Arthur Rhodes

Rhodes' career has had a remarkable renaissance after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery in 2007. Since then, he has strung together three consecutive years with ERA's in the sub-3.00 range, striking out more than 8.0 batters per nine innings. As long as you use him for what he is - an effective lefty specialist and setup man - both you and his major league team can get decent mileage from him. One cautionary note - he was slowed by a toe injury late last season. It's not that he's more injury-prone than other relievers, only that he might be slower to recover. He signed with Texas in December, where he'll fulfill the same role he had with the Reds.

Rhodes is excellent for what he does, as a one-inning lefty specialist. Ask anything more out of him, and you'll be disappointed. His season ended prematurely with a broken toe, but he figures to be ready for another season by the start of spring training.

Rhodes was OK in Seattle and excellent in Florida as a full-bore LOOGY, parlaying his 2008 season into a two-year deal with the Reds. He's 39, but could easily hang on for a few more years in such a limited role as a late-inning contributor for Cincinnati.

Rhodes was OK in Seattle and excellent in Florida as a full-bore LOOGY, parlaying his 2008 season into a two-year deal with the Reds. He's 39, but could easily hang on for a few more years in such a limited role as a late-inning contributor for Cincinnati.

Rhodes underwent Tommy John surgery in April and likely won't be ready for spring training as it usually takes 12-18 months to return from the ligament replacement procedure. Factor in Rhodes' age, 38, and it's likely he'll end up retiring.

Rhodes may be at the end of the line after his second poor season in the last three and finishing the year with an elbow injury. The Phillies have seen enough, so he won't be back with them. A best-case scenario is Rhodes signing a minor-league deal and working his way back to productivity. Don't bet on it happening.

After a pair of dismal seasons for Seattle and Oakland in 2003 and 2004, the lefty put together a top-flight season. A knee injury and a family illness basically ended his season in August -- a major hit to the Indians' late-season playoff run. But he is expected to be fully recovered and emotionally ready for the 2006 season.

Two words sum up Rhodes' 2004 season: Ker. Plunk. He lost the A's closer job after a poor first half. A few early season nagging arm injuries didn't help, and a serious back injury limited him after the All-Star break. That's two years in a row now with declining K/IP and K/BB ratios. Shipped to Pittsburgh and then to Cleveland, he'll set up the injury-plagued Bob Wickman.

Rhodes enters spring training as the main candidate for the Oakland closer job. Rhodes stumbled in the second half of 2003 and finished with a 3-3 record and a 4.17 ERA in 67 games, pitching 54 innings. He struggled with an ankle injury and didn't look close to his normal self. He usually doesn't walk many and he gets strikeouts, but last season his walks increased by five in about 16 fewer innings than in 2002, and he had only 48 K's after averaging 82 the previous two years.

Rhodes is the top lefty out of the Mariners' bullpen and will be used with Jeff Nelson and Shigetoshi Hasegawa to setup Kaz Sasaki. Rhodes will get his share of holds and handful of saves, but he could become a tri-closer along with Hasegawa and Nelson if Kaz goes down. Rhodes is higher than Nelson among Seattle relievers because he doesn't walk anyone and puts up similar strikeout numbers.