MLB players hoping for bounceback seasons in 2019

The bottoming out of the Diamondbacks bullpen in the second half of last season played a major role in why they fell out of contention and are now mired in a rebuild. Bradley’s struggles played a big part in that situation, with his second-half ERA ballooning to 6.58 from 1.97 and his failing to convert a save in six opportunities. Even if it is as a setup man with closer potential, getting Bradley back on track is crucial for Torey Lovullo’s bullpen balance.

An inability to shake the injury bug recently hampered Donaldson from being able to land the big, long-term deal he desired this winter. But the Braves still saw the upside potential, handing the former AL MVP $23 million for 2019 alone. The hope is that he can find the form he briefly rediscovered with the Indians late in 2018 (.920 OPS in 50 at-bats) and be a crucial piece in keeping Atlanta atop what looks to be an ultra-competitive NL East.

The roller coaster ride that has defined Bundy’s professional career continued a year ago, as Bundy was unable to put the breaks on the runaway disaster of the O's 115-loss debacle. Despite a regression on his returns across the board, the O’s remain committed to their 26-year-old staff ace, hoping he is more 2016-17 (23 combined wins, 4.4 WAR) than 2018 (5.45 overall ERA, 7.11 after the All-Star break).

The gritty conscious of the Red Sox picked up a third World Series ring last year, despite appearing in only three games due to knee troubles that have plagued him since 2017. But Pedroia is back healthy this spring, and manager Alex Cora has said he will be atop the Red Sox lineup on Opening Day. What Pedroia brings when healthy is never the question; how often he can make that impact remains to be seen.

Without a doubt, the biggest (and most expensive) disappointment of the 2018 free-agent class was Darvish. In the first year of a six-year, $126 million deal, Darvish contributed only a single win to the Cubs’ season, instead spending much of it battling a series of elbow and triceps injuries. The Cubs desperately need Darvish to get back to his previous form, one that made him one of baseball’s elite strikeout pitchers of the last decade.

Coming into 2018, Giolito looked to be on the verge of becoming one of the game’s best young pitchers. Instead, the sophomore slump hit him hard, as he stumbled throughout a disastrous season that saw him lead the American League in walks (90) and earned runs (118) and finish in the top 10 in walks and batters hit by pitches as well. The upside in his stuff is still there, but the White Sox desperately need more from their prized young hurler in 2019.

With his short-lived tenure in the Bronx mercifully over, Gray reaches Great American Ball Park in desperate need of a turnaround season. He was bludgeoned at Yankee Stadium — he had a 6.98 ERA and surrendered 11 home runs 15 games. However, he was much different on the road, holding opponents to a .226 average against and only three long balls in 71 innings. That is who the Reds are hoping to land, as their rotation looks to embrace a veteran overhaul in 2019.

Acquired to bolster the Indians outfield at the trade deadline last summer, Martin barely got settled into his new home before tragedy struck. He acquired a bacterial infection that was serious enough to be considered life-threatening. However, he has now rallied and is set to rejoin his new club to start 2019. Better late than never, literally.

Entering 2018, Gray was the unquestioned leader of the Rockies rotation but went from Opening Day duties to demotion to Triple-A before the All-Star break. While Gray later rallied to set a career high in wins and innings pitched, he has been surpassed by Kyle Freeland and German Marquez in the Rockies rotation. But if Gray can stay steady throughout the year, his presence could help provide the best rotation in Rockies history this summer.

The nagging injury bug hit Cabrera early in 2018 via hamstring woes before a triceps rupture ended his season altogether in mid-June. He is back this spring and ready to resume his duties at the heart of the Tigers lineup — as well as in the field. Despite his numerous back and leg injuries, Cabrera is against becoming a full-time designated hitter at age 35. But with another five years and $102 million guaranteed to him, preservation of Cabrera’s services should be toward the top of the team’s interests.

A recurring back injury kept Correa from his usual top form last year, limiting him to 110 games and only 15 home runs and a .239 batting average. A return to full strength by Correa, combined with the talents of Michael Brantley and the continued emergence of Alex Bregman, could see the Astros take home a third consecutive 100-win season and add yet another MVP-caliber performer to their daily mix.

With $33 million more due to Kennedy through 2020, the thin Royals pitching staff desperately needs more consistency from their 34-year-old, No. 2 starter. And late in 2018 he finally gave them that, working to a 2.80 ERA over four September starts after posting a 6.04 mark between May and July before spending nearly two months on the disabled list.

Skaggs was one of the best kept secrets in the American League throughout the first half of 2018. The Angels’ 2012 first-round pick worked to a 2.57 ERA while striking out 105 in 98 innings over 17 starts before an abductor strain cost him much of the second half. With Shohei Ohtani out of the pitching mix for all of 2019 as he rallies from Tommy John surgery, a full year of Skaggs in his best form would be a godsend.

The 2016 NL Rookie of the Year missed all but the first month of the club’s repeat run to the World Series, as he mended from Tommy John surgery. His return to the Dodger lineup brings one the game’s top young talents back to the fold, with Seager hitting .302 with 54 home runs over his first two seasons. With Seager back in the fold and joining Cody Bellinger and Walker Buehler, few (if any) teams have better under-age-25 talent at their disposal than the Dodgers.

