Paul Byrd

Byrd had a typical Byrd season in 2008, which is to say he allowed a near-5.00 ERA with a high WHIP. He allowed more hits than he had innings pitched, 31 homers and a .290 batting average against. Byrd needs to pick up 12-15 wins in order to offset his negative numbers in other categories. He pitches heavily to contact and needs a good defense and explosive offense to be of any value for a fantasy team. He'll land somewhere in 2009, but Boston isn't looking to re-sign him.

Byrd's second year with Cleveland netted better results as he finished up with 15 wins while lowering both his WHIP and ERA. The Indians picked up the $7.5 million option on his contract for 2008 despite the suspicion of potential HGH use surrounding him. Assuming nothing comes out of that investigation, Byrd figures to post similiar numbers again: mediocore WHIP, ERA and strikeouts to go along with a dozen or so wins.

Normally you'd be looking for positives after a 10-9 season, where Byrd ended up tossing 179 total innings. That's not the case here. He broke down hard after the All-Star break, limping to a 5.63 ERA with 120 hits given up in 76.2 innings. His strikeout rate was down while his walk rate was up, so that doesn't bode well for 2007, but he'll try to rebound in Cleveland's rotation.

One of the feel good stories of 2005, Byrd signed a two-year deal with a club option with the Indians. Byrd was consistent in 2005 with a 3.73/3.76 first half/second half split, so there's no reason to think he'll fare much differently in 2006.

Byrd missed the first three months of the season coming back from Tommy John surgery but was impressive in the second half. He had a 79/19 K/BB ratio and struck out batters at a higher rate than his career year in 2002. With almost two years behind him after elbow surgery, he could be set for a nice season in Anaheim's rotation and may come cheap in many leagues.

Byrd is coming off reconstructive elbow surgery and will be sidelined until the middle of 2004 at the earliest. He signed a two-year, $10 million contract before the 2003 season, but didn't pitch for the Braves at all last season. If healthy, the control pitcher still needs to prove his stellar 2002 season wasn't a fluke.

Once discarded by the Phillies in exchange for Jose Santiago, Byrd became the ace of the Kansas City staff in 2002, surprising everyone. Pinpoint control, an array of off-speed pitches and an ability to finally rein in left-handed batters led to Byrd's success. A big bump in his workload from 2001 to 2002 is a concern.