Today's Fantasy Rx

Minor League Free Agents and AAA/AA Relief 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:
Clay Eason, 28, P:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 14:12 K:BB in 17.2 IP over 8 G
with 30 H, 7 HR, and a 12.23 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
1-3 and 1 Save on a 38:13 K:BB in 36.1 IP over 1 GS(17G)
with 47 H, 5 HR, and a 3.72 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2005.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2006.

Rolando Garza, 23, P:R, B:R.
1-0 on a 14:21 K:BB in 13.2 IP over 17 G
with 12 H, 0 HR, and a 5.93 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
1-1 on a 30:30 K:BB in 28 IP over 21 G
with 20 H, 0 HR, and a 2.89 ERA for A Kannapolis(SAL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A-ball reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Tom Jacquez, 27, P:L, B:L.
5-3 on a 21:16 K:BB in 28.2 IP over 1 GS(13G)
with 29 H, 0 HR, and a 4.08 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
0-0 on a 9:3 K:BB in 11 IP over 4 GS(6G)
with 12 H, 0 HR, and a 2.45 ERA for R+ Great Falls(Pio).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2010.

Prospects:
Gary Majewski, 23, P:, B:R.
6-4 and 4 Saves on a 72:29 K:BB in 72.2 IP over 1 GS(42G)
with 62 H, 3 HR, and a 3.96 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2009.

Arnaldo Munoz, 21, P:L, B:L.
4-3 and 6 Saves on a 63:27 K:BB in 55 IP over 49 G
with 52 H, 7 HR, and a 4.75 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Closer by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Doug Nickle, 28, P:R, B:R.
1-1 and 2 Saves on a 16:3 K:BB in 15.2 IP over 11 G
with 17 H, 1 HR, and a 2.87 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
2-2 and 4 Saves on a 23:18 K:BB in 48.2 IP over 34 G
with 40 H, 1 HR, and a 1.48 ERA for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2005.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2006.

Jeff Bajenaru, 25, P:R, B:R.
4-2 and 14 Saves on a 62:28 K:BB in 64.2 IP over 50 G
with 53 H, 2 HR, and a 3.20 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2008.

Jim Bullard, 23, P:L, B:L.
5-3 on a 61:42 K:BB in 90.1 IP over 6 GS(53G)
with 103 H, 6 HR, and a 3.69 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2011.

Kris McWhirter, 24, P:R, B:R.
3-8 on a 42:44 K:BB in 60.2 IP over 5 GS(25G)
with 60 H, 2 HR, and a 5.64 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
0-3 on a 36:18 K:BB in 33 IP over 5 GS(11G)
with 21 H, 4 HR, and a 3.27 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2008.

Ryan Meaux, 24, P:L, B:L.
1-2 and 2 Saves on a 29:3 K:BB in 38 IP over 26 G
with 39 H, 0 HR, and a 2.13 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
1-3 and 10 Saves on a 43:3 K:BB in 55 IP over 32 G
with 49 H, 2 HR, and a 1.15 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2005.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2008.

Brad Murray, 25, P:L, B:L.
0-0 on a 1:4 K:BB in 5 IP over 5 G
with 7 H, 0 HR, and a 5.40 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
1-1 and 3 Saves on a 12:8 K:BB in 16.2 IP over 11 G
with 13 H, 0 HR, and a .54 ERA for A Kannapolis(SAL).
0-0 on a 4:0 K:BB in 5.1 IP over 5 G
with 4 H, 0 HR, and a 1.69 ERA for R+ Bristol(Appy).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Brandon O'Neal, 24, P:R, B:S.
0-0 on a 2:4 K:BB in 5 IP over 5 G
with 6 H, 0 HR, and a 7.20 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
2-3 on a 28:42 K:BB in 62.1 IP over 5 GS(35G)
with 58 H, 1 HR, and a 3.47 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A-ball reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Rob Purvis, 26, P:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 15:14 K:BB in 19 IP over 13 G
with 27 H, 2 HR, and a 9.47 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
4-3 on a 30:20 K:BB in 42 IP over 7 GS(12G)
with 34 H, 2 HR, and a 2.14 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Matt Smith, 25, P:R, B:R.
4-1 and 2 Saves on a 44:31 K:BB in 69.1 IP over 52 G
with 74 H, 7 HR, and a 3.89 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2008.

Jason Stumm, 22, P:R, B:.
0-0 on an 8:6 K:BB in 8 IP over 7 G
with 8 H, 1 HR, and a 4.50 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
1-0 on a 23:11 K:BB in 25 IP over 20 G
with 28 H, 1 HR, and a 3.60 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2009.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2010.

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

Today's Fantasy Rx: The most likely AL Central minor league relievers to emerge as future closers are Chicago's Arnaldo Munoz, Cleveland's Fernando Cabrera, Kansas City's Jorge Vazquez, and Minnesota's Jesse Crain. If any of these pitchers breaks camp in the majors, keeper league owners should strongly consider targeting them during the endgame.

In Detroit, Fernando Rodney should secure the long-term closer's job this season, however if he and the other Tigers' relievers in the majors falter, prospect John Birtwell could surprise as a late-inning option by 2005.