Billy Wagner

Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Wagner looked very good in a small 17-game sample with with a 26:8 K:BB ratio in 15.2 innings for the Red Sox and Mets. It was enough to convince the Braves that he was close to being back to his top form and landed him a gig to be Atlanta's closer. By the time the 2010 season rolls around, Wagner should be ready for more steady work -- with Boston he was not used on consecutive days. More than likely, his limited work in 2009 will make him a draft-day bargain.

Wagner was nearly unhittable the first two months of the season, but fell apart in June, blowing several saves in a row, before righting the ship in July. Wagner made one appearance in August, during which he strained his left forearm, and then during rehab, he tore the medial collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery. Wagner hopes to return towards the latter part of the season, where due to the acquisition of Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz, he would potentially be a set-up man and try to prove he is healthy enough to hook on elsewhere, as the Mets have already said they will not pick up the 2010 option on his contract.

Wagner saw his numbers slide for the second straight year as he endured several stretches without save opportunities as well as some injury woes - especially in his back - late in the year. He had trouble lifting his shoulder and experienced resistance using his arm similar to moving in a pool when the spasms by the shoulder blade surface. Wagner also had difficulty breathing because of tightness and may experience sporadic discomfort for the remainder of his career. Despite this and some criticism regarding the team's handling of the bullpen last season, Wagner will once again be the team's closer in 2008 and should be one of the Top-10 relievers in baseball.

Wagner wasn't as dominant in 2006 as he was in 2005, but he still only blew five out of 45 save chances while posting a 2.24 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and .219 batting average against. It was rare to see Wagner, who battled a strained sheath tendon in his left middle finger early in the year, post a 1-2-3 inning, but his solid across the board numbers and year of experience dealing with the media in New York should help him in 2007. Look for him to remain one of the elite closers in baseball.

Wagner piled up 38 saves last season, seventh in the NL. His 1.51 ERA was the lowest among all NL closers and he hasn't allowed more than a baserunner per inning since 2001. The Mets rewarded him lavishly with a four-year, $43 million contract and Wagner now moves to one of the best pitcher's parks in the league.

Wagner lost the middle half of the year to a strained groin and a sore rotator cuff and the Phillies struggled badly in his absence. He pitched great when he was out there, other than a bad June, which fell between the injuries. As Bill James says, power pitchers last forever, and Wagner still has his upper-90s heat and good control. With free agency looming, he might have a big year. Todd Worrell will back Wagner up again.

The acquisition of Wagner filled a gaping hole in the Phillies' bullpen, and cost them fairly little, given the depth of pitching in their organization. Wagner has 225 career saves and will continue to pile them up in 2004.

Wagner is all the way back from the elbow surgery which sidelined him in 2000 and slowed him for part of the 2001 season. Jimy Williams tends to treat Wagner a little cautiously, trying to avoid using him in back-to-back situations. This might cut down on Wagner's save opportunities a tad. Otherwise, there's no reason to hesitate in paying full sticker price on Wagner.