Scott Baker

Save for three starts in September, Baker has missed the last two years following his April 2012 Tommy John surgery. Before the injury, he had a rising strikeout rate and an outstanding K:BB ratio. Now, he's a 32-year-old pitcher without a home. The Cubs may throw another one-year contract his way, but it's doubtful they - or anyone else - will give him more than that right now. Still, with nearly two post-surgery years behind him, he could surprise in 2014.

Baker was a sidelined with a sore elbow during spring training and wound up having Tommy John surgery in April, missing the entire 2012 season. Baker appeared poised for a strong 2012 season after he was striking out batters at the best rate of his career (8.5 K/9) in the first half of 2011 before elbow issues sidelined him in the second half of the season. After becoming a free agent, he signed a one-year contract with the Cubs. He will enter spring training with a spot in the rotation, but will be less than a year removed from surgery on Opening Day. Baker's main asset has always been his outstanding control, but that often is slow to return after Tommy John surgery. He could struggle initially as a result, but he is a bounce-back candidate who could benefit from a move to the NL.

Baker was having the best season of his career until elbow problems derailed his year. Baker was striking out batters at the best rate of his career (8.46 K/9IP) and had a 3.01 ERA before the All-Star break. However, he made just four starts in the second half after two stints on the DL. He did return to pitch out of the bullpen in late September, so he should be healthy for the start of spring training. However, it was the second consecutive season cut short due to elbow problems. If healthy, Baker could enter 2012 as Minnesota's top starting pitcher as he has outstanding control and sufficient strikeout rates. He'll need to keep the ball in the park, which he did in 2011 (1.00 HR/9IP), but has been a problem in the past. He's also much better at home and that held up last season as he gave up twice as many home runs on the road.

Baker may never develop into a staff ace, but he was on the way to duplicating his 15-win 2009 season when a balky elbow slowed him in September last season. Baker has outstanding control and sufficient strikeout rates, but struggles to keep the ball in the park. His flyball tendencies became pronounced with the move to Target field as he had a 3.86 ERA in the spacious new park (with eight home runs allowed in 15 games) compared to a 5.14 ERA (and 15 home runs in 14 games) on the road. He made just three starts in September after a sore elbow bothered him most of the second half. He had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow after the season, but is expected to be ready for the start of spring training. If he can learn to keep the ball in the park, there's still the potential for him to return to the sub-4.00 ERA of his 2008 breakout season.

Baker enters 2010 as Minnesota's No. 1 starter after duplicating his 2008 breakout season. Baker began last season on the DL with a sore shoulder and then struggled the first two months by going 2-6 with a 6.32 ERA in his first nine starts. Once back to full health, he went 13-3 with a 3.67 ERA and 123:38 K:BB ratio in 147.1 innings after June 1. Baker has always had outstanding control along with sufficient strikeout rates, but home runs are his main problem as a flyball pitcher. Keeping his home runs allowed below 1.0 HR/9IP was key to his 2008 breakout season and he gave up just 14 home runs in 24 starts after June 1. As long as he keeps the ball in the park, he could be one of the best starters in the AL.

Baker developed into a top-of-the-rotation starter in 2008, capitalizing on his strong second half in 2007 where he finally appeared to figure out major league hitters. Baker has always had outstanding control along with sufficient strikeout rates, but home runs were a problem initially at the major leagues. He gave up 1.5 HR/9IP in his first 2.5 seasons. That rate fell to 0.7 in the second half of 2007 and, while still a tad high, fell to just 1.07 in 2008. He was a bit unlucky in 2008 in that he had 14 no-decisions in 27 starts. As long as he keeps the ball in the park, he should increase his win totals. However, he won't come as cheap in 2009 as Minnesota's No. 2 starter.

Baker will enter 2008 with a spot in the rotation after it looks like he's finally figured out how to pitch at the major league level and, most importantly, keep the ball in the park. Through his first 2.5 seasons (36 starts), Baker had a 5.33 ERA and allowed 1.5 HR/9IP. Things seemed to click midway through last year as he had a 3.44 ERA and allowed just 0.7 HR/9IP innings after the All-Star break. He even took a perfect game into the ninth inning during a start in August, ending with a one-hit shutout. The turnaround wasn't a fluke as Baker always had strong minor league control numbers with sufficient strikeout rates. He'll be a nice sleeper as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter in 2008.

Baker had a promising 2005 debut and was given multiple chances to win a spot in the Minnesota starting rotation in 2006 but couldn't produce any consistent success. Oddly, Baker had two wins against the Yankees and struggled against almost every other team. His 62:16 K:BB was strong, but was offset by giving up 17 home runs in just 83.1 innings. If he can learn to keep the ball in the park, his minor league control numbers indicate he still could develop into a productive major league starter. He'll compete for the fifth starter role this spring.

Baker, Minnesota's 2003 second-round draft pick, had a strong major league debut last season in nine games with the Twins after a strong showing at Triple-A. He showed outstanding control at both levels with a combined 139/40 K/BB ratio in 188 1/3 innings. Baker should enter the season with a spot in the starting rotation and could produce solid numbers right away given his impressive control.

Baker, Minnesota's 2003 second-round draft pick, had a strong season at Double-A New Britain but struggled when promoted to Triple-A Rochester. He'll likely start the year at Rochester again and if he performs well he could contend for a bullpen job or the fifth starter job this summer.

Baker, Minnesota's 2003 second-round draft pick, went right to low Single-A and had a 2.49 ERA in 50 2/3 innings with an impressive 47:8 K:BB ratio. He was a bit older than his competition, but he could move up quickly in the organization this summer.