Duaner Sanchez

Sanchez missed all 2007 recovering from his surgery to repair a separated shoulder and torn ligaments in his pitching shoulder due to a taxi accident in July 2006. While pitching in spring training last year, Sanchez suffered a hairline fracture of the coracoid, a small bone in the front of the right shoulder, which required a screw to secure the fracture, sidelining him for the year. The hope and expectation is that Sanchez, who was reportedly is hitting 88-90 mph on his fastball in December, will be ready for spring training but the unknown is whether he will be able to pitch without restrictions, repeat his delivery and release point and not be concerned with re-injuring his shoulder. If he does come back healthy, Sanchez will set up for closer Billy Wagner.

Through July 30, it looked Mets GM Omar Minaya had stolen Sanchez from the Dodgers for Jae Seo as Sanchez was a brilliant set-up man for Billy Wagner. Sanchez's year literally came to a crashing end when a taxi cab he was riding in was involved in an accident resulting in him separating and tearing ligaments in his pitching shoulder. Prior to being hurt, he was unhittable in April and May, regressed in June but righted the ship in July and sat with 14 holds, which put him near the top of baseball at that time. Sanchez is expected to be fully healthy for spring training and should once again resume his role as Wagner's set-up man.

Traded to the Mets in January after ending 2005 as the Dodgers closer, Sanchez will revert back to a set-up role, setting the table for Billy Wagner. Luckily for Sanchez, he's moving from one pitcher's park to another, because his road ERA was a run and a half higher on the road last year.

The Dodgers claimed Sanchez off waivers from the Pirates last spring and it proved to be a wise move as he became a valuable member of the bullpen. That said, there isn't much interest here for fantasy owners.

Sanchez has a heater that has topped 100 MPH on the radar gun. The Pirates are grooming the hard-thrower as their future closer and he'll start the season closing for Class AAA Nashville. If anything happens to Mike Williams, grab this guy.