Conor Jackson

Jackson hardly took the field for the A's after being acquired from Arizona due to a litany of injuries, including season-ending surgery to repair a sports hernia, and had another disappointing season overall on the heels of 2009's Valley Fever-interrupted season. The A's went out and acquired three bats this winter, pushing even a healthy Jackson to the bench in a crowded Oakland outfield.

Jackson was limited to just 30 games with the D-Backs after contracting a very bad case of Valley Fever. Throughout the season, he tried to make his way back into the lineup through a minor league rehab assignment, but Jackson was plagued by extreme fatigue and unable to get back on the field until the instructional league in September. His first consistent action finally came in the Dominican Winter League, where he played in 23 games and hit .425/.561/.589 with a pair of homers and nine steals. Scouting reports on Jackson from the winter indicated that he looked like he had never been sick, which bodes well for his chances of staying healthy and contributing again in 2010. Even with his improved health, Jackson may be an extra piece for the D-Backs, but their situation at first base is unsettled with questions as to whether Brandon Allen is ready for the everyday job. Even if he's healthy enough to play regularly, Jackson won't hurt fantasy owners with a low average, but he doesn't hit for much power and his value will be confined to deeper leagues.

If you're looking for typical first baseman power output, you're in the wrong place. Still, Jackson has developed into a steady run-producer given his ability both to get on base (.376) and hit with runners in scoring position (.303), which results in good all-around production. Depending on the cost, Jackson can be a savvy owner's source of five-category production, as he quietly swiped 10 bags for Arizona last season. Concerns about a crowded infield appear to be moot, as the D-Backs have Jackson penciled in as their Opening Day left fielder, putting him in line to receive another 500-plus at-bats.

Jackson nearly repeated his 2006 numbers last season, while showing improved plate discipline (fewer strikeouts and more walks) as the semi-regular first baseman for the D-Backs. As of press time, Arizona didn't appear to be bringing Tony Clark back into the picture, but the emergence of Mark Reynolds as a candidate to play third base regularly creates a logjam for at-bats at the corner infield spots once Chad Tracy returns from a knee injury. There's a decent chance that Tracy will share at-bats with Jackson over at first to limit the wear and tear on his legs, but his status figures to be questionable into the early part of the regular season. After the All-Star break, Jackson showed some additional pop, hitting 10 of his 15 homers in the second half (18.2 AB/HR) and his power was evenly dispersed between Chase Field and the road.

Jackson is a line-drive hitter who may be a little bit shy of the power you'd like to see in a first baseman. Despite playing in very good hitters' environments, Jackson has tended to have an isolated power between .150 and .200, which is low for a modern first baseman. If he hits .320, that's OK; if he hits .275, it's a problem. He has the job this year, so you're safe drafting him.

Jackson, a much-heralded hitting machine in the minors, finally got called up last summer. Unfortunately, he struggled enough for Arizona to play Tony Clark at first base nearly full time down the stretch. Manager Bob Melvin said Jackson will be the starter at first base this season, but he could slip into a platoon with Tony Clark if he struggles. Given his strong minor league numbers, he's a nice sleeper who could produce right away despite last year's initial struggles.

Jackson impressed at every level in 2004, so the only questions surrounding him are when the Diamondbacks will bring him to the bigs, and at what position. He was a corner infielder at Cal-Berkeley, was moved to the outfield after Arizona drafted him, and the D-Backs asked him to get some work in at first base during the Arizona Fall League.

Arizona's first-round draft choice in 2003, Jackson wound up winning MVP honors in the Northwest League (.312-6-56 in just 62 games, 32 doubles, .939 OPS) while making the move from third base to right field. Still probably two years away from cracking the bigs, but in a keeper league, Jackson deserves a spot on someone's reserve list.