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 National League

Arizona Diamondbacks
Minor League Free Agents:
Mike Bell, 28, B:R, T:R.
109/416 for .262/.311/.418 with 11 HR, 70 RBI, 60 R, 1/4 SB%,
and a 26:59 BB:K for AAA Tucson(PCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reserve by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler in 2004.

Prospects:
Andy Green, 26, B:R, T:R.
70/126 for .302/.366/.400 with 2 HR, 51 RBI, 7 R, 17/28 SB%,
and a 38:51 BB:K for AA El Paso(TL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Scott Hairston, 23, B:R, T:R.
0/0 for .000/.000/.000 with 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 0:0 BB:K for AAA Tucson(PCL).
93/337 for .276/.345/.469 with 10 HR, 47 RBI, 53 R, 6/8 SB%,
and a 30:80 BB:K for AA El Paso(TL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Mid-round minor league pick.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $25 by 2009.

Third Basemen Week begins tomorrow.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Several decent young second basemen in NL organizations didn't appear in the majors this year. Burke and Hairston probably possess the most roto upside given their respective clear paths to the majors, though Victor Diaz and Jake Gautreau still own solid long-term potential. Jayson Nix and Josh Barfield might be the most intriguing NL second base prospects, however as neither saw any time above A-ball in 204, they deserve little roto consideration in most leagues.