We turn our attention to the free agent marketplace and put starting pitchers under the microscope. At this point in the season, your needs in this area are varied - from a one-time spot start to desperation for an arm that can save your pitching staff. Hopefully, most are closer to the former than the latter because there aren’t a lot of long-term fixes available.

Angels right-hander Ervin Santana fits that mold if he can conquer his road demons. Same deal for Twins starter Nick Blackburn, who is talented and poised enough to have prolonged success as a rookie, but is not guaranteed to keep his spot in the rotation. The point is, if free agent pitchers were perfect, they wouldn’t be free agents. Find the risks you want to take, take them and hope for the best.

Ervin Santana, Los Angeles Angels
Status: Hot commodity
Key Stats: 3-0 record, 4-for-4 quality starts
What to Watch For: Ability to continue road success
The time has likely come and gone to pick up the red-hot Santana now, but be patient and watch for him to hit waivers again. His dominance at home has been well noted throughout his three-year career, but he appears to be turning a corner in his road consistency. He was absolutely suffocating in retiring 20 of the first 21 batters he faced in a win over Seattle on Saturday. Recommendation: Certainly worth an add, with a worst-case scenario of having to bench him for road starts.

Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta Braves
Status: Under the radar
Key Stats: 3.20 ERA, 7.5 Ks per 9
What to Watch For: Prolonged consistency, bullpen backing
This youngster was welcomed with open arms when he came to Atlanta in a deal that sent shortstop Edgar Renteria to Detroit. Jurrjens has been steadying in posting a 2-2 record, 3.20 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 25.1 innings. If manager Bobby Cox can keep the back end of the bullpen together, there will be an excellent opportunity for Jurrjens to succeed. Assuming full health and 30 starts, 14 wins and a 3.75 ERA are not out of the question.

Tim Redding, Washington Nationals
Status: Under the radar
Key Stats: 3-1 record, 10 Ks in 6 IP last start
What to Watch For: How long run support, good fortune last
Redding was terrible before this year, but his 2008 numbers speak for themselves. He’s 3-1 with a 3.27 ERA and is fastly becoming the Redding that fans heard about when he debuted in 2001. Pick him up while he’s hot because if he plummets his confidence seems to fade and the home runs pile up. Redding should be available in most leagues because, well, he was terrible before this year.

Armando Galarraga, Detroit Tigers
Status: Upside pick
Key Stats: 2-0, 4 hits allowed in 12.0 IP
What to Watch For: Return of Dontrelle Willis
Hard to believe he has been the best starter in the Tigers rotation, but he’s 2-0 and with a 2.70 ERA in place of the injured Dontrelle Willis. Galarraga has yet to pitch a full season, but he’s only 26, which means he’s young enough to still make an impact but old enough to avoid some typical growing pains. Don’t worry about run support because Detroit’s bats will start to pick up sooner or later. Teams have yet to figure Galarraga out, so jump on board before that happens.

Braden Looper, St. Louis Cardinals
Status: Semi-stable veteran
Key Stats: 3-0 with 2.70 ERA in first 3 starts (3 IP, 7 ER on Sunday)
What to Watch For: Best matchups to utilize his services
In case you haven’t met Braden Looper the starting pitcher - you may know him as the mediocre closer - he has been the Cardinals’ best starter this season. Prior to a rocky outing on Sunday against the Giants, Looper was 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA, though his Monday stat line (3-1, 5.79) was considerably less impressive. Looper appears to be getting the the Cards’ best offensive effort when he takes the ball and should be a quality spot starter throughout the year.

Matt Albers, Baltimore Orioles
Status: In limbo
Key Stats: 5 IP, 1 ER in only start vs. Toronto
What to Watch For: If/when he takes over a rotation spot
Albers is young and comes off a tough season last year, but has been lights out to start 2008. At age 25, he still has the time and ability to grow and become a great pitcher for Baltimore. He’s 2-0 this season and has made his case known for a spot in the Orioles rotation . It’s early, but if he continues to develop ahead of schedule like he has so far, he should be a bright spot on a team building for the future.

Greg Maddux, San Diego Padres
Status: Still going strong at 42
Key Stats: 10-6 with a 3.93 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 20 career starts at Petco Park
What to Watch For: Options with higher ceilings before making this move
Hard to believe Greg Maddux would be on a list like this, but it’s happening for the 42-year old. He’s gotten off to a good start with a 2-1 record and 4.68 ERA in four starts and gets a big boost from the friendly confines of Petco Park. Pick him up, but don’t expect much more than a 4.00 ERA and a virtual guarantee of 13-plus wins, something he’s done in each of the last 20 seasons.

Nick Blackburn, Twins
Status: Backing up prospect hype
Key Stats: Tossed 7.2 scoreless innings to earn first career win versus Cleveland (4/19)
What to Watch For: How rotation unfolds when Kevin Slowey returns from injury
Blackburn is 26, but in just his first full season with the Twins. He is off to a great start and makes a great case to stick with the parent club, even after Slowey comes off the 15-day disabled list. Blackburn is 1-1 so far and has a 2.49 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 25.1 innings. Those are great numbers for a guy still learning his craft. He is worth an add in deep mixed leagues and likely already owned in AL-only leagues.

Enea Zhonga is a junior journalism student at Auburn University. He can be contacted at zhongen[at]auburn.edu.