Andrew Brown

Brown made a good initial impression with the A's after bouncing around the minors for the past few years, posting a 1.327 WHIP and 43 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. His numbers tailed off as the season wore on however (including a 1.90 WHIP and 11 walks in 13.2 September innings), so it's likely his two-month run of effectiveness after being called up will be the extent of his major league success.

Brown was sent to San Diego in the Josh Barfield deal in November and has battled elbow injuries his entire career. In a late-season trial with the Tribe last year, Brown had a 3.60 ERA in 10 innings. He'll need to harness his stuff better to succeed, but the move to San Diego, where the Padres have successfully cobbled together a bullpen out of non-descript parts, could be fruitful for Brown.

Finally healthy, Brown showed the live arm and control that elbow problems and a dead arm in 2003 and 2004 had hidden. A great campaign in Triple-A Buffalo (81 strikeouts in 69-plus innings) netted him a September call-up, but a pennant race kept him from any action. Barring more health woes, nothing should get in his way to pitching in Cleveland at some point in 2006.

The former sixth round pick of the Braves, and no-name component in the Gary Sheffield trade to Atlanta, pitched one inning in 2003 because of a sprained flexor mass in his elbow, then surgery to remove a bone spur from it. The elbow has been his nemesis as he lost the 2000 season to Tommy John surgery. At 6-foot-6, the 230-pounder is a legitimate strikeout prospect and routinely works his fastball between 92-94 miles per hour. Now age 23, he should begin the season at Double-A Jacksonville, but might struggle initially as injuries have hampered the development of his other pitches. Could be poised for a minor league breakout season in 2004 if he can overcome the elbow issues.