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BALLER MOVE: Target in Very Late Rounds
ANALYSIS: T.J. House was one of two pitchers with at least 100 IP to post a ground ball rate over 60% in 2014. Yet somehow, he managed a .332 BABIP, well above the league average of .296. The Indians allowed the sixth highest BABIP of any team in baseball last year. In 2015, with Carlos Santana moving to 1B, Jose Ramirez taking over at SS and Francisco Lindor on his way, Cleveland's defense should be much improved. House's BABIP should follow.
After Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, House will be competing with Trevor Bauer, Gavin Floyd and Danny Salazar for the remaining three rotation spots. While House's performance in 2014 should ensure him a starting job, I’m not sure how much leeway Terry Francona will give the young arm if he struggles or is injured early on. Unless Spring Training struggles put his job in jeopardy, House deserves to be drafted in all leagues as a late round pick. Unlike many young arms, House has already logged 100 innings as a quality pitcher with fundamentals that suggest he’s not a fluke. Every year, an owner wins his league partially because he gambled on the right guy. House could be that guy in 2015.
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