Today's Fantasy Rx

I'm going to spend a few days looking at potential fantasy help currently residing in the upper levels of the minors, one hitter and one pitcher, so you can know who to monitor for potential FAABing. Since most teams will still promote talent from AAA if given the chance, I'll only select a AA prospect if a AAA club lacks any promotion-worthy candidates.

We'll begin today with American League batting prospects.

Note: For those of you unfamiliar with FAAB, each team normally has $100 to spend throughout the year on all free agent pickups. Most injury replacements or speculative picks go for a buck or two, hot starters go for $5-$10, top prospects go in the $10-$30 range, and we've seen $90+ bids on top players traded into the league.

Anaheim: Jeff Guiel, 28, OF-L
.270/.362/.568 in 111 AB with 7 HR, 18 RBI, 19 R, 6/7 SB%, and 13:25 BB:K at AAA Salt Lake City(PCL).

Jeff DaVanon(.400/.519/.875 in 40 AB) deserves a call-up even more than Guiel but I suspect most of you are familiar with DaVanon's upside. While no one considers Guiel much of a prospect due to his age, he has enough power to deserve a bench job on almost any major league club. Unfortunately his solid plate discipline from his first two years in the minors disappeared upon his promotion to AA, although Anaheim shouldn't have left him stuck at AA for the better part of the last three seasons. He certainly has the skills necessary to move into a Matt Stairs/Troy O'Leary career path, and while I don't see him winning a starting job in Anaheim unless they deal an outfielder, FAAB him up if he gets a chance to play and you need even a little power boost.

Baltimore: Brian Roberts, 24, 2B-S
.315/.419/.452 in 124 AB with 3 HR, 16 RBI, 24 R, 9/11 SB%, and 21:21 BB:K at AAA Rochester(IL)

We keep seeing that Larry Bigbie might get a call-up even though there's really no place for him to play in Baltimore. However as long as Hairston keeps struggling, Roberts looks more appealing. Baltimore sent him down to play every day, and he's showing that he deserves the second base job in Camden Yards right now. Roberts can even handle shortstop, so he'll certainly improve the defense at second, and his offensive numbers offer a lot of potential for any team. If it appears that he'll receive some playing time, spend several bucks of FAAB to acquire him since he can help any team's middle infield with a skill-supported BA and good speed.

Boston: Edgard Clemente, 26, OF-R
.309/.373/.353 in 68 AB with 0 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R, 2/2 SB%, and 7-19 BB:K at AAA Pawtucket(IL)

Clemente's only here because he's the current favorite to replace Manny Ramirez on the Red Sox roster. I doubt he'll see significant playing time if promoted as Rickey should be the primary recipient of the additional at-bats. Daubach, Offerman, and Tony Clark should expand to fill the 1B/DH slots, although Boston should consider promoting Juan Diaz if they want someone with actual right-handed power instead of a pretender like Clemente. In 257 major league AB, 78 in Anaheim and 179 with the Rockies, Clemente posted a .249/.276/.412 with 8 HR, 32 RBI, 30 R, 0/1 SB%, and 9:81 BB:K. He has horrible plate discipline and limited power, and while he's a marginally acceptable fifth outfielder if needed, ignore him for roto purposes unless you can afford a huge BA hit for minimal power.

Chicago White Sox: Joe Crede, 24, 3B-R
.308/.370/.458 in 120 AB with 3 HR, 16 RBI, 16 R, 0/0 SB%, and 14:20 BB:K at AAA Charlotte(IL).

While several top White Sox prospects are struggling in OBP, including Borchard, Hummel, and Willie Harris, Crede continues to produce in his second year at AAA. He's certainly ready for the majors right now and could definitely help almost any team at 3B. The Sox would gain a significant lineup boost by sliding Valentin back to SS, and starting Crede, and despite some incorrect Gold Glove speculation on behalf of the current shortstop by Sox management, they'd also gain a defensive upgrade. Spend significant FAAB if necessary to acquire Crede whenever he reaches the majors, although we believe he may likely wind up with another franchise before the year ends.

Cleveland: Greg LaRocca, 29, IF
.316/.463/.484 in 95 AB with 2 HR, 10 RBI, 17 R, 6/6 SB%, and 19:16 BB:K at AAA Buffalo(IL).

