Scott Olsen

Scott Olsen

40-Year-Old PitcherP
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Scott Olsen in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a minor league contract with the Rangers in November of 2012.
PFree Agent  
July 12, 2012
Olsen has been released by the White Sox.
ANALYSIS
After sitting out all of 2011, the former Marlins and Nationals starter only made three appearances in the minors for the White Sox. Although Olsen gave the White Sox a very small sample of his performance, the team apparently wasn't impressed.
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On the bright side, Olsen actually had a good run going into early May, but then his shoulder became an issue again and wrecked the rest of his year. He's young enough that if he can just get healthy, he might yet turn back into a useful back-of-the-rotation lefty. He'll compete for a spot in the Pittsburgh rotation after signing a two-year deal with the Pirates.
Olsen was a disaster in 2009, and his season ended mercifully early due to what proved to be a labrum tear. He'd been alternating ugly seasons with adequate ones, but he's not guaranteed a rotation spot heading into spring training, so that pattern will likely be snapped. Washington still thinks he has a big league future, but they're decidedly in the minority on that one.
Olsen's 2008 was better than his 2007, but it would have been hard for it to be worse. His control improved but his strikeout numbers have regressed sharply since he entered the majors and the Marlins likely felt no hesitation about trading him to the Nationals. He'll fill a rotation spot for Washington, but with an even worse team behind him it's doubtful he'll turn things around.
While fellow young guns Anibal Sanchez and Josh Johnson were felled by injuries, Olsen's struggles seemed mostly attributable to mental issues like his immaturity and lack of control, issues which spilled off the field in July and led to a DUI and scuffle with police. He's still got a good fastball and nasty slider (so nasty it sometimes gets mistaken for a changeup) but until he learns to harness his emotions it's tough to project a solid major league career for him.
Olsen didn't get the attention that Josh Johnson or Anibal Sanchez did in 2006, but his first full major league season was only a little less impressive. His HR rate spiked compared to his minor league numbers but otherwise his skill set remained firmly intact, especially his excellent strikeout rate, and at 23 he's got plenty of time to refine the command on his fastball-slider arsenal and start reeling off some 200 strikeout campaigns.
Olsen looked surprisingly good in a brief stint in the Marlins rotation during the summer, but his season was cut short by an elbow injury. Assuming he's fully recovered, he stands as good a chance as any of Florida's top pitching prospects of winning a spot in the rotation for good coming out of spring training.
Olsen ripped through the Florida State League in 2004, posting a 158/53 K/BB ratio in 136 1/3 innings. The Marlins could have a revolving door for a fifth starter this season, so if Olsen keeps up the pace at Double-A there's always a chance he could find himself in a big league uni sometime in August.
More Fantasy News
PChicago White Sox  
January 29, 2012
Olsen's contract with the White Sox did not include an invitation to spring training, the team's official site reports.
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PChicago White Sox  
January 25, 2012
Olsen has signed a minor league deal with the White Sox, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reports.
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PFree Agent  
Hamstring
May 14, 2011
The Pirates released Olsen on Saturday, Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
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PPittsburgh Pirates  
Hamstring
April 24, 2011
Olsen (hamstring) continues to build up his arm strength, but he doesn't appear close to a return to the Pirates, the team's official site reports.
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PPittsburgh Pirates  
Hamstring
March 31, 2011
The Pirates placed Olsen (hamstring) on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch reports.
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