Russ Ortiz

Ortiz was as excruciatingly awful as expected given his poor control. And the Diamondbacks still have to pay him almost $25 million for three more years. Yes, Ortiz was hurt for two months (ribs), but he was still on his way to the worst walk, homer and strikeout rates of his career. Okay, let's be nice. If Ortiz unexpectedly improves in 2006, he should still be available on waiver wires across the nation. Otherwise, pass.

Ortiz won 15 games despite continuing to walk batters at a high rate and a poor second half of 54/53 K/BB ratio, 4.85 ERA and 17 HR in 89 IP. He's now second only to Javy Vazquez at the top of the rotation for Arizona, but the walks might finally catch up with him in that ballpark.

Ortiz has been one of the most consistent starters in the NL the last three seasons despite a high walk-rate. Those walks don’t have us too excited about his upside, but you can likely count on at least 13 wins and an ERA under 4.00.

Over the last two seasons, Ortiz has delivered 31 wins, a 3.49 ERA, a 1.3 WHIP and 6.4 K's per nine innings. He'll deliver innings wherever he pitches (219 and 214 innings, respectively, in the last two years). Ortiz will turn 29 during the 2003 season. If he gets to pitch in a pitcher's park like San Francisco again, it's safe to project 14 wins and a 3.50 ERA. That would probably get worse, however, if Ortiz winds up being dealt to a more hitter-friendly ballpark.