The Oakland Athletics have claimed long-time Red Sox farmhand Alex Hassan off waivers, perhaps spelling an end to his time in the Red Sox organization.
Hassan, a 20th round pick in the 2009 draft, has drawn attention throughout his stay in the minor leagues by putting up huge on-base numbers, finishing 2014 with a career .396 OBP in 2208 plate appearances over all levels. But with scouts not enamored with his tools, the opportunities for Hassan to prove himself in the major leagues just did not come. Even in 2014, with the Grady Sizemore experiment a complete loss, the Red Sox could only find nine paltry plate appearances for the 26-year-old outfielder.
With the Athletics snapping him up off waivers, 2015 could be Hassan's chance to show he can cut it in the big leagues. If the Athletics do not find a spot for him on their major league roster, he will be headed back to Boston and one of the league's most crowded outfield depth charts. Not exactly an ideal situation.
Of course, that's assuming he doesn't catch on, and that would be an unusual turn of events for a former Red Sox player in Oakland. If you can't see at least a .350 OBP season coming, then you just haven't been paying attention to the Boston - Oakland phenomenon.