Today's Fantasy Rx

On the Fourth Day of Outfielders, my true love gave to me:
AL East "Prospects",
American Leaguers without PDV,
Single-digit AL PDV,
and American Leaguers with Double-digit PDV.

Minor League Free Agents and AAA/AA Outfielders in the AL East

Baltimore Orioles
Minor League Free Agents:
Ruben Rivera is listed with National League outfielders without PDV.

Pedro Swann is listed with American League outfielders without PDV.

Kurt Airoso, 28, B:R, T:R.
25/119 for .210/.324/.403 with 6 HR, 19 RBI, 17 R, 2/3 SB%,
and a 17:33 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
58/235 for .247/.342/.451 with 11 HR, 38 RBI, 36 R, 2/4 SB%,
and a 33:68 BB:K for AA Frisco(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.

Ray Cabrera, 24, B:R, T:R.
No 2003 stats.
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2010.

Josh Hoffpauir, 26, B:L, T:R.
103/356 for .289/.354/.376 with 2 HR, 33 RBI, 38 R, 13/20 SB%,
and a 26:24 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
4/12 for .333/.385/.417 with 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1/1 SB%,
and a 1:1 BB:K for A- Aberdeen(NYP).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2011.

Prospects:
Fletcher Bates, 29, B:S, T:R.
16/74 for .216/.256/.338 with 0 HR, 10 RBI, 7 R, 1/1 SB%,
and a 4:15 BB:K for AAA Ottawa(IL).
18/75 for .240/.310/.360 with 1 HR, 7 RBI, 14 R, 0/0 SB%,
and an 8:14 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2007.

Brandon Littleton, 23, B:S, T:L.
30/119 for .252/.282/.303 with 0 HR, 15 RBI, 12 R, 3/6 SB%,
and a 5:23 BB:K for AAA Ottawa(IL).
31/135 for .230/.293/.311 with 0 HR, 12 RBI, 24 R, 6/8 SB%,
and a 13:22 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
35/119 for .294/.375/.378 with 0 HR, 12 RBI, 21 R, 12/14 SB%,
and a 15:19 BB:K for A Delmarva(SAL).
. Appropriate 2004 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2009.

Darnell McDonald, 24, B:R, T:R.
45/152 for .296/.374/.355 with 0 HR, 20 RBI, 19 R, 5/12 SB%,
and an 18:27 BB:K for AAA Ottawa(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2008.

Glen Barker, 32, B:S, T:R.
14/59 for .237/.297/.288 with 0 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 2/4 SB%,
and a 5:10 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2007.

Gary Cates, 20, B:R, T:R.
13/46 for .283/.364/.413 with 0 HR, 10 RBI, 10 R, 2/2 SB%,
and a 5:3 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
112/355 for .315/.361/.423 with 3 HR, 35 RBI, 50 R, 11/23 SB%,
and a 21:40 BB:K for A+ Frederick(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league backup by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2010.

Tony Mack, 24, B:S, T:R.
16/68 for .235/.257/.250 with 0 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 1/5 SB%,
and a 2:12 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A-ball backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA backup by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Keith Reed, 24, B:R, T:R.
108/419 for .258/.314/.360 with 10 HR, 39 RBI, 63 R, 16/25 SB%,
and a 31:94 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league backup by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Willie Romero, 29, B:R, T:R.
64/229 for .279/.359/.380 with 4 HR, 22 RBI, 36 R, 11/15 SB%,
and a 24:39 BB:K between I Saltillo(Mex) and I Yucatan(Mex).
21/81 for .259/.291/.358 with 1 HR, 7 RBI, 9 R, 4/6 SB%,
and a 3:10 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA backup by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Peter Shier, 20, B:R, T:R.
1/5 for .200/.200/.200 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 0:1 BB:K for AA Bowie(EL).
68/255 for .267/.327/.392 with 8 HR, 31 RBI, 36 R, 8/13 SB%,
and a 24:51 BB:K for A+ Frederick(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2009.

Boston Red Sox
Minor League Free Agents:
Anton French, 28, B:S, T:R.
92/314 for .293/.357/.404 with 2 HR, 22 RBI, 51 R, 40/52 SB%,
and a 30:61 BB:K for AAA Pawtucket(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: Major league backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: $5.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2008.

Kevin Haverbusch, 27, B:R, T:R.
48/203 for .236/.323/.379 with 5 HR, 30 RBI, 19 R, 0/4 SB%,
and an 18:44 BB:K for AA Portland(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA backup by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2008.

Chad Mottola, 31, B:R, T:R.
78/285 for .274/.334/.425 with 9 HR, 46 RBI, 35 R, 6/10 SB%,
and a 25:47 BB:K between AAA Durham(IL) and AAA Pawtucket(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league backup by 2005.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2006.

Prospects:
Cesar Crespo, 24, B:S, T:R.
124/465 for .267/.323/.404 with 9 HR, 58 RBI, 69 R, 13/21 SB%,
and a 40:93 BB:K for AAA Pawtucket(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league starter by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2008.

Jim Goelz, 27, B:R, T:R.
4/26 for .154/.154/.192 with 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 0:7 BB:K for AAA Pawtucket(IL).
45/196 for .230/.266/.265 with 0 HR, 10 RBI, 24 R, 1/3 SB%,
and an 8:26 BB:K between AA Akron(EL) and AA Portland(EL).
24/83 for .289/.359/.373 with 1 HR, 8 RBI, 9 R, 1/2 SB%,
and an 8:16 BB:K for A+ Sarasota(FSL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA backup.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA backup by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2007.

Lamont Matthews, 25, B:L, T:L.
3/18 for .167/.286/.222 with 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 1/2 SB%,
and a 3:7 BB:K for AAA Pawtucket(IL).
6/30 for .200/.314/.333 with 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 4:12 BB:K for AA Jacksonville(SL).
51/192 for .266/.386/.458 with 5 HR, 31 RBI, 29 R, 5/6 SB%,
and a 38:59 BB:K for A+ Sarasota(FSL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league backup by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2010.

Greg Catalanotte, 26, B:S, T:R.
13/65 for .200/.278/.338 with 1 HR, 10 RBI, 10 R, 1/1 SB%,
and a 6:24 BB:K for AA Portland(EL).
73/342 for .213/.303/.380 with 11 HR, 40 RBI, 41 R, 16/22 SB%,
and a 45:110 BB:K for A+ Sarasota(FSL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A/A+ starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA backup by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Jeremy Owens, 26, B:R, T:R.
124/471 for .263/.326/.484 with 21 HR, 68 RBI, 63 R, 15/22 SB%,
and a 41:161 BB:K for AA Portland(EL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reserve by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

Justin Sherrod, 25, B:R, T:R.
116/448 for .259/.346/.431 with 15 HR, 74 RBI, 69 R, 6/11 SB%,
and a 47:143 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: $10 by 2010.

I'll continue tomorrow by discussing AL Central minor league outfielders.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Given the current big league starting outfielders on each of these teams, only Toronto appears overly likely to make room for prospects in the near future. Of course, with Gross, Rios, and Griffin all nearly ready for the majors, keeping LF and RF available, likely for Rios and Gross respectively, makes significant sense. Tampa's Joey Gathright possesses more roto upside than anyone on Toronto given his speed and plate discipline, however I don't expect him to stick with the Rays until the second half of 2005. Baltimore, Boston, and New York likely will not give any rookie outfielders significant playing time within the next few seasons.