Is Ricky Romero worth a pick-up?

[Droxside]

Any thoughts on Rickey Romero, SP for Toronto. He is on my waiver wire.

[MadDog36]

I hope this helps:

This kid from CS-Fullerton is what I'd call a #4 fantasy SP (not to mention being Toronto's #4 starter). he's one of those guys that you'd be careful using. When he's on he's tough, but he can be overwhelmed easily. I saw him pitch for AA New Hampshire and at times he looked a bit overwhelmed. His upcoming schedule looks favorable for sure. He's definitely NOT a strikeout pitcher. He's best left to AL-only leagues or super-deep mixed leagues. What really counts is he's that kind of "matchup type" of SP you'd play on matchups.

4.98 ERA and 1.6 whip this is what he produced at Double-A. He averages a hit per inning and high walk totals. Those are not offset by strikeouts, so ratios are a bit high.

I would look elsewhere in finding a sleeper SP man.

Here are his overall numbers if your interested:

Minor League Pitching Stats
Year Team W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV INN H R ER HR HBP BB SO
2005 A-Dunedin 1 0 3.82 8 8 0 0 0 30.2 36 13 13 2 0 7 22
2005 A-Auburn 0 0 0.00 1 1 0 0 0 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 1 2
2006 AA-N.Hampshire 2 7 5.08 12 12 0 0 0 67.1 65 43 38 7 1 26 41
2006 A-Dunedin 2 1 2.47 10 10 1 1 0 58.1 48 17 16 5 1 14 61
2007 AA-N.Hampshire 3 6 4.89 18 18 1 0 0 88.1 98 57 48 9 4 51 80
2007 A-Dunedin 0 0 3.86 1 1 0 0 0 4.2 4 2 2 0 0 1 2
2008 AA-N.Hampshire 5 5 4.96 21 21 0 0 0 121.2 139 70 67 9 6 55 78
2008 AAA-Syracuse 3 3 3.38 7 7 1 0 0 42.2 42 17 16 3 2 20 38

However, one thing in his favor is that he has improved his strikeout totals from the minors this Spring. Then again, two levels at AA and no real marked improvement. He was selected in the first round of the first-year player draft by the Jays, but I'm concerned with his lack of improvement. His peripherals do not look that impressive, and he's never been lauded as a great prospect. I think that he's just keeping the seat warm for their other young arms and other guys that are on the DL (Jannsen, McGowan, etc). His prospect status has fallen because of his performance and I might add that in his defense that Toronto has a good ability to bring up mediocre pitchers and make them servicable. I think I'd go with a more proven prospect or raw prospect with way more upside if this is a keeper (or just stream 2SP with the best matchups available.)

I'd treat him more of a stop gap option than a fantasy backbone.

[Droxside]

Thanks MadDog36, I really appreciate the advice...Best of life to you.