Jeff Locke

Jeff Locke

36-Year-Old PitcherP
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Jeff Locke in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Marlins in December of 2016.
Clears waivers
PMiami Marlins  
July 9, 2017
Locke cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Locke was designated for assignment following his brutal 11-run outing and subsequently passed through waivers unclaimed. He'll presumably join the starting rotation in New Orleans.
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2017
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Jeff Locke See More
FanDuel MLB: Monday Value Plays
July 3, 2017
Greg Vara thinks the Phillies' Aaron Nola is a great pick Monday against the Pirates.
FantasyDraft MLB: Monday Values
July 3, 2017
Juan Carlos Blanco checks in with his FantasyDraft recommendations for Monday, including the Reds' Joey Votto on the road at Coors Field.
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Strasburg Hopes to Back Up Last Start
July 1, 2017
Todd Zola ranks this week's pitchers as Stephen Strasburg, who worked through back spasms last time out, gets two home starts.
FanDuel MLB: Wednesday Value Plays
June 28, 2017
Chris Bennett checks in with his suggestions for Wednesday's FanDuel, starting with the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka on the bump against the White Sox.
FantasyDraft MLB: Wednesday Values
June 28, 2017
Paul Goldschmidt is always under consideration, but Greg Vara explains why he's an especially good play Wednesday against the Cardinals.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2008
More than a few Pirates fans wondered aloud how Locke remained on the roster the last couple seasons, especially since he again imploded in 2016. He maintained a 91.5 mph average fastball, throwing a tick harder upon his permanent banishment to the bullpen in August. The Pirates worked with Locke's windup and pitch repertoire in hopes of improving the one-time All-Star's results -- general manager Neal Huntington was a steadfast fan -- but he never rekindled his 2013 first-half success. After becoming a free agent in December, Locke inked a deal with the Marlins, where he will compete for a spot at the back of the rotation, with a long relief role awaiting him if he falls short in that endeavor.
Locke saw his earned run average worsen for the third straight season in 2015, jumping from 3.52 to 3.91 to 4.49 (in a career-high 168.1 innings). While his average fastball velocity improved to 91.3 mph, he yielded more hits (178) than ever before. His 16.5 pitches thrown per inning were the fifth-most among NL starters. After parts of five seasons in the majors, Locke may find himself looking for a fresh start in 2016. He throws an impressive changeup but it seems like National League hitters have pretty much figured him out. As a result, a full-time shift to the bullpen may be on tap.
Locke doesn't throw hard (90.5 mph fastball) or strike many batters out (6.10 K/9), but a deceptive changeup keeps batters off balance. So long as he finds the strike zone -- he improved from 4.4 BB/9 in 2013 to 2.7 BB/9 last season -- he has a chance to be effective. The southpaw made nine unimpressive Triple-A starts (4.14 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) before Pittsburgh summoned him to the big leagues, where he compiled a 7-6 record, 3.91 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 89:40 K:BB ratio in 21 starts (131.1 innings). Locke, who will battle for the fourth or fifth spot in the rotation, has proven to be a streaky pitcher and can help fantasy teams for short periods of time when hot. The offseason re-acquisition of mentor A.J. Burnett can only help the still-impressionable left-hander.
Locke went from surprise All-Star pitcher to picked-over starter in 2013. The 26-year-old lefty held the staff together early on, when injuries to A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez and others threatened to derail the Pirates' season. Expected to battle for the team's fifth rotation spot in spring training, Locke went 9-2 with a 2.11 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and .226 BABIP. After that, his numbers slipped to a 6.66 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and .393 BABIP. The lefty's inability to command the strike zone resulted in his decline. At 26, he still has room to grow, especially after his rookie season, but it would be unwise to value Locke as anything more than an end-game pick.
Locke's modus operandi with the Pirates in 2012 was to pitch lights-out baseball for several innings and then get rocked for a big inning. Whether that's nerves, inexperience or endemic of his future career remains to be seen. Most likely, it's case of a little of all three things. On the plus side, he reached 94 mph with his fastball in several of his last starts. He isn't known as a particularly hard thrower, but if he finds a way to sustain that level, that could cure a lot of his struggles. The lefty has experienced minor league success mostly by mixing his pitches. Locke registered an impressive 131:43 K:BB ratio at Triple-A, and pitching for Pittsburgh mostly in September, the 25-year-old compiled a 5.50 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 34.1 innings. He'll compete for the fifth starter's role in early 2013, but will have to impress with studs Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon right around the corner.
Lackluster describes Locke's first go-around in the majors last year. Pittsburgh felt the 24-year-old lefty was worthy of a big league shot despite pitching primarily for Double-A Altoona in 2011. Locke threw 125 frames for the Curve (4.03 ERA, 1.312 WHIP) before jumping to Triple-A. He gave up just seven runs in five starts for Indianapolis, prompting the Pirates to take a look at him in September. WIth a 6.48 ERA and 1.860 WHIP, Locke struggled in his four starts and looked even worse, if that's possible. The left-hander figures to start 2012 at Triple-A. Perhaps another experience in the high minors will wean him off of the deer-in-the-headlights look he displayed in his short stay with Pittsburgh.
Locke is a 23-year-old lefty with a 90 mph fastball and off-speed pitches decent enough to miss bats. Acquired as part of the package for Nate McLouth in 2009, Locke compiled a 12-5 record with a 3.56 ERA and 1.146 WHIP split between High-A and Double-A in 2010. He also finished with an impressive 8.7 K/9IP and 139:26 K:BB ratio. Locke came up big in the Double-A playoffs, fashioning a 1.54 ERA in 11.2 innings en route to a championship. Nothing stands out in particular with Locke, but he gets the job done. He'll likely get his first shot pitching at the Triple-A level in 2011 and his performance there will go along way toward determining whether he's another depth starter or a pitcher with fantasy-worthy potential.
Locke, Atlanta's second-round pick in 2006 out of high school, had an outstanding 74:8 K:BB ratio over 61 innings for Danville in the Appalachian League. While not overpowering, he has a low-90s fastball with good command. A strong season at Low-A could put him on the fast track for the majors.
More Fantasy News
DFA'd following horrible start
PMiami Marlins  
July 4, 2017
Locke was designated for assignment Tuesday.
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Tagged for 11 runs
PMiami Marlins  
July 3, 2017
Locke (0-5) allowed 11 runs on 11 hits and four walks while striking out two batters through just 2.2 innings during Monday's loss to St. Louis.
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Allows three in first inning, takes another loss
PMiami Marlins  
June 28, 2017
Locke (0-4) gave up three runs on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings in Wednesday's 8-0 loss to the Mets. He struck out four.
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Allows five runs in loss
PMiami Marlins  
June 22, 2017
Locke (0-3) gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two over four innings in a loss to the Cubs on Thursday.
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Registers another short outing Saturday
PMiami Marlins  
June 17, 2017
Locke (0-2) allowed three runs on five hits and one walk across four innings Saturday. He struck out five.
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