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 National League

Arizona Diamondbacks
Minor League Free Agents:
Jhonny Carvajal, 30, B:R, T:R.
25/123 for .203/.279/.358 with 4 HR, 13 RBI, 12 R, 0/2 SB%,
and an 11:29 BB:K for AAA Tucson(PCL).
35/131 for .267/.308/.389 with 2 HR, 17 RBI, 14 R, 2/5 SB%,
and a 9:16 BB:K for AA El Paso(TL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2007.

Andy Wilson, 28, B:R, T:R.
3/8 for .375/.375/.625 with 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 1/1 SB%,
and a 0:1 BB:K for A+ Lancaster(Cal).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A/A+ starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA backup by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Prospects:
Tim Olson, 25, B:R, T:R.
104/397 for .262/.323/.363 with 6 HR, 40 RBI, 59 R, 11/13 SB%,
and a 31:77 BB:K for AAA Tucson(PCL).
11/56 for .196/.258/.339 with 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 0/2 SB%,
and a 5:19 BB:K for AA El Paso(TL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major League reserve by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2007.

Dan Firlit, 24, B:R, T:R.
30/147 for .204/.237/.252 with 1 HR, 12 RBI, 10 R, 3/4 SB%,
and a 4:46 BB:K for AA El Paso(TL).
15/69 for .217/.276/.304 with 1 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R, 1/1 SB%,
and a 4:15 BB:K for A+ Lancaster(Cal).
3/21 for .143/.143/.190 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 0:9 BB:K for A South Bend(Mid).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A-ball backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA backup by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Sergio Santos, 20, B:R, T:R.
35/137 for .255/.293/.365 with 2 HR, 16 RBI, 13 R, 0/0 SB%,
and an 8:25 BB:K for AA El Paso(TL).
98/341 for .287/.368/.408 with 8 HR, 49 RBI, 55 R, 5/9 SB%,
and a 41:64 BB:K for A+ Lancaster(Cal).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $25 by 2011.

Second Basemen Week begins tomorrow.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Among NL shortstops who played in the majors this year and still retain their rookie eligibility, only Khalil Greene appears likely to help fantasy owners in the near future, although Clint Barmes might emerge as a marginal sleeper. More troubling is that the quick rise of Jose Reyes leaves few promising upper-level shortstop prospects in the league. As Greene's plate discipline worries me, the only NL shortstop prospect we can recommend unilaterally is the Brewers J.J. Hardy, and he shouldn't see the majors until next September. Pittsburgh's Freddy Sanchez could shift back to short, but he appears more likely to remain at either second or third base for the Pirates.