Dave Bush

Bush finished his Milwaukee career by winning eight games and posting a 4.54 ERA in 2010. He actually didn't pitch as well as those numbers look because of a 5.52 K/9IP rate and a 3.36 BB/9IP rate. Bush's biggest problem has always been the long ball and 2010 was no different as he allowed 28 home runs in 174.1 innings. He's a free agent, looking for a team that is desperate for a starter.

Bush followed up a 2008 where he posted a 4.18 ERA with a 2009 that saw his ERA skyrocket to 6.38. The funny thing is that Bush may have actually pitched better than he did in 2008, but saw his luck turn sour. He also had his 2009 cut short after catching a line drive off of his pitching elbow in early June. He returned late in the year, but never felt good. Bush is a classic back-of-the-rotation starter. He'll have some good runs, and he'll have some really bad runs. It's best to let someone else try to figure out when each will happen.

Bush was so bad in the early part of the year that he was sent down to Triple-A Nashville at the end of April. He turned things around shortly after returning in May and was a very effective back of the rotation starter, going 9-10 with a 4.18 ERA on the season. His home-run rate continues to be a concern and his ballooned up to its highest level since 2005, so not all is rosy. What helped him out was a very low .245 BABIP and that's not something that he's likely to sustain. Don't get fooled by his ERA from last year because it's very likely that he'll put together a worse season in 2009.

Bush always has a decent K:BB ratio, gets more groundballs than flyballs, yet he still gives up way too many home runs. In 2007, Bush gave up 27 home runs in just 186.1 innings which led to a 5.12 ERA. He's not guaranteed a rotation spot to start the 2008 season, but it's likely that he'll be given a spot and it will be up to him to lose it. Bush allowed a .327 BABIP in 2007, which may be related to the Brewers' poor defense. If that comes down a bit, then he should put together a season closer to his 2006 campaign where he had a 4.41 ERA.

Bush was steady if not spectacular in 2006, posting a 4.41 ERA with a solid 1.138 WHIP. He doesn't overpower hitters, but instead gets by with his control and keeping hitters off balance. His 166:38 K:BB ratio in 210 innings was excellent and he'd be on the verge of a breakout if he could lower the 26 home runs he allowed in 2006.

Bush started the year in the Toronto rotation, only to be sent back to Triple-A Syracuse after 10 poor starts. He was better, but not great, during his time in the minors, before resurfacing in the majors in July for the remainder of the year. There are still solid peripherals to fall back on, including just 19 BB in 83 IP after his recall. He moved to Milwaukee for Lyle Overbay and is pegged for the majors, though it's unclear whether as a starter or reliever.

Bush handled the transition from bullpen to rotation quite well in 2004, culminating with a solid 16-start audition for the club. Toss out a clunker against Tampa Bay (6 ER in 2.7 IP) and his ERA for the season would be a tidy 3.19. He posted at least a 2/1 K/BB ratio in 11 of his 16 starts, so there's plenty of upside here (he didn't have a single start where he walked more hitters than he fanned). His strong starts down the stretch have earned him a rotation spot for Toronto to start the season.

A second-round pick in 2002, Bush is starting to move rapidly up the Blue Jays chain. He was converted to a starter prior to the 2003 season and flourished, posting a combined 14-6 record over 158 innings where he yielded just 137 hits, while posting an outstanding 148:28 K:BB ratio. He's not overpowering, with a fastball in the 90-92 mph range, but he throws strikes and keeps the ball in the park. He's a decent-size kid at 6'2", though he's too old at 24 years old to expect a small increase in his velocity. If he handles the jump to Triple-A, he'll move ahead of Vinny Chulk and Jason Arnold, slotting nicely in behind Dustin McGowan.