Phil Coke

Coke's 2013 season started on a high note, as he was originally tabbed to be a part of Detroit’s closer-by-committee approach and even managed to pick up the save on Opening Day, but his season quickly took a turn for the worse. His save on the first day of the season turned out to be the only game he closed out all season, as he promptly allowed runs in his next two outings and was never able to earn his way back into the ninth-inning discussion. He dealt with a pair of minor injuries (groin, elbow) and was even sent to the minors for a stint late in the season to work on his control. By the end of the season, Coke compiled a career-worst 5.40 ERA and 1.43 K/BB ratio in 38.1 innings. His fastball still sits in the low-to-mid 90s, but Coke wasn't nearly as effective against left-handed hitters, who hit .299/.364/.345 against him. Despite the bumpy 2013 campaign, Coke is once again tabbed to be one of Detroit’s primary left-handed relief options, but he won’t factor into any save opportunities unless the Tigers suffer a rash of injuries in the bullpen.

Prior to an unexpected breakout in the playoffs, Coke had put together a ho-hum season while working as a middle reliever last year. In 66 regular season appearances out of the Tigers' bullpen, Coke went 2-3 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 51:18 K:BB ratio while working 54 innings. He chipped in 20 holds and vultured one save for good measure, but it was pretty much a run-of-the-mill season for Coke. The 30-year-old lefty's outlook took a positive turn in the playoffs when he was forced to takeover closing duties from Jose Valverde, who had allowed nine earned runs in his final three postseason appearances. Coke seized the opportunity, finishing with a pair of saves while sporting a 0.82 ERA and 13:2 K:BB in postseason 10.2 innings. With Valverde now out of Detroit, Coke figures to be one of the names in contention for the closing gig if the team does not bring in a proven veteran option for the role. The fiery lefty definitely has a closer's mentality, but his career splits -- .233/.287/.305 for left-handed hitters, .299/.370/.379 for right-handed hitters - show he's much more effective as a situational reliever. That said, with his name possibly in the mix to close, Coke should be monitored in most formats.

Coke started the 2011 season in the Tigers rotation, going 1-7 with a 4.82 ERA and 37:30 K:BB ratio in 14 starts. After that failed experiment, Detroit moved Coke back to the bullpen. As a reliever, Coke rediscovered his 2010 form, going 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA and 32:10 K:BB ratio over his final 32 appearances. The Tigers will wisely slot back Coke into their bullpen for the 2012 season, a role that fits him perfectly as he performs much better as a max-effort pitcher. Coke will be a decent source of holds and might vulture a save or two, but that's likely the extent of his fantasy contributions.

Coke was a valuable piece of the Tigers' bullpen in 2010 after being acquired in a three-team swap last winter. He compiled a 7-5 record with a 3.76 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 64.2 innings. The lefty will be transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation for the 2011 season, which would normally give a pitcher's fantasy value a significant boost, but Coke's transition from a reliever to a starter may be bumpy. While he was originally a starter when he came up through the Yankees' farm system, he has been primarily a relief pitcher since the second half of the 2008 season. The Tigers aren't worried about Coke's transition to starter as far as stamina and endurance go, but we have our concerns that he'll be able to retain his 7.4 K/9IP as he switches from a "max-effort" reliever to part of the rotation. Deep leagues and Al-only formats might want to take a look at Coke as an option for the end of their rotations, but he'll be a risky selection in shallower formats.

The Yankees expected Damaso Marte to occupy the primary left-handed reliever role in 2009, but after injuries limited Marte to just 13.1 innings, Coke became the go-to southpaw in manager Joe Girardi’s bullpen. Although he endured a brutal August (11.17 ERA), he still held batters to a .209 season average and finished with 49 strikeouts in 60 innings. However, after he was traded to Detroit in the Curtis Granderson deal, Coke could be used as a starter again. He'll likely compete with Nate Robertson, Dontrelle Willis and Armando Galarraga for the final spot in the rotation. If he loses out, he could become a key figure in the Detroit bullpen.

Coke was an effective left-handed starter at Double-A Trenton last season, maintaining 115:39 K:BB ratio over 118.1 innings before making the switch to relief work and pitching well at Triple-A and eventually out of the Yankees' bullpen down the stretch. Opponents hit just .160 against him in September, while he surrendered just one earned run in 14.2 innings. Damaso Marte was re-signed to keep a late-inning role in front of closer Mariano Rivera, but Coke should be able to stick as a second lefty in 2009.