Ryan Tepera

Tepera was a solid bullpen contributor for the Cubs in 2020, fueled by a rise in strikeouts. The righty registered 31 strikeouts in 20.2 innings, good for a career-best 13.50 K/9. By comparison, Tepera had just 14 strikeouts in 21.1 innings a year earlier. He's had some decent strikeout seasons before, including a 9.39 K/9 in 2017 and a 9.46 mark in 2018 with Toronto, so his 2019 looks more like an outlier, though his 2020 rate is also probably unsustainable. Ultimately, the 33-year-old will likely settle in somewhere between those two extremes in 2021 while delivering an ERA in the mid-3.00s. Those are respectable numbers for a middle reliever but won't put Tepera in the closer conversation, which limits his fantasy appeal.

Tepera missed over half of the 2019 campaign due to elbow issues. He didn't look like his usual self when available, posting a 15.4 K% and a 4.98 ERA in 21.2 innings, a far cry from the 25.9 K% and 3.62 ERA he recorded the season prior. The 32-year-old does have 10 career saves, and after he signed with the Cubs, it's not out of the question that he adds a few more to that total this year if Craig Kimbrel fully implodes. It would take both health and a bounce-back performance for that to happen, however, not something which should be considered anywhere close to automatic for a player on the wrong side of 30. Tepera should be considered a run-of-the-mill middle reliever during draft season and doesn't merit a particularly close look until he proves himself worthy of closer consideration.

Roberto Osuna's suspension and a pair of blown saves from Tyler Clippard opened the door for Tepera to step into the closer role for Toronto. He seemed to take well to the job, posting a 1.98 ERA while going 6-for-6 in save chances in his first 11 appearances after taking over the ninth. However, after back-to-back blown saves in late June, Tepera was placed on the disabled list with elbow inflammation, and he never found his footing upon his return. Tepera struggled to a 4.81 ERA and 4.1 BB/9 in the second half, collecting just one save along the way as trade acquisition Ken Giles took over closing duties. The skills weren't really closer-worthy anyway, even before he went down. His 25.9% K-rate for the season was fine but nothing spectacular, and his 9.1% walk rate and 1.25 HR/9 were both below average. He's routinely outperformed the ERA estimators, but the skills just aren't good enough to warrant much attention if he isn't seeing save chances.

Tepera completed a full season at the big league level for the first time as a 29-year-old in 2017, striking out more than a batter per inning, and racking up seven wins in relief for the Jays. In 73 appearances last season, Tepera entered the game in the seventh inning or later 64 times, as he became one of the key pieces in the bridge to closer Roberto Osuna over the course of the season. So long as Osuna is healthy, there is little reason to think that Tepera will pick up more than the occasional save opportunity, and barring the addition of another pitch to increase his whiff rate or improved control, it's difficult to imagine a scenario in which he'll improve his ratios enough to be a staff filler. Nevertheless, look for the veteran right-hander to reprise a similar role, perhaps settling in as a regular in the sixth and seventh inning if Toronto adds another high-leverage reliever to the mix during the offseason.

It was a bit surprising to see Tepera bounce back-and-forth between Triple-A Buffalo and Toronto in 2016. Not only was the 29-year-old impressive as a rookie the prior year (3.27 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 33 innings), Tepera also pitched well at the MLB level in his most recent season. Over 20 appearances (18.1 innings), the right-hander managed a 2.95 ERA and stranded 79.2 percent of hitters out of the Jays' bullpen. In fairness, Tepera's 3.75 FIP in 2016 wasn't good, and his 3.9 BB/9 was his worst mark since 2013 with Double-A New Hampshire. On the other hand, the middle reliever sports a good mid-90s fastball and has a history of limiting the long ball. With many holes to fill in their bullpen for 2017, the Jays will certainly afford Tepera a fair shot at earning a spot on the Opening Day roster in the year ahead.

Despite being bounced around between levels, Tepera had a solid year everywhere he went. Tepera started the season in Triple-A Buffalo and was electric there, forcing a move up to the Blue Jays for large chunks of the season. In the big leagues, he made 32 appearances, holding a 3.27 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP with a 22:6 K:BB ratio in 33.0 innings. Tepera’s biggest problem was keeping the ball in the ballpark, as he allowed eight home runs, more than two per every nine innings. The 28-year-old has had problems with home runs throughout his career, but never more than 1.3 HR/9. He should start the season in a middle-relief role for the Blue Jays, but his low strikeout totals hamper his total value.