Kiko Calero

Calero quietly battled shoulder woes for much of the season, and pitched poorly when called upon. He's been an effective staff filler option in deeper leagues when healthy, and there's no reason to think an injury-free Calero can't contribute in the same role in 2008. Don't forget about him in the reserve rounds.

Calero had another nice year for the A's, racking up 67 Ks in just 58 innings. He's not effective enough against lefties (1.83 WHIP combined for the past two years) to have prolonged success as a closer if Huston Street gets hurt, but there's a lot to like from him as a staff-filler in AL-only leagues.

Early in May, Calero battled elbow problems (9 ER in 1 IP for the month), which opened the door for the emergence of Huston Street. Thereafter, he was the Calero everyone expected once healthy: 46 1/3 IP, 32 H, 11 ER, 16 BB, 40 K. He doesn't have the luxury of a multi-year deal like Jay Witasick and might start out behind Witasick in the bullpen pecking order, but Calero should make an excellent staff filler again in 2006.

A knee injury kept Calero from winning a roster spot out of Spring Training, but after coming up in May, Calero was impressive. Never a strikeout-per-inning guy in the minors, Calero notched 47 whiffs in 45-plus innings while walking only 10. A shoulder problem stalled his season in August, but Calero returned and allowed the opposition to score just once in his final 12 regular-season games. Calero could emerge as a closer in waiting after his trade to Oakland in the Mark Mulder deal.

Calero was having an excellent year before blowing out his knee in late June. Successful surgery has him in line to pitch in 2004, but probably not at the start of the season. Once healthy, he could pick up a few saves when Jason Isringhausen is unavailable.