Robb Nen

After missing all of 2003 with a torn rotator cuff, Nen is expected to be back in his customary role as the Giants closer in 2004. Watch him carefully in spring training; shoulder surgeries are more difficult to come back from than the now-common Tommy John elbow surgery, and his velocity may be down enough to affect his numbers.

Nen delivered as you'd expect in 2002, recording 43 saves with a 2.20 ERA and 81 K's in 73.2 innings. Nen and the Giants were hiding an arm injury down the stretch and in the playoffs, so he'll just have to be excused for his poor outing in Game Six of the World Series. He underwent arthroscopic “clean-up” surgery in November which reportedly went very well. He's in the last year of his contract in 2003. It would be safe to presume a repeat of his 2003 numbers in 2002; he'll definitely be one of the first five closers picked, at the very least, in your NL league draft.