Today's Fantasy Rx

Note: For those of you unfamiliar with FAAB, each team normally begins with $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.

Arizona: Alex Cintron, 24, SS-S
3/15 for .200/.200/.333 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 0:0 BB:K in Arizona.
42/107 for .393/.435/.589 with 2 HR, 21 Rbi, 21 R, 1/1 SB%,
and an 8:6 BB:K at AAA Tucson(PCL).

The Diamondbacks promoted Cintron a week ago to replace Craig Counsell, who appears out until the All-Star break thanks to thumb surgery, and the Snakes will give Cintron every chance to unseat Tony Womack's .476 OPS at shortstop. We've seen a lot of press about Chad Tracy, also pounding the ball at Tucson for a .357/.410/.497, but we haven't seen much buzz over Cintron's AAA season, likely because many analysts just assume he's repeating the .305/.328/.407 he's posted in 776 AAA at-bats over the last two years. However, while Cintron held a .03 walk rate and .89 contact rate in past seasons, he now owns a .07 walk rate and .94 contact rate, skills more in line with the .16 walk rate and .83 contact rate he posted in 75 at-bats for Arizona last year. Tools' goofs can make dramatic strides after learning plate discipline, and over his past three month of action I believe Cintron's displayed skills that justify him owning the second best BA in the PCL. Unlike Tracy, Cintron excels in the field and only has committed 4 errors in 25 games in the middle infield this year, including 23 at shortstop. He appears ready to succeed in the majors, and while I don't expect him to contribute many homers or steals, he could earn double-digit value over the remainder of the year thanks to his BA, RBI, and runs totals. Cintron's impressive minor league performance indicates he merits a substantial FAAB bid from anyone with a SS or MIF weakness, though we also see him losing playing time in the second half after Counsell returns.

Atlanta: Donzell McDonald, 28, OF-S
37/118 for .314/.421/.415 with 0 HR, 4 RBI, 16 R, 10/15 SB%,
and a 21:26 BB:K at AAA Richmond(IL).

Ryan Langerhans jumped from AA to the majors when Sheffield missed a couple games on bereavement leave, but if Atlanta needs help for any extended period or decides to dump Darren Bragg's .330 OPS, expect McDonald to get the call. He owns a career .388 minor league OBP, and he's stolen at least 20 bases in each of the past seven seasons. I wouldn't specifically target him, however if you need a temporary OF replacement with a little speed when McDonald's in the majors, look to FAAB him for a buck or two.

Chicago Cubs: Midre Cummings, 31, OF-L
35/115 for .304/.382/.522 with 4 HR, 18 RBI, 16 R, 0/2 SB%,
and a 14:24 BB:K at AAA Iowa(PCL).

No member of the Iowa Cubs is among the league leaders in any category, however Chicago's bench also appears fairly deep. Dave Kelton's 6 errors in 24 games incline Cubs' management to give him all summer to relearn third base, so the only upcoming roster move involves the possibility of promoting an outfielder in about 10 days if Sosa's not healthy when the Cubs return from a two-week road trip. Cummings likely would benefit from any opportunity even though Trenidad Hubbard owns a .361/.451/.443 line with a 9:1 BB:K in 61 at-bats. Of course Dusty Baker barely can find sufficient playing time for his current reserves, so ignore Cummings since we don't expect him to produce in his likely limited role.

Cincinnati: Jacob Cruz, 30, OF-L
39/110 for .355/.411/.573 with 6 HR, 26 RBI, 21 R, 3/3 SB%,
and a 12:16 BB:K at AAA Louisville(IL).

Cincinnati essentially owns no offensive prospects at Louisville, and Corky Miller and Brandon Larson are the only position players with much upside. Of course the Reds' bench seemingly shifts on a weekly basis between new injuries, returning players, and general organizational indecisiveness, so the most likely changes involve players at the end of the bench. Felipe Crespo and Cruz should be the next two reserves recalled, and Cruz's power and defensive reputation make him the likely choice. However Jose Guillen's .984 OPS established him as the unquestioned fourth outfielder, and I can't see Cruz stealing many at-bats, especially with Griffey due back soon. Ignore Cruz in all but the deepest leagues.

Colorado: Garrett Atkins, 23, 3B-R
48/138 for .348/.391/.507 with 4 HR, 25 RBI, 23 R, 0/2 SB%,
and a 10:16 BB:K at AAA Colorado Springs(PCL).

I don't see anyone here on the verge of a call-up since the Rockies' starting lineup looks very stable, but Atkins impressed management in the spring and could emerge as Colorado's primary third baseman within the next couple months. Unfortunately Atkins' skills don't quite support his performance thus far. His .07 walk rate is more than 50% below his minor league career norm, and his high batting average appears entirely due to a career-best .88 contact rate. I believe he can sustain this development, however he also doesn't own the power potential that will make his Coors numbers much more impressive than the .320/.379/.475 posted by Jeff Cirillo. Of course a .320 BA and 20 homers in 500 at-bats still will place Atkins around $20, so as long as you can find a roster spot for him, plan on spending several bucks of FAAB to secure Atkins services, particularly if you can keep him beyond this season.

