MLB Fantasy Baseball News 2009

[Hache Man]

Park Factoring
One of the common misconceptions when it comes to "park factors" is that the quality of a team's lineup and pitching staff drives the number. For instance, whenever I write that Michael Young is overrated in part because his offensive stats have been padded by Texas' ballpark, Rangers fans inevitably chime in saying that the ballpark is considered "hitter-friendly" largely because the lineup is strong and the rotation is weak.

However, that's not actually how park factors work. The Rangers have indeed had good hitting and poor pitching over the past decade or so, but they also have to take that same good hitting and poor pitching on the road. And that's where park factors come in, examining how the Rangers and their opponents perform in Texas compared to how the Rangers and their opponents perform away from Texas.

For example, last season the Rangers and their opponents combined to score an average of 12.3 runs per game in Texas compared to an average of 10.8 runs per game away from Texas. Same lineup and pitching staff for the Rangers, but a 1.5-run difference in the amount of runs being scored in their games. Why? Because the Rangers' home ballpark boosts offense and thus has a hitter-friendly "park factor."

Of course, one season's worth of data is a pretty small sample to use if you're trying to make any real statements about the impact a ballpark has, which is why I've chosen to focus on Baseball-Reference.com's three-year park factors (unless a specific ballpark hasn't been around that long). A park factor above 100 means hitter friendly and a park factor below 100 means pitcher friendly. Let's start at the top …

Boston Red Sox – 108
Colorado Rockies – 107
Arizona Diamondbacks – 107
Chicago Cubs – 106
Chicago White Sox – 105

Fenway Park has narrowly overtaken Coors Field as baseball's most hitter-friendly venue, which is remarkable for a place that actually reduces home runs. Thanks to the Green Monster in left field, homers have been harder to come by in Boston while run scoring has increased overall due to dramatically boosting doubles. In other words, when it comes to the Green Monster it's difficult to hit a ball over it and relatively easy to hit a ball into it.

Coors Field remains a great place to hit, but over the past three seasons has merely been a very good hitter's ballpark rather than an absurd hitter's paradise. During its first two seasons of existence Planet Coors had park factors of 128 and 129, and from 1995-2000 the average number was 125. However, since then that number has steadily come back down to earth: 117, 110, 119, 110, 107, 109, 105.

For whatever reason the offense boosting in Arizona has been sort of overlooked, but whether it's called Bank One Ballpark or Chase Field the Diamondbacks have always played in a place that significantly increases run scoring. All of which makes Brandon Webb's six straight seasons with an ERA under 3.60 even more amazing. Both ballparks in Chicago pump up scoring, and U.S. Cellular Field is particularly great for homers.

Cincinnati Reds – 104
Philadelphia Phillies – 103
Baltimore Orioles – 103
Tampa Bay Rays – 103
Cleveland Indians – 103
Los Angeles Angels – 103

For the most part Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia have been hitter-friendly in the 102-105 range since opening in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Camden Yards has had a hitter-friendly reputation since opening in 1992, but in reality it was very hitter-friendly right away, slightly pitcher-friendly for a decade beginning in the late-90s, and has trended back toward hitter-friendly recently.

Detroit Tigers – 102
San Francisco Giants – 102
Texas Rangers – 101
Washington Nationals – 101
Los Angeles Dodgers – 100
Milwaukee Brewers – 100

This group of slightly above-average hitter's ballparks is interesting, because Comerica Park, AT&T Park, and Dodger Stadium all have reputations for being pitcher-friendly while Rangers Ballpark has a reputation for being among baseball's most hitter-friendly venues. Also, note that Nationals Park is a 101 based on just one year of data, because it opened last season.

For years Comerica Park was exceptionally friendly to pitchers, but that changed along with a shift in the left field dimensions and Detroit has slightly increased run scoring in three straight seasons. Similarly, AT&T Park (and various other names) was initially very pitcher-friendly—which makes Barry Bonds' exploits even more incredible—but has pumped up offense slightly in five of the past six seasons.

Dodger Stadium earned its reputation as a pitcher's ballpark by decreasing offense for nearly 50 years, but has quietly trended toward hitter-friendly over the past few seasons. What's interesting about the change is that Dodger Stadium remains very tough on hitters when it comes to singles, doubles, and triples, but has enhanced homers. In other words, still tough on batting averages, not so tough on power.

