Julio Mateo

2013

There was no outlook written for Julio Mateo.

2008

Mateo won nine games in relief in 2006, but struggled to stick with the Mariners last season and his problems led to a trade to Philadelphia. The Phillies never used Mateo after acquiring him from Seattle, who banished him after his domestic-violence arrest and an unexcused absence last May. If his personal problems are behind him, he'd be at least as good of a bet as some of the relievers likely to get guaranteed $1 million-$2 million contracts this winter. He was a free agent as of press time, after being released by the Phillies in December.

2007

Mateo will be back in the bullpen pitching middle relief, though the Mariners could probably do better if they looked elsewhere. He pitched with shoulder tendinitis the first two months before going on the disabled list. When he returned, he pitched slightly better, but not by much. His season ended with a broken hand in late August. His numbers are all going in the wrong direction (K/9 down, BB/9 up) and that's likely to continue. This probably will be his last year in Seattle.

2006

Mateo was somewhat inconsistent last season even though he recorded a career-best 3.06 ERA with a tidy 1.09 WHIP. While his walk rate remains good (1.7 walks per nine innings), his strikeout rate fell for the third consecutive year (7.5 K/9 in 2003, 6.7 in 2004, 5.3 in 2005). Mateo will pitch middle relief again, but watch that strikeout rate.

2005

Like most of Seattle's relievers last season, Mateo took a downward turn from an impressive 2003. He walked three more batters last season in 30 fewer innings. He also missed nearly two months with an elbow injury. He'll again pitch middle relief.

2004

Mateo was a better-than-reliable arm out of the pen in 2003. He finished 4-0 with a save, a 3.15 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. He had 71 strikeouts and a mere 13 walks in 85.2 innings (a whopping 5:1 K:BB ratio). Mateo's fantasy role is limited, as he'll pitch in middle relief, following the Mariners re-signing Shigetoshi Hasegawa and inking free agent Eddie Guardado.

2003

Mateo is a good young righty out of the bullpen who pitched decent as a middle reliever in two stints with the big club last season. He has a shot at making the club, but not as anything more than a middle-to-long reliever.