Mark Mulder

The Cardinals waited three months for Mulder to make his 2008 debut, and his season lasted only three appearances before he was shut down with shoulder issues. He's spent four years in St. Louis, with each of the last three being an unqualified disaster. Even if he comes back from his latest round of shoulder problems, it won't be as a member of the Cardinals. He's not even a good buy-low candidate any more.

Anyone who patiently waited for Mulder to return from his shoulder problems last September was not rewarded. Mulder lost all three of his starts and did not look good doing it. Mulder won 16 games despite a low strikeout rate in 2005, but in his last two seasons -- not coincidentally both ending with September shoulder surgeries -- he's only lasted 20 starts and has a 7.68 ERA and 1.806 WHIP. Mulder should be able to pitch in spring training in 2008, but it's not guaranteed and neither is his effectiveness.

Mulder had his worst season by far in 2006, finishing 6-7 with a 7.14 ERA and 1.70 WHIP before shutting down completely in August. Even worse, his strikeout rate declined for the fourth season in a row, down to a career-low 4.82 K/9. A September surgery on his rotator cuff will probably prevent him from being ready at the start of 2007. Still, lefties with his track record don’t grow on trees, and he’s just 29. If he’s ready by May, the Cardinals may get lucky.

After coming over from Oakland via trade, Mulder had a solid 2005 campaign. He was particularly good in the second half, earning a 2.77 ERA. But after putting together three consecutive years of sub-1.20 WHIP in Oakland, that tally has risen to 1.36 and 1.38 in the last two years, respectively. He should help fantasy squads in wins and ERA, but he's no longer a stud in other categories.

What the heck happened to Mulder after June? The A's insisted there was no injury involved, and no explanation has surfaced this offseason. Mechanical problems tend to sort themselves out after a few starts. What then? Mulder's post-break numbers (6.13 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 48/42 K/BB ratio in 94 IP) weren't torpedoed by one or two bad starts. He allowed fewer than three runs just twice after July 1, one instance of which came against Seattle. How his 2005 season goes is anyone's guess, but we'd be hesitant to bid him up expecting typical Mulder numbers. A move to the NL with St. Louis will help his numbers somewhat.

A stress fracture in his hip ended Mulder's season in August. How he recovers is anyone'e guess, as it's a pretty unique injury. How he suffered the injury is still a bit of a mystery. Follow his health closely in spring training.

Hard to imagine he's the same guy who got cuffed around to the tune of a 5.44 ERA in 2000. Posted a nearly identical season in 2002 as his 2001 campaign, though there was reason for concern as he struggled with forearm tightness from mid-April through May. An outstanding second half (3.08 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 10 wins) reassured his owners once he showed he was healthy. Right there with the big boys in the AL, especially in leagues that count strikeouts.