Rangers Ballpark has gone through the same sort of gradual change as Coors Field, but on a lesser scale. It has been above 100 in all but two of the past 14 seasons, but whereas the park factor was 110, 110, and 112 from 2002-2004 it has been just 103, 103, 97, and 103 over the past four seasons. Texas is still a good place to hit, particularly for power, but it's no longer the best hitter's ballpark in the American League.

Houston Astros – 99
Toronto Blue Jays – 99
Florida Marlins – 99
Atlanta Braves – 99
St. Louis Cardinals – 99

The big surprise in this group is Minute Maid Park in Houston, which most people would probably peg as one of the league's most hitter-friendly thanks to the short porch in left field. That was true for a long time, as the ballpark boosted offensive significantly for its first handful of years whether it was named Enron Field or Minute Maid Park, but over the past five seasons the average park factor has been exactly 100.

Kansas City Royals – 97
Seattle Mariners – 96
Pittsburgh Pirates – 95
Minnesota Twins – 93
Oakland A's – 93
San Diego Padres – 89

The only real surprise in this group of highly pitcher-friendly ballparks is the Metrodome, but the old "Homerdome" nickname stopped being accurate a while ago. The Metrodome had a park factor of 100 or above in all but five seasons from 1982-2005, typically ranking in the 102-106 range. However, it has been below 100 in each of the past three seasons, including 92 in 2007 and 94 last year. Perhaps the change in carpet is to blame.

With a spacious outfield and miles of foul territory Oakland's ballpark has been a great place for pitchers for basically its entire 40-year run. That's bad news for Matt Holliday, who leaves Coors Field and the NL for the most pitcher-friendly home in the AL. He's not going to suddenly turn into Juan Pierre, but Holliday is highly unlikely to put up MVP-caliber raw numbers with the A's and could easily see his OPS drop 150 points.

The only move worse for Holliday would have been a trade to San Diego, because Petco Park deflates run scoring more than any other ballpark in baseball. Since opening in 2004, the yearly park factors in San Diego have been 92, 89, 94, 89, and 88. Petco Park is tough on everything for hitters, but it's nearly impossible to hit for any kind of big-time power because hard hit fly balls turn into long fly outs at such a high rate.

At first glance it may seem like Adrian Gonzalez has beaten those odds by smacking 24, 30, and 36 homers over the past three seasons. However, during that time Gonzalez slugged .442 with one homer per 26 at-bats at Petco Park compared to .560 with one homer per 17 at-bats on the road. Khalil Greene, Brian Giles, and Kevin Kouzmanoff have similarly extreme home-road splits, and of course Jake Peavy has a 2.66 ERA at Petco Park compared to a 3.69 ERA everywhere else.

New York Yankees – N/A
New York Mets – N/A

Two new ballparks in New York mean that we can forget everything we knew about Shea Stadium and the old Yankee Stadium. It may seem easy to predict how new ballparks will play based on the various dimensions, but that has actually been far less accurate than you'd think because wind patterns and hitting backgrounds also play huge roles in determining whether a new place will be good or bad for offense.

[Hache Man]

10 Risers from Winter Ball
Greg Ambrosius is the founder of the NBC Sports National Fantasy Baseball Championship and the editor of Fantasy Sports Magazine for the past 20 years. Contact him at here or call him at 1-800-726-9966, ext. 13284 to talk about the NFBC or just shoot the breeze as he's always ready to talk baseball. In fact, LABR League auctions are just two months away and he needs YOUR help.

In case you haven't noticed, pro baseball is now year-round and astute fantasy players need to stay on top of the game 24/7/365. If you sleep, you'll miss the emerging stars of the playoffs, or the rising stars of the Arizona Fall League or the future stars of the Winter League. And of course this year we also have the World Baseball Classic, where we can scout the next international stars that will come to the major leagues.

In this week's column, I'll look at 10 familiar names that have made strides this winter in either the AFL or Winter Leagues and give you a reason to keep their names close by on Draft Day:

1. Max Scherzer, SP, Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks sent Scherzer down to the AFL to get one last look at him after an inconsistent 2008 season. He was dominant in four AFL starts as he struck out 24 in 24 IP and finished with a solid 0.88 WHIP as he allowed just 16 hits and five walks.

He was dominant in a couple of starts and may have worked his way back into Arizona's starting rotation for 2009. He obviously needs better control at the big league level, but last year's 145 strikeouts in 109 innings between Triple-A and the majors is pretty impressive. He shouldn't be forgotten on Draft Day as he could be the No. 3 starter in Arizona on Opening Day.

