Today's Fantasy Rx

The Eighth Day of Outfielders 2002

On the Eighth Day of Outfielders, my true love gave to me:
Single-digit NL PDV,
Double-digit NL PDV,
AL West "Prospects",
AL Central "Prospects";
AL East "Prospects",
American Leaguers without PDV,
Single-digit AL PDV,
and American Leaguers with Double-digit PDV.

National League Outfielders with Single-digit Positive Draft Value

Quick Key to the tables:
AB = At-bats.  H = Hits.  BA = Batting Average.  HR= Home Runs.
RBI = Runs Batted In.  SB = Stolen Bases.  R = Runs.  B = Bats.  T = Throws.
Pos = Position qualification based on 20 appearances or max. # of games in 2002.
2002 Age = Player's Age as of October 1, 2002.
4x4 = BA, HR, RBI, and SB in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
5x5 = BA, HR, RBI, SB, and R in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
DV = Draft Value (The price a player earned under a 65/35 hitting/pitching split).
AV = Actual Value (The price a player earned under a 50/50 hitting/pitching split).
Rotohelp = 2002 Rotohelp Predicted Draft Value.
LABR/Tout = 2002 Expert League prices; LABR for 4x4. Tout Wars for 5x5.

Average league worst BA, ERA, and WHIP provided for 2002 leagues courtesy of Rototimes, based on data compiled from TQ Stats.

Players are ranked in order from the highest draft value in a 4x4 league to the lowest. As the majority of fantasy leagues allow you to keep anyone traded to the other league, all players are listed in the league where they began the season.

38.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
J.D. Drew		424	107	.252	18	56	8	61	O
STL Cardinals		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:R	4x4:	9		7		20		28
2002 Age: 26	5x5:	10		8		20		29

Drew failed to reach 425 at-bats for the fourth straight season due to injury, and he needed surgery in October to remove a portion of his right patellar tendon, so he may not fully recover until a month or two into the season. We can't expect more than a couple steals from him in 2003, and we probably won't see much growth elsewhere since most of his skills declined. I still think he's very likely to emerge as a star sometime in the next few years, but he needs to both remain healthy and reverse his eroding plate discipline. You can't expect a profit from him on any double-digit bid.

39.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Ron Gant		309	81	.262	18	59	4	58	O
SD Padres		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	9		7		2		R
2002 Age: 37	5x5:	10		8		2		1

San Diego reportedly didn't deal Gant during the year because they planned to re-sign him due to his positive effect on the younger Padres. Apparently Gant's veteran leadership wasn't worth the risk of offering him arbitration, so now he'll be lucky to secure more than a non-roster invitation to Spring Training. He turns 38 at the beginning of March, and while his .294/.383/.569 line against lefties indicates he still possesses significant value in a part-time role, I have a hard time envisioning him bettering this performance as he approaches 40. However his contact rate and G-F both noticeably improved, so he's capably of smacking another 15+ homers if given the necessary at-bats. Gant's a decent buy anywhere below the high single-digits, if he finds a job.

40.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Doug Glanville		422	105	.249	6	29	19	49	O
PHI Phillies		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	9		7		15		12
2002 Age: 32	5x5:	9		7		15		13

The Rangers' signing of Doug Glanville to a one year, $1M deal gives us yet another example of the inanity of Tom Hicks' firing of Doug Melvin as GM right when the farm system began producing quality major leaguers. John Hart is ruining some of the best years of ARod's career because he apparently forgot how to build a winning baseball team. If Everett can't play center and Glanville leads off, the resulting drop in RBI opportunities for ARod will cost him a few bucks of value. Glanville may be a smart and personable young man who adds to the clubhouse, but he contributes little on the field other than solid speed and decent defense, and neither of those capabilities makes it okay to lead off someone who's averaged a sub-.300 OBP over the last three seasons. Since you're only targeting his SB upside, don't bid more than a couple bucks on Glanville.

41.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Reggie Taylor		287	73	.254	9	38	11	41	O
CIN Reds		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:R	4x4:	8		6		4
2002 Age: 25	5x5:	8		6		3

Taylor is the most prepared to remain in the majors of the Reds' several speedy outfielders, and one of the Reds' goals in offering Griffey for Nevin was to open centerfield for Taylor. Nevin thankfully vetoed the trade, thus sparing Reds' fans from even more playing time for Taylor. He pushed double-digit value this year due to his power and speed upside, however he lacks any semblance of plate discipline and could see his average drop a couple dozen points with more regular playing time. I wouldn't target Taylor without significant BA support from the rest of my lineup.

