Jorge De La Rosa

Slated to be a regular starter for the Rockies, De La Rosa was forced to the DL to start the season with a groin injury. Things didn't improve much from there, as he was forced to miss some starts in the summer due to a hand injury, and he was shut down in late September with right Achilles tendinitis. That said, he still managed to put together 26 starts, going 9-7 with a 8.1 K/9. The 34-year-old still had a high 4.17 ERA and 3.9 BB/9, but he should continue to see plenty of starts until the Rockies' young pitching prospects move to the top of the rotation. He's not the most reliable option, but he can be a decent streaming option when presented with a favorable matchup.

De La Rosa’s ERA and win totals declined slightly from his resurgent 2013 campaign, but he more or less justified the Rockies’ expectations after the club exercised his $11 million option prior to last season. The left-hander offset concerns over the ERA rise by increasing his strikeout and groundball rates, and most significantly, covering 184.1 innings over 32 starts. By simply staying healthy, De La Rosa asserted himself as the clear staff ace, though he admittedly didn’t have many challengers for that throne. His ability to eat innings and churn out capable numbers despite making roughly half his starts at the league’s least forgiving home park earned De La Rosa a two-year, $25 million extension in September, but it won’t make him any more attractive from a fantasy perspective. Even with the increase, De La Rosa’s 6.7 K/9 rate only hovered around the league average, and his propensity for pitching to contact will never aid his WHIP. He might be the Rockies’ No. 1 starter, but De La Rosa shouldn’t represent more than a depth or streaming consideration for most fantasy squads.

The Rockies had serious doubts about how De La Rosa might perform after missing nearly all of the previous two seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but the right-hander was probably even better than they imagined, anchoring the rotation with 16 wins, a 3.49 ERA (3.76 FIP) and a 2.9 WAR. He was at his most exceptional at Coors Field, where he posted a 2.73 ERA and 6.7% walk rate, the latter of which was integral to avoiding big innings at the hitter-friendly park. Aside from the hefty win total and useful ERA, however, De La Rosa wasn’t an especially sought-after fantasy pitcher. His improved control came at the expense of his strikeout rate, and his increased willingness to keep the ball on the ground yielded more baserunners, resulting in a bloated 1.38 WHIP. These kind of numbers might normally prompt concern of regression, but as his FIP would suggest, De La Rosa seemed to be in firm control of the results he ended up generating. He’ll be back as the Rockies’ No. 2 starter in 2014 and should maintain his success even as it goes largely overlooked in the fantasy realm.

After enduring a series of setbacks in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, De La Rosa returned to make three starts at the tail end of the season, his first MLB action since May 2011. He looked predictably rusty upon returning, giving up five home runs in 10.2 innings and sporting a fastball down nearly two miles per hour from its pre-surgery velocity. As expected, De La Rosa picked up the $11 million player option on his contract, a sum of money that should virtually guarantee him a spot in the rotation when the season begins. In spite of the starting opportunity, there remains a lot of risk with De La Rosa, who has a career 4.5 BB/9 and has not stayed healthy with any regularity during his major league service time. Considering that he has now had a major operation like Tommy John under his belt, it is possible De La Rosa may never again come close to approaching the near strikeout-per-inning clip he registered in 2011 prior to the injury.

De La Rosa was having a career year before a complete tear of his UCL led to Tommy John surgery in May. He's never boasted pinpoint control, so it may take him a bit of time after the surgery to get back to where he was in his 2011 (career-low 3.36 BB/9IP). At press time, De La Rosa was on schedule with his recovery, while the timetable for his return points to June before he'll be ready to take the ball for Colorado again. Even before the surgery, De La Rosa had durability concerns, with just once season since 2007 where he eclipsed 130 innings at the big league level.

De La Rosa started four games before a finger injury sidelined him through early July. Once back in the Rockies' rotation, he battled problems with the long ball, before settling in and showing many of the skills he flashed in 2009. Whether his increased use of a changeup or something else, his groundball rate rose from 44.7 percent to 52.3 percent. He needs to improve his walk rate (4.07 BB/9IP) before he can make the jump to the upper echelon of starting pitchers, but the combination of a good groundball rate and the ability to make batters miss should provide him with a solid foundation from which to build on in 2011.

After starting the year 0-6, it was looking like more of the same from De La Rosa. He was plagued by long innings, and had a terrible habit of letting things snowball out of control. However, he took a hold of the season thereafter, going 16-3 with a 3.94 ERA and a 2.39 K/BB ratio. The walk totals are a little high, but his strikeout rate was the highest of his career (9.4 K/9IP). De La Rosa will pitch third in the rotation this season, and while he can be an ERA liability on occasion, he still makes for a good value/sleeper pick as his career finally looks poised to take flight.

Credit the Rockies for sticking with De La Rosa after his awful May, when he allowed 25 runs in 23 innings in his first five starts. Put back in the rotation June 14, he struck out 102 men in 102 1/3 innings from that point on, fighting his control a bit (48 walks) but keeping the ball down and keeping runs off the board. He can and will get better from here, and has more upside than any Rockies starter save Ubaldo Jimenez.

De la Rosa's 2007 season was truncated by an elbow injury, and he was knocked around in his return, a sign that may have returned prematurely. Before the injury, he showed that he was still the same old De la Rosa, keeping lefties to a .234 clip, but allowing righties to hit 19 home runs off him in 26 games. He'll enter spring training in competition with some of the Royals' top pitching prospects for the back end of the rotation, and could win a gig based on his more extensive starting experience. If not, he will spot start while throwing out of the bullpen.

When Milwaukee finally tired of De la Rosa's wildness, it became the Royals' turn to get excited about his live arm and strikeout rate. The Royals remain guardedly excited due to a few teasing starts, such as wins over Texas, Cleveland and the Yankees. Of course, there were some wild starts, including six walks in 4+ innings in the season finale against the Twins. The Royals would like a chance to harness his control, but the team failed in its most recent attempt to do the same with Denny Bautista. At 26, he's still got a little time.

De la Rosa has a great arm and great stuff, but he just can't get it over the plate. He struck out 42 batters in 42 1/3 IP, but also allowed an alarming 38 walks. De la Rosa has a ton of potential and is still only 24, but he's out of minor league options and will need to pitch better if he wants to win a swingman role with the Brewers.

De la Rosa made his major league debut in 2004 and showed some signs of being a decent starter. The 23 year old lefty throws hard, but has trouble with his command. Some people have projected him as a reliever in the majors but the Brewers will give him every opportunity to start. He's out of options, so look for him to make the Opening Day roster, but don't be surprised if he comes up with an injury that requires an extended rehab stint at Triple-A Nashville.

De la Rosa was shipped to Arizona in the Curt Schilling deal and then was subsequently packaged to the Brewers in the Richie Sexson deal. The Red Sox held out in dealing him until they could land the biggest fish possible, as their top pitching prospect. De la Rosa had a tremendous growth season at Double-A Portland before an end of the season promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket. He probably needs a half-season in Triple-A before he's ready for the majors, but he might not get that luxury with the Brewers.

De la Rosa primarily pitched at Class A Sarasota before getting a late promotion to Double-A Trenton. In 23 starts at Sarasota, de la Rosa was 7-7 with a 3.65 ERA. In 120 2/3 IP, he allowed 105 hits and had a 95/52 K/BB ratio. He's another couple of years away.