2. Kendry Morales, 1B, Angels: Kendry Morales has been a disappointment over the past three years for the Angels as he's failed to impress during each of his callups since 2006. Last year he hit .341 with 64 RBIs in just 78 games at Triple-A Salt Lake, but then hit a pitiful .213-3-8 in 27 games at L.A.

But in the Dominican Republic Winter League, Morales finished fifth in the regular season with 20 extra-base hits and then hit .354 with a league-best five home runs in the playoffs. He's first in line for the starting first base job in Los Angeles and he has the chance to be a solid sleeper pick in this solid lineup.


3. Pablo Sandoval, 3B, Giants: Sandoval rose from Class A to the majors last year and spanked the ball at every level, hitting .345-3-24 in 41 games with the Giants. He's now scheduled to start at third base for the Giants and will hit third in that lineup. Just to prove that last year wasn't a fluke, Sandoval led the Venezuelan Winter League with a .396 average and a .677 slugging percentage, while ranking fourth in home runs (12), hits (76), on-base percentage (.449) and extra base hits (27). This guy can flat out rake, bad body and all.

4. Clay Buchholz, SP, Red Sox: The AFL is usually the place where hitters emerge, but this year several young MLB pitchers were sent to the Valley of the Sun for extra work. Like Scherzer, Clay Buchholz was sent to the AFL by the Red Sox to get some fine-tuning in.

In five starts, he finished with a 3.86 ERA and struck out 17 in 21 innings, while allowing 18 hits and nine walks (1.29 WHIP). He's going to have to fight for a spot in this rotation, but he proved in Arizona that he still has what it takes to be a quality MLB starter.

5. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, Texas: Acquired by the Rangers from Atlanta in 2007 as part of the Mark Teixeira trade, Salty hit a mere .253-3-26 with the Rangers in 61 games. He's now the projected starter with Gerald Laird off to Detroit and he proved this winter that he's ready. The switch-hitter hit .364 for Escogido of the Dominican Republic with nine home runs and 21 RBIs in only 66 at-bats. Just 23, he still has great upside and a great spot to excel in 2009.

6. Philip Hughes, SP, Yankees: He may not have a starting job waiting for him in New York this year, but Hughes still shouldn't be discounted altogether. He appeared in the AFL for seven starts after an injury-plagued 2008 season and looked extremely sharp, striking out 38 batters in 30 IP, while finishing with a 2-0 record, 3.00 ERA and 1.13 WHIP (21 hits, 13 walks). Don't lose sight of him because this 22-year-old has good upside and even the Yankees realize that.

7. Max Ramirez, C, Texas: The Rangers already have Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden ready to go for 2009, but don't forget about this former Braves' prospect. The 24-year-old reached the majors last year, but showed little in 17 games (.217-3-9).

He then went to the Venezuela Winter League, where he hit a league-high 15 home runs, while finishing second with 53 RBIs. Ramirez hit .298 with 30 extra-base hits and 42 runs in the VWL and will be a fine backup catcher in Texas if the Rangers decide to trade either of their other young catchers.

8. Gregor Blanco, OF, Atlanta: The Braves still haven't signed a starting centerfielder yet, so Blanco could receive that job. After a steady but unspectacular 2008, Blanco went to his native Venezuela and hit .349 with a league-best .464 OBP and 22 RBIs. He's not a flashy pickup, but with similar playing time in 2009 he could be a productive late-round addition.

9. Ian Kennedy, SP, Yankees: The Yankees may not have room for Hughes, so why bother with Kennedy, right? Well, remember that he is just 24 and the potential is still there. With Mayaguez of the Puerto Rican League this year, he finished with a league-best 1.56 ERA and had the league's lone shutout. He did not allow a run in four of his six starts and will compete for the No. 5 starter's job in New York this season.

10. Tommy Hanson, SP, Atlanta: He's not a veteran prospect, but it would be hard to mention off-season wonders without mentioning Hanson. He was the first pitcher to win the MVP Award in the AFL and he was so dominant that the Braves refused to part with him this off-season, even when names like Jake Peavy were brought up.

Hanson went 5-0 in seven starts, posting a 0.63 ERA and limiting opposing batters to a .105 average. He struck out 49 in 30 innings, while allowing just 10 hits and seven walks (0.59 WHIP). Hanson could start this season at Triple-A, but he is definitely on the fast track to Atlanta and could be a pleasant fantasy surprise in 2009.