42.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Danny Bautista		154	50	.325	6	23	4	22	O
ARI Diamondbacks		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	8		6		8		8
2002 Age: 30	5x5:	7		5		8		11

Bautista appeared on his way to a career year before a dislocated left shoulder at the end of May ended his season. Although his ridiculous contract makes him the anointed starter heading into Spring Training, Bautista's meager skills don't support the statistical breakout that this limited sample size suggests. I'll be surprised if he breaks double-digit value, so you probably shouldn't roster him for anything more than a few bucks given his lack of upside.

43.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Alex Ochoa		280	73	.261	8	31	10	40	O
MIL/ANA		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	7		6		11		12
2002 Age: 30	5x5:	7		6		11		16

Ochoa again compiled impressive numbers in limited duty, receiving only 280 at-bats in 122 games. Both his .15 walk rate and .88 contact rate suggest a BA spike. We haven't seen much power potential from him over the last two years, but he still seems quite capable of a $20+ season if he finds a starting job in the next year or two. You shouldn't see a loss even if you bid him to the highest single digits, and unless he signs somewhere as a starter, I expect you'll be able to roster him for less.

44.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Orlando Merced		251	72	.287	6	30	4	35	O
HOU Astros		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:R	4x4:	7		5		2		R
2002 Age: 35	5x5:	7		5		1

While Merced's power decreased in his second year with Houston, his fantasy value increased a little as he nearly doubled his 2001 at-bats, boosting his BA contribution. However the move of Biggio to the outfield, coupled with the need to find regular playing time for Richard Hidalgo, Daryle Ward, Brian L. Hunter, Jason Lane, and Rule 5 pick Victor Hall leave Merced with little chance of finding more than a pinch-hitting role. He also only managed a .692 OPS away from Houston compared to an .886 home OPS. Overall, Merced appears unlikely to hurt you for a buck or two, but I also wouldn't spend even a few bucks on him in the hope that he'll find greater playing time.

45.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Tom Goodwin		154	40	.260	1	17	16	23	O
SF Giants		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:R	4x4:	7		5		5		7
2002 Age: 34	5x5:	6		5		5		6

Goodwin's skills haven't really changed in years. He remains a prolific basestealing threat with decent patience but without any power or acceptable plate discipline. A .260 BA seems to identify his upper limit. However, while he only helps in a single category, he generally provides welcome stolen bases for his owners. Assuming he breaks camp with a team, Goodwin's a great target for your last outfield slot as he has only cost a couple bucks in recent years, and you should definitely look to take advantage of the availability of anyone with the likelihood of providing a dozen steals for less than five dollars.

46.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Lenny Harris		197	60	.305	3	17	4	23	O
MIL Brewers		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:R	4x4:	6		5		-1
2002 Age: 37	5x5:	5		4		-1

After only managing a .225/.267/.338 line in 71 first half at-bats, Harris exploded for a .349/.403/.452 performance after the All-Star break. This surprising push boosted his fantasy value above the levels we've grown to expect from him, and while a .300 average seems uncharacteristically high for him, a BA in the .280-.290 range looks right for 2003. He still possesses good plate discipline and even set a career-high with 3.66 #P/PA, so he's unlikely to hurt your team. I expect someone to sign him as their lead pinch-hitter within the next month, and while his limited upside suggests you shouldn't target him in drafts, he's perfectly acceptable to use as roster filler at any time.

47.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Troy O'Leary		273	78	.286	3	37	1	27	O
MON Expos		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:L	4x4:	5		4				1
2002 Age: 33	5x5:	5		4				2

O'Leary joined the Cubs as their fourth outfielder and lead left-handed pinch-hitter, and he rightfully expects to see another 250+ at-bats while subbing for Moises Alou and even Sammy at times. Like seemingly every other pupil of Frank Robinson last year with the Expos, O'Leary posted the best plate discipline of his career as he set a career-high of a .12 walk rate. An increase to a .83 contact rate also suggests he can maintain a batting average over .275. His second half slump concerns me, but I see no problem with any of his other splits. The only troublesome skill indicator is that his G-F ratio, after four years of bouncing between .96 and 1.17, jumped to 1.45, indicating that we won't see a power rebound. However O'Leary looks very unlikely to hurt you, and he could reach double-digit value depending on the health status of the Cubs' corner outfielders, making him a decent flyer in the low single digits.