Cleveland will invariably need an injury replacement later this season for one of their aging infielders, and LaRocca is far more impressive than Bill Selby, Zach Sorensen, or Tony Medrano. His defense isn't wonderful but the woeful Cleveland offense, only producing more runs per game than Kansas City, Detroit, and Tampa Bay, could use this guy in a bench role. He owns a little power, decent speed, and the best plate discipline of anyone in the upper levels of the organization aside from Lawton and Vizquel. I can't see him receiving enough playing time to merit a significant bid, but if you need a replacement middle infielder who won't hurt you, FAAB LaRocca for a buck.

Detroit: Eric Munson, 24, 1B-L
.220/.329/.492 in 132 AB with 10 HR, 26 RBI, 19 R, 0/0 SB%, and 21:43 BB:K at AAA Toledo(IL).

I remain fairly unimpressed with his overall offensive skills, although he's certainly displaying acceptable power and a very good .16 walk rate. While I can't support his promotion until all his averages improve 30 points, Munson appears to be developing into a respectable power threat. The Tigers remain so desperate for offensive help that they might again promote him before he's ready, but I can't quite blame them considering his 10 HR are more than a third as many as the Tigers' 29 thus far. FAAB him when promoted under most any circumstances since his downside his similar to Russ Branyan, albeit with a lower SLG and higher OBP.

Kansas City: Aaron Guiel, 29, OF-L
.337/.462/.529 in 104 AB with 5 HR, 25 RBI, 22 R, 5/6 SB%, and 19:18 BB:K at AAA Omaha(PCL).

The Guiel brothers have taken AAA by storm in 2002, with Jeff providing more power while Aaron ranks in the Top 5 in OBP. Kansas City could solve their extended search for a #2 hitter by promoting Guiel, sticking him at either RF or DH, and benching the woeful ineffective Michael Tucker and Raul Ibanez. While he might be a little over his head right now, nothing in these stats seems impossible given his rather impressive minor league career. He could be a double-digit value and five-category threat if ever given the necessary playing time, so certainly FAAB him if the Royals ever realize they can improve their offense by adding good hitters without major league experience.

Minnesota: Javier Valentin, 26, C-S
.341/.403/.593 in 123 AB with 7 HR, 29 RBI, 20 R, 0/0 SB%, and 11:24 BB:K at AAA Edmonton(PCL).

I realize that four errors in 19 games at catcher is fairly unacceptable, but even Colorado would give a switch-hitting catcher with practically a 1.000 OPS a chance to play in the majors. Valentin is the true sleeper among a prospect-laden team that includes Michaels Cuddyer, Restovich, and Ryan, along with 1B masher Todd Sears. Valentin owns the second-best OPS among these power studs, and he's only about two dozen points behind Cuddyer. All these players could hit decently in the majors right now, although the four "prospects" need time to hone their plate discipline if they want to develop into All-Stars. Valentin can be an acceptable starter right now with a marginal eye, and I find it difficult to believe that no organization has traded to give him a greater chance at playing time. Immediately FAAB him for a couple dollars if anything happens to A.J. Pierzynski.

New York Yankees: Billy McMillon, 30, OF-L
.353/.455/.431 in 102 AB with 0 HR, 8 RBI, 16 R, 1/4 SB%, and 18:16 BB:K at AAA Columbus(IL).

None of the top prospects, including Erick Almonte, Drew Henson, Juan Rivera, and Marcus Thames, are excelling to any great extent, but the Yankees are an intelligent organization who may give McMillon a chance if Nick Johnson continues to struggle. Everyone will watch him continue to hit .300 with a solid OBP at DH and in the #9 hole as he provides an extra baserunner nearly 40% of the time for the top of the order, while most columnists will likely forget that he's produced in the minors for years. Only a fluke injury kept him from establishing major league credentials in Oakland last year, and he certainly has the ability to perform at a respectable level in New York. FAAB him for a few dollars if Cashman seizes this opportunity.

Oakland: Esteban German, 23, 2B-R
.274/.379/.319 in 113 AB with 0 HR, 12 RBI, 18 R, 5/8 SB% and 16:18 BB:K at AAA Sacramento(PCL)

A visa-related delay caused German to miss most of Spring Training but he eventually showed up in camp without adding any years to his age. He'll likely need another month or so of AAA time before his expected promotion to fill the gaping hole at 2B in the Oakland infield, as well as giving them a real speed threat atop the order. German's a solid fielder with only one error in 29 games this season, a blazing fast baserunner with an 81% success rate in over 250 stolen base attempts, and a disciplined hitter with a career .407 OBP, .17 walk rate, and .81 BB:K. We'll happily promote him from our minors whenever the A's call him up, and you should actively seek to FAAB or acquire German in any league as he could post very impressive SB and Runs' totals with an above average BA.

