Today's Fantasy Rx

Minor League Free Agents and AAA/AA Starting Pitchers in the NL 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 Cubs
Minor League Free Agents:
Mike Sirotka, 32, P:L, B:L.
No 2003 stats.
Appropriate 2004 Role: Injury rehab.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #4 starter by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

Prospects:
Wilton Chavez, 25, P:R, B:R.
11-7 on a 113:51 K:BB in 140 IP over 22 GS(26G)
with 144 H, 17 HR, and a 4.24 ERA for AA Iowa(PCL).
0-0 on a 15:2 K:BB in 8 IP over 1 GS(2G)
with 5 H, 0 HR, and a 2.25 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2011.

Steve Smyth, 25, P:L, B:L.
6-11 on a 98:72 K:BB in 130.2 IP over 24 GS(25G)
with 143 H, 16 HR, and a 5.23 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
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.

Angel Guzman, 21, P:, B:R.
3-3 on an 87:26 K:BB in 89.2 IP over 15 GS
with 83 H, 8 HR, and a 2.81 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #2 starter by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Low-round draft pick.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $25 by 2010.

John Koronka, 23, P:L, B::.
7-13 on a 118:61 K:BB in 162.2 IP over 26 GS
with 180 H, 8 HR, and a 4.20 ERA between AA Chattanooga(SL) and AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #4 starter by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

Aaron Krawiec, 24, P:L, B:L.
3-4 on a 24:9 K:BB in 44.1 IP over 8 GS
with 50 H, 6 HR, and a 3.25 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2011.

Mike Nannini, 23, P:R, B:R.
10-9 on a 158:47 K:BB in 154 IP over 24 GS(31G)
with 155 H, 12 HR, and a 3.62 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Carmen Pignatiello, 21, P:L, B:R.
1-0 on an 11:2 K:BB in 6 IP over 1 GS
with 3 H, 1 HR, and a 1.50 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
8-11 on a 140:55 K:BB in 156.1 IP over 26 GS
with 144 H, 13 HR, and a 4.38 ERA for A+ Daytona(FSL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $20 by 2009.

Jae-kuk Ryu, 20, P:R, B:R.
2-5 on a 45:25 K:BB in 58 IP over 11 GS
with 63 H, 3 HR, and a 5.43 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
0-1 on a 22:11 K:BB in 20.2 IP over 4 GS
with 14 H, 1 HR, and a 3.05 ERA for A+ Daytona(FSL).
6-1 on a 57:19 K:BB in 72 IP over 11 GS
with 59 H, 2 HR, and a 1.75 ERA for A Lansing(Mid).
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.

John Webb, 24, P:R, B:R.
5-8 on an 85:52 K:BB in 132 IP over 22 GS(30G)
with 135 H, 11 HR, and a 4.50 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA swingman
Long-term Upside & ETA: #4 starter by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2010.

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

Today's Fantasy Rx: The Cardinals' December acquisition of Adam Wainwright makes him the most prepared pitching prospect to succeed in the majors from the NL Central. Of course, Chicago's Angel Guzman, Houston's D. J. Houlton, and Pittsburgh's Matt Guerrier, claimed by Minnesota off waivers this winter, also possess impressive immediate upsides, however none of them possesses a clear route to the majors.

While Sean Burnett and John Van Benschoten of the Pirates and Rhett Parrott of the Cardinals also could emerge as good roto options by 2005, but they all appear to require another year of seasoning. Realistically, the only young starters from the NL Central likely to contribute to fantasy teams as anything other than trade bait this year saw at least brief action in the majors in 2003.