Florida: Rob Stratton, 25, OF-R
28/112 for .250/.304/.625 with 13 HR, 31 RBI, 25 R, 4/4 SB%,
and a 9:55 BB:K at AAA Albuquerque(PCL).

Prospects Adrian Gonzalez and Jesus Medrano will stay at Albuquerque most of the year, but I could see the Fish recalling Stratton, who leads both the 'Topes and the PCL in homers, to boost the power of a bench with only two dingers. The downside is that Stratton strikes out once every two at-bats, so his overwhelmingly likely terrible BA will offset any quantitative contribution he could offer. Certainly ignore Stratton unless your league doesn't count BA or OBP.

Houston: Eric Bruntlett, 25, 2B/SS-R
45/150 for .300/.371/.340 with 0 HR, 11 RBI, 27 R, 4/7 SB%,
and a 17:18 BB:K at AAA New Orleans(PCL).

Jason Lane and Henri Stanley both merit promotions, but Houston's outfield already looks overflowing and the team needs a shortstop with some offensive upside since Jimy Williams appears unwilling to embrace the logical solution of placing Blum at short while starting Morgan Ensberg full-time at third base. Adam Everett's production should decrease as the year progresses, and Bruntlett deserves a look despite two unimpressive brief AAA stints in each of the last two years. This Stanford product displayed both speed and plate discipline at AA Round Rock(TL) since jumping straight from Rookie-ball in 2001, and though he possesses little power, he owns the skills necessary to succeed in the #2 hole. Unfortunately I doubt the Astros will give him a chance since he already has committed 7 errors while appearing in 25 games at second base and 14 at shortstop, but if Bruntlett earns a promotion, a buck of FAAB could pay nice dividends.

Los Angeles: Bubba Crosby, 26, OF-L
49/112 for .438/.484/.795 with 6 HR, 26 RBI, 27 R, 3/3 SB%,
and a 10:13 BB:K at AAA Las Vegas(PCL).

The Dodgers' first round pick in 1998, Crosby currently leads the PCL in BA, OBP, and SLG while displaying his best plate discipline since A-ball. Of course Los Angeles doesn't even need a power-hitting, left-handed outfielder on the bench unless they surprisingly demote Daryle Ward and his .444 OPS. The good news is that Crosby finally is fulfilling some of the lofty expectations placed on him five years ago, but I don't envision him contributing to the Dodgers in the near future. Ignore any promotion of Crosby unless LA wants him to briefly replaced an injured starting outfielder.

Milwaukee: Joe Lawrence, 26, C/3B/OF-R
20/95 for .211/.342/.326 with 2 HR, 7 RBI, 14 R, 2/3 SB%,
and a 19:18 BB:K at AAA Indianapolis(IL).

Toronto rushed Lawrence through the system and never let him adjust to any level above AA, so he unsurprisingly has rediscovered his hitting skills as he approaches his peak years. With the Brewers receiving limited offensive contributions at best from catcher and third base, promoting Lawrence would give Ned Yost additional lineup flexibility while adding someone likely to post a better OBP than Helms, Osik, or Eddie Perez. You should ignore Lawrence since he'll struggle to break the Mendoza Line, but any organization this desperate for offensive talent with even marginal upside should give a shot players like Lawrence, especially a team whose 12th pitcher doubles as a lefty pinch-hitter.

Montreal: Terrmel Sledge, 26, OF-L
37/125 for .296/.426/.496 with 6 HR, 24 RBI, 17 R, 5/6 SB%,
and a 28:22 BB:K at AAA Edmonton(PCL).

The idea that Omar Minaya could move into a higher profile GM position appears quite laughable when you consider that he's failed to find a capable starting first baseman, arguably the easiest position to fill in the game, in his fifteen months running the Expos. Wil Cordero currently isn't playing badly, but I suspect only the idea that Liefer must produce to justify the Colon trade after El Duque's injury keeps his .528 OPS in the majors. We thought Montreal should promote Joe Vitiello last year, however even though the Expos just reacquired Vitiello in a minor league deal, we see two other superior 1B candidates on the roster. Val Pascucci unfortunately isn't hitting for power, but Sledge certainly deserves a promotion. He owns a career minor league line of .302/.402/.450, and given the Expos' success with Brad Wilkerson, we don't understand why they won't promote a remarkably similar player. Either Wilkerson or Sledge could cover first, or if Cordero somehow continues producing, Sledge could join Wilkerson and Vlad in the outfield. When Montreal finally elevates Sledge, try to FAAB him immediately since his excellent plate discipline suggests he'll post a respectable BA, and he owns sufficient speed to contribute a dozen steals.

New York Mets: Marcos Scutaro, 27, 2B/3B-R
31/110 for .282/.375/.436 with 2 HR, 7 RBI, 17 R, 3/4 SB%,
and a 15:13 BB:K at AAA Norfolk(IL).

