Gil Meche

By the end of 2008, Meche looked like he would be the dominant force the Royals envisioned after signing him to a five-year, $50 million deal in 2006. However, 2009 proved to be a lackluster season for Meche as it was cut short due to shoulder inflammation. Meche finished with a record of 6-10 with a 5.09 ERA in just 23 starts before being shut down in August. He struggled with consistency and was very hittable giving up 10.0 H/9IP and leading us to wonder how long his shoulder was bothering him? Meche typically is in the top half of the league in strikeouts, which provides good value to fantasy owners. He has been the subject of a few trade rumors, but the Royals are likely to hold onto him. If healthy, Meche provides a solid one-two punch with ace Zack Greinke.

General manager Dayton Moore seems to be getting the last laugh two years into Meche’s five-year, $50 million deal. Meche ranked fifth in the AL with 183 strikeouts, seventh with 210.1 innings pitched and eighth with 7.83 K/9IP. If an atrocious April was thrown out of the equation, he would have had a 13-7 record with a 3.36 ERA, just 13 home runs allowed and a .243 BAA. Note that Meche allowed more flyballs than groundballs on the season, but that number has historically been flipped, so we are not all that concerned. He should be nearing his prime as he inches near age 30, and Meche will remain in one of the Royals’ top two rotation spots next to Zack Grienke.

The laughingstock signing of last winter actually pitched up to his contract in 2007, leading the team's starters in ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched. He also left games with the lead or the game tied nine times in 2007. Part of the transformation from a fourth starter to ace was the development and control of a changeup and cutter, while changing the way his foot lands in his delivery. He finished the year by allowing no more than three runs in his last 10 starts, which points to a similar performance in 2008.

Gil Meche, thy name is inconsistency. After ten years of waiting for the No. 1 draft pick to turn into the staff ace, the Mariners ran out patience with Meche, he of the mid-90s fastball and power curveball. The Royals decided in December they'd take a spin on the Meche-mobile, signing the nerve-racking pitcher to a whopping five-year, $55 million contract. Meche can be effective at times, but is utterly undependable from one game—nay, one inning—to the next. Apparently, the Royals think they can crack this nut. If so, it'll make Meche a fantasy bargain. But who wants to gamble on that?

The Mariners' patience with Meche has just about run out. Shoulder, elbow and knee injuries contributed to a rotten season (5.09 ERA, 1.57 WHIP). But for a pitcher who has a mid-90s fastball and a power curveball, 72 walks to 83 strikeouts is mind blowing. And in his mind might be where most of Meche's problem's lie. His inconsistency is maddening. He allowed three runs or less in back-to-back outings only six times in 25 starts before his season was cut short in September. The Mariners might not bring him back given any reliable alternatives.

After starting last season 1-5 with a 7.06 ERA in 10 starts, Meche turned around his season in the second half, though it took a trip to Triple-A Tacoma to straighten him out. During his nearly two-month stint at Tacoma, he changed his windup, keeping his hands at his waist rather than chest-high, which improved his lacking control. Before his demotion, his K/BB ratio was 1.4/1, but in 13 starts after his return, it was 3.2/1 and he went 6-2 with a 3.95 ERA.

Meche rebounded from consecutive lost seasons due to shoulder injuries to have an impressive 2003. Meche (15-13) was the first pitcher in 50 years to win more than 14 games after a two-year absence. Fatigue seemed to be an issue down the stretch, but wasn't near the problem critics warned it would be. He lost 10 of his final 16 starts, but that doesn't tell the whole story. The Mariners scored two runs or less in eight of those losses and one run or less in six. Still, his 6.08 second-half ERA is a worry. Can Meche withstand another near 200-inning season? He could make for great trade bait if he is dumped before fatigue sets in.

Meche couldn't recover from an arm injury that caused him to miss the 2001 season, so he hasn't pitched in the majors in two seasons. If he stars in spring training, he could find a spot as a No. 5 starter.