Today's Fantasy Rx

Minor League Free Agents and AAA/AA Relief Pitchers in the NL East

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.

Atlanta Braves
Minor League Free Agents:
Joey Dawley is listed with National League relievers with Draft Value of $-5.

Jamie Emiliano, 29, P:R, B:R.
0-7 and 1 Save on a 40:30 K:BB in 73 IP over 53 G
with 80 H, 5 HR, and a 4.07 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2007.

Derrick Lewis, 27, P:R, B:R.
2-5 on a 46:29 K:B in 61.2 IP over 5 GS(36G)
with 83 H, 7 HR, and a 7.15 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
0-0 on a 6:4 K:BB in 8.1 IP over 1 GS(3G)
with 12 H, 1 HR, and a 7.56 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Travis Phelps, 29, P:R, B:R.
9-5 and 4 Saves on a 91:38 K:BB in 93.1 IP over 8 GS(47G)
with 77 H, 11 HR, and a 3.47 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: Major league middle reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: $5.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2009.

Mike Romano, 31, P:R, B:R.
5-4 and 13 Saves on a 57:32 K:BB in 99.1 IP over 9 GS(38G)
with 100 H, 3 HR, and a 2.72 ERA for I Tabasco(Mex).
1-0 and 2 Saves on a 7:3 K:BB in 12.1 IP over 8 G
with 9 H, 0 HR, and a .73 ERA or AAA Richmond(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2007.

Billy Sylvester, 27, P:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 27:19 K:BB in 18.2 IP over 1 GS(12G)
with 11 H, 1 HR, and a 3.86 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
1-2 on a 55:25 K:BB in 41.2 IP over 41 G
with 22 H, 0 HR, and a 1.51 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

Prospects:
Ray Aguilar, 23, P:L, B:S.
1-0 on a 5:2 K:BB in 5 IP over 1 GS
with 2 H, 0 HR, and a 1.80 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
3-4 and 1 Save on a 91:20 K:BB in 93 IP over 7 GS(35G)
with 81 H, 8 HR, and a 2.71 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2009.

Buddy Hernandez, 24, P:R, B:R.
4-3 and 4 Saves on an 82:31 K:BB in 71 IP over 53 G
with 65 H, 2 HR, and a 3.42 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2008.

Sam McConnell, 27, P:L, B:L.
8-4 on a 64:17 K:BB in 93.1 IP over 13 GS(22G)
with 94 H, 5 HR, and a 2.70 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
1-0 on an 8:4 K:BB in 15.1 IP over 16 G
with 18 H, 0 HR, and a 4.11 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
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 2007.

Kazuhiro Takeoka, 28, P:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 7:5 K:BB in 11.2 IP over 9 G
with 10 H, 2 HR, and a 2.31 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
2-1 and 1 Save on a 9:7 K:BB in 27 IP over 20 G
with 32 H, 3 HR, and a 6.00 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Kevin Barry, 25, P:R, B:R.
4-4 and 5 Saves on a 68:32 K:BB in 56.1 IP over 51 G
with 54 H, 1 HR, and a 4.95 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

William Collazo, 23, P:L, B:L.
6-2 on a 34:21 K:BB in 46.2 IP over 39 G
with 41 H, 3 HR, and a 3.66 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
0-1 on a 15:4 K:BB in 14.2 IP over 11 G
with 12 H, 1 HR, and a 3.07 ERA for A+ Myrtle Beach(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major League middle reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Roman Colon, 24, P:R, B:R.
11-3 and 2 Saves on a 58:33 K:BB in 107 IP over 12 GS(39G)
with 104 H, 9 HR, and a 3.36 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

Bryan Digby, 21, P:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 6:7 K:BB in 11.2 IP over 1 GS(9G)
with 12 H, 1 HR, and a 5.40 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
0-1 on a 21:17 K:BB in 32.1 IP over 21 G
with 31 H, 0 HR, and a 4.45 ERA for A+ Myrtle Beach(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+ reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Brett Evert, 22, P:R, B:L.
4-9 and 1 Save on a 103:44 K:BB in 116.1 IP over 15 GS(33G)
with 126 H, 12 HR, and a 4.02 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA swingman.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Eric Herndon, 26, P:R, B:L.
0-0 on a 9:2 K:BB in 8.2 IP over 7 G
with 14 H, 1 HR, and a 6.23 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2009.

Josh Tillery, 25, P:R, B:R.
0-2 on a 3:5 K:BB in 7 IP over 8 G
with 13 H, 2 HR, and an 11.57 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
2-2 on a 32:13 K:BB in 45.1 IP over 26 G
with 47 H, 2 HR, and a 2.98 ERA for A+ Myrtle Beach(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: $10 by 2011.

Joe Winkelsas, 30, P:R, B:R.
1-1 and 2 Saves on a 14:8 K:BB in 27.2 IP over 23 G
with 26 H, 2 HR, and a 2.93 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Alec Zumwalt, 22, P:R, B:R.
1-1 on a 19:12 K:BB in 19 IP over 11 G
with 13 H, 0 HR, and a 1.42 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
5-2 on a 43:16 K:BB in 44.2 IP over 30 G
with 29 H, 2 HR, and a 2.22 ERA for A+ Myrtle Beach(Car).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

I'll continue tomorrow by discussing NL Central minor league relief pitchers.

Today's Fantasy Rx: The most likely NL East minor league relievers to emerge as future closers are Atlanta's Brett Evert and Philadelphia's Dan Giese, though Geoff Geary of the Phillies could emerge as a bullpen force before Giese receives an extended opportunity. On the Marlins and Expos, Blaine Neal and Chad Cordero remain the best relief prospects in their respective organizations. The Mets' many closing options include Royce Ring, Tyler Yates, P.J. Bevis, and Heath Bell, but pass on all these youngsters this spring as Braden Looper easily could hold the job for a few years.