Brandon McCarthy

41-Year-Old PitcherP

Free Agent

2024 Stats

W-L

0-0

ERA

0.00

WHIP

0.00

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2024 Fantasy Outlook

There was no outlook written for Brandon McCarthy in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.

Bats R

Throws R

40 Man No

Height 6'7"

Weight 180

DOB 7/7/1983

Drafted 17th Rd 2002

Transitions to front office job

PFree Agent

December 11, 2018

The Rangers hired McCarthy (knee) as special assistant to the general manager Tuesday, officially putting an end to his playing career.

ANALYSIS
The 35-year-old McCarthy will call it quits after injuries limited him to just 234.1 innings over the past four seasons. He'll finish his playing career with a 69-75 record and 4.20 ERA across parts of 13 seasons (1223.2 innings) with the seven different teams.

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2018

2017

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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Brandon McCarthy See More

NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

July 28, 2018

Jan Levine updates free-agent finders on the NL's influx of new talent, including former Royal and new Brewers third baseman Mike Moustakas.

NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

July 22, 2018

Jan Levine gives his weekly NL waiver wire tips, reminding Senior Circuit owners that Manny Machado is available and the Padres might have a new impact closer -- if they don't trade him, as well.

NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

July 15, 2018

Jan Levine sees signs of a long-term rebound or breakout from the Phillies' Maikel Franco and suggest FAABers lock him up now.

The Z Files: NL Rotation Overview

July 5, 2018

Todd Zola concludes his tour of big-league depth charts with a look at rotations in the National League, including a more charitable view of the Rockies' recent demotion of Jon Gray.

NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

July 1, 2018

Jan Levine hopes waiver-wire trollers are picking up emerging Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2003

McCarthy fell victim to the blister epidemic of 2017 and also missed time with knee and shoulder issues. Those injuries limited him to 92.2 innings, giving McCarthy a total of 155.2 frames combined over the past three seasons; he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2015. As is the case with a lot of pitchers coming off reconstructive elbow surgery, McCarthy struggled with his control in 2016, issuing walks at a 5.9 BB/9 clip. That number fell back closer in line with his career average last season (2.6 BB/9 in 2017) as he pumped in first-pitch strikes to 65.1 percent of the batters he faced. His strikeout rate was modest at 7.0 K/9, but a mid-30s O-Swing percentage hints at room for growth in that department, and McCarthy was good at limiting the long ball (0.49 HR/9). He was shipped to Atlanta along with Scott Kazmir in a multi-player deal this offseason, as the Braves wanted veteran arms to serve as placeholders while they await their hoard of high-end pitching prospects. McCarthy's spot in the rotation should be secure for as long as he stays healthy in 2018.

The injury situation is not quite as dire with McCarthy as it is with his former teammate, Brett Anderson, but the two pitchers fall into a similar boat in terms of workload expectations for the 2017 season. He hasn't thrown more than 40 innings since 2014, which was his first and only campaign of 200 or more innings in his career. When on the mound, however, McCarthy is a force to be reckoned with, including a K/BB of 3.91 in 679.2 innings since 2009. The Dodgers owe the right-hander $23 million over the next two seasons -- further incentive to be patient for a team whose rotation leans heavily to the left. A healthy McCarthy has the ability to contribute value in wins, strikeouts, ERA and WHIP. He's a wild card, but the upside is likely worth the meager cost on draft day.

McCarthy was able to leverage his first 200-inning season in 2014 into a surprising four-year, $48 million deal with the Dodgers to act as their No. 4 starter. Despite a 5.87 ERA, McCarthy stood at 3-0 after four starts (thank you run support), but that was the extent of his 2015 contributions, as McCarthy underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on April 30. Prior to going down, McCarthy had been averaging a career-best 93.4 mph with his fastball and was coming off a season in which his 7.9 K/9 marked a career-high in that category. In his abbreviated 2015 stint, McCarthy featured an elite 29:4 K:BB in 23 innings, but while the control was there, his command wasn't, as evidenced by the whopping nine home runs he surrendered. McCarthy is reportedly targeting a July 2016 return, so he's someone to keep in mind as a mid-season addition in deeper leagues provided he is 100 percent.

McCarthy’s results never caught up with his skills in Arizona, so he left with a 5.01 ERA despite an xFIP more than two runs lower at 2.88. He was missing bats at a career-best clip, still walking next to nobody, and doing it all with significantly improved stuff (including 2 extra mph on his fastball), but an obscene 20 percent HR/FB rate and sky-high .345 BABIP simply crushed him. He was traded to the Yankees in early July and it all clicked immediately. He reeled off 90 innings of a 2.89 ERA with a 2.85 xFIP that was nearly identical to his Arizona work. A lot of it is just simple regression to the mean, particular with that HR/FB rate (down to 12.8% with NYY), but others are quick to point out his increased usage of the cutter as the driving force. He had never sniffed 200 innings before 2014 and injuries have ravaged his career to this point, but these skills are worth an investment. His lengthy injury history is accounted for in the price so he doesn’t need another 200 to return plus value.

