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 Third Basemen in the American League

Anaheim Angels
Minor League Free Agents:
Keith Johnson, 32, B:R, T:R.
129/451 for .286/.317/.441 with 11 HR, 64 RBI, 51 R, 6/12 SB%,
and a 19:70 BB:K for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2005.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2005.

Junior Zamora, 27, B:R, T:R.
121/430 for .281/.336/.419 with 9 HR, 54 RBI, 61 R, 3/4 SB%,
and a 30:96 BB:K for AA Arkansas(TL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2007.

Prospects:
Jon Cahill, 25, B:R, T:R.
0/2 for .000/.500/.000 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 2:0 BB:K for AA Arkansas(TL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A-ball reserve.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reserve by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Dallas McPherson, 23, B:L, T:R.
32/102 for .314/.426/.569 with 5 HR, 27 RBI, 22 R, 4/4 SB%,
and a 19:25 BB:K for AA Arkansas(TL).
90/292 for .309/.404/.606 with 18 HR, 59 RBI, 65 R, 12/18 SB%,
and a 41:79 BB:K for A+ Rancho Cucamonga(Cal).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Early-round minor league draft pick.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $30 by 2010.

Maximo Pichardo, 24, B:R, T:R.
18/88 for .205/.278/.273 with 0 HR, 8 RBI, 9 R, 3/4 SB%,
and a 4:13 BB:K for AA Arkansas(TL).
21/94 for .223/.291/.277 with 0 HR, 6 RBI, 10 R, 2/3 SB%,
and an 8:11 BB:K for A+ Rancho Cucamonga(Cal).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A/A+ reserve.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reserve by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Baltimore Orioles
Minor League Free Agents:
Jose Leon is listed with American League third basemen without PDV.

Napolean Calzado, 26, B:R, T:R.
61/196 for .311/.363/.388 with 0 HR, 15 RBI, 30 R, 9/12 SB%,
and a 14:30 BB:K for AAA Ottawa(IL).
44/166 for .265/.293/.331 with 1 HR, 11 RBI, 16 R, 11/14 SB%,
and a 5:14 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
3/16 for .188/.278/.188 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5 R, 3/3 SB%,
and a 2:0 BB:K for A- Aberdeen(NYP).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reserve by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2007.

Ivanon Coffie, 26, B:L, T:R.
7/34 for .206/.263/.412 with 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 3:3 BB:K for AAA Memphis(PCL).
78/319 for .245/.338/.439 with 14 HR, 42 RBI, 47 R, 1/5 SB%,
and a 42:66 BB:K for AA Bowie(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.

Brian Rios, 29, B:R, T:R.
13/65 for .200/.229/.323 with 1 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 2:10 BB:K for AAA Ottawa(IL).
5/23 for .217/.280/.217 with 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 2:6 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA reserve.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reserve by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2007.

Prospects:
None.

Boston Red Sox
Minor League Free Agents:
None.

Prospects:
Earl Snyder, 27, B:R, T:R.
119/467 for .255/.299/.454 with 22 HR, 71 RBI, 61 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 24:113 BB:K for AAA Pawtucket(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Kevin Youkilis, 24, B:R, T:R.
18/109 for .165/.295/.248 with 2 HR, 15 RBI, 9 R, 0/1 SB%,
and an 18:21 BB:K for AAA Pawtucket(IL).
102/312 for .327/.487/.465 with 6 HR, 37 RBI, 74 R, 7/7 SB%,
and an 86:40 BB:K for AA Portland(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Mid-round draft pick.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $25 by 2009.

John Hattig, 23, B:S, T:R.
7/32 for .219/.265/.281 with 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 2:11 BB:K for AA Portland(EL).
118/401 for .294/.385/.421 with 6 HR, 70 RBI, 51 R, 9/16 SB%,
and a 59:70 BB:K for A+ Sarasota(FSL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2011.

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

Today's Fantasy Rx: Dallas McPherson is the undisputed class of today's players, although Kevin Youkilis and Justin Leone also look likely to emerge as solid fantasy players within the next few years. However, only McPherson owns the all-around skills necessary to develop into a star third baseman, making him the logical preference for anyone seeking a future cornerstone 3B for their AL fantasy squad.