Greg Smith

Smith registered yet another disappointing season, spending the entire season nursing various arm injuries. You don't need a medical degree to know that 'dead arm' is bright red flag for a pitcher, cautioning fantasy players to give him a wide berth. He did squeeze in some minor league starts en route to rehab, but the results were not pretty. It would take an extremely productive offseason and spring training for him to be considered for a rotation spot, and we don't recommend holding your breath for that.

Smith's peripherals (87 walks, 111 Ks in 190 innings) took a nosedive upon his first exposure to the majors in 32 starts for the A's. He was dealt to the Rockies in the offseason in the Matt Holliday trade and there's no doubt that he'll slot in at the back end of the Colorado rotation. It's not the hitters' haven it used to be, but it's hard to succeed anywhere with poor peripherals like Smith showed. We can give him a mulligan based on his minor-league totals before this year, but there's still considerable risk here.

Smith was included in Arizona's package sent to Oakland in the Dan Haren trade in December. Smith has good command of his pitches, which include fastball and changeup that complement a plus breaking ball. Lefties who can start and strike out three times as many guys as they walk have a lot of promise, and it's possible that Smith will see time in the Oakland rotation as early as this season, as he'll compete for the No. 4 or No. 5 starter's spot during spring training.