Luis Cessa

The Reds' bullpen was a source of angst for most of the season, but the addition of Cessa worked really well for them after he arrived from the Yankees ahead of the trade deadline. In 26.1 innings after the trade, Cessa had a 2.05 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, striking out 23 against just two walks. Cessa's FIP (3.39), xFIP (3.83) and xERA (3.76) all suggest that he was a little fortunate in 2021, but even a correction to that level would be fine for the Reds. Cessa will be in the mix for an important role in the Reds' bullpen, potentially even closing.

It was reported July 4 that Cessa had tested positive for COVID-19 and was demonstrating mild symptoms. He was said to be feeling much better a couple days later and he joined the Yankees a couple weeks later, but the lost time was enough to cost Cessa a spot on the Opening Day roster. He was activated Aug. 5 and went on to pitch well for New York, finishing with a sub-3.80 FIP for the second time in three seasons. Cessa lost a little steam on his pitches, but his swinging-strike and chase rates remained strong and the results were within range of expected variance. The right-hander has been strictly a reliever for two seasons now and has established himself as a quality major-league reliever, but it will be difficult for him to climb high in the bullpen ranks with so many talented arms in the Bronx.

Cessa once again filled a swingman role for the Yankees last season, making five starts and 11 relief appearances. The results on the field were his worst yet, with Cessa posting a 5.24 ERA over 44.2 innings, but his peripherals were his best yet with the estimators suggesting he was close to a run-and-a-half better than that ERA would suggest. Cessa posted a career-best 20% strikeout rate and shaved nearly four percentage points from his walk rate (6.7%). He also cut his home-run rate from 1.75 HR/9 to 1.01. The right-hander throws his fastball in the mid-90s and has two decent secondary pitches in his slider and changeup, which is the kind of repertoire which would afford him a long look as a starter in another organization. In his current organization, he's unlikely to see a significantly expanded role.

Cessa has served in a similar capacity on the Yankees' pitching staff over the past two years. He's capable of eating innings out of the bullpen or making a few spot starts in a pinch, though the righty was far more effective working in relief last year (3.14 ERA vs. 5.82 ERA in five starts). He was primarily a starter in the minors, as he also made 14 appearances (13 starts) with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. With the rotation appearing to be fully spoken for heading into the spring and a crowded bullpen behind the starting five, it may be difficult for Cessa to carve out a consistent role with the big-league club. The 25-year-old could once again occupy something of a swingman role, but it's also possible he stays stretched out as a starter in the minors.

Cessa was a surprise addition to the roster out of spring training, as he won a bullpen job out of camp. He essentially split time as a starter and a reliever, working his way toward a couple of spot starts before eventually joining the rotation full-time at the end of the season. The 24-year-old struggled at times with command and with the long ball, but he was more effective overall when working as a starter, where he put together a 4.01 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in nine starts. It's unclear exactly how the Yankees plan on using him next season -- whether he'll be in the bullpen or rotation, or even in the majors at all -- though the most likely scenario is he'll once again be deployed as a swing man.

While Cessa cannot match the mid-rotation upside of Michael Fulmer, the other pitching prospect Detroit received in the Yoenis Cespedes trade, he offers a nice combination of floor and proximity. The 23-year-old righty, now with the Yankees following an offseason trade for Justin Wilson, had a FIP below 4.00 across stops with the Mets Double-A and Triple-A affiliates prior to the trade to the Tigers. He then closed out the year with a 3.40 FIP and 34:15 K:BB in 37.2 innings with Triple-A Toledo — strong numbers, but he may have to head back to the Triple-A level to begin 2016 and prove himself to his new organization . He has four average or better pitches, so it will be Cessa’s command that determines how successful he can eventually be against big-league hitters.