Today's Fantasy Rx

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

Arizona Diamondbacks
Minor League Free Agents:
Chris Cervantes, 25, T:L, B:L.
1-0 on a 2:3 K:BB in 6.2 IP over 5 G
with 10 H, 3 HR, and a 12.15 ERA for AAA Tucson(PCL).
1-1 and 1 Save on a 28:25 K:BB in 44.1 IP over 3 GS(21G)
with 64 H, 8 HR, and an 8.53 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2010.

Greg Hansell, 33, T:R, B:R.
2-2 and 19 Saves on a 25:13 K:BB in 39.2 IP over 1 GS(35G)
with 42 H, 5 HR, and a 4.09 ERA for I Mexico City(Mex).
1-0 on a 23:13 K:BB in 20.1 IP over 15 G
with 25 H, 5 HR, and a 4.87 ERA for AAA Tucson(PCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2006.
2005 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2007.

David Noyce, 27, T:L, B:L.
No 2004 stats due to injury.
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2009.

Brady Raggio, 32, T:R, B:R.
5-6 and 2 Saves on a 68:23 K:BB in 83.2 IP over 2 GS(56G)
with 113 H, 17 HR, and a 5.81 ERA for AAA Tucson(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.

Prospects:
Winston Abreu, 27, T:R, B:R.
2-2 and 3 Saves on a 64:45 K:BB in 67.1 IP over 1 GS(42G)
with 64 H, 15 HR, and a 6.42 ERA between AAA Las Vegas(PCL) and AAA Tucson(PCL).
1-1 on a 12:7 K:BB in 9.2 IP over 2 GS(3G)
with 10 H, 4 HR, and a 5.59 ERA for AA Jacksonville(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2008.

Scott Barber, 25, T:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 2:1 K:BB in 5.1 IP over 2 G
with 8 H, 0 HR, and a 6.75 ERA for AAA Tucson(PCL).
1-3 and 1 Save on a 47:24 K:BB in 80.2 IP over 1 GS(38G)
with 98 H, 6 HR, and a 5.47 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2010.

Jon Carque, 23, T:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 0:0 K:BB in 0.2 IP over 1 G
with 4 H, 0 HR, and a 27.00 ERA for AAA Tucson(PCL).
0-6 on a 34:15 K:BB in 55 IP over 4 GS(24G)
with 79 H, 4 HR, and a 5.40 ERA for A- Yakima(NWL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A/A+ reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Mark Freed, 25, T:L, B:L.
3-2 and 2 Saves on a 45:35 K:BB in 70.1 IP over 57 G
with 74 H, 4 HR, and a 4.35 ERA for AAA Tucson(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.

Brandon Medders, 24, T:R, B:R.
0-0 on a 17:4 K:BB in 12.2 IP over 11 G
with 15 H, 3 HR, and a 4.26 ERA for AAA Tucson(PCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2009.

Mike Schultz, 25, T:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 4:5 K:BB in 9 IP over 7 G
with 12 H, 1 HR, and a 5.00 ERA for AAA Tucson(PCL).
0-0 and 1 Save on a 14:13 K:BB in 13.2 IP over 12 G
with 16 H, 0 HR, and a 4.61 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
1-1 and 2 Saves on an 18:13 K:BB in 18 IP over 13 G
with 19 H, 0 HR, and a 3.00 ERA for A+ Lancaster(Cal).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A/A+ reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Billy Biggs, 25, T:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 16:6 K:BB in 20 IP over 14 G
with 15 H, 3 HR, and a 1.35 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
4-1 and 18 Saves on a 42:10 K:BB in 44 IP over 31 G
with 25 H, 0 HR, and a 1.23 ERA for A South Bend(Mid).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2008.

Jason Bulger, 25, T:R, B:R.
0-3 and 8 Saves on a 25:19 K:BB in 25.1 IP over 24 G
with 24 H, 0 HR, and a 3.91 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
0-1 and 11 Saves on a 31:10 K:BB in 23.2 IP over 21 G
with 14 H, 0 HR, and a 1.52 ERA for A+ Lancaster(Cal).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league closer by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $25 by 2010.

Jared Doyle, 23, T:L, B:L.
0-1 on a 9:10 K:BB in 11.1 IP over 11 G
with 10 H, 0 HR, and a 3.97 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
1-2 on an 11:10 K:BB in 21.1 IP over 5 GS(8G)
with 39 H, 4 HR, and an 11.39 ERA for A+ Lancaster(Cal).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A/A+ reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2010.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Aric Leclair, 26, T:L, B:L.
4-2 on a 32:20 K:BB in 38 IP over 29 G
with 41 H, 2 HR, and a 4.50 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
0-2 and 3 Saves on a 20:4 K:BB in 16.1 IP over 13 G
with 9 H, 1 HR, and a 1.10 ERA for A South Bend(Mid).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2010.

Beltran Perez, 22, T:R, B:R.
2-6 and 3 Saves on a 77:46 K:BB in 104 IP over 8 GS(37G)
with 102 H, 14 HR, and a 4.41 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Pete Sikaras, 25, T:R, B:R.
0-3 and 9 Saves on a 46:28 K:BB in 45 IP over 38 G
with 50 H, 3 HR, and a 3.80 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Doug Slaten, 24, T:L, B:L.
0-1 on a 6:10 K:BB in 9 IP over 11 G
with 9 H, 1 HR, and a 10.00 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
5-2 and 5 Saves on a 40:13 K:BB in 44 IP over 36 G
with 44 H, 2 HR, and a 2.25 ERA for A South Bend(Mid).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2011.

Bill White, 25, T:L, B:L.
2-3 on a 41:36 K:BB in 38.1 IP over 31 G
with 43 H, 2 HR, and a 6.81 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
1-1 and 1 Save on a 23:7 K:BB in 18.1 IP over 14 G
with 16 H, 2 HR, and a 1.96 ERA for A+ Lancaster(Cal).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Matthew Wilkinson, 26, T:L, B:R.
0-2 and 2 Saves on a 5:3 K:BB in 3.1 IP over 5 G
with 8 H, 0 HR, and a 10.80 ERA for AA El Paso(TL).
1-0 on a 4:0 K:BB in 3 IP over 2 G
with 1 H, 0 HR, and a 3.00 ERA for A- Yakima(NWL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+/AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2009.

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: Brad Baker($5). While Trevor Hoffman should spend a couple more seasons as the Padres' closer, Baker appears quite dominant following his move from the rotation and soon at least will join San Diego's bullpen. Rostering him in a latter round seems a smart move considering he should earn $5-10 even in middle relief thanks to his skills and forgiving home park.