Francisco Cruceta

The Rangers claimed Cruceta off waivers in the offseason from the Mariners. He was out of options and didn't do enough in his few September opportunities to convince the Mariners he could make the team in 2007. He led the Pacific Coast League in strikeouts, but struggled with the longball and walks. Cruceta has a 90-93 mph four-seam fastball that sets up a plus split-finger fastball. He could compete for a rotation spot for the Rangers depending on their offseason moves.

The Mariners claimed Cruceta off waivers from Cleveland in August last season after Cruceta posted a 5.19 ERA in 30 games at Triple-A Buffalo. Once a top prospect, Cruceta's stock fell the last couple years as his ERA rose. His strikeout rate remains impressive, though. He struck out more than eight batters per nine innings last season. He's a power pitcher with a low-90s four-seasm fastball and a plus split-finger fastball.

Cruceta is a pretty good starting prospect in the Indians chain. He struggled in the first half of 2004 at Double-A, then thrived at Triple-A and received two starts for the big club in September. Cruceta's stuff profiles as that of a fifth starter or a reliever, so he will need to keep staying healthy and keep his walks down to be more than the sixth or seventh man on a staff. Cruceta's struggles at Double-A in 2004 are a mystery: he led that same league in strikeouts and ERA in 2003.

One of the Tribe's better pitching prospects, Cruceta will enter the spring with an opportunity to make Cleveland's Opening Day roster. At worst, he'll be at Triple-A Buffalo and spot start in Cleveland, when necessary.