Brendan Donnelly

2013

There was no outlook written for Brendan Donnelly.

2010

Donnelly proved he wasn't entirely finished in 2009, posting great numbers for the Astros' Triple-A team before joining the Marlins late in the season and maintaining a strikeout-an-inning pace with a very good ERA and WHIP. Someone will probably give him another chance at a setup or middle-relief job, but even in his short stint with the Marlins he hit the DL with a hamstring injury, and at 38 he's getting neither younger nor healthier.

2008

Donnelly's forearm problems last year eventually resulted in "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow, ending a season that started impressively for Boston. Obviously, he'll be rehabbing this season and should not be considered an option.

2007

Remember, he was 30 and 31 during that great stretch he had when he broke into the league, so his "sudden" falloff isn't that unusual. With that said, the Red Sox traded for him, and they have no clear-cut closer as of this writing (and that includes the signing of Joel Pineiro). Donnelly could fall into a dozen saves just by throwing strikes.

2006

Donnelly returns as the Angels top set-up man in 2006. He will work to regain the consistency that escaped him at times in 2005. When he's on, he's among the elite set-up men in the game. Donnelly had a rather large home-away split in 2005 posting a 2.79 home ERA vs. 4.46 on the road. This is the second straight season that gap has widened and may warrant keeping an eye on in 2006.

2005

Donnelly put up respectable numbers after a litany of bizarre injuries, including a broken nose suffered when hit by a batted ball, kept him sidelined for a third of the season. Over the past two years he's averaged better than a strikeout per inning and has given up a miniscule .54 HR per nine innings. He's not developed into a closing candidate, but has remained a solid set-up man. It's a role he'll reprise in 2005 and he may vulture the occasional save when K-Rod can't take the hill.

2004

Donnelly, 32, will be the club's first choice to close games if Troy Percival goes on the DL again. In 74 IP, he struck out 79 and allowed only 55 hits (.200 BAA). Most importantly to non-traditional leagues, he led the American League with 29 holds. His numbers indicate he can handle the closer's role. A perfectly acceptable late-round endgame pick in deep single-league pools.

2003

Donnelly became a key cog in the Angels bullpen during their World Series run. He had a 2.17 ERA in 46 games during his rookie season and had a 2.8:1 strikeout/walk ratio. Depending on how he does in the spring, he could see some holds as the setup man to Troy Percival, but won't get more than the occasional save.