Today's Fantasy Rx

Minor League Free Agents and AAA/AA Relief 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:
Rudy Seanez is listed with American League relievers with Draft Value of $-2.

Willie Banks, 34, P:R, B:R.
2-3 and 3 Saves on a 26:19 K:BB in 39.1 IP over 31 G
with 42 H, 5 HR, and a 3.89 ERA for AAA Columbus(IL).
2-0 and 17 Saves on a 29:7 K:BB in 31 IP over 25 G
with 24 H, 1 HR, and a 2.03 ERA for AAA Iowa(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.

Craig Dingman, 29, P:R, B:R.
4-7 and 19 Saves on a 37:13 K:BB in 43.1 IP over 42 G
with 41 H, 2 HR, and a 3.53 ERA between I Yucatan(Mex) and I Cancun(Mex).
1-0 on a 12:7 K:BB in 18 IP over 11 G
with 14 H, 0 HR, and a 2.00 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
0-1 on a 5:5 K:BB in 6 IP over 4 G
with 6 H, 2 HR, and a 6.00 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
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 2008.

Jason Karnuth, 27, P:R, B:R.
0-1 and 1 Save on a 7:12 K:BB in 19 IP over 13 G
with 23 H, 4 HR, and a 4.74 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
3-5 and 13 Saves on a 36:11 K:BB in 48.1 IP over 45 G
with 53 H, 3 HR, and a 3.35 ERA for AA West Tenn(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: $5 by 2009.

Justin Kaye, 27, P:R, B:R.
2-2 and 4 Saves on a 24:19 K:BB in 43.1 IP over 31 G
with 37 H, 2 HR, and a 2.49 ERA for AAA Pawtucket(IL).
1-4 on a 21:18 K:BB in 30 IP over 20 G
with 33 H, 3 HR, and a 7.20 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
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: $10 by 2009.

Mike Meyers, 25, P:R, B:R.
5-2 on a 45:36 K:BB in 74.1 IP over 9 GS(30G)
with 77 H, 9 HR, and a 4.60 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.

Prospects:
Francis Beltran, 23, P:R, B:R.
6-2 and 4 Saves on a 33:19 K:BB in 48.2 IP over 2 GS(31G)
with 46 H, 2 HR, and a 2.96 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Closer by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $20 by 2010.

Eric Brown, 24, P:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 6:1 K:BB in 3.2 IP over 3 G
with 3 H, 0 HR, and a 0.00 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
6-1 and 1 Save on a 40:14 K:BB in 51 IP over 44 G
with 59 H, 2 HR, and a 3.71 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
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.

Kane Davis, 28, P:R, B:R.
2-1 and 2 Saves on a 24:12 K:BB in 30.2 IP over 22 G
with 21 H, 3 HR, and a 2.35 ERA for AAA Iowa(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: $10 by 2007.

Keith Evans, 27, P:R, B:R.
2-2 and 1 Save on a 16:13 K:BB in 41.1 IP over 1 GS(22G)
with 50 H, 5 HR, and a 5.01 ERA between AAA Edmonton(PCL) and AAA Iowa(PCL).
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: $10 by 2008.

Ferenc Jongejan, 24, P:L, B:L.
2-1 and 1 Save on a 23:15 K:BB in 29 IP over 29 G
with 34 H, 3 HR, and a 5.59 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2008.

Jon Leicester, 24, P:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 4:2 K:BB in 5 IP over 1 GS
with 6 H, 0 HR, and a 7.20 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
6-7 on a 106:53 K:BB in 106.1 IP over 9 GS(45G)
with 89 H, 7 HR, and a 3.89 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
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.

Bobby Rodgers, 29, P:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 15:18 K:BB in 15 IP over 13 G
with 30 H, 0 HR, and a 12.00 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2008.

Jose Silva, 29, P:R, B:R.
1-7 on a 34:26 K:BB in 55.2 IP over 7 GS(27G)
with 72 H, 4 HR, and a 5.50 ERA between AAA Sacramento(PCL), AAA Portland(PCL), and AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2008.

Steve Sinclair, 32, P:L, B:L.
0-0 on a 9:3 K:BB in 9 IP over 6 G
with 6 H, 0 HR, and a 4.00 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Shawn Sonnier, 27, P:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 1:1 K:BB in 2 IP over 3 G
with 4 H, 1 HR, and a 13.50 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
0-0 on a 16:11 K:BB in 18.1 IP over 12 G
with 11 H, 2 HR, and a 3.44 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
0-1 on a 15:8 K:BB in 16.1 IP over 8 G
with 20 H, 1 HR, and a 7.16 ERA for A- Boise(NWL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2007.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

Jason Szuminski, 24, P:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 5:1 K:BB in 12.2 IP over 2 GS(3G)
with 11 H, 0 HR, and a 3.55 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
7-4 and 2 Saves on a 45:19 K:BB in 59.2 IP over 3 GS(29G)
with 51 H, 1 HR, and a 2.26 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
2-1 on a 23:9 K:BB in 24.2 IP over 13 G
with 29 H, 0 HR, and a 3.65 ERA for A+ Daytona(FSL).
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 2010.

Mike Wuertz, 24, P:R, B:R.
3-9 and 1 Save on a 92:35 K:BB in 124 IP over 16 GS(43G)
with 140 H, 16 HR, and a 4.57 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #4 starter by 2006.
2004 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2009.

Brett Benik, 25, P:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 4:3 K:BB in 6.1 IP over 3 G
with 6 H, 0 HR, and a 1.42 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
4-2 on a 32:14 in 47.1 IP over 2 GS(25G)
with 59 H, 3 HR, and a 3.61 ERA for A+ Daytona(FSL).
2-0 and 1 Save on a 30:8 K:BB in 25.1 IP over 18 G
with 25 H, 0 HR, and a 3.20 ERA for A Lansing(Mid).
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 2010.

David Cash, 24, P:R, B:R.
2-5 and 11 Saves on an 80:27 K:BB in 59.2 IP over 50 G
with 64 H, 8 HR, and a 4.98 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2009.

Nathan Mitchell, 23, P:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 4:2 K:BB in 5.2 IP over 4 G
with 5 H, 1 HR, and a 3.18 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
3-4 on a 66:33 K:BB in 70 IP over 3 GS(42G)
with 66 H, 3 HR, and a 3.21 ERA for A+ Daytona(FSL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 209.

Russ Rohlicek, 23, P:L, B:R.
2-3 on a 12:13 K:BB in 15.2 IP over 2 GS(13G)
with 22 H, 0 HR, and a 9.77 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
2-3 on a 50:21 K:BB in 48.2 IP over 41 G
with 34 H, 1 HR, and a 2.40 ERA for A+ Daytona(FSL).
Appropriate 2004 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2008.
2004 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2010.

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

Today's Fantasy Rx: The most likely NL Central minor league reliever to emerge as a future closer is Chicago's Francis Beltran. Cincinnati's Ryan Wagner and Houston's Brad Lidge likely will close at some point in the near future, and Milwaukee's Danny Kolb should hold the Brewers' job indefinitely. The large numbers of veterans in the Pittsburgh and St. Louis bullpens make any prediction regarding those teams' future closers rather difficult, though Pittsburgh's starting depth should provide a long-term solution in the bullpen. For the Cardinals, Jimmy Journell may be the best bet if they don't continue to stock the staff with older pitchers.