Carlos Villanueva

41-Year-Old PitcherP

Free Agent

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2025 Fantasy Outlook

There was no outlook written for Carlos Villanueva in 2025. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.

Bats R

Throws R

40 Man No

Height 6'2"

Weight 220

DOB 11/28/1983

Born Santiago, DR

College None

Drafted 2002 SF

Set to play in South Korea

PFree Agent

February 24, 2017

Villanueva has signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract for 2017 to play in South Korea with the Hanwha Eagles, the Yonhap News Agency reports.

Analysis
He struggled to a 5.96 ERA last season with San Diego. At age 33, Villanueva's days in MLB may be over.

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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Carlos Villanueva See More

MLB

Collette Calls: NL Closers in Waiting

Jason Collette

February 12, 2016

Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Carlos Villanueva See More

Collette Calls

Collette Calls: NL Closers in Waiting

Jason Collette

February 12, 2016

Past Fantasy Outlooks

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For the second straight season, Villanueva pitched exclusively out of the bullpen, but his results in 51 appearances with San Diego (5.96 ERA) were a far cry from the success he experienced just one year earlier in St. Louis (2.95 ERA). The biggest difference in his peripherals was a massive spike in his home run rate, as Villanueva's mark jumped from 0.9 HR/9 in his only season with the Cards to 2.1 HR/9 in 2016. Opposing hitters started to crush his slider last season, slugging .491 against the offering after slugging just .282 against that pitch in 2015. Now 33, Villanueva may be at the point in his career where he'll have to settle for a non-guaranteed contract during the offseason before competing for a roster spot in spring training. Regardless of where that opportunity might come, Villanueva is unlikely to be tasked with more than a low-leverage role.

A year after turning Pat Neshek's minor league contract into a terrific MLB season the Cardinals did the same thing with Villanueva. The versatile right-hander was excellent in long-relief for St. Louis and threw more innings than all but three relievers for the Cardinals as he pitched more than an inning in over half of his appearances. Villanueva pitched in just 35 games but delivered 61.0 quality innings, posting a 2.95 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP while striking out 55, often times delivering much needed rest to other regulars in the Cardinals' bullpen. Signed by the Padres in January, Villanueva seems better suited to work in relief at this stage of his career, but it would hardly be surprising if he makes a handful of spot starts for San Diego.

Used primarily as a reliever, Villanueva started five games for the Cubs in 2014 - the eighth time in nine major league seasons that he started at least five games. Though his 4.64 ERA was nothing to write home about, he was extremely unlucky last year, as evidenced by his 3.20 FIP and .361 BABIP. He filed for free agency after the season, so the 31-year-old right-hander will likely be pitching for a new team this season. Don't be surprised to see him used as a garbage-time reliever - and spot starter of course - wherever he lands.

In his first year with the Cubs, Villanueva appeared as a reliever in 32 games and started 15 other games, marking the sixth time he started at least six games in a season despite spending most of his career as a reliever. The versatility (not to mention his ERA/WHIP consistency the last three years) makes Villanueva more valuable on the diamond than in fantasy. He will probably once again pitch in relief, with occasional forays into the rotation. Keep in mind that he is generally much better as a reliever (3.03 ERA, 1.138 WHIP, 38:10 K:BB ratio last year) than as a starter (4.50 ERA, 1.256 WHIP, and 65:30 K:BB ratio last year), so plan accordingly.

For the second straight season Villanueva started double-digit games for the Blue Jays after opening the year in the bullpen. Just as it seemed he might take hold of a starting job for 2013, a September swoon left his role in question. Interestingly enough, his K/BB improved with the move into the rotation (3.4) on the strength of improved control. Unfortunately, those gains came with a spike in his home-run rate, leaving his future role up in the air even after signing a two-year deal with the Cubs despite the flashes of success he had every fifth day.

Villanueva appeared to change his approach to pitching as the former high-strikeout, average command, homer-prone pitcher transitioned into more of a change-of-speed, pitch-to-contact pitcher once he was moved into the starting rotation for Toronto. He faded badly down the stretch and dealt with some elbow soreness as the increased workload appeared to catch up with him. He'll likely get a chance to win a rotation spot this spring depending on how the Jays' winter goes, but he'll need to walk a fine line to survive in the AL East.

Villanueva pitched poorly in 2010 and was eventually sent to Triple-A Nashville in July. It was more of the same for him last season, a high strikeout rate, but also high home-run and walk rates. The Brewers gave up on him due to the inconsistency, and Villanueva was traded to Toronto in December where he will compete for a bullpen spot this spring.

Villanueva started the season as Milwaukee's defacto closer while Trevor Hoffman recovered from injury and ended the season buried in the bullpen. He's failed multiple times when given the opportunity to be a starter and now is looking at having to earn a role in the bullpen this spring. Villanueva strikes out a decent number of batters, but can't overcome his long-ball tendencies enough to be a consistent setup man. The Brewers will likely give him one more chance in 2010 to prove his worth.

The Brewers tried to use Villanueva as a starter, but moved him to the bullpen in May when he had a 6.43 ERA in nine starts. The move to the bullpen proved to work out well for him and he posted a 2.12 ERA from that point on. The Brewers will likely keep him in his bullpen role unless they are unable to find a suitable starter for the rotation. He's not going to get many saves, but he could strike out about a batter per inning while providing a low ERA.

Villanueva began the season in the Milwaukee bullpen and pitched very well for the first half of the year. The Brewers sent him to Triple-A after a rough stretch in August, and they put him into the rotation when he returned in September. He ended the season strong and finished with eight wins and a 3.94 ERA. There are some warning signs that might make you want to avoid Villanueva. He had a .276 BABIP, which will likely come up a bit. He also gave up 16 home runs and that's been a problem of his during his whole career. There's a good chance that he'll start the season in the Milwaukee rotation, though.

Villanueva is one of those guys who doesn't impress scouts, but always seems to pitch well anyway. After a very solid minor league season in 2005, he returned with a 3.22 ERA while splitting time between Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville. Called up to Milwaukee later in the season, he posted a 3.69 ERA in 53.2 innings and made six starts. The 23 year old doesn't throw hard but had good control and keeps hitters off balance by changing speeds. The Brewers hope he can work as the fourth or fifth starter in their 2006 rotation.

Villanueva doesn't throw hard, instead relying on great command to get hitters out, which limits his potential in the eyes of some scouts. Maybe his impressive year at high-A Brevard County will change some minds.

More Fantasy News

Experiencing horrible stretch

PSan Diego Padres

August 2, 2016

Villanueva has allowed 21 runs over his last 13.1 innings, giving up five home runs but striking out 11 during that stretch.