Antonio Bastardo

Bastardo turned a dreadful start into a fairly competent 2015 campaign after coming to Pittsburgh (from Philadelphia) in an offseason trade, lowering his ERA from 3.76 to 2.32 after the All-Star break. Primarily a one-pitch pitcher — he threw his 92.8 mph fastball a career-high 74.7 percent of the time — the southpaw limited left-handed hitters to a .138 batting average against in 73 plate appearances. Bastardo compiled nine holds and one save, but the Pirates were hesitant to use him in high-leverage situations due to a 4.1 BB/9 rate. A free agent for the first time this winter, he remains unsigned at press time, but Bastardo will likely continue to find work as a second lefty in a major league bullpen.

Bastardo has established himself as a very solid reliever over the past four seasons. He maintains an excellent strikeout rate which helps to offset his penchant for the free pass. Comfortable with their stable of young power arms, the Phillies traded Bastardo to the Pirates in December. Mark Melancon will begin the season with a firm hold on the closer's role for the Bucs, which should assure Bastardo a role as part of the bridge to the ninth inning with his new club.

Bastardo missed 50 games last season after he was suspended for his ties to the Biogenesis clinic. He was eligible to return for the last game of the season, but the Phillies shut him down due to a minor left knee issue. When Bastardo was on the mound, he was one of the more effective options out of the Phillies' pen. His strikeout rate was not as impressive as in previous seasons, but still remained at a high enough level (9.9 K/9) to help offset his continuing command issues. He will likely open the season as the primary setup man to closer Jonathan Papelbon, and could step in as the closer should Papelbon get hurt or struggle.

A quick comparison of Bastardo's numbers from 2011 and 2012 would tell you last season was a disappointment for the talented lefty. A deeper look would tell you that both seasons were essentially the same. Bastardo's FIP in 2011 and 2012 are almost identical (3.30 and 3.34, respectively), but in 2011 he was the beneficiary of an extremely low BABIP (.179). He wasn't as lucky in 2012, and a BABIP correction (.306) helped push his ERA higher. Bastardo's walk rate also slightly regressed, which led to more runners on base and more runs allowed. There are a few positive signs from last year, however. Bastardo, who had a history of arm problems in the minors, stayed relatively healthy for a second year in a row, and his strikeout rate jumped from 10.9 K/9 in 2011 to 14.0 K/9 in 2012. Bastardo's skills remain strong despite the poor surface numbers from last season. He makes a solid endgame investment to round out your pitching staff as a cheap, high-skilled reliever.

We touted Bastardo as a potential breakout candidate last winter, and he looked like one of the best left-handed relievers in the game during the first half of the season before wearing down a bit in the second half. Bastardo uses a biting slider to dominate hitters, but his reliance on that one pitch leaves him vulnerable if it isn't working. While he did fill in at closer for a period last season, the Phillies prefer him in a setup role. There are red flags, however, as he has a history of arm injuries, which is part of the reason he was converted to a relief role a few years ago. He also walks a few more batters than you like to see, but given his age there could be continued improvement. Finally, he was a bit lucky with his BABIP last season. Expect a correction in his ERA if his BABIP normalizes this year, but given the strong strikeout rate, also expect Bastardo to be a valuable reliever for those looking to fill their roster with a pitcher who won't kill your ratios.

Bastardo split his time between the majors and Triple-A last season. He is primarily a two-pitch pitcher with a low-to-mid 90s fastball and a biting slider. His double-digit K/9IP ratios in both the minors and majors indicate how tough he can be on batters, but he also hurts himself by issuing a few too many walks. The Phillies will likely give Bastardo an opportunity to fill one of their bullpen spots this season. If he can cut down on the walks, Bastardo could establish himself as one of the better left-handed bullpen arms in the game.

Bastardo began last season in the bullpen at Double-A Reading after the Phillies assessed that he was better suited for a relief role due to a history of injuries but then the team quickly changed their plans and put him in the rotation. Bastardo dominated at Reading and was promoted to Triple-A where he continued to pitch well. He was called up to the majors in June to fill in for an injured Brett Myers and looked a bit shaky. Bastardo showed off a solid fastball in the low-90s but struggled to locate his breaking pitches and was often throwing only his fastball during his outings. A shoulder strain sent Bastardo to the disabled list and when he returned in September he was moved into the bullpen but made only one appearance. Bastardo has the potential to be a solid starter in the majors but it seems the Phillies envision him filling a relief role to keep him healthy. He'll compete for a bullpen job this spring.

After shutting opponents down in five early-season starts with High-A Clearwater, Bastardo spent the rest of 2008 with Double-A Reading, going 2-5 with a 3.76 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 62 strikeouts through 67 innings in his 14 starts. Bastardo is a flyball pitcher with an 88-92 mph fastball who uses a solid changeup as his out pitch. He's has potential as a future starter in the league, although it's unlikely that time will come in 2009 unless the Phillies are desperate for help in their rotation.