Scott Schoeneweis

Schoeneweis, who struggled mightily in 2007, got off to a strong start last year before fading. In 73 games last season, he went 2-6 with a 3.34 ERA and made nine appearances in the season's last 15 days, going 0-3 with an 8.31 ERA as opponents batted .409 against him. His late-season collapse culminated in the last game of the season when he surrendered a tie-breaking, eighth-inning home run to Wes Helms that sent the Mets to a 4-2 loss, which kept them out of the playoffs and sealed his fate with the team. The Mets included $1.6 million of the $3.6 million Schoeneweis is owed in 2009 in dealing him to Arizona for Connor Robertson, where he will be a lefty specialist for the Snakes.

Schoeneweis' first season in New York was one to forget, as he pitched most of the first half of the year with a severed tendon near the bottom of his left hamstring and wasn't 100 percent until summer. To add insult to injury, an offseason report surfaced that he'd received six shipments of human growth hormone from a Florida-based pharmacy while pitching for the White Sox in 2003 and 2004. Schoeneweis said he had never heard of the pharmacy in the report, nor has he received shipments from Florida. He will not be suspended as the commissioner's office said it had insufficient evidence to penalize him. If he's healthy, Schoeneweis will be the second lefty in the Mets pen behind Pedro Feliciano.

Somebody is going to overpay for Schoeneweis in their fantasy league this year because of the three saves and 0.63 ERA he posted with the Reds after coming over in a late season trade. Don't be that guy. His component stats are nowhere near strong enough to support that kind of success.

Schoeneweis has returned to left-handed relief after trying to be an effective starter. There's no turning back now. He's Toronto's lone lefty outside of closer BJ Ryan, so there will be plenty of work.

Schoeneweis' season didn't start out too badly, but he fell victim to elbow trouble that short-circuited any chance he might have had of establishing himself. Assuming he's back at 100 percent, he's set to work out the bullpen with Toronto.

Schoeneweis was picked up cheap-ish by the White Sox last August, and stands a good chance of sneaking into the back of their rotation in 2004. He pitched fairly well out of the bullpen all year though, and despite his protests, that could be the role he's best suited for. If that's the case, given that the White Sox system is crawling with left-handed pitching prospects, we suggest he rent and not buy.

Schoeneweis went from starter to the bullpen early in the season and seemed suited to the lefty-out-of-the-bullpen role. So, he will likely remain in that role in 2003. He will be the top lefty, so he could get around 10 holds, but saves will not be in the cards.