You want 4 things from a reliever if you pick one that is not going to get saves. First is more than a strikeout per inning. You also need to grab a few saves. Lastly is a low ERA and WHIP while pitching close to 80 innings.
Hong-Chih Kuo
The best choice in 2008 was Hong-Chih Kuo as he pitched 80 innings and had 96 strikeouts. His ERA was a spectacular 2.14 and a WHIP of 1.01. He only got 5 wins, but was the best reliever who did not close with a K/BB of 4.57. His FIP of 2.28 shows he did not get extremely lucky in his production at ERA.
Kuo did make a few starts and does appear to be more valuable to the Dodgers as a starter, but has been prone to injuries. Even if he starts he would still have RP tags and be very valuable even though Jonathon Broxton.
Matt Thorton
Thorton was more of a surprise thank Kuo as his best year was 2005 and he beat a FIP of 3.76 that year by 40 points. This past season he improved his K/9 by 2 and finished with a K/BB of 4.05. He threw 67.1 innings and won 5 games with 77 strikeouts. His final ratio stats of 2.67 ERA and 1.00 WHIP were excellent.
The lack of a track record for this type of success makes me concerned if he can repeat it. If he can repeat this he makes a good undrafted waiver wire pickup for 2009.
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