[Hache Man]

First round breakdown
(Greg Ambrosius is the founder of the NBC Sports National Fantasy Baseball Championship and the editor of Fantasy Sports Magazine for the past 20 years. Contact him here or call him at 1-800-726-996, ext. 13284 to talk about the NFBC or just shoot the breeze about baseball as he's always ready to talk baseball. In fact, LABR League auctions are just two months away and he needs YOUR help.)

As I look outside my office window here in Iola, Wisconsin, I see 50+ inches of snow, a thermometer that has yet to get above zero and gray clouds that would suck the energy out of the most energetic human. Inside my office, I see the ashes of seven fantasy football teams that fizzled in the playoffs, Packer ticket stubs from a wasted NFL season and a newspaper that tells me the Arizona Cardinals are one game away from the Super Bowl. The world is definitely goofy right now.

So what are we here to talk about today? BASEBALL. Green grass, spring training, wild Yankees free agent signings, all that good stuff that comes with a new season.

While the Arctic Blast is upon us, we would all do well to start our baseball planning earlier this year than ever before. Fantasy leagues have become so competitive these days that if you're not already formulating your Cheat Sheets you are well behind the competition. Fantasy baseball preparation starts in November and December these days, not February and March.

Here at the National Fantasy Baseball Championship, we already have pay leagues going on and a few industry drafts completed. There is already a strong consensus of the top players to get, where the top rookies will land and how soon to grab starting pitching. The Average Draft Positions are being formulated as we speak and I'm here to give you a little insight on what you can expect on Draft Day. Here's a few teasers:

FIRST ROUND

The top five picks have been well established with a mix of Hanley Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Jose Reyes, Albert Pujols and David Wright going in that order. Ramirez has been the overwhelming No. 1 choice in our drafts, but A-Rod and Pujols have each gone first at least once in NFBC drafts. The next five slots are also taking shape with Miguel Cabrera strongly at No. 6, followed by Grady Sizemore, Ryan Braun, Jimmy Rollins and Mark Teixeira cracking the Top 10.

Tex has moved from Top 15 to Top 10 since his signing with the Yankees, while another big mover has been Texas 2B Ian Kinsler. In one of our more high-profile satellite leagues, Kinsler went seventh overall and he's moved into the Top 10 in several of our leagues. Dustin Pedroia may have won the AL MVP Award last year, but Kinsler is getting most of the love and going ahead of Pedroia in most every draft. Pedroia is normally a Top 20 pick, but he's gone anywhere from 15th overall to 30th.

Completing the first round in the NFBC where we have 15 teams per league are Josh Hamilton, Ryan Howard, Matt Holliday and Evan Longoria.

Chase Utley is one of the more interesting players to watch from the first few rounds because his status is still up in the air after having hip surgery in November. Utley says he's on pace to return by Opening Day, but the Phillies first said he could be sidelined until June 1. In January drafts, NFBC owners are believing Utley more than the Phillies as he's been going as high as 15th and usually late in the second round. Expect to see him go in the range of picks 27-30 and hope he returns by May 1 at the latest.

Starting pitching has also been fun to watch in the early rounds. Even though Tim Lincecum won the NL Cy Young Award last year and was the NL strikeout leader, the Mets' Johan Santana is still going ahead of him in most drafts. Look for Santana to land late in the second round of NFBC drafts, likely in the 26-30 range. Lincecum will follow him in the 29-35 range, but has gone as late as 40 recently.

Even though those two starting pitchers are dominant, it's still tough to build a team around a SP when there's so much offensive potential out there in the early rounds. Next up would be CC Sabathia in the 38-42 range, followed by Brandon Webb (44-50), Cole Hamels (47-55) and then Dan Haren, Josh Beckett, Roy Halladay and Jake Peavy not far behind.

Folks are really taking a break from the closers this year as Jonathan Papelbon is usually the first to go around pick No. 60. Brad Lidge and Joe Nathan usually follow 5-7 picks later, while Joakim Soria has even gone before Mets' new closer Francisco Rodriguez. But all five closers will go before pick 75.

The rookie class this year is deep, but few will make immediate impacts. The one to get in 2009 is unquestionably Baltimore C Matt Wieters, Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year. Wieters hit a combined .355 with 27 homers, 91 RBIs and 89 runs between stops at Class A Frederick and Double-A Bowie last year and now he's in line to start in Baltimore.

