Orlando Hernandez

When healthy, Hernandez was an extremely effective picther in 2007, limiting hitters to a .206 BAA while posting a 1.172 WHIP and lowering his ERA almost two runs from 2006, but health was a significant problem. El Duque was limited to 28 appearances - 24 starts - missing time with bursitis in his pitching shoulder and then a bunion on his right foot that ultimately required postseason surgery. Despite speculation that he would be moved to the bullpen to limit wear and tear, Hernandez is being penciled in as a starter for 2008, where he should pitch well when he's able to get through his nagging ailments.

Hernandez got off to a slow start with the D-Backs after arriving from the White Sox in the Javier Vazquez trade, struggling with a back and knee injury as well as pitching at Chase Field. The Mets traded Jorge Julio for El Duque to shore up their rotation, and that is exactly what Hernandez did, going 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and .236 BAA. Those numbers were a bit bloated by two starts in which he gave up 16 runs on 17 hits and six walks in 5.2 innings. Hernandez missed the playoffs with a strained right calf muscle suffered the day before game one of the NLCS and also missed a few starts during the year due to fatigue/tired arm, which is not surprising since skeptics believe he is really 41, not 37 years old as listed on his birth certificate. El Duque signed a two-year contract to return to New York, and despite the probability that he will be sidelined at least four or five starts during the season, he is a solid fantasy option.

El Duque couldn't seem to stay fully healthy during the 2005 regular season, and it showed in his numbers. When the calendar flipped to October, however, he donned he cape long enough to throw an impressive three inning stint in the clinching game of the ALDS. Arizona could be a fitting final major league stop for Hernandez, who might well be approaching retirement age in real, not just baseball, terms.

El Duque went from an iffy bullpen option to the Yankees' best starter in the course of a month and put up a 2.70 ERA and 1.194 WHIP in his first 13 appearances before tiring at the end of the season. He's an injury risk, but he's a risk worth taking. Now with the White Sox, he'll lose a little run support and moves to a tougher ballpark.

El Duque missed the whole year with a rotator cuff injury, but when spring training opens in 2004 he could be the only player left the Expos have to show for trading Bartolo Colon. Maybe his younger brother's success will inspire him, but as his age (whatever it is) you can't count on a comeback.

After an injury-marred 2001 season, Hernandez bounced back in 2002 with a pretty solid showing. Despite a stint on the DL with an upper back strain, Hernandez finished 8-5 with a K/BB ratio of 113/36 and a 3.64 ERA in 146 IP. Hernandez' role for 2003 is still unclear at this point, as the Yankees already have Mike Mussina, Roger Clemens, Jose Contreras, Andy Pettitte, David Wells and Jeff Weaver under contract. There's a good chance he could get traded before the start of the season.