4. Denny Neagle
In 2020, the 1999 and 2000 Cincinnati Reds would have been playoff teams. In 2000 especially, Denny Neagle was key to the starting pitching rotation. Neagle was a prize traded to the later future World Series-winning New York Yankees near the trade deadline in 2000. Neagle was so good in the first half of the season on the Reds that he managed to finish the season with the highest amount of WAR across any of the starting pitching rotation and fourth-highest WAR on the entire team, despite only playing half the season with the team.
After his brief stint in New York, Neagle signed with the Colorado Rockies and, from 2001 to 2003, served on the team’s rotation. Now, these pre-humidor rotations were not good, but Neagle was at least fun to watch. In 2001, Neagle led the Colorado Rockies in strikeouts and was second in 2002. Neagle was sixth and eighth on the team by WAR in 2001 and 2002, respectively.
Neagle was a talented pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds and a fun pitcher for the Colorado Rockies.