Today's Fantasy Rx

Minor League Free Agent and AAA/AA Starting Pitchers in the AL West

Anaheim Angels
Minor League Free Agents:
Mike Brunet, 27, T:R, B:R.
2-8 on a 49:29 K:BB in 65 IP over 12 GS(13G)
with 85 H, 6 HR, and a 6.51 ERA for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
1-1 on an 8:4 K:BB in 12.2 IP over 2 GS
with 8 H, 1 HR, and a 1.42 ERA for AA Arkansas(TL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Delvin James, 26, T:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 6:8 K:BB in 19.2 IP over 4 GS
with 24 H, 3 HR, and a 5.03 ERA for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
0-0 on a 2:0 K:BB in 1 IP over 1 GS
with 0 H, 0 HR, and a 0.00 ERA for R Angels(GCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+/AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA swingman by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Corey Lee, 29, T:L, B:S.
0-1 on a 16:16 K:BB in 17.2 IP over 4 GS
with 21 H, 5 HR, and a 7.64 ERA for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
2-6 on a 53:30 K:BB in 65.1 IP over 14 GS
with 63 H, 3 HR, and a 4.27 ERA for AA Arkansas(TL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2010.

Jason Middlebrook, 29, T:R, B:R.
7-10 on a 93:50 K:BB in 155.2 IP over 29 GS
with 220 H, 31 HR, and a 6.94 ERA for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league swingman by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

Nick Roberts, 27, T:R, B:R.
2-3 on a 33:12 K:BB in 66.2 IP over 11 GS(12G)
with 78 H, 11 HR, and a 5.53 ERA for AA Arkansas(TL).
4-1 on a 20:8 K:BB in 37 IP over 6 GS
with 48 H, 4 HR, and a 6.08 ERA for I Fargo-Moorhead(Northern).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2009.

Prospects:
Chris Bootcheck, 25, T:R, B:R.
11-9 on a 105:60 K:BB in 163.1 IP over 28 GS
with 202 H, 22 HR, and a 5.12 ERA for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2009.

Eric Cyr, 25, T:L, B:R.
0-0 on a 6:7 K:BB in 8.1 IP over 2 GS
with 3 H, 1 HR, and a 1.08 ERA for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
4-3 on a 44:15 K:BB in 54 IP over 8 GS(11G)
with 48 H, 5 HR, and a 3.17 ERA for AA Arkansas(TL).
0-0 on a 3:1 K:BB in 1 IP over 1 G
with 0 H, 0 HR, and a 0.00 ERA for R Angels(GCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Steve Green, 26, T:R, B:R.
5-17 on a 93:85 K:BB in 136.1 IP over 29 GS
with 186 H, 14 HR, and a 7.66 ERA for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA swingman by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Bobby Jenks, 23, T:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 13:6 K:BB in 12.1 IP over 3 GS
with 19 H, 1 HR, and an 8.76 ERA for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
0-1 on a 3:7 K:BB in 3.2 IP over 1 GS
with 5 H, 0 HR, and a 19.64 ERA for A+ Rancho Cucamonga(Cal).
0-0 on a 5:3 K:BB in 3.1 IP over 1 GS
with 2 H, 0 HR, and an 8.10 ERA for R Angels(AZL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A/AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league closer by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $30 by 2010.

Jake Woods, 23, T:L, B:L.
6-4 on a 60:42 K:BB in 83 IP over 14 GS(15G)
with 107 H, 13 HR, and a 6.07 ERA for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).
9-2 on a 60:19 K:BB in 90 IP over 14 GS
with 85 H, 5 HR, and a 2.60 ERA for AA Arkansas(TL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $20 by 2010.

Tim Bittner, 24, T:L, B:L.
8-6 on an 82:57 K:BB in 119 IP over 22 GS
with 113 H, 10 HR, and a 4.54 ERA for AA Arkansas(TL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA swingman.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

William Collazo, 24, T:L, B:L.
6-10 on a 100:38 K:BB in 148 IP over 20 GS(32G)
with 148 H, 11 HR, and a 4.62 ERA for AA Arkansas(TL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2009.

Ervin Santana, 21, T:R, B:R.
2-1 on a 48:18 K:BB in 43.2 IP over 8 GS
with 41 H, 3 HR, and a 3.30 ERA for AA Arkansas(TL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #1 starter by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: Mid-round draft pick.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $30 by 2011.

Joe Saunders, 23, T:L, B:L.
4-3 on a 25:14 K:BB in 39 IP over 8 GS
with 51 H, 5 HR, and a 5.77 ERA for AA Arkansas(TL).
9-7 on a 76:23 K:BB in 105.2 IP over 19 GS
with 106 H, 13 HR, and a 3.41 ERA for A+ Rancho Cucamonga(Cal).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #4 starter by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2010.

'05 AA/AAA Starting Pitcher Week continues tomorrow, featuring Minor League Free Agent and AAA/AA Starters in the National League East.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Based on each player's keeper potential heading into his sophomore season in the majors, select rookie starters in the following order in minor league drafts; I've included the preferred round price for Ultra leagues: Felix Hernandez($15) and Ervin Santana($5). While you can't risk rostering any Rangers' rookie pitcher until he demonstrates decent skills in Ameriquest, the AL West still contains two of the top pitching prospects in the game. Santana's injury should let you wait until a later round to nab a potential stud who should join the Angels' rotation no later than the summer of 2006. Of course, Felix Hernandez remains the primary player to watch here. Only injuries should prevent him from developing into an ace. While spending a $15 selection on any pitcher is a risky move, you can't wait until a later round for someone likely to rank among the top few players on every traditional prospect list this year. Comparing him to Mark Prior in the spring of 2002 appears appropriate given Hernandez' hype, skills, and long-term potential.