Nick Hagadone

Hagadone bounced between Columbus and Cleveland last season, but he posted his best numbers as a big league pitcher during his time in the majors last season. In addition to cutting his walk rate below half of his career 4.8 BB/9 mark, Hagadone missed bats at an excellent clip while effectively stranding more baserunners that he has historically (85.9% LOB% in 2014, career 65.3%). Some correction is to be expected with the normalization of that strand rate, but Hagadone has become a capable left-handed reliever in the bridge to the ninth inning in Cleveland. Fortunately, his performance last season and that he is now out of minor league options, should enable him to spend less time on I-71 in 2015.

Hagadone continues to be plagued by his control issues -- 21 walks in 31.1 innings for the Indians, 17 walks in 32.1 innings at Triple-A Columbus -- and until he can take care of it, he's going to have a hard time holding down a bullpen gig. After pushing his walk rate below 3.0 BB/9 in the minors in 2011, he's been very wild in the past two seasons, while shuttling between Cleveland and Columbus. He'll get another chance at a bullpen spot this spring, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to envision a scenario where he will log a significant number of high-leverage innings at the big league level.

Hagadone struggled in a relief role while with the Indians due in large part to some all-too-familiar command issues and saw his season cut short with a self-inflicted fractured forearm, which certainly didn't win him any favors with the organization. If he can get a handle on his command issues he could compete for a bullpen spot this spring as he remains in possession of a 40-man roster spot.

The 6-foot-5 power lefty finally put his control issues behind him, as he ironed out his mechanics and put together a fine season of relief between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, allowing just 56 hits and 22 walks, while fanning 77 in 71 innings, after a disastrous 2010 season. The move to the bullpen is likely permanent and could make Rafael Perez trade bait as the Indians look to fill needs elsewhere on their roster. He'll compete for a spot in the bullpen this spring, but the Indians might decide to send him to Triple-A for regular work if they're unable to move Perez during the offseason.

Hagadone's velocity has been slow to return following Tommy John surgery and he continues to struggle with his command. He's a big (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) projectable lefty and perhaps one of these days everything will start to click, but right now there's just not a lot to get excited about here. He struggled at both High-A Kinston and Double-A Akron (1.576 WHIP, 6.6 BB/9IP combined) despite a respectable 3.57 ERA as a 24-year-old against much younger competition. He'll look to start putting the pieces back together again at Double-A.

Hagadone, who missed most of 2008 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, made it back on the mound in 2009 at Low-A Greenville for Boston before joining the Indians' organization in the Justin Masterson trade. He's a 6-foot-5 fire-balling southpaw who gets groundballs by the dozen, allowing just one home run in 79.1 innings as a professional. His command suffered a bit, but that's not uncommon for TJ survivors in their first year back on the mound. His overall numbers (1.111 WHIP, 2.80 ERA, 11.8 K/9IP, 4.8 BB/9IP) between Low-A and High-A were solid, albeit he was much older (23) than most of the competition thanks to the surgery. He'll need to develop a third pitch if he wants to remain a starter, but Hagadone has the stuff to earn a nice living as a closer if the Indians go that route.

Hagadone underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2008 and his rehab is on schedule. He's hoping to be back on the mound in May 2009, but the Red Sox aren't rushing him. He has experience has a reliever, but was being converted to a starter by Boston prior to his injury. Before the surgery, he had a mid 90s fastball while mixing in a plus slider and changeup. The big lefty likes to get ahead of batters and pounds the strike zone with accuracy and control.

Hagadone made 10 starts for Low-A Lowell, but was held to just two or three innings per start. After a disastrous debut (five runs in 1.1 IP), Hagadone didn't give up a run in his final 23 innings (33:8 K:BB). His fastball sits at 92-93, and he has developed a good slider that he uses as an out pitch. Hagadone is working on his changeup to become a more complete starter, but the college closer could still be used in a relief role for the organization.