Jesus Guzman

Guzman was predictably more adept at hitting left-handers (.245/.309/.381) than righties, but the line was well below his career marks of .311/.387/.509 against southpaws heading into last season. As a result, when first base and left field included a healthy Yonder Alonso and Carlos Quentin, respectively, Guzman was stuck with pinch appearances and the occasional spot start. Guzman should fill a similar role in 2014, providing modest pop -- he's homered every 31.9 at-bats the past two years -- for those in deeper formats. This time around, he'll also benefit from the possibility of being used as a DH after he was acquired by Houston in December.

Guzman's 2012 season was a bit of a disappointment to owners as he was coming off such a promising 2011 campaign. One reason for the slump in his numbers is the fact that he produced a BABIP of just .297. That was well below the BABIP rates he produced in the minors and in 2011, when he hit .312/.369/.478 with a .360 BABIP. Luck aside, he made less contact (75.8%) and struck out more (22.1%) than in his 2011 season, which is a bigger problem than just his BABIP. If these issues persist, his 2012 season may be the norm and not the outlier when compared to his 2011 season. It would likely be best for all in 2013, if Guzman was used in a platoon so as to mask his weakness against righties (career .252/.304/.390) and promote his strength against lefties (.311/.387/.509). Look for him to see part-time duty primarily in the outfield, with an occasional start at first base if Yonder Alonso needs a day off.

Guzman was given the chance to play first base last year and he certainly didn't waste the opportunity. In 271 plate appearances over 76 games, he posted a triple slash line of .316/.369/.478 with five home runs, 44 RBI and 9 stolen bases. While a .360 BABIP certainly contributed to his sound level of productivity, it should be noted that he's posted high BABIP totals throughout his time in the minors and has supplemented it with a K% under 16% over the last three seasons. His growth as a hitter has been steady and he will be given the chance to compete with newly acquired Yonder Alonso for the first base job.

Guzman had a big year in the minors last season but was never given much of a chance with San Francisco, as he got just 20 at-bats in the majors. His bat possesses legitimate power, but his glove would play best as a designated hitter in the AL. He certainly can’t be counted out playing for a team desperate for a run producer, but Guzman is due to open 2010 once again with Triple-A Fresno.