Brinson came over as part of the package that sent future NL MVP Christian Yelich to the Milwaukee Brewers, and he was the crown jewel the club acquired during its recent purge. But he did little to affirm that belief in his rookie year, hitting only .199 and striking out 120 times vs. only 17 walks. It is far too early to give up on Brinson, but some results to validate his talent would be comforting.

Nelson could be one of the front-runners for Comeback Player of the Year in the National League. Before missing all of 2018 with a shoulder surgery, Nelson had looked the part of rounding into the Brewers’ future ace, posting six double-digit strikeout performances in 2017. He is set to return to the mound this spring, lending a timely upgrade to the Milwaukee rotation.

The supremely talented yet frustratingly inconsistent Buxton took a step backward again in 2018, dropping down to the minors after being a Gold Glove recipient the year before. The Twins restart in 2019 will not get off the ground this year without Buxton being a part of it, as new manager Rocco Baldelli has indicated that he still sees the 25-year-old speedster as an essential part of the organization.

Fresh starts do not traditionally come to 36-year-olds who are in the middle of 10-year, $240 million contracts. However, that is where Cano finds himself, as he returns to New York, albeit as a member of the Mets this time. He again is at the heart of an ambitious rebuild by a hungry young general manager (this time Brodie Van Wagenen) and with a chance to put the numerous letdowns of his Seattle tenure — lowlighted by last summer’s 100-game PED suspension — behind him.

Although the Yankees made good on their potential to set home run history as a club last year, they never got a fully locked-in Sanchez at their disposal. He hit only .186 on the year with 18 home runs, an unseemly season for a hitter of Sanchez’s pure potency. While his defense will likely always be cringe-worthy, if Sanchez can keep the leg injury bug away and keep his head on straight, he could easily return to 30-home-run-level production.

The A’s landed Estrada for an Oakland-appropriate $4 million in February. It is a team-friendly deal for a pitcher who could bring substantial upside at that cost. For someone who can induce the type of batter-unfriendly contact that Estrada can (he finished behind only Max Scherzer in pop-up rate in 2018), the spacious confines of the Oakland Coliseum could bode well for hosting him.

2018 was a tale of two halves for Herrera: one where he was nearly an All-Star and another he’s likely eager to forget. Herrera enters spring without the promise of an everyday role, after producing a horrid .215/.265/.366 over his final 400 plate appearances. His upside is substantial, however — he worked a 45-game on-base streak early in 2018 — and he could easily put last year’s slide behind him.

Kang has missed most of the the past two years due to Visa issues connected with three DUI arrests in his native South Korea. With that series of problems in the rear view, he can now return to the Pirates in full, where he will serve as an upside utility performer. His impact could be felt immediately though, as he hit 21 home runs in 103 games in 2016 and owns an .837 career OPS.

If history holds true, it is going to be a phenomenal summer for baseball’s most notorious every-other-year performer. In the even-numbered years of his career, Hosmer’s OPS is .715. In the odd-numbered, rebound seasons that follow, it jumps over 100 points to .826. Apparently, he takes his struggles personally and a big bounce-back year awaits.

While he has been solid at times, Bumgarner is still yet to recapture his true, dominant pre-ATV accident injury form of 2017. But entering the final year of his contract and the Giants amid a prolonged rebuilding effort, he could be among the most watched pitchers of the year for contenders looking for a headline upgrade. If Mad Bum channels his vintage self, he could be the year’s top trade target by late July.

Fowler is looking to put the season from hell behind him. It was a year where he switched to a new position, right field, hit a career-worst .180, dealt with a public spat with former manager Mike Matheny and was limited to only 90 games due to a broken foot. There is nowhere to go but up in 2019 for Fowler, who hit 18 home runs and eight triples two years ago and is still due over $50 million through 2022.

Seager topped 20 home runs for a seventh straight year but had a career-worst season otherwise, hitting just .216 over 583 at-bats. With Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Jean Segura all gone, Seager recapturing his old form is more important than ever if the Mariners have any hopes of avoiding an all-out disaster of a season.

Garcia confirmed the fears of many following his All-Star breakout season of 2017, as his production took a swan dive back to Earth. His average dropped nearly 100 points to .236, which prompted the White Sox to not tender him a contract this winter. The Rays picked up Garcia as an upside add with some power potential, which is a solid bet. Garcia hit 19 home runs in 93 games in 2018, after hitting 18 in 136 the year before.

There is a chance that just about every member of the projected Rangers starting staff could be the bounce-back player of the year. Lance Lynn, Edinson Volquez and Shelby Miller all have that type of potential with a strong year. However, Smyly could end up being the best of them all. Although he has not pitched since September 2017, his upside is undeniable. He is only 29 and owns a 3.74 career ERA.

Stroman has the potential to be one of the foremost faces and personalities in the game...but the results will need to match the package. The 27-year-old Blue Jays ace stumbled to a 4-9 record and 5.54 ERA a year ago, during which a shoulder issue refused to go too far away for long. If Stroman can rediscover his groove on the mound and make peace amid a growing feud with the Jays, he could have as big of a rallying season as any pitcher in the game.

By his own account, Rosenthal could have pitched last year. But he didn’t, instead opting to get back to absolute full strength before coming back from Tommy John surgery. An All-Star closer with the Cardinals in 2015, Rosenthal will now take on the task of uplifting the annually downtrodden Nationals bullpen. Manager Dave Martinez anticipates using both Rosenthal and Sean Doolittle in save situations throughout the year, further maximizing his potential to make a big impact in D.C.