Eddie Guardado

Guardado rebounded from missing most of two seasons due to Tommy John surgery to become a productive member of Texas' bullpen before struggling after being traded to Minnesota. Guardado parlayed a strong first half with Texas (2.88 ERA) into a brief stint as the team's closer before he was traded to the Twins to help an ailing bullpen. However, he wasn't what the Twins needed as he quickly gave up five runs in his first 3.1 innings and was subsequently moved to mop-up duty. Guardado faded in the second half as a poor strikeout rate (5.11 K/9IP) and mediocre control (28:17 K:BB ratio) caught up with him. He can still be effective against left-handed hitters (.628 OPS against), so he'll likely work in a set-up role in his second stint with the Rangers. However, at age 38, his days as a closer are over.

It's hard to derive anything substantive from Guardado's results on the field, given the small sample size in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. That said, don't invest any sort of confidence that Guardado will be able to fully recover and inherit a viable role. He doesn't strike out as many batters, he gives up too many flyballs and he has had a pretty bad platoon split the last couple of seasons.

Guardado's effectiveness has been reduced to the point where he should only face lefties. Right-handed hitters tuned up Guardado at a .324/.391/.637 pace, with nine homers allowed in 102 at-bats. He'll miss at least part of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Guardado pitched through a torn rotator cuff to save 36 games for the Mariners last season. He converted a club-record 27 consecutive games before tiring down the stretch, allowing 11 of his 17 earned runs in the last six weeks of the season. The Mariners exercized their club option in the offseason to bring Guardado back for $6.25 million, a hefty sum for a 35-year-old reliever with a torn rotator cuff. But if he stays healthy, Guardado should again be a reliable closer, even if he's not exactly Everyday Eddie anymore.

Guardado's 2004 ended in July with a torn rotator cuff. He injured his knee in spring training and that probably caused him to overcompensate with his shoulder. He had surgery to repair the knee, during which doctors removed an inch-long piece of cartilage that had been jammed in the back of it. The shoulder, however, didn't require surgery and Guardado should be ready for spring training. With some good health and a better Mariners team providing more opportunities, Guardado should be a good source of saves.

Guardado has cemented his status as a potential elite closer after his second solid year as the Minnesota closer, though his role with the Mariners is less certain at this point. He's slated to set-up up Kaz Sasaki, but if Sasaki goes down or is ineffective, he could wind up the closer. He might be third in the pecking order, though, behind Shigetoshi Hasegawa, who closed last season. Guardado's outstanding control made opposing hitters have to earn their way on base. The result was a second season of a strong save percentage with just four blown saves in 45 chances. However, the one knock on "Everyday Eddie" is that he wasn't used in many tough situations, leaving the dirty work to LaTroy Hawkins. Guardado was never brought-in with the tying runner on base and 68% of his saves were an inning or less without the tying run ever at-bat. He may be forced to face tougher situations next season.

”Everyday” Eddie made a smooth transition to the closer job in his first full season in the role and led the AL in saves. Guardado showed great control with just 18 walks and 70 strikeouts in 67 innings. The emergence of J.C. Romero as a left-handed setup man allowed Guardardo to be used exclusively in the closer role. With the Twins set for another strong year, he should post 35-plus saves once again.