Jeanmar Gomez

Gomez likely went undrafted in most leagues last season as the veteran had typically worked as a middle reliever with solid ratios and a mediocre strikeout rate. He was thrust into the closing role in Philadelphia after the team traded Ken Giles in the offseason and none of the team's other relievers stepped up to seize the job. Gomez excelled for most of the year, racking up 37 saves before faltering in September and losing his job. He was never well-suited for the closing role because he couldn't strike batters out when he needed to and it is unlikely he will get a chance to assume that role again. The Phillies will reportedly let him compete for the job this spring, but Hector Neris and Edubray Ramos have profiles that indicate they are better suited for ninth inning work.

Gomez won a bullpen spot with the Phillies after coming to camp as a non-roster invitee. He spent the season working primarily in the middle innings and was successful despite underwhelming peripherals. Gomez agreed to another minor league deal with the Phillies, who will use him as organizational bullpen depth this season, giving him only minimal value in leagues that award holds.

Gomez's 4.37 FIP is far more indicative of how he pitched in 2014 than his 3.19 ERA over 44 appearances with the Pirates. The right-hander posted a 38:23 K:BB in his 62 innings -- though, admittedly, seven of his free passes were intentional -- and benefited greatly from an 82.0% strand rate. Scrapping the rarely-used cutter and curveball from his repertoire, Gomez relied far more heavily on his changeup last season, throwing it 27.3% of the time, up from 15.4% in 2013. The new approach resulted in slightly fewer groundballs, but he still induced grounders at a 46.8% clip, staying above 50 percent for his career. The Pirates outrighted Gomez off their 40-man roster in November and he later elected free agency. It seems likely a team in a hitter-friendly park will at least give him a chance at a bullpen spot given his groundball tendencies, but he's a non-factor for fantasy purposes.

Gomez set career bests across the board for the Bucs in 2013. The former Indian gave Pittsburgh versatility as a swingman who could serve as a starter or reliever with pretty much equal aplomb. Gomez started eight games, registering a 2.80 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 35.1 innings. From the bullpen, he compiled a 3.70 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 45.1 frames. Considering that his previous best ERA (4.68) and WHIP (1.42) were nowhere close to his 2013 numbers -- 3.35 ERA, 1.15 WHIP -- he'll have to prove that 2013 wasn't a fluke. Look for Gomez to both start and relieve once again in 2014.

Gomez opened up the season in the starting rotation but struggled and was moved to the bullpen after 13 forgettable starts. He got sent down to the minors, worked his way back to Cleveland, but once again struggled in a starting role, finishing the season with a 5.96 ERA and a poor 47:34 K:BB in 90.2 innings. Traded to Pittsburgh in January, Gomez will be in the picture for a spot in the back of the rotation entering spring training, but needs to put last year's struggles behind him quickly.

Gomez bounced around between Triple-A Columbus and the Indians, taking the mound 10 times for the Tribe with middling results (4.47 ERA, 1.509 WHIP, 4.8 K/9IP). He simply doesn't miss enough bats to give himself much of a margin for error at the big league level. Gomez will face an uphill battle for a spot at the back of the Cleveland rotation following the offseason acquisition of Derek Lowe, but he doesn't have much left to prove at Triple-A and may receive consideration as a long reliever.

Gomez struggled when pressed into duty, going 4-5 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.647 WHIP in 11 starts for Cleveland. He wasn't exactly mowing them down at Triple-A Columbus either (5.18 ERA, 1.473 WHIP in 20 starts) before the Tribe elected to bring him up. He's certainly better suited for a repeat year at Triple-A, but figures to battle Mitch Talbot and Josh Tomlin for a spot at the end of the Cleveland rotation in spring training. Learning on the job at the big league level will likely lead to growing pains, so tread carefully.

Gomez wasn't much of a prospect entering the season but pitched well enough at High-A Kinston to earn himself a promotion to Double-A Akron and a spot on the 40-man roster this winter. The 21-year-old posted a 1.273 WHIP and a 3.43 ERA in 123.1 innings at Double-A with a nice K/9IP (8.0) and K/BB (2.73) despite some growing pains after a quick start. He doesn't flash power stuff (88-92 mph fastball) but has the frame (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) to add some velocity as he matures. The Indians added some much needed talent through the draft and trade deadline deals so Gomez may get lost in the shuffle, but he'll look to build on his 2009 campaign this season.