Wilmer Font

Font has taken the journeyman moniker to a new level as he has played with five different clubs over the past two seasons. He began 2019 in Tampa Bay but was unable to replicate his 2018 success, leading to a trade to the Mets in May. Font pitched 15 games for New York before they DFA'd and then traded him to Toronto in mid-July. The right-hander finally found a niche with the Blue Jays, working primarily as an opener and registering a respectable 3.66 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 39.1 innings. More importantly, he unearthed the strikeout arsenal that he flashed in the minors but had yet to translate at the big-league level, posting a 12.1 K/9 with Toronto. The breakthrough provides hope that Font may yet settle in as a quality big-league pitcher, though his unsightly 1.8 HR/9 last season suggests that he still has flaws to fix. Font appears best suited to an opener role, rendering his fantasy value non-existent.

Font had some hype in analytical circles as a 27-year-old "prospect" coming into last season due to his high-strikeout, low-walk profile in the minors. He ended up allowing 13 runs in 10.1 innings for the Dodgers and 11 more in 6.2 innings with the Athletics. Home runs were a big problem, as he gave up 10 of them in 17 total innings. A move to Tampa Bay seemed to finally get him on track, as he threw 27 innings for the Rays, averaging three innings per appearance while posting an excellent 1.67 ERA and allowing just two homers. Unfortunately, a lat strain cut his season short in late July, adding risk for the upcoming season. A healthy Font could have fringe deep-league value for a Rays team that will continue to deploy him in interesting ways, but both his 18.7% strikeout rate and 10.3% walk rate in Tampa were worse than league average.

Font is the rare 27-year-old prospect who is legitimately interesting. He received his cup of coffee from the Rangers way back in 2012, and to date, has just seven major-league innings to his name. The right-hander was out of affiliated baseball entirely in 2015, but Font reestablished himself as one to watch at Triple-A Oklahoma City last year, posting a 3.42 ERA (2.98 FIP) in 134.1 innings. He struck out 32.1 percent of the batters he faced while walking just 6.3 percent. He'll likely open the season in a long-relief role with the big club, but could be in line to make a number of starts, assuming the Dodgers continue their liberal use of the 10-day disabled list this season. Wherever he pitches, Font is a good candidate to provide a solid strikeout rate, and those Ks give him appeal in a variety of formats.

Font fully transitioned to a relief role in 2013, making 26 appearances at Double-A Frisco and 16 appearances at Triple-A Round Rock. On the whole, he fanned 71 batters in 52 innings, but he also walked 34. Control has always been an issue for Font, and it figures to limit his effectiveness once he reaches the majors. His upside is a middle-to-late-inning reliever, but his control issues will keep him out of ninth-inning mix despite some solid strikeout numbers.

Font missed the entire 2011 season due to Tommy John surgery, but his return to the mound in 2012 couldn't have gone much better. His composite line, spent largely at High-A Myrtle Beach, also included 10 relief appearances at Double-A Frisco, and was solid (98.1 innings, 67 hits, 138:44 K:BB). The control is an issue, but you can't ignore 29 strikeouts in 15 innings at Double-A Frisco. He switched between a starting and relief role, and two of his final three appearances of the season were three inning relief appearances, but he's expected to get his initial exposure to the major leagues as a reliever. With the departures of both Mike Adams and Koji Uehara via free agency, in addition to Alexi Ogando moving back to a starting role, there is plenty of opportunity for Font to emerge as a late-inning setup option to Joe Nathan when the season begins.