Today's Fantasy Rx

Minor League Free Agent and AAA/AA Relief Pitchers in the NL Central

Chicago Cubs
Minor League Free Agents:
Nate Bland, 29, T:L, B:L.
8-5 and 1 Save on a 45:33 K:BB in 73 IP over 53 G
with 82 H, 9 HR, and a 4.68 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2008.

Hugo Castellanos, 24, T:R, B:R.
4-2 on a 47:30 K:BB in 60 IP over 44 G
with 42 H, 4 HR, and a 3.15 ERA for I Tijuana(Mex).
1-0 and 1 Save on a 14:16 K:BB in 23 IP over 22 G
with 21 H, 1 HR, and a 3.52 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Scott Chiasson, 27, T:R, B:R.
1-0 on a 20:7 K:BB in 20 IP over 15 G
with 16 H, 2 HR, and a 3.15 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
2-0 on a 15:2 K:BB in 16 IP over 12 G
with 12 H, 2 HR, and a 2.25 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2006.
2005 Fantasy Potential: $5.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2007.

Evan Fahrner, 26, T:R, B:R.
2-4 on an 85:34 K:BB in 77 IP over 58 G
with 70 H, 6 HR, and a 3.39 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2008.

Chris Mowday, 23, T:R, B:R.
3-1 and 3 Saves on a 61:31 K:BB in 57 IP over 41 G
with 41 H, 4 HR, and a 1.89 ERA for A+ Daytona(FSL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Kevin Tolar, 33, T:L, B:R.
4-0 on a 77:40 K:BB in 57.1 IP over 51 G
with 55 H, 2 HR, and a 3.45 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2006.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2007.

Prospects:
Jared Blasdell, 25, T:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 2:5 K:BB in 1.2 IP over 1 G
with 1 H, 0 HR, and a 10.80 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
2-4 and 2 Saves on a 60:43 K:BB in 60 IP over 49 G
with 59 H, 8 HR, and a 4.80 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
0-0 on a 5:0 K:BB in 4.2 IP over 2 G
with 3 H, 0 HR, and a 5.79 ERA for A+ Daytona(FSL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2010.

Bryan Corey, 30, T:R, B:R.
2-0 and 5 Saves on a 13:5 K:BB in 13.1 IP over 10 G
with 10 H, 1 HR, and a 3.38 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2006.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2007.

Eric Eckenstahler, 27, T:L, B:L.
1-2 on a 45:30 K:BB in 43.2 IP over 42 G
with 58 H, 5 HR, and a 5.15 ERA for AAA Toledo(IL).
2-0 on a 10:2 K:BB in 10 IP over 8 G
with 11 H, 0 HR, and a 3.60 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2008.

Jordan Gerk, 25, T:L, B:L.
0-1 on a 2:1 K:BB in 4 IP over 1 GS
with 7 H, 1 HR, and a 4.50 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
5-1 and 1 Save on a 28:15 K:BB in 42.1 IP over 2 GS(24G)
with 43 H, 4 HR, and a 4.46 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
1-2 on a 31:15 K:BB in 35 IP over 18 G
with 39 H, 0 HR, and a 4.11 ERA for A+ Daytona(FSL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2010.

David Manning, 32, T:R, B:R.
1-0 on a 7:8 K:BB in 5 IP over 6 G
with 8 H, 0 HR, and a 5.40 ERA for I Mexico City(Mex).
0-1 on an 11:9 K:BB in 18.2 IP over 3 GS(7G)
with 14 H, 4 HR, and a 4.34 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA swingman by 2006.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Nathan Mitchell, 24, T:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 1:2 K:BB in 1 IP over 1 G
with 2 H, 0 HR, and a 9.00 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
3-4 on a 35:29 K:BB in 42.2 IP over 26 G
with 27 H, 3 HR, and a 2.95 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
1-0 on a 5:4 K:BB in 5.1 IP over 4 G
with 6 H, 0 HR, and a 3.38 ERA for A+ Daytona(FSL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Will Ohman, 27, T:L, B:L.
3-3 on a 75:29 K:BB in 52.1 IP over 1 GS(45G)
with 53 H, 6 HR, and a 4.30 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2008.

Ryan O'Malley, 24, T:L, B:R.
0-2 on an 8:6 K:BB in 15.2 IP over 3 GS(8G)
with 23 H, 5 HR, and an 8.62 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
2-3 on a 37:20 K:BB in 55.2 IP over 7 GS(16G)
with 49 H, 6 HR, and a 3.72 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
4-1 on a 28:6 K:BB in 30.2 IP over 1 GS(16G)
with 27 H, 1 HR, and a 2.64 ERA for A+ Daytona(FSL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2008.

Jae-Kuk Ryu, 21, T:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 0:1 K:BB in 0.2 IP over 1 G
with 2 H, 1 HR, and a 40.50 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
1-0 on a 19:10 K:BB in 18.1 IP over 14 G
with 22 H, 0 HR, and a 2.95 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
0-2 on a 7:5 K:BB in 7 IP over 5 G
with 7 H, 0 HR, and a 2.57 ERA for A- Boise(NWL).
0-0 on a 5:0 K:BB in 4 IP over 2 GS
with 4 H, 1 HR, and a 4.50 ERA for R Cubs(AZL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league closer by 2010.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $25 by 2012.

Jermaine Van Buren, 24, T:R, B:R.
0-0 and 1 Save on a 5:0 K:BB in 4.1 IP over 3 G
with 3 H, 1 HR, and a 2.08 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL).
3-2 and 21 Saves on a 64:24 K:BB in 53 IP over 51 G
with 23 H, 2 HR, and a 1.87 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
0-1 on a 7:5 K:BB in 5 IP over 3 G
with 6 H, 0 HR, and a 1.80 ERA for A Lansing(Mid).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league closer by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Yunior Cabrera, 24, T:L, B:L.
0-1 on a 6:8 K:BB in 5.2 IP over 6 G
with 8 H, 3 HR, and a 9.53 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
0-0 on a 0:1 K:BB in 1 IP over 2 G
with 1 H, 0 HR, and an 18.00 ERA for I Banjor(Northeast).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Jose Cueto, 28, T:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 7:3 K:BB in 4.2 IP over 4 G
with 11 H, 4 HR, and a 21.21 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Russ Rohlicek, 24, T:L, B:R.
5-5 and 2 Saves on a 67:42 K:BB in 69 IP over 60 G
with 44 H, 1 HR, and a 2.09 ERA for AA West Tenn(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2010.

'05 AA/AAA Relief Pitcher Week concludes tomorrow, featuring Minor League Free Agent and AAA/AA Relievers in the National League West.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Based on each player's keeper potential heading into his sophomore season in the majors, select rookie relievers in the following order in minor league drafts; I've included the preferred round price for Ultra leagues: Tyler Johnson($5) and Todd Coffey($2). Johnson joining Oakland as a Rule 5 pick gives him the chance to emerge as a dominant reliever very quickly. While he may cede closing duties to Huston Street or even Jairo Garcia, he easily could flourish as a key part of the loaded Athletics relief corps. In Cincinnati, only Ryan Wagner appears able to block Coffey's ascent into the Reds' closing job given the soft-tossers populating their starting prospects and unimpressive big league bullpen. A late pick could pay dividends as soon as 2006.