Aaron Crow

Despite putting together a 6-1 record in 2014, Crow arguably took a step back last season, posting a 4.12 ERA -- the highest of his major league career. It easily could have been much worse, however, as he owned a career-low .239 BABIP and a shaky 5.40 FIP. One bright spot for Crow was that he was able to limit right-handed hitters to just a .215 batting average, so there's likely a role for him remaining in the bullpen. The 28-year-old righty will get an opportunity to bounce back in 2015, but it will come with the Marlins after he was traded to Miami in December. Crow has the potential to serve as a valuable part of the bridge to closer Steve Cishek.

It was a tough season for the 27-year-old right-hander in 2013 as Crow saw a drop in nearly all of his peripherals from the year before. Still relying solely on his fastball and slider, Crow hung a few too many pitches up in the zone throughout the season and not only saw his flyball rate increase, but his HR/FB as well. The speed and range of the Royals' outfielders helped him maintain his 3.48 ERA for the most part, but the 4.34 FIP was more indicative of the level at which he was pitching. Crow will maintain his spot in the bullpen for the 2014 season and his numbers should find a happy medium between his 2012 and 2013 totals. Should he return to form and keep the long ball in check, he could find himself in more high-leverage situations and become a quality source for holds this season.

With a 95 mph fastball and a quality 85 mph slider that he likes to use as an out pitch, Crow was once considered for the Royals' closing job when Joakim Soria went down last season. However, the Royals were also considering him as a starter when injuries piled up on the back end of the rotation and with Greg Holland lying in wait, they thought they were better served with Crow in a middle-relief role with the potential to spot start. In that relief role, Crow excelled, posting a 3.48 ERA with a more impressive 2.96 FIP and averaging just over a strikeout per inning. His 52.9 percent groundball rate and 0.6 HR/9 made for a nice option when they needed a pitcher to clean up someone's mess and that is exactly what Crow did for the Royals last season. He'll likely reprise that role again in 2013 and should actually become a valuable fantasy asset in leagues that count holds.

Converted to relief work in 2011, Crow had an All-Star season, as he posted 65 strikeouts and 31 walks with a 2.76 ERA over 62 innings. He had previously been a starter in the minors with disastrous results, as his ERA was well above 5.00. The change of roles allowed him to rely much more on his fastball and slider, the latter of which proved tough for batters to hit. With the Royals acquisition of Jonathan Broxton in the offseason, there have been rumblings that Crow might be converted back into a starter for the 2012 season. Such a decision could prove to be short-sighted as Crow has yet to taste success as a starter, even in the lower levels of the minors. Keep an eye on his role before investing in him this time around.

Crow, the 12th overall pick in the 2009 draft, hasn't found much success in his two minor-league seasons but has done enough for the Royals to believe he can help them in a season or two. He's played in just 22 games above High-A, so the jury is certainly still out.

Crow was a holdout from his original draft, refusing to sign with the Nationals. However, after being selected by the Royals in 2009, he began his pro career pitching in the Arizona Fall League. He had four starts and went 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA, while striking out 12 and walking a pair. He showed excellent command of a fastball that touched 95 at times, generally sitting at 92-94 mph with late sink. Crow has excellent mechanics, repeats his delivery and stays very much in control on the mound. He has to further develop his secondary pitches, but he's already on the 40-man roster. Look for Crow at some point in 2010 (probably late) as a back-of-the-rotation starter with the potential to be a solid starting pitcher once he gains seasoning against wood bats and quality hitters. His stuff and his mechanics certainly are major league quality - it's now just a matter of when.