Posted by Eric Polsky on Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 11:57 pm

As the 2009 season races towards the finish, there are several talented players who are currently unable to contribute. Next season, these players will attempt to make comebacks, and their teams will ask them to bring their skills back with them, kind of like the Beverly Hillbillies do in the Ballad of Jed Clampett. These players fall into the categories of injured players, current “closers-in-waiting” who could become closers in 2010, and young players working on ironing out their games in the minor leagues. The players listed here can be considered early speculative candidates for the MLB Comeback Player of the Year award in 2010.  They should also be considered for a roster spot in deep fantasy leagues in which teams can retain several players from the prior season:

Injured players expected to make comebacks

Let’s start this section with a handful of players from the New York Mets roster that have been bitten by the infamous injury bug in the Mets clubhouse:

Jose Reyes – He’s in all likelihood out for the season with what is now being diagnosed as a completely torn hamstring tendon that might require surgery.  But don’t forget Reyes is a top ten overall player when healthy, and he was consistently healthy in the four seasons prior to 2009, having only missed a total of fifteen games.

Carlos Beltran – Beltran’s been out since June 21 with a bone bruise in his right knee, and he’s hoping to be able to play again this season. Prior to his injury, Beltran was having an excellent season, hitting .336 with eight homeruns, 40 RBIs, 40 runs, and 11 stolen bases.

Carlos Delgado – Delgado hasn’t played since May 10 and is apparently out for the season with a strained oblique and injured hip. But, Delgado was hitting .298 with four homeruns, 23 RBI and a .914 OPS in the 26 games he did play. He’s 37 years old, but he’s basically taken this year off and could make another run at 30 homeruns next season. Delgado’s hit at least 24 homeruns in every full season of his career, including a streak of ten straight.

John Maine – Maine has been on the disabled list since June 12th with weakness in his shoulder, but he’s working on a September return.  He’s still only 28 and he’s shown signs of being a quality starting pitcher in the past. 2010 will be an important season for Maine as he will attempt to make his return to the starting staff.

Johan Santana – Santana’s now out for the season with bone chips in his elbow that has required arthroscopic surgery. He’s still likely owned in many fantasy leagues and a good season for him won’t be considered a “comeback” season by any means, but he’s on this list anyway. Assuming he fully recovers, he’ll still be a top three pitcher in 2010.

Now for some non-Mets candidates:

Brandon Webb – Webb has missed all of 2008 and had shoulder surgery on August 3rd, but he’s expected to be ready for spring training next year. The former Cy Young winner might not be back for Arizona however, as the team holds an option on his contract.  Whichever team he lands on in 2010, he’ll be an ace starter assuming no long-term issues from his shoulder injury.

Ben Sheets – Sheets was attempting to comeback this season from elbow surgery, but could not, and he’ll still be a free agent heading into 2010.  Sheets has always battled injuries throughout his career, but when healthy he’s been an All-Star quality pitcher.  He’s just 31, so if he’s ready and a team is willing to take a chance on him, he could be a prime comeback candidate for 2010.

Jeremy Bonderman – He hasn’t pitched since June 8th due to a shoulder injury and missed half of 2008, but he’s working on a comeback this season and is expected to pitch out of the bullpen when he returns in September.  Next year however, Bonderman should be a starter again, and if he can return to full health, he’s only 26 and has the time and opportunity to establish himself as an above average starter.

Coco Crisp – Crisp has been out of action since June 12 with a shoulder injury and there’s a question as to whether the Royals will pick up an option on his contract for next season. He’s a career .277 hitter with speed, and if he lands as a potential leadoff hitter on a team with a good offense, he could make some noise on a comeback in 2010.

Mike Aviles – Aviles had Tommy John surgery in July and should be out until the middle of 2010. But in his rookie season in 2008, Aviles led all rookies with a .325 average. If he can pick up where left off, Aviles will provide a boost to the Royals’ middle infield.

Troy Glaus –Glaus has always been prone to injury and 2009 has been no different, missing the entire season with back and shoulder injuries. But when he’s healthy, he’s capable of posting 40 homeruns and 100 RBI.  There’s speculation that he’ll be called up by the Cardinals for the postseason, but also speculation that the team won’t retain him next year. He’s only 33 and he’ll have something to prove for whichever team he lands with in 2010.

Conor Jackson – Jackson has been out since May 11th with an illness called valley fever which led to pneumonia. He’s unlikely to return this season, but when healthy, Jackson is a career .281 hitter and last season hit .300 in 144 games with the Diamondbacks.  He’ll be 27 at the start of next season, an age which many players experience a breakout.

Rickie Weeks – He hasn’t played since May 17th after a wrist injury that required surgery, and everyone’s still waiting for his career breakout. Guess how old he’ll be next season? 27.

Xavier Nady – The X man’s only played in seven games this year and had a second Tommy John surgery on his elbow in July. When healthy, he’s capable of 25 homeruns and a .300 batting average, so keep an eye on him when he comes back, likely in the middle of 2010.

Eric Byrnes – Byrnes broke a bone in his hand June 25 and he’s working on a return this season.  He also only played 52 games in 2008. In his last full season in 2007, Byrnes hit .286 with 21 homeruns, 50 stolen bases and 83 RBI. In 2006, he hit .267 with 26 homeruns, 25 homeruns and 79 RBI. In 2005, he struggled after being traded twice, but in 2004 he hit .283 with 20 homeruns and 73 RBI. If he can put together a full 2010, he could succeed and be another comeback player of the year candidate.

Jesus Flores – The Nationals’ promising young catcher hasn’t played since May 9 and was hitting .311 with a .905 OPS prior to suffering a stress fracture to his shoulder.  He’s only 24 and in a full time role could put together a breakout year in 2010.