The Orioles traded C Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati to make room for Wieters and he will catch 100+ games this year even if he starts the year at Triple-A. He's been going in the Top 150 overall picks and could go as high as 120 in some leagues.

Other top rookies to watch are Tampa SP David Price – who seems to go in the Top 170 picks – Florida OF Cameron Maybin and Toronto OF Travis Snider. Others to watch for mid-season callups include Atlanta SP Tommy Hanson, Milwaukee 3B Mat Gamel, Milwaukee SS Alcides Escobar, St. Louis OF Colby Rasmus and Cleveland OF Matt LaPorta.

The catchers are also an interesting lot to watch outside of Wieters. Some owners prefer Brian McCann to Russell Martin, but both are going in the 45-50 range, with Joe Mauer following in the Top 55. Heck, even Geovany Soto and Victor Martinez are landing in the Top 60 in some drafts as folks aren't concerned with the Sophomore Slump for Soto and not concerned with Victor's disastrous 2007.

That's a look at the interesting early round trends. At the NFBC we have several 45-round Slow Drafts taking place right now. With 675 players being drafted in these pay satellite leagues, no pebble will be left uncovered. We'll analyze those finished results and give you more trends, more sleepers and more strategies in future columns.

Good luck everyone during your off-season preparation and when you're ready to play some serious fantasy baseball, check us out at NBC Sports' National Fantasy Baseball Championship.

[Hache Man]

2004 Top 100 Prospects Review
Below is a review of the preseason Top 100 Prospects column from 2004. I've left the players listed with their ages (as of Opening Day 2004), ETAs and 2003 stats from that column and added in where each player was listed on Baseball America's top 100 and Baseball Prospectus' top 50.

I'll begin the 2009 team top 10s next week, with the new Top 150 scheduled for late February


Top 100 Prospects

1. Joe Mauer - C Twins - Age 20 - ETA: Now
.335/.395/.412, 1 HR, 44 RBI, 24/24 K/BB, 3 SB in 233 AB for Single-A Fort Myers
.341/.400/.453, 4 HR, 41 RBI, 25/25 K/BB, 0 SB in 276 AB for Double-A New Britain

BA: #1, BP: #1

2004 quote: The Minnesota native does everything well except hit for power and that skill will come with time. He's flawless behind the plate.

The consensus No. 1 has proven to be the right choice, even though he trails Justin Morneau in MVP awards.


2. Chin-Hui Tsao - RHP Rockies - Age 22 - ETA: Now
11-4, 2.46 ERA, 88 H, 125/26 K/BB in 113 1/3 IP for Double-A Tulsa
3-3, 6.02 ERA, 48 H, 29/20 K/BB in 43 1/3 IP for Colorado

BA: #24, BP: #27

2004 quote: Tsao is back throwing 91-95 mph after making a full recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Tsao came down with a sore shoulder in April 2004, and he's never truly been healthy since. BA and BP had the better ideas here. The top 10 isn't a place for pitchers with injury questions like Tsao had.


3. Zack Greinke - RHP Royals - Age 20 - ETA: June 2004
11-1, 1.14 ERA, 56 H, 78/13 K/BB in 87 IP for Single-A Wilmington
4-3, 3.29 ERA, 58 H, 34/5 K/BB in 53 IP for Double-A Wichita

BA: #14, BP: #7

2004 quote: Comparisons to Greg Maddux have become common, since Greinke dominates without being overpowering. However, Greinke doesn't quite have the movement on his fastball that Maddux does. Bret Saberhagen might be a better match.

Greinke is a very different pitcher now from the one who dominated minor league competition at such a young age, but it looks like he's on his way to fulfilling expectations after finishing 10th in the AL in ERA as a 24-year-old.


4. Jeremy Reed - OF White Sox - Age 22 - ETA: July 2004
.333/.431/.477, 4 HR, 52 RBI, 17/41 K/BB, 27 SB in 222 AB for Single-A Winston-Salem
.409/.474/.591, 7 HR, 43 RBI, 19/29 K/BB, 18 SB in 242 AB for Double-A Birmingham

BA: #25, BP: #2

2004 quote: A left-handed line-drive hitter with 15-homer power and an outstanding eye at the plate, Reed looks like he could become baseball's best leadoff man someday.

We were all fooled by the outstanding .373 batting average. Baseball America had a better read on him, yet still rated him as the best prospect in the White Sox system. It's incredible that a player this good in the minors hasn't at least become a quality fourth outfielder in the majors.