48.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Jeffrey Hammonds		448	115	.257	9	41	4	47	O
MIL Brewers		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	5		4		7		11
2002 Age: 31	5x5:	6		5		7		13

Hammonds exceeded 397 at-bats for only the second time in his career in 2002. While he posted career-highs of a .12 walk rate and 3.81 #P/PA, another year filled with various injuries left him with a .397 SLG, his worst mark since 1996. His contact rate dropped from .86 to .76 when he moved from Colorado to Milwaukee two years ago, and even a rebound to .81 this year didn't help his lagging BA. If Hammonds can't even post double-digit value when he avoids the DL all season, I doubt he'll manage to make many noteworthy roto contributions in the future. His limited upside should keep your bidding well under $10.

49.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Matt Stairs		270	66	.244	16	41	2	41	O
MIL Brewers		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:R	4x4:	5		4		8		6
2002 Age: 34	5x5:	5		4		8		10

Stairs' skills haven't changed as he's bounced from minor league free agent to one of the keys in Oakland's rise to prominence and now his current role of pounding right-handed pitchers. He only posted a .368 OPS in 13 at-bats against lefties, however his .249/.355/.494 line against righties shows he still deserves a regular role. Although his patience is beginning to decrease, a rising contact rate and consistent power skills indicate we could see a rebound into double-digits in 2003. Stairs is a solid buy in the high single digits as long as Pittsburgh remains committed to giving him the majority of their right field at-bats.

50.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Bubba Trammell		403	98	.243	17	56	1	54	O
SD Padres		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	5		4		6		16
2002 Age: 30	5x5:	6		5		6		14

Trammell has two years and $7.25M left on his deal, so he'll play everyday for the Padres in 2003 until San Diego can find someone willing to acquire him so they can promote Xavier Nady into their lineup in left field. I see no obvious difference in his performances over the last two years aside from the fact that he saw 87 less at-bats in 2002, so his quantitative numbers dropped by a roughly corresponding amount. However, his OPS against right-handers fell from .806 in 2001 to a .665 in 2002, so even though he posted a .305/.387/.534 against lefties, the overall loss of 18 points of BA dropped him another few bucks. He's not worth a significant investment given his tenuous starting position and lack of overly positive skill trends.

51.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Richard Hidalgo		388	91	.235	15	48	6	54	O
HOU Astros		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	4		4		16		21
2002 Age: 27	5x5:	6		4		16		23

The expectation that Hidalgo will find the majority of at-bats at one outfield position for the Astros seems unreasonable considering he was shot in an attempted carjacking around a month ago. Even if he recovers without any permanent damage, his skills continued deteriorating for the second consecutive year. I think he could reach double-digit value if he's limited to facing left-handers, however Houston will not leave him in that role given his salaries of $8M in 2003 and $12M in 2004. Any bid above $5 on Hidalgo looks risky, and even if he somehow posts another surprise 40 homer season, I don't believe the potential BA havoc merits an offer above single digits.

52.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Brian L. Hunter		201	54	.269	3	20	5	32	O
HOU Astros		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	4		3		3
2002 Age: 31	5x5:	4		3		3		1

Hunter's skills dropped almost across the board, and if someone with his statistical profile can't even manage more than 5 steals, their rotisserie value will head towards $0 rather rapidly. He certainly still owns the speed skills necessary to reach a couple dozen steals, but I don't envision him seeing anywhere near the opportunity required to attain significant value. Anything above a couple bucks is unlikely to earn a profit.

53.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Darren Bragg		212	57	.269	3	15	5	34	O
ATL Braves		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:R	4x4:	3		3
2002 Age: 33	5x5:	4		3

Although Bragg continues to display excellent plate discipline in the minors, he doesn't deserve a starting job in the majors due to his inability to post a contact rate much above .75. A drop in his G-F from 2.13 to 1.20 doesn't suggest the power spike we'd expect from most hitters since he's never displayed much longball upside. Bragg's someone to use as roster filler whenever necessary but he doesn't belong as even a vital complementary part of anyone's team.

54.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Ken Griffey, Jr.		197	52	.264	8	23	1	17	O
CIN Reds		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:L	4x4:	3		2		18		29
2002 Age: 32	5x5:	3		2		19		31

A .92 G-F in each of the last two years, his worst marks since 1992, indicates he'd struggle to reach more than 30 homers even if he stayed healthy for a full season. Griffey's maintained most of his other skills, but there's no indication he'll regain his power in the near future. His 2001 stats of .286/22/65/2/57 look like a very good projection for him in 2003, so you should treat any extra playing time as a bonus. Hold your bids to the mid-teens even though this strategy virtually guarantees some owner expecting a $30 season will insure you don't roster Griffey any time soon.

