RP with SP eligibility this year?

[dclark0699]

As part of the middle reliever strategy - RP with SP eligibility are very valuable. Last year, guys like Marmol and Villanueva were useful - and of course, Kevin Gregg.

Are there any good ones floating around out there this year who might provide a solid return?

[jcde7ago]

The only one who comes to mind is Jeremy Guthrie, though he's in the O's starting rotation.

[EugeneStyles]

Jon Lieber will start the season in the pen. I wouldn't be surprised if Dempster or Marquis falters though.

Any other guys that might have been on the cusp of the rotation and will now be in the bullpen?

[NZ Eff]

Kevin Correja, Dustin Moesley, Jorge Sosa, Claudio Vargas, Shawn Chacon, Joel Pineiro, Lenny DiNardo, JD Durbin are a few off the top of my head.

[The Jury]

Kevin Correja, Dustin Moesley, Jorge Sosa, Claudio Vargas, Shawn Chacon, Joel Pineiro, Lenny DiNardo, JD Durbin are a few off the top of my head.

Correia is SF's projected #4 starter; he's in the rotation.
Vargas was just released by Milwaukee.
As far as I know Pineiro still has a stater's role with the Cards.

[EugeneStyles]

Kevin Correja, Dustin Moesley, Jorge Sosa, Claudio Vargas, Shawn Chacon, Joel Pineiro, Lenny DiNardo, JD Durbin are a few off the top of my head.

Correia is SF's projected #4 starter; he's in the rotation.
Vargas was just released by Milwaukee.
As far as I know Pineiro still has a stater's role with the Cards.

Chacon is in the rotation as well, at least for now. Sosa is a good one.

I have both Correia and Chacon on one team that counts Holds & Saves, but only has 2 RP slots and no P slots - kind of stupid, but it was a public league that was drafting when I had some free time on my hands. Was hoping that one or both of them would get kicked back to the bullpen, but I will probably drop both for Lieber and Sosa once they clear waivers.

[The Jury]

What kind of number do you think Lieber will post out of the pen? He was a decent starter, similar to Dave Bush.

[EugeneStyles]

What kind of number do you think Lieber will post out of the pen? He was a decent starter, similar to Dave Bush.

It's hard to tell. He had an ERA under 2.00 for Spring Training, but we all know how much those stats count for. On the other hand, he has looked pretty good, and I wouldn't be surprised to see an ERA in the mid 3's, with a decent WHIP. On the third hand, he'll be pitching mostly in long relief, and those garbage innings can be pretty bad for a pitcher... if you're coming in trailing by 8 runs, you just want to throw strikes and get the game over with... sometimes that's good, and sometimes they end up jumping all over those strikes. But on the 4th hand, pitching in long relief will give him a chance for some more W's. On the 5th hand (maybe I should have started with fingers?), there's a good chance he'll end up in the rotation by the ASB, and at this point he has to be considered a marginal starter at best.

I would pick him up in a big league (like 20 team), or in something weird like my league I described above, where SP-eligible relievers are gold.

[dclark0699]

Leo Nunez of the Royals has now pitched 3 scoreless innings of relief with 2 BB and 4 K's.

He had decent numbers last season and, of course, the SP/RP eligibility.

[Sarcastro105]

After Lowry comes back, Jonathan Sanchez could move to the pen.