Today's Fantasy Rx

Like last year, as I already have covered practically every minor leaguer ready for the majors during our team prospect reviews, instead of providing in-depth commentary on each player today, I'll provide a brief synopsis of what I expect in 2004 from every player at the AA and AAA levels. I won't cover anyone here that spent any time in the majors this season, but I'll give you a quick look at anyone who played above A-ball, listed at the position where he appeared the most.

Minor League Free Agent and AAA/AA Shortstops in the American League

Anaheim Angels
Minor League Free Agents:
Adonis Harrison, 27, B:L, T:R.
52/178 for .292/.363/.360 with 0 HR, 18 RBI, 23 R, 1/3 SB%,
and a 22:18 BB:K for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
43/139 for .309/.398/.475 with 2 HR, 15 RBI, 18 R, 3/8 SB%,
and a 20:20 BB:K for AA Arkansas(TL).
1/3 for .333/.500/.333 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 1:0 BB:K for R Angels(AZL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reserve by 2005.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster Filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2006.

Prospects:
Adam Pavkovich, 21, B:R, T:R.
1/5 for .200/.200/.200 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 0:0 BB:K For AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
40/125 for .320/.382/.392 with 1 HR, 18 RBI, 20 R, 1/2 SB%,
and a 13:19 BB:K for A Cedar Rapids(Mid).
30/106 for .283/.381/.368 with 1 HR, 11 RBI, 17 R, 2/3 SB%,
and a 14:21 BB:K for R+ Provo(Pio).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+ starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2010.

Brian Specht, 22, B:S, T:R.
116/458 for .253/.327/.402 with 14 HR, 63 RBI, 62 R, 12/20 SB%,
and a 46:112 BB:K for AA Arkansas(TL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2011.

Baltimore Orioles
Minor League Free Agents:
Eddy Garabito, 26, B:S, T:R.
129/459 for .281/.327/.383 with 3 HR, 56 RBI, 62 R, 14/22 SB%,
and a 31:70 BB:K for AAA Ottawa(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reserve by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2007.

Prospects:
Ed Rogers, 25, B:R, T:R.
72/340 for .212/.249/.309 with 6 HR, 35 RBI, 48 R, 27/35 SB%,
and a 12:64 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
5/14 for .357/.333/.714 with 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 0:2 BB:K for A- Aberdeen(NYP).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A-ball/A+ starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2010.

Boston Red Sox
Minor League Free Agents:
Kelly Dransfeldt, 28, B:R, T:R.
75/354 for .212/.269/.353 with 8 HR, 46 RBI, 44 R, 0/2 SB%,
and a 25:87 BB:K between AAA Louisville(IL) and AAA Pawtucket(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2007.

Prospects:
Zach Borowiak, 22, B:R, T:R.
2/11 for .182/.182/.182 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 0:2 BB:K for AA Portland(EL).
17/93 for .183/.248/.226 with 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 0/2 SB%,
and a 7:13 BB:K for A+ Sarasota(FSL).
34/125 for .272/.372/.328 with 0 HR, 7 RBI, 13 R, 12/16 SB%,
and a 16:18 BB:K for A- Lowell(NYP).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A-ball starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2010.

Raul Nieves, 24, B:S, T:R.
63/253 for .249/.317/.289 with 0 HR, 21 RBI, 31 R, 5/11 SB%,
and a 24:28 BB:K for AA Portland(EL).
3/23 for .130/.130/.261 with 0 HR, 1 Rbi, 2 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 0:5 BB:K for R Red Sox(GCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Tony Schrager, 26, B:R, T:R.
104/412 for .252/.347/.391 with 9 HR, 54 RBI, 48 R, 3/8 SB%,
and a 57:85 BB:K for AA Portland(EL).
8/49 for .163/.241/.224 with 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1/2 SB%,
and a 5:11 BB:K for AA West Tenn(SL).
5/17 for .294/.368/.412 with 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1/1 SB%,
and a 2:1 BB:K for A+ Sarasota(FSL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reserve by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2009.

'03 Shortstop Week continues tomorrow, featuring National League Shortstops with Double-digit Positive Draft Value.

Today's Fantasy Rx: B.J. Upton easily outdistances every other AL shortstop prospect. For roto, Jason Bartlett looks very promising, Seattle's Jose Lopez possesses significant potential but may switch positions, and Russ Adams may find more immediate success than his fellow prospects due to his superior plate discipline.