Pedro Astacio

Astacio spent most of last season rehabbing his shoulder after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. He wasn't able to get too much work in a September call-up for Boston in 2004, so he will be somewhat of a mystery heading into 2005. He'll likely land on some team in need of a back-of-the-rotation starter.

The shoulder injury that cut short Astacio's 2001 season and may have played a part In his 2-8 record to close out his 2002 campaign reared its ugly head in 2003, shutting Astacio down for the year after making only seven starts. Astacio had surgery in June to repair a torn labrum in the front of his pitching shoulder and as of our press date, he was still an unsigned free agent. Astacio will probably sign an incentive-laden contract due to his injury woes, but could be a sleeper if fully healthy.

Astacio's earned his nickname, “The Mule”, for his ability to carry the load and rack up the innings. Coming back from injury in 2002, he pitched 191 innings and compiled a 12-11 record with a 4.79 ERA, and had a strikeout-to-walk ratio that was nearly 2.5/1. However, he may have tired at the end of the year, when he went 2-8 in his last 10 decisions. He's a solid third or fourth starter for your team.