5. Prince Fielder - 1B Brewers - Age 19 - ETA: 2006
.313/.409/.526, 27 HR, 112 RBI, 80/71 K/BB, 2 SB in 502 AB for Low Single-A Beloit

BA: #10, BP: #4

2004 quote: With his power, ability to make consistent contact and plate discipline, there's every reason to believe that Fielder will develop into an All-Star and maybe even the next Jason Giambi.

Fielder has struck out more in the majors than hoped, but he's still justifying this ranking.


6. Rickie Weeks - 2B Brewers - Age 21 - ETA: Aug. 2004
.500/.600/.500, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 2/0 K/BB, 1 SB in 4 AB for Rookie AZL Brewers
.349/.494/.556, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 9/15 K/BB, 2 SB in 63 AB for Low Single-A Beloit
.167/.286/.250, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 12 AB for Milwaukee
.319/.440/.431, 1 HR, 15 RBI, 19/12 K/BB, 9 SB in 72 AB for Peoria (AFL)

BA: #5, BP: #9

2004 quote: He projects as a .310-.320 hitter, and because he's patient at the plate and could develop 15-homer power, he should be one of baseball's better all-around second baseman. Weeks does lacks polish defensively…

Perhaps hopes about Weeks being a great hitter for average should have been dashed when he came in at .259 in Double-A in 2004. He was up for good in 2005, but in 1,615 major league at-bats, he's batted .245.


7. B.J. Upton - SS Devil Rays - Age 19 - ETA: July 2004
.302/.394/.445, 7 HR, 46 RBI, 80/57 K/BB, 38 SB in 384 AB for Single-A Charleston
.276/.376/.381, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 24/16 K/BB, 2 SB in 105 AB for Double-A Orlando
.214/.353/.214, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4/6 K/BB, 2 SB in 28 AB for Mesa (AFL)

BA: #2, BP: #8

2004 quote: Although his 56 errors in the minors indicate that he isn't quite ready defensively, he projects as an above average shortstop.

We all thought Upton would make it at shortstop, and it surely played a big role in all of our rankings. He's likely to end up justifying this position anyway, but it's safe to say he wouldn't have been listed in the top 10 in my rankings had it been known he'd end up in the outfield. The Rays saved us all from difficult decisions by calling him up prior to his 20th birthday and giving him 159 at-bats in 2004, preventing us from having to try to rank him again in 2005 (when he never did play in the majors) and 2006.


8. Justin Morneau - 1B Twins - Age 22 - ETA: May 2004
.329/.384/.620, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 17/7 K/BB, 0 SB in 79 AB for Double-A New Britain
.268/.344/.498, 16 HR, 42 RBI, 56/28 K/BB, 0 SB in 265 AB for Triple-A Rochester
.226/.287/.377, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 30/9 K/BB, 0 SB in 106 AB for Minnesota

BA: #16, BP: #11

2004 quote: The Twins aren't thrilled with his defense and may end up making him their long-term DH, but they will have need of his bat this season, even though they'll go with Matthew LeCroy over him initially. Morneau is certain to have some .300-30-110 seasons in the majors.

Interestingly, Morneau was ranked 14th by BA the previous year, compared to 20th by me and 30th by BP. While BP and I moved him up pretty sharply based on him going from 16 to 26 homers, BA viewed the events of 2003 seemingly as a net negative. Morneau went on to be badly mishandled by the Twins in the first half of 2004 (Jose Offerman???), but things have worked out OK since.


9. Cole Hamels - LHP Phillies - Age 20 - ETA: June 2005
6-1, 0.84 ERA, 32 H, 115/25 K/BB in 74 2/3 IP for Low Single-A Lakewood
0-2, 2.73 ERA, 29 H, 32/14 K/BB in 26 1/3 IP for Single-A Clearwater

BA: #17, BP: #21

2004 quote: Armed with a low-90s fastball, a great changeup and a curveball that shows potential, he looks like a future ace.

One of the few times putting an injury-prone pitcher in the top 10 has worked out.


10. Alexis Rios - OF Blue Jays - Age 23 - ETA: June 2004
.352/.402/.521, 11 HR, 82 RBI, 85/39 K/BB, 11 SB in 514 AB for Double-A New Haven

BA: #6, BP: #15

2004 quote: It took four years, but Rios finally settled in as a top prospect in 2003, becoming the Eastern League MVP by posting an OPS 235 points higher than his career total entering the year.

