Just when you thought the White Sox were in full sell and rebuilding mode, they go and sign John Danks to a five-year deal. Despite going 8-12 in 2011, Danks showed how good he can really be by posting a 2.03 ERA in 71 innings from June through August. Not coincidentally, those three months were Danks’ most luck-neutral months while he struggled with bad luck the rest of the year. Danks should finish with a sub-four ERA and moderate strikeout and walk totals. Just like he always does.
Best case scenario: Chris Carpenter (STL)
Similar players: Johnny Cueto (CIN), Jaime Garcia (STL), Gavin Floyd (CHW)
Worst case scenario: Aaron Harang (LAD)
Strengths
Consistent, ground balls. Danks has posted a FIP between 3.79 and 3.99 in three of his last four seasons and his ground ball rate over the last four years has been a healthy 44.1 percent.
Weaknesses
Home runs. In three of his five seasons Danks’ HR/FB rate eclipsed one with 1.86 being his career worst. Of course in his other ...
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