Mike Timlin

Timlin, who struggled through shoulder injuries in 2007, pitched well for Boston, having long stretches of scoreless streaks interrupted by the occasional blowup. He was asked to pitch more than one inning in some of his appearances and wasn't strictly the eighth-inning reliever of past years. Boston's offered him a contract as well as arbitration, so there's a desire to have him back.

Few players in history have seen their statistics collapse as quickly and dramatically as Mike Timlin did in the second half of 2006. Prior to the All-Star break, his ERA sat at 2.59 and he had a .264 BAA. Afterwards, Timlin posted a terrible 6.06 ERA, allowing opposing hitters to bat a staggering .341 off him. His .842 opponent OPS in 2006 also signaled that not only were hitters getting to him, but they were getting to him for extra bases. Many theories have been floated regarding his statistical dropoff, including his participation in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, his age (41), and the fact that he topped 75 IP every year from 2002 through 2005. He enters 2007 as the Red Sox' projected closer, but the team is searching desperately for an alternative. As the team’s likely set-up man, Timlin will pick up a handful of saves and could be part of a save-by-committee fantasy strategy.

Timlin was signed in the offseason to a one-year contract and will resume his role as a setup man. He closed for Boston in 2005, but his value to Boston is much more as the eighth-inning guy to get the game to the closer.

Timlin became one of several team leaders for Boston last season and will return as the primary righty set-up man in the bullpen. He made the most appearances of his career in 2004 and his ERA shot up over four. Timlin walked 2.24 per nine innings pitched and opponents batted .257 off of him, both of which were increases from recent years. Those are trends that worry us, but Timlin will continue to serve an important role in the pen, and could get an occasional save along the way.

Timlin was the Red Sox most consistent reliever and bought himself several more dollars based on his stellar work in the AL playoffs. He's not going to be the closer, but could get a save or two along the way.

Timlin once used to be a closer, and now is on a team where the saves could be widely dispersed, so it's within the realm of possibility that he could pick up a handful of saves for the Red Sox.