Even with his annual extended disabled list trip with a shoulder injury, McCarthy threw the second most innings of his major league career in 2013, going 135 frames while posting a poor 4.53 ERA. He was plagued by a strangely high BABIP, which approached .400 in March and April. His contract ensures he will be a part of the rotation in some way in 2014 if he isn't traded, but the injury concerns will continue to overshadow him despite the fact that his 3.77 xFIP from last season suggests plenty of room for a rebound.

McCarthy may be the funniest and smartest guy in the league, but he sure is snake bitten. After another shoulder injury put him on the DL in May and June, he took a very scary line drive to the side of the head in September and had to have emergency surgery that night to relieve pressure on his brain. McCarthy was having his second straight effective season for the A's before the injuries struck (in his two years with the A's, he had 17 wins and a 3.29 ERA). Cleared to resume all baseball activities in mid-November, McCarthy signed a two-year deal with Arizona. If he slips in drafts, McCarthy is a very nice target to provide solid ratios along with a possible uptick in strikeout moving to the NL, as long as you know it will likely come with some injury road bumps along the way.

McCarthy was surprisingly healthy and effective aside from a recurrence of a stress reaction in his shoulder that sidelined him for five weeks. His 170.2 innings eclipsed his previous career high by 70 innings, and his suddenly improved control resulted in just 25 walks and a 1.131 WHIP on the season. He was consistent all season long, never posting an ERA above 3.90 in any single month, and credits a new two-seam fastball for his improved control and groundball-inducing ways. You'd be foolish to pay for last years' stats given McCarthy's injury history, but don't dismiss him entirely when you start looking for a solid staff-filler in deeper leagues.

McCarthy was limited to 17 starts, missing three months due to a stress fracture in his throwing shoulder. He showed enough at times to be offered arbitration in December, and he figures to be a frontrunner for one of the spots at the back of the Texas rotation. The career warts of too many walks and too many long balls are still present (not to mention too many injuries), and his continued health problems and limited major league success make him a risky fantasy play even if he emerges with a rotation spot at the end of spring.

Elbow problems limited McCarthy to just five starts all season, and he did a poor job of throwing strikes and keeping the ball in the park when healthy. A late-season mechanical adjustment under the watchful eyes of Nolan Ryan has McCarthy looking forward to 2009, so watch those early spring starts to see if he's rediscovered the form that resulted in him being traded straight up for John Danks a few winters back.

McCarthy, acquired in an offseason deal from the White Sox, flopped in his first extended look as a major league starter. A poor 59:48 K:BB rate was the source of most of his problems, but he also battled blister and shoulder issues as well. He doesn't do a very good job of keeping the ball on the ground either, which can be a problem at Rangers Ballpark. Regaining his control should be his first priority, and he's expected to be a full-time starter again in 2008.

Despite putting together his worst professional season, with a 1.30 WHIP and less than eight strikeouts per nine innings, McCarthy was still a fan favorite last year to be moved to the rotation. He did so in May and lost to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, allowing a pair of home runs. The fans bellowed again after the White Sox were out of the race and McCarthy dominated Cleveland for five-plus innings, striking out eight. Since that was his last outing of the season, it will be what most remember. Traded to Texas in the offseason, he'll finally join the rotation, but his stats may suffer by moving to a hitters' park.

He hit some potholes on the road to the White Sox staff, but a midseason arm angle adjustment put McCarthy back on track just in time to fill in for an ailing Orlando Hernandez down the stretch. His home run rate even at Triple-A sticks out like a sore thumb, but the trade for Javy Vazquez puts him in a swing man role to begin the season anyway, giving him a chance to work out those kinks (or at least find a way to minimize the damage he'll suffer because of them).

McCarthy exploded onto the prospect radar screen in 2004, zooming through three levels straight up to Double-A as a 20-year-old, striking out better than a batter an inning at each stop, and posting an insanely filthy 202/30 K/BB ratio overall in 172 IP. He should start the year back at Double-A, but we'd be shocked if he ended it there. Assuming the White Sox don't let his workload get out of hand, they have a stone stud on their hands. Despite the usual pitching prospect caveats, keeper league owners should do everything they can to get hold of him.

More Fantasy News

Shut down for season

PAtlanta Braves

Knee

September 10, 2018

McCarthy (knee) won't pitch again in 2018, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

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Rehab halted after aggravating injury

PAtlanta Braves

Knee

September 1, 2018

The Braves returned McCarthy from his rehab assignment after he aggravated his knee injury, and he'll remain on the 60-day disabled list.

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To begin rehab assignment

PAtlanta Braves

Knee

August 25, 2018

McCarthy (knee) will start a rehab assignment at Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.

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Will retire at season's end

PAtlanta Braves

Knee

August 14, 2018

McCarthy (knee) announced Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the 2018 season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. "If I was going to keep playing, a month and a half ago I would have had the surgery that cleans the [knee] and I'd be back next year just a little bit after spring [training]."

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Throwing off mound

PAtlanta Braves

Knee

August 14, 2018

McCarthy (knee) threw off a mound Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

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