Dan Wheeler

Wheeler pitched terribly to start the season and then suffered a calf injury that allowed him to get his act straight. He pitched pretty well through the middle months, but ended the season with a forearm injury. Boston didn't pick up his $3 million option for 2012 and he is a Type B free agent. Certainly some team could use a veteran reliever with a decent track record.

Wheeler remained one of the more consistent setup men in the league last season, posting his usual low ERA (3.35) and WHIP (1.067). He played a significant role in the seventh inning, bridging the gap to Joaquin Benoit and Rafael Soriano. Wheeler will be part of the Red Sox's rebuilt bullpen in 2011 after signing a one-year deal with Boston in December.

Wheeler posted his second straight solid season as one of Tampa's top setup options. For the second straight season, he posted a solid ERA (3.28) and WHIP (0.867). The emergence of J.P. Howell and trade for Rafael Soriano gives Wheeler little hope of collecting saves other than the occasional vulture. Still, he's one of the more consistent setup guys who can help any fantasy team's ERA and WHIP numbers.

With Troy Percival on the DL for much of the second half, Wheeler became the Rays' primary closer for most of those stretches. If Percival can't come back to close in 2009, Wheeler may become Joe Maddon's primary ninth-inning option; if he's not, he'll likely be the first choice in the eighth. Wheeler did fade a bit down the stretch (5.40 ERA in 20 innings after Aug. 1, six runs and 13 baserunners in 8.2 postseason innings), so the Rays may want to structure their bullpen so they won't run the risk of tiring Wheeler by overworking him.

Wheeler stepped in as the Rays' eighth-inning pitcher after he was traded by Houston in July, setting up closer Al Reyes. However, he was far less than dominant, delivering just 10 three-and-out performances in that role. Still, if he bounces back to his 2005-06 form, Wheeler would be a very effective late-inning reliever. If anything happens to new closer Troy Percival, either Wheeler or Reyes would be the first name on Tampa Bay's closer-in-waiting list in 2008.

Wheeler was probably the most reliable reliever in Houston's bullpen last year. He went 3-5 with a 2.52 ERA, and struck out 68 batters in 71.1 innings across 75 appearances. He filled in for Brad Lidge at closer when he was scuffling, and posted nine saves in 12 opportunities. He will likely serve as Lidge's main setup man this year.

The failed D-Rays prospect has been completely reinvented as dominant set-up man for the Astros. He's first in line should something happen to closer Brad Lidge.

Wheeler was excellent after coming over from the Mets in Aug. 2004, posting a 2.51 ERA and a 3/1 BB/K ratio in 14 games. The Astros lack a quality set-up man, so Wheeler could vie for that role, although Chad Qualls is the favorite to win the job.

Wheeler pitched well out of the bullpen in his first extended stint in the major leagues, and should break camp with the Mets in 2004. His best pitch is his curveball.

Wheeler's repertoire includes a rather deceptive curveball.