[phantaciephreak]

Obviously where Radke ends up will have some influence on how well he does in 2005, especially in terms of wins. However, it's a pretty good bet that only teams with legitimate playoffs hopes in 2005 will go after him.

2004 Stats: 11-8, 3.42 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 143 K's, ONLY 26 WALKS in 220 INNINGS!

Radke has been relatively consistent over his career with a career 1.25 WHIP. Granted, he never puts up amazing win totals, but he's a Quality Start machine. Other than in 2002, he's made over 30 starts a season since 1997. He's getting older, as he just turned 32........

Will his numbers change if he pitches somewhere else, specifically the NL? Other than wins, I think we could expect more of the same in 2005 with maybe a few less K's.

[joncarlos]

Radke really cut down his HR allowed and also improved his OBA from .288 to .267. Since he posted a .272 OBA in 2002, that's probably closer to his real natural hit rate. Of course, a lot will depend on where he signs and what kind of defense they have. Radke is a pretty neutral pitcher in terms of G/F (1.01 in 2003, 1.14 in 2004) so he might benefit from a good-fielding grass team. Helllllloooooo Atlanta!

Three year improvement in K/9 resulting in a respectable 5.86 last season.

I really have no idea where he is going to sign.

[ironmanatee]

ESPN just reported - 2 yrs, $18M.

[joncarlos]

Twins, eh? So I guess we can expect more of the same from Radke in 2005?

[TS Garp]

Radke's has superb control throughout his career, but he's really taken it to an elite level. Since 2001, he's only walked 100 batters in 776.1 innings. That's pretty amazing. Last season, he only walked more than 2 batters in a game once (well, twice if you include his playoff start).

After a bad start to the season, he was consistent:

April: 28 ip, 41 hits, 4 hr's, 2 bb's, 18 k's, 5.46 era, 1.54 WHIP, .347 baa
May: 41 ip, 40 hits, 1 hr, 3 bb's, 26 k's, 2.20 era, 1.05 WHIP, .253 baa
June: 40.1 ip, 46 hits, 4 hr's, 5 bb's, 29 k's, 4.02 era, 1.26 WHIP, .284 baa
July: 38.2 ip, 33 hits, 9 hr's, 2 bb's, 24 k's, 3.96 era, 0.91 WHIP, .228 baa
August: 34.2 ip, 38 hits, 3 hr's, 6 bb's, 24 k's, 3.63 era, 1.27 WHIP, .275 baa
September: 37 ip, 31 hits, 2 hr's, 8 bb's, 22 k's, 2.19 era, 1.05 WHIP, .225 baa

Radke also pitched significantly better at home this season:

Home: 126.2 ip, 130 hits, 14 hr's, 15 bb's, 84 k's, 3.06 era, 1.14 WHIP
Road: 93 ip, 99 hits, 9 hr's, 11 bb's, 59 k's, 4.06 era, 1.18 WHIP

Radke's control will always keep his WHIP at a nice level, and it's fair to expect more of the same from him, but I think there are two things to watch with him:

1) If he can maintain the same level of hr/9. This actually shouldn't be a problem, as he was right around the same level from 1997-2000, and 2003 (32 hr's) looks like more of an anomaly.

2) Radke will have a very different cast of infielders behind him this season. He's a guy who'll put the ball in play, and it remains to be seen whether Morneau, Bartlett/Ojeda/Castro, and Cuddyer/Tiffee will be a downgrade defensively, thus allowing more balls to get through.

Radke seems to be one of the safer bets around. I think he'll take a small step back this season, but I also wouldn't hesitate to have him on my team. My projection:

215 ip, 3.85 era, 1.20 WHIP, 138 k's, 15-10