Professional Career
Cotts spent the 2002 season at Single-A Modesto of the California League, winning 12 games in 28 starts. Over the off-season, Cotts was traded to the Chicago White Sox in a six-player deal involving relief pitchers Billy Koch and Keith Foulke.
Cotts began the 2003 season ranked as the number three prospect in the White Sox farm system. He started his year at Double-A Birmingham, of the Southern League, going 9-6 with a 2.12 ERA, and 131 strikeouts. In July 2003, Cotts started for the United States in Major League Baseball's Futures Game. He debuted for Chicago on August 12, 2003, starting against the Anaheim Angels and pitched 2.1 innings, allowing two runs, two hits and six walks. He received a no-decision in the game. On August 22, Cotts won his first game against the Texas Rangers, pitching five innings and allowing five hits. Cotts ended the season with a record of 1-1 and an 8.10 ERA.
In 2004, new manager Ozzie Guillén inserted Cotts into the bullpen. Cotts finished April with a 0.90 ERA, but from May–July had an ERA of 8.28. He finished the season with 65.1 innings pitched, a 4-4 record, and an ERA of 5.65. On June 18, Cotts got his first major league hit, a double, off Luis Ayala of the Montreal Expos.
In 2005, Cotts went 4-0 while appearing in 69 games, throwing 60.1 innings and compiling a 1.94 ERA, 58 strikeouts, and yielding just 1 home run. MLB.com awarded Cotts the "Setup Man of the Year Award", an award determined by fan voting. In the American League Championship Series, Cotts was the only person to pitch out of the bullpen in the Sox 4-1 series win, throwing 2/3 of an inning in Game 1. Cotts pitched in all four games of the World Series and was the winning pitcher Game 2.
On November 16, 2006, Cotts was traded to the Chicago Cubs for relief pitcher David Aardsma and minor league pitcher Carlos Vásquez.
On May 21, 2007, the Cubs optioned Cotts to Triple-A Iowa, recalling left-handed pitcher Sean Marshall.
On December 13, 2007, the Cubs re-signed Cotts to a one-year contract for $800,000. Cotts began the 2008 season in AAA, as he'd ended the previous season. He would be recalled from AAA, however, in May and has remained on the major league roster since. Having traded Scott Eyre, it appears that the Cubs will continue to use Cotts as a left-handed specialist for the remainder of the 2008 season.
Cotts underwent successful Tommy John Surgery in July 2009. He was non-tendered on December 12 and became a free agent.
On January 4, 2010, Cotts signed a minor-league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates with an invite to spring training. On September 17, 2010 Cotts was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
On November 22, 2010 Cotts signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees with an invitation to 2011 spring training. Cotts was released by the Yankees on February 16, 2011 due to the results of his physical.
Cotts spent 2012 with the Texas Rangers' Triple-A affiliate Round Rock, where he had a 4.55 ERA with 3 saves while striking out 41 in 31.2 innings. On November 12, 2012, Cotts signed a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training to return to the Rangers organization.
Read more about this topic: Neal Cotts
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