Andrew Triggs

After his first eight starts, Triggs checked in with a sparkling 2.12 ERA and 1.03 WHIP, despite only 35 whiffs in those 46.2 innings. The key was allowing just two homers, a number most thought would increase, considering the right-hander's pitch-to-contact style. Sure enough, Triggs surrendered at least one homer in each of his next four outings, including five over the final pair. This ballooned his ERA to 4.27 and WHIP to 1.33, where it would stay since he then had season-ending surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip. It would have been beneficial to see how Triggs adjusted to the home run barrage, but now we're left in the lurch, concerned about his recovery from surgery, and still unsure of his ability to work as a starter. If healthy, Triggs should secure a spot in the Athletics' Opening Day rotation. Anyone pitching in the Coliseum is worth considering, though Triggs' low strikeout total dampens his potential, especially in mixed formats.

If there was a player who truly embodied the concept of shuttling between Triple-A and the majors, it was Triggs in the 2016 campaign. The tall right-hander was optioned to Triple-A Nashville a grand total of eight times, but he kept reappearing in the big leagues thanks to a stellar 2.95 ERA and 1.16 WHIP out of the Sounds' bullpen. His results in the majors were mixed, as he only managed to post a 5.35 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in his first 19 appearances in a long relief role for Oakland, although he did post a solid 9.1 K/9 during that span. The 28-year-old really turned it on at the end of the season when he was afforded a full-time rotation spot, as he put together a 2.78 ERA and 0.71 WHIP thanks to an impeccable 21:1 K:BB across five late-season starts. A back injury ended his season prematurely, but if he can return to this form while limiting the walks, then Triggs could be in line for a full-time rotation spot this spring.