casilla actually began last season as Minnesota's starting shortstop, but struggled in the field and the plate and was moved to a utility role after a few weeks. He got another chance to be a regular at second base in mid-May and started to produce, hitting .288/.352/.408 with 12 stolen bases in 65 games. However, he went on the DL in late July with a right hamstring injury, aggravated the injury in his first game back from the DL and didn't return. Casilla has a good contact rate and draws some walks, but doesn't have any power. If he gets regular time, Casilla has the speed to produce stolen-base totals that can help fantasy teams.

Casilla enters spring training with a chance to win the starting shortstop job for Minnesota. Casilla has had an up-and-down career and has been in and out of the starting lineup, but he hit .276/.331/.395 in a utility role last season and saw improved range and defensive metrics at shortstop last season (4.6 UZR) even if in a small sample size. He entered 2009 as Minnesota's starting second baseman but struggled and had frequent mental lapses. Last season, he got back in the good graces of the coaching staff and rebounded at the plate. He has a good contact rate and draws some walks, but doesn't have any power. If he gets regular time, Casilla has the speed to produce stolen base totals that can help fantasy teams.

Casilla entered 2009 as Minnesota's starting second baseman, but was sent to Triple-A after hitting just .167 in the first month. His frequent mental lapses in the field also continued to frustrate manager Ron Gardenhire. Casilla was later called up but mostly served in a utility role. He had strong plate discipline and outstanding speed in the minors, but neither trait has showed up in the majors. It looks like he's run out of opportunities with the Twins. He'll enter 2010 as a utility player or just add depth at Triple-A, and he may need a new organization to get another shot at a regular job.

Casilla looks set as the everyday second baseman for the Twins after getting a second chance to live up to expectations as the team's second baseman of the future. Casilla was given the second base job late in 2007 with the thought he could be a future fixture at the pivot, but struggled at the plate and was frequently in manager Ron Gardenhire's doghouse for defensive lapses and misguided plays. After several injuries in the spring, Casilla got a second chance and became a revelation at the second spot in the batting order. Casilla had strong plate discipline in the minors and outstanding speed (50 steals in 2006). Both those traits didn't emerge as much last season, but he had surprising power with a career-high seven home runs. He could also be moved to shortstop since he played there in the minors if the Twins acquire a second baseman to upgrade the infield. Either way, Casilla looks set for an everyday job and should score runs, get on base and still has potential to be an impact fantasy player on the bases with his speed.

Casilla could win a starting job at second base next season even though he struggled in his first extensive major league action and was frequently in manager Ron Gardenhire's doghouse. Casilla has shown an ability to get on base in the minors, but didn't draw walks after he was called up last season. He also frequently drew the ire of Gardenhire for defensive lapses and boneheaded plays. He played shortstop in the minors, but his defense wasn't strong enough to indicate that he can hold a starting job there in the majors. His speed makes him a fantasy factor even in limited playing time, as he had 11 steals despite struggling at the plate. Casilla could swipe 40 or more bases if he wins playing time and gets on base consistently.

Casilla will try to win a utility role with the Twins this spring after making strides in the minors last season. He’s a potential fantasy star thanks to his speed—he had 50 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A. He has also shown a strong eye at the plate by drawing 58 walks for a .389 OBP in the minors last year. While he'll have a hard time finding playing time behind Luis Castillo and Jason Bartlett, he could pay dividends if opportunity strikes.