Geremi Gonzalez

Gonzalez was the comeback player of the year in 2003 and earned a million-dollar contract last offseason. His 2004 stunk, however, and the Rays let him go this offseason. Check the small print on the back of your sports page to see who gives him a spring NRI.

Gonzalez was probably MLB's Comeback Player of the Year in 2003, reclaiming a big league roster spot for the first time in five years (since he first got hurt, with the '98 Cubs). His basic numbers don't look that impressive, but no one outside of Detroit got less run support in the AL last year. According to Baseball Prospectus' stats, with normal run support, Gonzalez would have gone 10-7 instead of his actual 6-11. Still, don't overbid on Gonzalez. He was second in the league last year in average pitches per start (108, with an average outing of just over six innings), so he needs to become more efficient before he's more effective.

Gonzalez went 6-5, 3.33 with 14 saves in Triple-A for Texas in 2002, then pitched great in winter ball (0.92, six saves in 12 games, 19 innings). Another prospect-derailed-by-arm-injuries story, but if he's healthy and impresses in the spring, he might crack a Tampa Bay bullpen that has a few vacancies.