Sean O'Sullivan

Few pitchers know how hard it is to get batters out when you can't get them to swing and miss at your stuff better than O'Sullivan. In 2011 with the Royals he had just 19 strikeouts over 58.1 innings. In late June he was sent down to Triple-A Omaha, where he displayed great control walking just 16 batters over 74.2 innings. This bit of success is likely to spur the Royals toward giving him another shot in the rotation somewhere down the line, but fantasy owners should not follow suit. Although he's only 24, time is running out for O'Sullivan to prove that he can pitch in the major leagues.

After a 2010 season that was a mixed bag following a midseason trade to the Royals, O'Sullivan is slated to open the year in the Kansas City rotation in 2011. His spot as one of the Royals' five starters isn't rock-solid, but he'll have to falter over the season's first few months to lose his opportunity. His minor league track record, including mediocre numbers at Triple-A, would suggest he's better than the 6.11 ERA he posted with the Royals last year, but not enough to say with certainty he'll be with the Royals come July considering that he still has options remaining.

O'Sullivan is a heavy right-hander who hadn't pitched well at Double-A or Triple-A when the Angels called upon him in June, with predictable results. His only calling card is control, and at the upper levels his middling stuff has gotten hammered. Avoid.