Ryan Cook

Cook started the season on the DL with right shoulder inflammation and then spent most of May on the DL with a right forearm strain. While he was active, Cook pitched well with exactly one strikeout per inning and a 1.08 WHIP. The WHIP was a good sign as Cook had struggled with baserunners in 2013, especially in the second half where his WHIP was a rough 1.56. The best sign for Cook in 2014 was his improved control as the season went on and he only surrendered six walks over 22.2 second-half innings. Cook will begin the year as one of the A's primary setup men and if Sean Doolittle were to struggle or get injured, he would be on the team's short list to take over as the closer.

Cook backed up his exceptional 2012 season with another strong year, putting up a 2.54 ERA and an excellent strikeout rate (9.0 K/9). However, Cook had a very shaky September where he allowed a brutal 21 baserunners over only nine innings and even found himself out of his usual setup role in the playoffs. Cook's second half 1.56 WHIP has to be a concern for the A's, but he should receive another chance to lock down a late-inning role. Cook features a ridiculous slider and opponents had a .276 OPS against the pitch in 2013. The addition of Jim Johnson in December will likely prevent Cook from seeing a full-time spin in the closer's role, but he should be considered as an option if Johnson struggles or lands on the disabled list this season.

Cook had an extraordinary rookie year in the bullpen for the A's, even earning an All-Star nod. He took over the closer role in June and while he handled the role well for a while, he stumbled badly over an eight-appearance stretch in July and August before Grant Balfour took the job back. However, Cook did not let the demotion affect his performance and slid into a setup role very well, allowing runs in only one of his last 23 appearances, including 14 straight scoreless outings to end the season as the A's sprinted to the American League West crown. Cook is a high strikeout pitcher (9.8 K/9) who experienced a velocity bump in the minors after moving to the bullpen. He throws a nasty, hard splitter that he uses to get those strikeouts, a pitch that is particularly effective against righties. With the ability to miss bats and deliver good ratios, Cook enters the season as one of the top eighth-inning options out there in the event of a Balfour trade or injury.

An impressive start to the season at Double-A Mobile vaulted Cook into the D-Backs bullpen, but his results upon promotion left plenty to be desired and he was eventually sent down to Triple-A Reno. Assuming that he's able to iron out the late-season control issues, Cook should be able to compete for an Opening Day roster spot in spring training and serve as one of the first relievers called up in 2012 if he fails to secure a job in March. Cook racked up 19 saves during his time in the minors in 2011, but he's unlikely to ascend higher than third in the pecking order for those opportunities with the big club as long as J.J. Putz and David Hernandez are around. That window will be pushed back farther following the acquisitions of Craig Breslow and Takashi Saito to bolster the bullpen.