Jason Vargas

2013

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2012

The flyball-pitching Vargas continues to benefit from Safeco Field, even if his home-run rate inched up a little last season. Even though Vargas couldn't match his absurdly low home-run rate from 2010, he was still in rare company last season considering the number of flyballs he allows. Vargas' 43.9 flyball percentage ranked fifth in the AL last year, and only Jered Weaver gave up as many flyballs with a lower HR/FB rate than Vargas' 7.7 percent. Pitching in Safeco clearly helped, as Vargas posted a 46.4 flyball rate and 7.2 HR/FB mark at home. As a non-strikeout, pitch-to-contact hurler, Vargas is always going to be susceptible to crooked numbers – indeed, while his three shutouts ranked third in the AL, he also gave up at least five runs nine times – but pitching in a spacious home park at least helps keep the ball in the yard.

2011

Vargas added a cut fastball last season and posted a career-high 62.5 first-strike percentage. He rolled through the first three months with a 2.80 ERA, but stumbled to a 4.76 ERA in the final three months as his BABIP normalized from .253 to .294. Vargas, though, benefited greatly from an absurdly low home-run rate. Vargas' 47.0 flyball percentage was fourth highest in the majors last season, but only 6.1 percent of his flyballs went for home runs. Playing in Safeco Field helped immensely as his home flyball rate was 48 percent and his home HR/FB rate was a mere 5.03 percent. Vargas is playing in the perfect park for his flyball ways, which explains his stark home/road splits.

2010

Vargas was a regular on the Seattle-to-Tacoma train last year, hopping back and forth from Triple-A to the bigs as needed. He made 14 starts last season but isn't a good rotation option, and best that he can hope for in 2010 is to be a lefty out of the pen. In nine relief appearances last year, he struck out 13 and walked one.

2009

Vargas missed all of 2008 with a torn labrum in his left hip and was dealt to Seattle in a three-way deal in December 2007. If Vargas comes back healthy, he'll likely have a shot at a middle-relief job in spring training. The Mariners have a couple of bullpen openings after losing J.J. Putz and Sean Green in the deal.

2008

Vargas spent most of the year at Triple-A New Orleans, making two spot starts for the Mets. After an up-and-down first four months, Vargas closed with a bang in August and September before being sidelined with a bone spur in his pitching elbow that required surgery. He is expected to be healthy by spring training, where he may contend for a bullpen role.

2007

Vargas started the year in the Marlins' rotation, but by the end of it he was back in the minors watching people like Anibal Sanchez zoom past him. Dealt to the Mets in the offseason, he'll still need to find a third pitch to have any prolonged success in the majors, no matter what uniform he's wearing.

2006

Vargas made a splash in his first few starts after being called up after just three starts at Double-A, but faded as major league hitters figured out his two-pitch repertoire. He really needs more time in the minors to refine his arsenal, but the Marlins might decide to let him take his lumps at the back of their rotation in 2006.