Today's Fantasy Rx

2003 Minor League Rule Five Draft Review

Teams can keep their selections at any level. AAA players cost $12,000 each, and AA players cost $4,000 each.

Of the 54 players selected last season, only two, Houston's Nate Bland and Cincinnati's Juan Cerros, reached the majors this year; both players were selected from the New York Mets in the Triple-A phase of the draft. Several more players posted decent minor league numbers and could develop into serviceable big leaguers. Joel Barreto(CIN from STL), Andrew Beinbrink(TEX from TB), Mike Curry(SEA from CIN), Frank Gracesqui(FLO from TOR), Junior Herndon(BOS from SD), Victor Moreno(MIN from PHI), Marc Sauer(OAK from FLO), Jorge Sequea(TOR from DET), and Mike Steele(SEA from DET) all performed well at no less than one minor league level.

Mike Bumatay, selected last year by Colorado from Pittsburgh with the 7th overall pick of the draft, also pitched quite well at AA Tulsa this season, but the Rockies didn't protect him and Detroit snatched him in the Major League Rule 5 Draft, discussed here yesterday.

Pick Rating Scale: Excellent/Good/Acceptable/Questionable/Poor.

Triple-A Phase, Round One

San Diego: Ronnie Merrill, SS, COL.
36/199 for .181/.257/.291 with 2 HR, 20 RBI, 32 R, 2/4 SB%,
and a 19:0 BB:K for AA Tulsa(TL).
Brief bio: 25, B:S, T: R. Acquired from Detroit with Victor Santos for Jose Santiago during spring training in 2002, Merrill demonstrated good plate discipline in the Carolina League, however he flailed badly after an abrupt double-promotion to AAA Colorado Springs. As he lacks power, fielding consistency, and even good speed, he likely never will merit regular fantasy ownership even if he eventually develops into an acceptable big league backup.
Upside/ETA: Reserve by 2009.
Quality of pick: Questionable.

Tampa Bay: Mark Comolli, Relief Pitcher, TOR.
1-3 and 11 Saves on a 24:13 K:BB in 21 IP over 21 G
with 16 H, 1 HR, and a 3.43 ERA for A+ Dunedin(FSL).
1-0 and 13 Saves on a 25:8 K:BB in 28.2 IP over 26 G
with 20 H, 2 HR, and a 2.51 ERA for Charleston-WV(Sal).
Brief bio: 24, B:R, T:R. Comolli now owns a career 139:45 K:BB in 152 innings, so I have no idea why Toronto exposed him to this draft. His upside probably isn't much higher than that of Talley Haines, who the Jays took from the Rays in the major league Rule 5 draft, but Commolli should reach AAA by 2006 and could contribute out of the pen for several years. At the very least he gives Tampa solid minor league roster filler.
Upside/ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2008.
Quality of pick: Excellent.

More Rule 5 selection analysis will be available here soon.

The Twelve Days of Outfielders 2003 begin tomorrow.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Normally player selected in these phases of the Rule 5 draft don't reach the majors for years, however Eric Valent, John Foster, and Pete Zoccolillo all could contribute in the majors in 2004, and a few other youngsters also might emerge. Of course, each of these three players would need a couple of lucky breaks to see more than a brief look next season, so I see no reason to consider them for spring drafts at this time.