Brian Giles – Giles hit .306 last season with 12 homeruns and 63 RBI and is a career .291 hitter. He’s 38 and struggled this season prior to suffering a knee contusion on June 18 that has kept him out of action ever since, so its possible his best days are behind him. But he does have a career track record of success going for him.

Erik Bedard – Bedard’s now out for the season with a torn labrum but should be back and ready to go for 2010. He’ll be a free agent next season, and when he’s healthy, Bedard is one of the better pitchers in baseball, good for a strikeout per inning and an ERA in the threes. The only question is if he’ll ever stay healthy…

…like this guy: Kelvim Escobar –  The challenge for Escobar has always been staying healthy. He missed all of 2008 and nearly all of 2009 due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.  In his last full season in 2007, Escobar had his best year as a starter and went 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA. If he’s finally healthy in 2010 and is able to pick up where he left off, Escobar could make an award-winning comeback.

Kevin Slowey – Slowey was shut down on July 3rd after a wrist injury that required surgery. He’ll be ready for the start of 2010 and he’s young enough (25) to bounce back and pick up where he left off (10-3, 4.86 ERA this season; 12-11, 3.99 ERA last season).

Chris Young – Chris Young, the Padres pitcher variety, has been out since June 14th with a shoulder injury that required surgery.  He’s got a career 3.88 ERA, he pitches in Petco Park and he just turned 30, so he’s got a few things going for him if he wants to make a 2010 comeback.

Daisuke Matsuzaka – Dice K has had a forgetful 2009 season, in which he posted a 1-5 record and 8.23 ERA before being shut down on June 19. He’s currently on a rehab assignment in the minors and he’s attempting to make a comeback this season. There has been speculation that his shoulder injury was as a result of his pitching in the World Baseball Classic. If he returns to full health in 2010, Dice K could be a comeback player of the year candidate.

Tim Hudson – He’s slated to come off the disabled list to start Monday’s game against the Marlins and make his first start since his return from Tommy John surgery.  Hudson will likely be on a short leash, since he replaces Kenshin Kawakami, who has been mostly effective this season. But next season, Hudson will have an opportunity to start in Atlanta or elsewhere, and make his attempt at an effective comeback at age 34.

Closers in Waiting

Billy Wagner – If this article was posted last week, Wagner would belong in the “injured Mets” category, but he’s now pitching for the Red Sox and doing so very well. Wagner has seven strikeouts in three scoreless innings, and has said that he wants to close next season and reach the 400 save plateau for his career. If he lands on a contender, he could reestablish himself as one of the game’s best closers in 2010.

JJ Putz – This guy does belong on the “injured Mets category” though. Putz was one of the best closers in baseball with the Mariners, and struggled after signing with the Mets this season. Now he’s been shut down for the season with an elbow and forearm injury. The Mets hold a team option on Putz’s contract. If he comes back healthy for 2010 and the option is picked up by the Mets, Putz could be one of the best set up men in baseball; if the Mets decline the option, there’s a chance Putz signs with another team as a closer.

Chris Perez – Perez was supposed to be the Cardinals’ closer after being their first round pick in 2006, but he struggled and was forced out by Ryan Franklin. Now with the Indians, Perez is waiting for an opportunity to close. Kerry Wood sat out Saturday’s game with a sore shoulder and in his absence, Perez picked up his first save. Perez hasn’t allowed a run since July 7th, earning 20 strikeouts and allowing just six hits and four walks in 16.1 innings.

Joey Devine – Devine was lined up to be Oakland’s closer for 2009, but underwent surgery on his shoulder in April. All-Star Andrew Bailey seems to have locked down the Athletics closer job in the meantime, but Devine was stellar in 2008 (0.59 ERA, 49 Ks in 45 innings) and was a highly regarded prospect, so he should be primed for a comeback in whatever role he can get.

Ryan Madson – Brad Lidge has struggled often this season, blowing nine saves and losing six games. Madson is the next in line to become the Phillies’ closer. But he’s struggled himself when in that role, blowing a few saves when Lidge was on the shelf with an injury.  Overall though, Madson’s fourth in the league in holds with 22 and has a 3.09 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 64 innings, so he hasn’t lost his place in line and could be a closer for a contending Phillies team in 2010.

Minor leaguers working on comebacks

Brandon Morrow – Morrow struggled in his transition back and forth from starter and reliever, and was sent to the minors on July 10.  He’s expected to be brought back to the Mariners in September, as he’s been doing well in the minors as a starter. Morrow’s record in his last six games with AAA Tacoma is 5-0 with a 1.94 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 37.1 innings pitched. If the M’s can finally let him stick as a starter, Morrow could make a comeback in 2010.

Andrew Miller – The 6’8’’ lefty’s trying to come back from an injury to his ankle and at the same time iron out his game in the minors. In his last two games with the Rookie League Gulf Coast Marlins, Miller has tossed seven innings and struck out ten, but allowed two runs on eight hits and four walks. He’s expected to be called up by the Marlins in September, and with the Marlins recent pitching staff problems could get another shot. He’s got the talent to put it all together and make a name for himself in 2010.

JJ Hardy – Hardy was sent to the minors by Milwaukee on August 11, and with AAA Nashville he’s continued to struggle, hitting .233 with a .687 OPS.  But in the past two seasons Hardy mashed 48 homeruns and hit .280 while establishing himself as one of the best shortstops in the league. He’ll be at the magic age of 27 next season and could be primed for a comeback.

There’s a lot of talent on this list and the presence of these players in 2010 will make Major League Baseball a better place. “Y’all come back now, ya hear?”