Seattle: Jermaine Clark, 25, 2B-L
.306/.405/.477 in 111 AB with 4 HR, 17 RBI, 14 R, 10/12 SB%, and 19:17 BB:K at AAA Tacoma(PCL).

A few minor league veterans are performing solidly but only this Rule 5 pick that Detroit surprisingly returned to Seattle last season truly deserves a promotion. He gives Seattle a great left-handed infield option to occasionally spell right-handers Bret Boone and Jeff Cirillo, as well as a pinch-hitter with plate discipline and impressive speed. Clark hasn't even committed one error in 32 games this year split between 2B and 3B. Unfortunately he isn't a particularly impressive roto option even in deeper leagues since Piniella keeps his starters in almost every day, but Clark could certainly help you out if you need a MIF with a little upside. FAAB him for a buck or two if you need an injury replacement.

Tampa Bay: Ryan Freel, 26, 2B/OF-R
.261/.336/.440 in 134 AB with 5 HR, 14 RBI, 26 R, 7/10 SB%, and 10:16 BB:K at AAA Durham(IL).

I keep reading about Carl Crawford's impending promotion but two obstacles prevent an immediate move: a poor 7:29 BB:K in 147 AB, and he's not on a fairly full 40-man roster. They shouldn't start his arbitration and free agency clocks earlier than necessary, so until they're able to move Vaughn, Tyner, or Winn, I see no need to add Crawford even if he's hitting .361/.390/.626.

After dismissing Crawford, I started writing about Damian Rolls, but Freel's performing at a higher level in the statistical categories that Tampa notices. He'd provide a little power and speed while giving them more flexibility than Jason Conti, who's limited to outfield work. I don't see any great benefit to owning him, although I see no reason why Freel wouldn't acquit himself respectably if given the opportunity. Spend a buck or two of FAAB if you could use a small power/speed boost and can potentially take a small BA hit.

Texas: Travis Hafner, 24, 1B-L
.309/.441/.488 in 123 AB with 6 HR, 19 RBI, 22 R, 0/0 SB%, and 26:30 BB:K at AAA Oklahoma(PCL).

Several players new to the Rangers' organization have impressed this season, including Ryan Ludwick, Jason Hart, and AAA Rule 5 pick Jeff Pickler, but Hafner owns the best OBP/SLG combo on the team. While he's lost some power in the upper minors, his plate discipline has greatly improved over the last three years. Unfortunately he lacks the defensive skills necessary to play anywhere but 1B or DH, and Texas is rather full at those spots with Rafael Palmeiro, Frank Catalanotto, and whoever isn't playing the outfield from Juan Gonzalez, Carl Everett, Rusty Greer, and Gabe Kapler. Even the expected departures of Greer and Kapler, no later than the upcoming off-season, won't necessarily clear a lineup slot, so he might not see any extended major league time for two more years. However Hafner seems quite capable of racking up some impressive numbers and a value in the high teens upon his promotion, so target him in trade if you need to rebuild, and certainly look to FAAB him if Palmeiro ever hits the DL.

Toronto: Orlando Hudson, 24, 2B-S
.329/.382/.469 in 143 AB with 4 HR, 18 RBI, 22 R, 4/6 SB%, and 13:16 BB:K at AAA Syracuse(IL)

He's competing with Josh Phelps to be the next top Toronto prospect to join the major league lineup, and Hudson gained a clear edge with Homer Bush's release. The only reason that he's not already in the majors is that he apparently offended the Jays' administration by saying that GM J.P. Ricciardi dresses like a pimp, or something similar that offended the seemingly incredibly thin-skinned Ricciardi. However, Hudson really developed as a prospect last season after merely managing marginally respectable numbers in the lower minors; only his plate discipline has showed much promise over the last two seasons. I see no reason not to let Hudson prove himself in AAA for another month, although certainly spend what you feel is required to FAAB Hudson if you need middle infield help. We'll likely go into double-digits and recommend you do the same.

Today's Fantasy Rx: We suggested adding Berkman in Challenge two weeks ago. Last week, we advised on Sammy. Even with one game rained out, he managed 2 HR, 3 RBI, 8R, and a .357 BA over 14 AB.

Blalock's demotion sent around 30% of the teams in the top 250 scrambling for a replacement. We spent a buy on Hillenbrand three weeks ago as an alternative, and even wound up playing both of them over Chavez during his slump. We're assuming that many owners picked up Hillenbrand as a free agent, so here's a breakdown of their numbers in the intervening time:

		AB	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R
Hillenbrand	70	.300	2	9	0	12
Blalock	47	.234	1	3	0	5