Ramiro Mendoza

The two-year experiment with Mendoza in Boston will end, meaning the formerly useful set-up man will look for work elsewhere. The Embedded Yankee was largely a failure in Boston, save for a four-week stretch in August/September of 2004. Injuries certainly played a part in his struggles, but he never established any consistency when healthy. The last two seasons has tainted his reputation somewhat, but he should land in the middle of some team's bullpen this season.

Mendoza became a topic of discussion -- much of it negative -- early on in the Boston media and among the fan base after his ignominious start to the season. The Red Sox hope he returns to form, but they’re making offseason moves that suggest he won't play a major role in the bullpen.

Mendoza has been a pretty good, consistent spot start/long relief man for the Yankees over the course of his career, but he'll play for someone else in 2003 and could land a spot in a starting rotation. Mendoza doesn't throw very hard, but he has a good sinker and doesn't walk a lot of guys. If he lands in the right park, he could have a nice year, but we don't see a ton of upside.