Today's Fantasy Rx

Minor League Free Agents and AAA/AA Starting Pitchers in the AL Central

All minor leaguers are listed with their last MLB organization of the 2003 season. Pitchers who started 50% or more of their games are listed under starters; all other pitchers are listed as relievers.

Chicago White Sox
Minor League Free Agents:
Brian Cooper, 29, P:R, B:R.
15-9 on a 106:35 K:BB in 174.1 IP over 28 GS
with 195 H, 18 HR, and a 3.98 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #4 starter by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

Ryan Kohlmeier, 26, P:R, B:R.
7-4 on a 73:20 K:BB in 116.2 IP over 17 GS(33G)
with 129 H, 18 HR, and a 4.71 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA swingman.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Closer by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Prospects:
Carlos Castillo, 28, P:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 9:7 K:BB in 15.2 IP over 1 GS(6G)
with 2 H, 4 HR, and a 9.77 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
3-1 on a 19:6 K:BB in 25 IP over 4 GS(5G)
with 23 H, 2 HR, and a 3.96 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
0-2 on a 4:3 K:BB in 10 IP over 2 GS
with 15 H, 2 HR, and a 7.20 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #5 starter by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2010.

Felix Diaz, 23, P:R, B:R.
5-7 on an 83:33 K:BB in 115.2 IP over 18 GS(27G)
with 122 H, 12 HR, and a 3.97 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Closer by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $20 by 2010.

Jon Rauch, 25, P:R, B:R.
7-1 on a 94:35 K:BB in 124.2 IP over 23 GS(24G)
with 121 H, 16 HR, and a 4.11 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: #5 starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #1 starter by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: $5.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $30 by 2010.

Brian West, 23, P:R, B:R.
1-0 on a 2:2 K:BB in 5 IP over 1 GS
with 4 H, 0 HR, and a 5.40 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
3-5 on a 37:28 K:BB in 54.1 IP over 11 GS(12G)
with 70 H, 6 HR, and a 5.80 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: Retired.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA swingman by 2010.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Tetsu Yofu, 30, P:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 13:4 K:BB in 9.1 IP over 1 GS(3G)
with 11 H, 3 HR, and a 4.82 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
9-8 and 2 Saves on a 114:37 K:BB in 131 IP over 20 GS(29G)
with 117 H, 8 HR, and a 3.50 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #4 starter by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2008.

Byeong An, 23, P:L, B:L.
5-3 on a 45:34 K:BB in 80 IP over 14 GS(16G)
with 76 H, 4 HR, and a 3.94 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
8-4 on a 45:27 K:BB in 68.1 IP over 12 GS
with 66 H, 5 HR, and a 3.16 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA swingman.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Kris Honel, 20, P:R, B:R.
1-0 on a 13:6 K:BB in 12 IP over 2 GS
with 9 H, 2 HR, and a 3.75 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
9-7 on a 122:42 K:BB in 133 IP over 24 GS
with 122 H, 7 HR, and a 3.11 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #1 starter by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: High-round draft pick.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $30 by 2010.

Corwin Malone, 23, P:L, B:R.
4-2 on a 28:28 K:BB in 40 IP over 8 GS
with 50 H, 2 HR, and a 5.40 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
0-3 on a 29:10 K:BB in 24.2 IP over 5 GS
with 27 H, 2 HR, and a 5.11 ERA for A Kannapolis(SAL).
0-0 on a 15:3 K:BB in 14 IP over 4 GS
with 17 H, 2 HR, and a 5.14 ERA for A+ Bristol(Appy).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA swingman.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

Enemencio Pacheco, 25, P:R, B:R.
12-2 on a 116:51 K:BB in 151.1 IP over 24 GS(30G)
with 131 H, 5 HR, and a 2.56 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Heath Phillips, 21, P:L, B:L.
0-1 on a 5:1 K:BB in 6 IP over 1 GS
with 14 H, 1 HR, and a 10.50 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
2-7 on a 51:7 K:BB in 75.1 IP over 13 GS
with 84 H, 6 HR, and a 3.58 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
2-0 on an 11:5 K:BB in 21 IP over 3 GS
with 13 H, 1 HR, and a 1.71 ERA for A Kannapolis(SAL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2011.

Dennis Ulacia, 22, P:L, B:L.
1-5 on a 31:21 K:BB in 49.2 IP over 10 GS(11G)
with 59 H, 4 HR, and a 4.53 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
3-1 on a 13:12 K:BB in 21.2 IP over 12 G
with 12 H, 0 HR, and a .42 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
0-2 on a 14:3 K:BB in 12.2 IP over 4 GS
with 13 H, 0 HR, and a 6.39 ERA for R+ Great Falls(Pio).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2010.

Mitch Wylie, 26, P:R, B:R.
3-5 on a 42:17 K:BB in 57.1 IP over 10 GS(14G)
with 53 H, 2 HR, and a 4.40 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
2-0 on a 7:3 K:BB in 8 IP over 4 G
with 7 H, 1 HR, and a 3.38 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #4 starter by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

I'll continue tomorrow by discussing AL West minor league starting pitchers.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Due to the continued exodus of talent from the major league teams in the division, the AL Central minor leagues remain a fertile ground for future fantasy talent. Zach Greinke obviously leads this year's crop of starters, but Jeremy Guthrie, J.D. Durbin, and Rob Henkel all are closing quickly. The White Sox, who normally possess the most resources in the division at the big league level, also appear willing to employ a steady stream of young starters. Jon Rauch and Kris Honel in particular merit a long look in any spring draft even though they probably won't emerge as dominant fantasy forces as quickly as Greinke or Guthrie.