Joel Pineiro

Injuries limited Pineiro to just 23 starts last season, his first in Anaheim, but he still manged to pick up 10 victories and post a 3.84 ERA. Pineiro's ratio stats rose a bit with the move to the American League, but he was able to limit the damage by walking just 34 batters. Pineiro is not a big strikeout guy by any means, but the rest of his numbers make him a decent fantasy option in deeper formats as long as he can stay healthy.

Pitching coach Dave Duncan has a reputation of turning straw into gold, and Pineiro is the latest example. Left for dead by the Red Sox in 2007, Pineiro went 15-12 with a 3.49 ERA and 1.145 WHIP for a division winner last year. Despite a low strikeout rate, he had an outstanding walk rate and a low enough BABIP to indicate that 2009 may not have been a fluke. He'll try to repeat that success with the Angels after signing a two-year deal this offseason, and while 2009 was nice, don't forget 2004-2008 when it's your turn to bid on him.

Pineiro started 25 games for the Cardinals last year, and although he was quite hittable (180 hits in 148.2 innings), his great control kept him out of a lot of jams. He'll compete for a rotation spot this spring, but it's more likely the Cardinals will find someone else to make 25 mediocre starts this year.

After 34 mediocre innings as a reliever with Boston, Pineiro joined the Cardinals rotation at the trade deadline. In 11 starts with St. Louis, Pineiro was 6-4 with a 3.96 ERA. Pineiro’s consistency – he gave up two or three runs in seven of his 11 starts – was likely the deciding factor in rewarding him with a two-year, $13 million extension in October. He’ll bring his decent control and unremarkable strikeout rate back to St. Louis this year.

Pineiro's career went from ailing to morbid last season as it became obvious he's not the same pitcher he was prior to elbow and shoulder injuries. Pineiro, who went more than six innings in just eight of 25 starts, posted career highs in ERA and BB/9 (3.48) and career lows in K/9 (4.73) and K:BB (1.36:1) since becoming a starter in 2001. After signing with the Red Sox, there's talk he could be given a shot as the team's closer. That would boost his fantasy value, so watch him this spring, but his career trend still says his hold on any big league job will be tenuous.

Pineiro regained his arm strength after an elbow injury that cut short 2004 and a shoulder injury that landed him on the disabled list to start 2005. But his strikeout rate never recovered, even in his apparent late-season surge in which he gave up three runs or less in seven of nine August-September starts. In those starts, his K/9 was 4.8. From 2001 to 2003, though, he averaged 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Although Pineiro has his pre-injury velocity, he clearly is not the same pitcher he was before last year's elbow injury. Until he proves otherwise, be wary.

Pineiro endured a rollercoaster 2004, his season eventually ending in late July because of a strained elbow. After starting the year 1-8, he found his way, allowing two runs or less in seven of his final 10 starts. His K/BB ratio remained strong at 111/43. No ligament damage was found in the elbow, but watch him this spring and see how it responds. Barring a free agent signing, he'll be the team's No. 1 starter as long as the elbow holds up.

Pineiro continues to look like the staff ace of the future. However, he was a bit inconsistent last year. He posted a 1.44 ERA in July, followed by an 8.31 ERA in August. Pineiro had constant early inning trouble, but usually settled down to throw a good game; this approach led to high pitch counts, and he led the AL in average pitchers per start with 109.2 (stat courtesy of the 2004 Bill James 2004 Handbook). Still, he was strong through the end of the season, winning three of his last four starts. Pineiro is a solid fantasy pitcher, but watch his arm as he is coming off consecutive seasons of near-200 innings.

The Mariners’ confidence has steadily grown in Pineiro, as he has gone from one start in 2000 to 11 in 2001 to 28 in 2002. In all of those starts, he has a 19-9 record, a 3.22 ERA, two complete games and one shutout. He has a real shot at having a sub-3.50 ERA, 15-18 wins and a sub-1.25 WHIP in 30-plus starts. He isn’t a huge strikeout pitcher, but he gets enough to get by and doesn’t walk that many either.