Mat Latos

Latos saw time with the Marlins and Dodgers last season before being claimed by the Angels at the end of September as they attempted to make a run for the postseason. The two runs he allowed with the Halos in just 3.2 innings was a microcosm of his season, as he finished with a 4.95 ERA over 116.1 innings. It's difficult to determine where things fell off for Latos statistically, as his strikeout rate (7.7 K/9), walk rate (2.5 BB/9) and xFIP (3.69) were all close to career averages, while his average fastball velocity came in at 91.5 mph after dropping to 90.7 in 2014. This would seem to make Latos an interesting buy-low candidate, but injuries have limited him to just 218.2 innings over the last two years. Latos, who elected free agency in November, comes with plenty of risk thanks to his injury history, but he could prove to be a serviceable bargain arm.

Latos was only able to log a half-season's worth of starts in 2014, first getting delayed by a knee injury in February that required surgery. Shortly after beginning his spring training, he developed a flexor mass tendon injury and encountered multiple setbacks on his way back from the DL. Then, at the end of the year, he missed a handful of starts due to a bone chip in his elbow that was allegedly unrelated to his previous elbow injury. He's projected to return in time for the start of spring training, aided by a procedure in November that used stem cells to help replace the missing ligament from his previous bone spur surgery. Be careful to watch for Latos's velocity readings in spring training -- the various injuries in 2014 caused him to lose nearly two mph off his fastball. If the velocity returns, Latos, who's entering a contract year, might be a really nice bargain at the draft table, as the move to the much more pitcher-friendly Marlins Park could help his numbers considerably.

Latos turned into exactly the workhorse at the top of the rotation that the Reds expected when they boldly traded for him in the winter of 2011. Given the travails of Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal, chalk one up for Walt Jocketty so far. Interestingly enough, Latos has actually pitched better in the cozy confines of Great American Ballpark (2.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP) than on the road (3.48 ERA, 1.28 WHIP), continuing a trend that started in 2012, despite the worries generated from his move out of Petco. After the season, it was revealed that he pitched through an abdominal strain the final three months of the season, and he also needed bone chips removed from his elbow in October. Check his status when pitchers and catchers report, but he looks to be a solid second-tier fantasy starter once again.

Latos failed to become the staff ace that the Reds hoped he would when they traded for him last December, but that's only because Johnny Cueto was better. After a rough April (5.97 ERA), Latos stabilized to provide exactly what the Reds wanted from him. As expected, he gave up more homers due to the change in ballparks (18 of his 25 homers allowed were in Great American Ballpark, though it's worth noting his home ERA was 3.18, compared to 3.93 on the road), including one game where he allowed five solo shots and still got the win. But even in that department, 17 of those homers allowed occurred over the first half of the season (soul-crushing homers in the playoffs don't count for this exercise). Expect more of the same this season, including possibly a rough April (his career April ERA is 5.73).

After enjoying a career year in 2010, Latos appeared to take a significant step back in 2011. Virtually all of his numbers, ranging form ERA to K/BB to swinging-strike percentage, took a hit. However, if you look at his monthly splits, you'll notice that the overall totals are skewed by a poor start to the season in which Latos was suffering from both velocity and control issues as well as recovering from a sore shoulder in spring training. He made steady improvements and by midseason, had righted the ship, posting a 2.87 ERA with a 3.83 K/BB ratio after the All-Star break, all while holding the opposition to a .205 BAA. Traded to the Reds in December, Latos will now pitch half of his games at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, but his strong peripherals should help him retain most of his value despite an expected uptick in his home-run rate.

In his first full season in the majors, Latos took the National League by storm racking up 14 wins, 189 strikeouts, a 2.92 ERA, and an outstanding 1.083 WHIP. He kept his walk rate down (2.4 BB/9IP) and used a fastball/slider combination that kept hitters off balance. Of course, pitching in PETCO Park also helped. Going into 2011, the biggest concern will be how his body handles the 60-plus innings increase he made from 2009 to 2010. Assuming he can stay healthy, expect an adjustment period as he won't be sneaking up on anyone this time around. Still, his skill set and home park are a great foundation for any young pitcher.

An ankle injury kept him off the mound in April, but Latos hit the ground running thereafter, dominating Double-A and impressing in the Futures Game. His cup of coffee with the Padres was less impressive and showed that he needs work on his secondary pitches. He's in a great spot for a young pitcher and has both the scouting and stats imprimaturs. Look for him to be a league-average starter this season and get better from there as his breaking ball and changeup improve.

Latos, considered by many in the San Diego organization to be their future closer, started the season at Low-A Fort Wayne after staying behind at extended spring training due to shoulder soreness. He then suffered a rib cage injury and when recovered, he was assigned to the Arizona Rookie League where he aggravated an intercostal strain. He finished the season at short-season Eugene (also Low-A). Between his early season shoulder woes and recurring intercostal strain, Latos only threw 56 innings combined over the three levels, starting in 11-of-15 appearances to build up arm strength. While Latos is still viewed as the bullpen stopper, his development was curtailed a bit by the 2008 injuries, so he is going to have to show he is durable enough to handle the role, probably by beginning the season at Double-A Portland. It is encouraging that Latos' arm remained healthy, but the lingering nature of his intercostal strain is a concern.