Jorge Sosa

2013

There was no outlook written for Jorge Sosa.

2008

The Mets signed Sosa, who was coming off a nightmare 2006 campaign, to a one-year, $1.25 million deal last January, which turned out to be money well spent. Sosa opened the year at Triple-A New Orleans, going 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA, as Zephyrs pitching coach Mark Brewer helped him alter his arm slot and keep the ball concealed longer so that batters found it more difficult to read and react to the incoming pitch. Sosa started off 5-1 for the Mets before crashing back to earth and being moved to the bullpen. He excelled in that role prior to being overused, and he was unable to put hitters away with two strikes, as they laid off his slider and teed off on his fastball. He is expected to re-sign with Mets and pitch out of the bullpen in 2008.

2007

One of the biggest pitching surprises of 2005 came crashing down to earth last season. Sosa defied the odds in 2005, but in 2006 he proved to be very hittable, giving up 138 hits and 79 runs in 118 innings with Atlanta and St. Louis. His 5.42 ERA was more in line with the rest of his career. He'll try to revive his career and make a bullpen this spring.

2006

Sosa enters 2006 with a job in the starting rotation after surprising success when moved from the bullpen in the middle of last season. Sosa wasn't thought of as a starter and was only used when the Braves were desperate after injuries. He started out 7-1 with a 2.36 ERA and kept the job. While he has 95-mph heat, his control wasn't outstanding (a poor 85/64 K/BB rate). As a result, we're not sure he can repeat the same success or even keep his spot in the rotation.

2005

Nearly 27% of the pitches Sosa threw in 2004 were clocked at 95 MPH or better, so those strikeout totals from last season (8.5 K/9IP) aren't a fluke. Sammy's little cousin throws gas. He may get another crack at Tampa Bay's rotation in 2005, but his best fit might be as a long reliever. He can help with strikeouts in AL-only leagues.

2004

Like the little girl with the curls your grandparents told you about, when Sosa was good, he was very, very good, and when he was bad, he was … well, far less than good. Sosa's had 33 major-league starts in the last two years, so the Rays have given him opportunities, including one more in the spring of 2004 to cement a spot in the rotation for good. He'll turn just 26 in April; if he'll just trust his stuff every night out (almost 300 pitches thrown at 95 MPH or faster last year, putting him in the top ten in the league), we like his chances. It'll be up to him to do that.

2003

Sosa was 2-7, 5.53 last year, which sounds awful – until you realize that Sosa is a converted outfielder and was only pitching for the second season of his life, and the first above Single-A. He was awful at times, and then awesome at times (in a start at Anaheim last July, he gave up a two-run, none-out homer to Tim Salmon in the first . . . and then retired the next 21 batters, stuffing duct tape down the Rally Monkey's throat). He'll turn 25 in April, and the Devil Rays will make sure he gets regular work, either in the bigs or at Triple-A Durham. Check him in the spring to see what his prospects are of cracking the Rays' rotation.