Cla Meredith

For the second straight season, Meredith's peripherals took a dive as his strikeout rate fell a bit while his walk rate went up significantly. He is still effective as an extreme groundball pitcher, just not to the level he displayed in 2006. His skills regression has taken him out of late-inning consideration, and his strikeout rate has fallen to a point where there are better relievers available to help fantasy owners in that area.

Meredith charted an uneven course through 2007. He was unable to sustain his stellar 2006 numbers and fluctuated between a middle relief and set-up role. Meredith finished the season on a high note and should serve as the Padres' sixth and/or seventh-inning set-up man in 2008. His biggest problem last year was allowing lots of solid contact (94 hits in 79.2 innings, up from 30 hits in 51 innings in 2006). Meredith's K:BB ratio of 59:17 wasn't as good as his previous 37:6 mark, but it was still pretty good.

Meredith exploded onto the big-league scene in 2006 after he was traded from Boston to San Diego on May 1. The afterthought in the Josh Bard-for-Doug Mirabelli deal, he emerged as one of the league's best middle relievers. In August and September, he served as the Padres sixth and seventh inning bridge to Scott Linebrink and Trevor Hoffman. His funky sidearm delivery and nasty breaking balls did a number on opposing hitters, especially during a club-record streak of 34 consecutive scoreless innings. Unless opponents figure him out during the offseason, Meredith looks like a strong middle relief option again in 2007.

Meredith was being groomed as a closer, but that could change with the arrival of Craig Hansen. Meredith was a surprise call up in May last season, but failed in three appearances before being sent back down to Triple-A Pawtucket where his ERA ballooned to 5.59 and he allowed 30 runs in 48 1/3 innings. Some have speculated the major league struggles sapped his confidence. Prior to that little experience, Meredith had been effective in stints at Double-A Portland and in Single-A, saving 27 games in 41 appearances. It will be interesting to see how he responds from the first major adversity of his career.