Mike MacDougal

After being cut loose by the White Sox, MacDougal got picked up by the desperate Nationals and somehow wound up not only as their closer but as a superficially effective one, blowing just one of 21 save chances. His strikeout numbers have continued to decline and his control is no better than it ever was, but like so many Washington pitchers he discovered that keeping his pitches down and letting batters hit a lot of groundballs actually produces some outs. The Nats non-tendered him in December, so he's not a lock to keep the closer's role even if they decide to re-sign him.

Timing is everything. MacDougal pitched well at the end of 2006, well enough to get a three-year contract from the White Sox. Since then, he's walked 45 batters in 59.1 innings in the majors. Contract or not, he's off the 40-man roster and behind a whole bunch of guys for a job in 2009. With that said ... keep him on your radar, because the stuff is still real good.

MacDougal struggled through both control and health issues once again, posting a 6.80 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP. He's got a power arm but his lack of command limits his utility and he seems to always be hurt. The Sox are on the hook for around $2 million for each of the next two seasons but have brought in Scott Linebrink to setup closer Bobby Jenks. He'll pitch in a middle relief role if he's not part of an offseason trade package.

MacDougal suffered through multiple injuries and a lack of confidence, at times, to return to his All-Star form in Kansas City. So, the Royals shipped him off to Chicago, where he became the only solid mass in the chaos that was the White Sox bullpen in 2006. MacDougal, 31, is nice to have around for Chicago, especially if Bobby Jenks struggles. He has the makeup, mentality and experience to assume the closer role.

MacDougal returned to form in 2005, earning back his closer role with an upper-90s fastball and control of his breaking pitches. An All-Star in 2003, MacDougal merely needs the Royals to become strong again to move his save totals higher and return to the All-Star game.

MacDougal went from All Star closer to struggling at Triple-A in one season. The writing was on the wall even in 2003, when MacDougal was 0-2 with only two saves and a 6.85 ERA after his All Star appearance. He still has a high-90s fastball and a complimentary slider, but neither can be counted on for strikes. Elbow soreness and a lack of confidence kept him in Triple-A for much of the 2004 summer. When he returned in September, he struck out 12 in seven innings, allowing 10 hits and three earned runs. The key for MacDougal is to forget about 2004 and not to worry about closing, since Jeremy Affeldt owns that job. Less pressure should do wonders for him in 2005.

MacDougal started off on fire but periodically lost the closer role, as confidence problems and some tinkering with his mechanics threw him off track for short spans. When throwing strikes in the high 90s, he's unhittable. He's a great talent with a great attitude for a closer, and great things can be expected if he can harness his stuff and pitch more under control.

Opinions of MacDougal are mixed. Is he a powerful and tall (6 foot, 4 inches) right-hander who can grab hold of the 2003 Royals' closer job? Or, is he still too wild and still too lacking in a changeup to trust with much responsibility? He missed almost the entire 2002 season after fracturing his skull when hit by Mark Quinn's bat while sitting in the dugout at the end of the 2001 season. The 26-year old made up for lost time with a lot of good winter-ball work.