Jose Reyes' .257/.328/.367 indicates he's not ready for the major despite his 19/21 SB% and .10 walk rate, however he should succeed immediately upon any call-up as long as New York lets him accumulate another couple months of minor league experience. Scutaro remains the most logical candidate to return to the majors even though Steve Phillips unceremoniously punted him off the 40-man roster in early April. Ty Wigginton's performance should make Phillips' successor less hesitant to employ Scutaro either as a replacement for Jay Bell, or if the Mets truly rebuild, Roberto Alomar. We can't expect impressive quantitative marks, however Scutaro looks quite capable of compiling a helpful BA, so feel free to FAAB him for a buck or two if you need MIF help.

Philadelphia: Chase Utley, 24, 2B-L
3/15 for .200/.200/.467 with 0 HR, 5 RBI, 1 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 3:6 BB:K in Philadelphia.
31/110 for .282/.328/.409 with 1 HR, 19 RBI, 12 R, 2/2 SB%,
and an 8:20 BB:K at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre(IL).

Utley's spent two weeks in the majors this year as an injury replacement for Polanco, and he likely will emerge as the full-time starter either at second or third base next year, depending on where the Phillies decide Utley and David Bell belong defensively. He should start at second since he's only committed 3 errors in 27 AAA games this year, and Utley could emerge as a strong Rookie of the Year candidate if he doesn't lose his eligibility thanks to the Scranton-Philly shuttle. Unfortunately he neither has displayed much plate discipline nor power this year, so I don't believe he's ready to contribute in the majors. Ignore Utley unless you're playing for 2004.

Pittsburgh: Tike Redman, 26, OF-L
40/133 for .301/.369/.436 with 3 HR, 10 RBI, 27 R, 18/19 SB%,
and a 15:11 BB:K at AAA Nashville(PCL).

Adding Kenny Lofton looks like a notable error given Redman's performance this year. Pittsburgh re-signed him this year despite releasing Redman in December, and he's posting the best OBP of his career along with fantastic SB numbers. He won't develop significant power, but if the Pirates can find anyone interested in a fading veteran leadoff man, they possess a logical replacement at Nashville. Redman could match Lofton's .331 OBP while adding a more explosive presence on the bases. If Pittsburgh gives him the opportunity he finally deserves, definitely FAAB him for a few bucks since his SB upside at least will give him good trade value after a few weeks even if you don't need the speed.

San Diego: Jason Bay, 24, OF-R
39/118 for .331/.449/.627 with 10 HR, 32 RBI, 25 R, 8/9 SB%,
and a 24:18 BB:K at AAA Portland(PCL).

The Padres must take advantage of any outfield injury around baseball to deal Rondell White, thus opening an outfield spot for Bay. He's demolishing PCL pitching after only seeing 188 AA at-bats last year, and his .20 walk rate, .85 contact rate, and 89% SB success rate all suggest he could succeed in the majors right now. Bay's displaying all seven skills for the Beavers, and his place among the league leaders in nearly every offensive category is raising his profile rather dramatically. You'll need to spend no less than several bucks of FAAB to grab Bay upon any promotion, and if San Diego looks prepared to let him start for a month or two, he might look like a sizable bargain.

San Francisco: Jason Ellison, 25, OF-R
40/127 for .315/.376/.433 with 1 HR, 10 RBI, 12 R, 10/12 SB%,
and a 12:15 BB:K at AAA Fresno(PCL).

We touted Ellison prior to this season as someone on the cusp of emerging as an elite leadoff man, and San Francisco promoted him Saturday to replace the injured Marvin Benard. While his .311/.389/.408 and 19/19 SB% in 196 AAA at-bats last year impressed us since he skipped AA, Ellison continues to post similar numbers this year. If he can outperform Ruben Rivera until Benard returns, Ellison easily could spend the rest of the year in the majors as a defensive replacement, pinch runner, and occasional leadoff hitter when Felipe Alou wants to add speed to the lineup. Any owner with limited outfield depth or a SB weakness should attempt to FAAB Ellison now before his value increases with any additional playing time.

St. Louis: Jon Nunnally, 31, OF-L
30/111 for .270/.426/.568 with 7 HR, 12 RBI, 13 R, 4/8 SB%,
and a 27:31 BB:K at AAA Memphis(PCL).

The Cardinals' lack of prospects is very apparent when reviewing the Redbirds' roster as this franchise simply lacks the depth to adequately replace any regular starter, although as in past years, Walt Jocketty could deal a couple of borderline prospects for an inexpensive veteran. Nunnally is the one exception to their lack of depth as he owns the skills necessary to replace a J.D. Drew or even Jim Edmonds if necessary. While he'll compile a notable number of strikeouts, Nunnally possesses good power, speed, and plate discipline, a combination of skills rarely found in one St. Louis player below the major league level. Nunnally shouldn't hurt you regardless of his role, and if the Cardinals give him a chance, he at least will merit a small FAAB bid from roto teams desperate for any quantitative boost.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Scouts like players with great tools because they see significant upside in powerful athletes. For our purposes, when someone like Alex Cintron develops plate discipline, he can rise from an afterthought to a fantasy stud within weeks. Anyone that merges baseball skills with fundamental tools should see a dramatic upsurge in their value to both MLB and roto teams.