Octavio Dotel

When the Cardinals finally decided to rid themselves of Colby Rasmus in July, Dotel was one of the more important pieces they received in return. Dotel didn't disappoint, posting five holds, two saves, three wins, an 0.851 WHIP and an outstanding 32:5 K:BB ratio in his two months with the Redbirds. He may be 38, but he's still practically unhittable against right-handers. The Tigers picked him up to pitch in the seventh or eighth inning, and he could find himself in high-leverage situations again in 2012.

Dotel spent time with the Pirates, Dodgers, and Rockies in 2010. He maintained a 10.0 K/9IP through each stop, but his walk rate spiked with each move (although he only pitched 5.1 innings for Colorado). His walk rate in general is concerning as it was 3.90 BB/9IP or higher for the third straight season. He signed with Toronto in the offseason. With his experience and ability to still get righties out (.226 batting average against), he could win the closer role or figure prominently into the mix for saves.

Dotel picked up 16 holds as one of the White Sox�s top setup men in 2009, but the team�s confidence in him waned as the season progressed. His 1.444 WHIP was his highest full-season total in nearly a decade, and his 10.8 K/9IP was his lowest since 2003. Pitch f/x data shows that he did not lose too much velocity, but he increasingly chose a cutter over his fastball. He appeared in 10 fewer games in 2009 than 2008 despite being healthy. He will be setting up elsewhere in 2010.

The long ball bugaboo that has occasionally haunted Dotel got him good last year, even as he was showing the power pitching that made him a dominant reliever with the Astros in the early part of the decade. He's first in line to close should Bobby Jenks be traded, and even without many save opportunities, he is worth a roster spot in strikeout leagues as a staff filler.

Dotel had an up and down season but showed he's still a top reliever when healthy and can be a productive fantasy pitcher at the back end of a bullpen. After Tommy John surgery in 2005 and just 14 appearances in 2006, Dotel's elbow was sound but he missed the first two months with a strained oblique muscle. Once healthy, he saved 11 games as Kansas City's closer before he was traded to Atlanta. He then pitched just nine games with the Braves before his season ended due to a shoulder strain. While Dotel showed his elbow was finally back to full strength, he remains injury prone. But his 41:12 K:BB ratio in 30.2 innings shows he's reliable when healthy. He could prove to be a bargain if he lands in a bullpen with an opportunity to close games.

The Royals have brought in Dotel to serve as their closer, after dealing Ambiorix Burgos to the Mets for starter Brian Bannister this winter. Dotel made just 14 appearances for the Yankees last season, but for a club looking to re-acquire the confidence of its fan base, Dotel is a gamble worth the risk given his proven track record as a closer. Keep a close eye on his progress this spring, as he'll be a great value on draft day if he can harness his nasty slider and return to his pre-Tommy John form.

Dotel was limited to just 15 appearances before Tommy John surgery forced him to the sidelines. The Yankees took a chance on him this offseason, however, and hope to see him pitching again in a setup role, along with Kyle Farnsworth, by June.

Nagging back and elbow injuries and a few gopher balls hurt Dotel's overall numbers, but he remains an elite closer. He still allows far fewer hits than innings and his K/IP and K/BB ratios remain strong. He's the type of closer the cost-conscious A's might spend on to keep around past his arbitration years.

Dotel, who has had three tremendous seasons in a row as the Astros' top setup man, now assumes the closer role following the Billy Wagner trade and immediately becomes one of the top closers in the league. But before you bid the extra dollar on him, pay attention to two negative trends. His HR:9IP rate has steadily increased over the last three years, from .43 to .65 to .93 last year. His strikeout rate has decreased correspondingly, from 12.43 to 10.91 to 10.03 last year. Mind you, the 2003 ratios in both categories are still *good*, just not up to the excellent standards set by Dotel in previous years.

Dotel perhaps has been the best relief pitcher in baseball the last two seasons. He's one relief pitcher that's worth bidding up on even without the guarantee of save opportunities, as he throws enough innings for his low ERA and WHIP to make a significant impact. Dotel's one potential weakness is his mechanics – he had a rough patch in April that was attributed to his being out of tune with his mechanics. Should that re-occur, remain patient and ride out the storm.