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 Second Basemen in the American League

Anaheim Angels
Minor League Free Agents:
Trent Durrington is listed with American League second basemen without PDV.

Jerome Alviso, 28, B:S, T:R.
7/51 for .137/.241/.157 with 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5 R, 2/2 SB%,
and a 3:11 BB:K for AAA Ottawa(IL).
45/159 for .283/.315/.308 with 0 HR, 11 RBI, 16 R, 3/5 SB%,
and a 7:13 BB:K between AAA Colorado Springs(PCL) and AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
11/30 for .367/.406/.400 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, R, 2/3 SB%,
and a 2:2 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
0/8 for .000/.111/.000 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 1:1 BB:K for AA Arkansas(TL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league backup by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Rudy Gomez, 29, B:R, T:R.
0/3 for .000/.250/.000 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 1:1 BB:K for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2008.

Prospects:
Derek Mann, 25, B:L, T:R.
4/19 for .211/.384/.263 with 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 0/1 SB%,
and a 4:1 BB:K for AA Arkansas(SL).
11/39 for .282/.300/.308 with 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, 0/1 SB%,
and a 1:4 BBK for A+ Rancho Cucamonga(Cal).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+ starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2009.

Casey Smith, 24, B:R, T:R.
92/324 for .284/.329/.364 with 4 HR, 32 RBI, 46 R, 5/12 SB%,
and a 19:44 BB:K for AA Arkansas(SL).
37/130 for .285/.350/.369 with 3 HR, 15 RBI, 12 R, 1/3 SB%,
and a 10:11 BB:K for A+ Rancho Cucamonga(Cal).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2008.

Baltimore Orioles
Minor League Free Agents:
Luis Lopez, 33, B:S, T:R.
49/186 for .263/.299/.376 with 5 HR, 32 RBI, 23 R, 1/2 SB%,
and a 6:24 BB:K for AAA Ottawa(PCL).
29/140 for .207/.265/.343 with 3 HR, 18 RBI, 14 R, 0/1 SB%,
and a 9:29 BB:K for AAA Colorado Springs(PCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2005.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2006.

Prospects:
Joey Hammond, 25, B:R, T:R.
95/348 for .273/.354/.345 with 0 HR, 32 RBI, 43 R, 2/3 SB%,
and a 44:60 BB:K for AAA Ottawa(IL).
19/57 for .333/.435/.386 with 0 HR, 6 RBI, 3/4 SB%,
and an 11:5 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league backup by 2005.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2006.

Manny del Rosario, 22, B:S, T:R.
3/24 for .125/.125/.125 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 0:1 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
42/175 for .240/.300/.257 with 0 HR, 7 RBI, 21 R, 18/23 SB%,
and a 15:17 BB:K for A- Aberdeen(NYP).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A-/A starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2010.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2011.

Mike Fontenot, 23, B:L, T:R.
146/449 for .325/.399/.481 with 12 HR, 66 RBI, 63 R, 16/21 SB%,
and a 50:89 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Mid-round minor league draft pick.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $25 by 2009.

Boston Red Sox
Minor League Free Agents:
Trace Coquillette, 29, B:R, T:R.
71/233 for .305/.376/.459 with 5 HR, 30 RBI, 36 R, 3/6 SB%,
and a 17:65 BB:K for AAA Pawtucket(IL).
39/158 for .247/.365/.437 with 7 HR, 21 RBI, 23 R, 5/10 SB%,
and a 22:46 BB:K for AA Portland(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league backup by 2005.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2006.

Carlos Leon, 24, B:S, T:R.
78/259 for .301/.368/.394 with 2 HR, 23 RBI, 45 R, 10/16 SB%,
and a 21:34 BB:K for AA Portland(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reserve by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Prospects:
None.

'03 Second Basemen Week continues tomorrow, featuring National Leaguers with Double-digit Positive Draft Value.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Among AL second basemen who played in the majors this year and still retain their rookie eligibility, Oakland's Esteban German and Aaron Miles, dealt from the White Sox to the Rockies yesterday, both look like future roto contributors, although German also requires a chance of scenery. While Jason Bourgeois and Freddie Bynum possess some long-term upside, only Baltimore's Mike Fontenot looks like a good fantasy target in 2004 minor league drafts.