Yhency Brazoban

After missing most of 2006 due to Tommy John elbow surgery, Brazoban was hit with yet another major arm injury in 2007, this time a torn labrum. He underwent shoulder surgery in June and by all accounts, is expected to be ready for spring training. Because he's coming off two major surgeries and has logged just 20.1 innings since 2005, Brazoban is a poor bet to contribute much early on in 2008, but he could eventually be a valuable set-up man for the Dodgers should his stuff return.

After missing the majority of 2006 to Tommy John surgery, Brazoban began a throwing program in August. His rehabilitation is likely to extend into the first part of the 2007 season, and when he does return it's expected to be as a middle reliever. Brazoban filled in admirably for the injured Eric Gagne in 2005, but he has a long way to go to regain that level of fantasy value.

Brazoban flopped as the closer in replacing the injured Eric Gagne. The stat that jumps out here are the 11 homers he allowed. With Gagne returning, Brazoban returns to a lesser profile role, where he can work on developing an effective offspeed pitch.

Brazoban was promoted from the minors last season after the Dodgers sent Guillermo Mota to the Florida Marlins in a deadline deal. It didn't take long for him to move into Mota's old set-up role in front of Eric Gagne. He'll be a good source of holds and will be next in line for saves if Gagne suffers an injury this season.