55.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Kerry Robinson		181	47	.260	1	15	7	27	O
STL Cardinals		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:L	4x4:	3		2		11		5
2002 Age: 28	5x5:	3		2		10		2

Robinson slightly regressed in most areas instead of emerging into the Brian L. Hunter clone we expected. LaRussa's shown no inclination to increase his playing time, so don't bother rostering Robinson until slightly before Dollar Days.

56.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Jeromy Burnitz		479	103	.215	19	54	10	65	O
NY Mets		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:R	4x4:	3		2		9		13
2002 Age: 33	5x5:	5		4		11		16

Burnitz's problem remains an abundance of strikeouts as his contact rate dropped from .79 in 2000 to .73 last year and now a .72. I see very little slippage in any of his other skills, however we won't see a huge rebound if he remains in one of the worst hitters' parks in the majors. A .225 BA looks reasonable, as does a significant jump of a couple dozen RBI since the middle of the Mets' lineup should improve. Unfortunately, you can't bid into double-digits on Burnitz unless you're desperate for power since his BA will drive your team's qualitative performance into the ground.

57.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Marvin Benard		123	34	.276	1	13	5	16	O
SF Giants		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:L	4x4:	3		2		7		6
2002 Age: 32	5x5:	2		2		7		4

Benard missed much of the second half after tearing cartilage in his left knee, but despite his poor performance he's guaranteed to spend most of 2003 on the Giants since they owe him another $4 million. Unfortunately he seems unlikely to steal much playing time from Marquis Grissom since Benard has developed a reverse platoon split, negating much of his value to San Francisco. Even a slight hint of power upside doesn't compensate for his failing plate discipline skills, leaving Benard as little more than a Dollar Days' gamble since he shouldn't see significant playing time.

58.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Endy Chavez		125	37	.296	1	9	3	20	O
MON Expos		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:L	4x4:	3		2
2002 Age: 24	5x5:	2		2

Barring another acquisition, Chavez looks very likely to enter the season as Montreal's starting centerfielder. He posted solid numbers in 405 AAA at-bats, including a .343/.392/.467 with a 33:37 BB:K, but his poor walk rate and 21/34 SB% success rate predicted his major league struggles. Chavez may develop decent patience as many other Montreal hitters have, however he doesn't seem likely to improve upon his .296/.321/.464 line. His consistently excellent contact rate indicates the potential to hold an average near .300, and his speed skills give him $20 potential. Chavez's overall upside suggests a bid in the high single-digits could net you a very nice profit, and a season approaching Dave Roberts' 2002 wouldn't be too surprising.

59.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Angel Echevarria		98	30	.306	3	21	0	14	O
CH Cubs		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	2		2
2002 Age: 31	5x5:	2		2

Echevarria's utility to the Cubs ended when they traded for Eric Karros and hired a manager who hadn't previously managed him. So the Cubs sent him to Japan, reducing his already marginal roto value to nothing.

60.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Tsuyoshi Shinjo		362	86	.238	9	37	5	42	O
SF Giants		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	2		2		5		7
2002 Age: 30	5x5:	3		3		6		7

I suspect Shinjo will finish with a BA closer to .300 than .238 since his contact rate jumped from .83 to .87 in 2002, and a move from PacBell to almost any other stadium should increase his value. Of course the uncertainty inherent in these relatively weak skills prevents you from needing to consider rostering him until Dollar Days.

61.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Jose Guillen		240	57	.238	8	31	4	25	O
ARI/CIN		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	2		2		5		R
2002 Age: 26	5x5:	2		2		5		R

Guillen's 1.95 G-F is the second worst mark of his career, indicating that his couple years of increasing power potential abruptly reversed in 2001. I see no reason to consider Guillen for your team given his lack of plate discipline, power, and speed, as he really only adds empty at-bats to most rosters.

62.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Ryan Thompson		137	34	.248	8	24	1	16	O
MIL Brewers		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	2		2
2002 Age: 34	5x5:	2		1

Although Thompson's plate discipline remains mostly awful, his tremendous power upside continues to make him an intriguing roto option. He demonstrated in 1994 that he could hit 20 homers with only semi-regular playing time, and Thompson still looks capable of a .225/25 season. Make sure you own a solid BA before rostering him, however he should add a homer and a few RBI for every 10 days he spends on your team.

63.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Geoff Jenkins		243	59	.243	10	29	1	35	O
MIL Brewers		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:R	4x4:	2		2		13		20
2002 Age: 28	5x5:	3		2		14		23

I understand Doug Melvin's desire to build the Brewers around Richie Sexson and Ben Sheets, but Jenkins just doesn't belong in the same category as his two teammates from my perspective. Thanks to a jump from .70 to .75 in his contact rate, Jenkins' BA probably would have bounced back in the second half if he hadn't dislocated his ankle, tearing ligaments in mid-June. However a three-year trend of improving power potential stopped as his G-F ratio jumped from 1.10 to 1.44, so he might not have reached 20 homers. Bidding into the mid-teens for Jenkins looks like a good gamble given his BA should cease to limit his value, although there's no pending breakout here even as he enters his prime.

64.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Adam Hyzdu		155	36	.232	11	34	0	24	O
PIT Pirates		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	2		2
2002 Age: 30	5x5:	2		2

Hyzdu owns both excellent patience and great power potential, but unfortunately his excess strikeouts limit his upside. He demolished the league with a .379/.446/.672 in 58 July at-bats before his averages plummeted over the last two months of the season. I'll be surprised if he even breaks camp with a team, and while his power upside intrigues me, I don't expect him to see much playing time in 2003.

65.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
David Dellucci		229	56	.245	7	29	2	34	O
ARI Diamondbacks		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:L	4x4:	2		2		6		2
2002 Age: 28	5x5:	2		2		6		1

Dellucci's spent time on the DL in three of the last four years with his repeated injuries keeping him from developing into a productive player. He's a reasonably patient hitter, but he strikes out too often and lacks good power and speed. I no longer view Dellucci as anything more than a Dollar Days pick.

66.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Raul Gonzalez		104	27	.260	3	12	4	13	O
CIN/NYM		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	2		2
2002 Age: 28	5x5:	1		1

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of New York (N) Prospects for comments on Gonzalez.

67.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Tony Tarasco		96	24	.250	6	15	2	15	O
NY Mets		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:R	4x4:	1		1
2002 Age: 31	5x5:	1		1

Tarasco owns good plate discipline, a little power upside, and decent speed, so he could easily post double-digit value if he finds a job as a regular reserve. Of course, his off-field issues should prevent him from seeing too much time in the majors next year, but feel free to use him as roster filler when he's available.

68.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Jason Lane		69	20	.290	4	10	1	12	O
HOU Astros		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:L	4x4:	1		1				1
2002 Age: 25	5x5:	1		1				2

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of Houston Prospects for comments on Lane.

69.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Armando Rios		208	55	.264	1	24	1	20	O
PIT Pirates		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:L	4x4:	1		1		9		8
2002 Age: 31	5x5:	1		1		9		10

Rios' continued knee problems led to Pittsburgh's decision to cut him loose at the end of the season, which was likely a significant mistake given the general lack of outfield talent in the organization and Rios' potential when healthy. He displayed very solid skills in both 1999 and 2000 before slumping the last two years, while still managing a respectable batting average and continually dropping G-F ratios. Definitely target Rios in the spring if he's healthy and in a position to earn significant playing time; spending a few bucks on him could help you turn a very useful profit.

70.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Brandon Larson		51	14	.275	4	13	1	8	O
CIN Reds		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	1		1
2002 Age: 26	5x5:	0		1

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of Cincinnati Prospects for comments on Larson.

71.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Adrian Brown		208	45	.216	1	21	10	20	O
PIT Pirates		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:S    T:R	4x4:	1		1		9		12
2002 Age: 28	5x5:	1		1		10		17

Brown spent half the year in the minors after failing to recapture his leadoff job, however his .337/.409/.435 line, along with a 22/28 SB% success rate at AAA, demonstrates that he still owns solid on-base and speed skills. I don't see him finding extended playing time now that he's joined Boston as a Rule 5 pick, however he could reach double-digit value even in only a couple hundred at-bats since he could post a helpful batting average and a dozen steals. Any bid below the upper single digits seems reasonable given his solid skill history and overall upside.

72.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Esix Snead		13	4	.308	1	3	4	3	O
NY Mets		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:S    T:R	4x4:	1		1
2002 Age: 26	5x5:	0		0

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of New York (N) Prospects for comments on Snead.

Today's Fantasy Rx: While we don't believe in allocating extra funds to infielders above the prices we project, we still prefer spending our assets in the infield since the tremendous outfield depth always creates several solid bargains throughout a draft. Unless we find some equally fantastic infield bargains, we generally prefer not to buy more than two $20+ outfielders, and the number of intriguing single-digit buys who earn nice profits suggests you limit yourself to a total of three $10+ outfielders in most leagues.