Rios' breakthrough did prove to be legitimate, though he's still had just one 20-homer season in the majors. Considering that he's a career .288/.338/.455 hitter, he hasn't quite fulfilled expectations yet.


11. Bobby Crosby - SS Athletics - Age 24 - ETA: Now
.308/.395/.544, 22 HR, 90 RBI, 110/63 K/BB, 24 SB in 465 AB for Triple-A Sacramento
.000/.143/.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 12 AB for Oakland

BA: #32, BP: #13

2004 quote: He may not be an All-Star in the majors, but Crosby is as close to a sure thing as any prospect. … Crosby should be an improved version of Rich Aurilia.

Of course, an improved version of Aurilia sounded better in 2004 than it does now. Unfortunately, at this point, Crosby is looking like a barely improved version of Angel Berroa.


12. Scott Kazmir - LHP Mets - Age 20 - ETA: Aug. 2005
4-4, 2.36 ERA, 50 H, 105/28 K/BB in 76 1/3 IP for Low Single-A Capital City
1-2, 3.27 ERA, 29 H, 40/16 K/BB in 33 IP for Single-A St Lucie

BA: #12, BP: #12

2004 quote: Kazmir, a high school teammate of Expos No. 3 prospect Clint Everts, has about as much upside as any pitcher in the minors. The 2002 first-round pick has a mid-90s fastball, an excellent slider and a changeup that tends to come and go.

As varied as the opinions were, it's hard to blame the Mets for trading him or Victor Zambrano.


13. Delmon Young - OF Devil Rays - Age 18 - ETA: April 2005
.417/.451/.625, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 9/3 K/BB, 1 SB in 48 AB for Mesa (AFL)

BA: #3, BP: #31

2004 quote: Young has yet to play in the minors, but he's already one of the game's most talked about prospects. The first overall pick in the 2003 draft has outstanding offensive potential, drawing comparisons to Albert Belle…

That ETA sure was jumping the gun. We'd all have Young in the top three the following season.


14. Ervin Santana - RHP Angels - Age 21 - ETA: May 2005
10-2, 2.53 ERA, 98 H, 130/36 K/BB in 124 2/3 IP for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga
1-1, 3.94 ERA, 23 H, 23/12 K/BB in 29 2/3 IP for Double-A Arkansas

BA: #29, BP: #38

2004 quote: Santana spent much of last season looking like a future ace, throwing mid-90s heat past California League hitters. He also has a terrific slider and a changeup that is getting better.

This one is definitely looking better for me after the events of last season. Santana finished 11th in the AL in ERA, third in WHIP and second in strikeouts.


15. Edwin Jackson - RHP Dodgers - Age 20 - ETA: May 2004
7-7, 3.70 ERA, 121 H, 157/53 K/BB in 148 1/3 IP for Double-A Jacksonville
2-1, 2.45 ERA, 17 H, 19/11 K/BB in 22 IP for Los Angeles

BA: #4, BP: #6

2004 quote: When he has his control working, the 2001 sixth-round pick is capable of dominating with his mid-90s fastball. His slider and changeup still need refinement, so he's a few years away from reaching his full potential.

Everyone got a little too excited after watching Jackson outduel Randy Johnson on his 20th birthday on Sept. 9. His command simply wasn't as good as his tolerable Double-A walk rate suggested.


16. Andy Marte - 3B Braves - Age 20 - ETA: 2006
.285/.372/.469, 16 HR, 63 RBI, 109/67 K/BB, 5 SB in 463 AB for Single-A Myrtle Beach

BA: #11, BP: #3

2004 quote: Marte's 2003 numbers aren't especially impressive until one recognizes that they were amassed in one of the toughest places for hitters in the minors.

Marte isn't much better at 24 than he was at 19. He isn't hopeless yet, but nothing encouraging has come from the last two seasons.


17. Jeff Mathis - C Angels - Age 21 - ETA: July 2005
.323/.384/.500, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 74/35 K/BB, 5 SB in 378 AB for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga
.284/.364/.463, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 16/12 K/BB, 1 SB in 95 AB for Double-A Arkansas

BA: #22, BP: #18

2004 quote: Like Mauer, Mathis is the total package. He's been an excellent hitter as one of the youngest players in his leagues (he's just turning 21 on March 31), and despite the occasional miscue, he shows outstanding promise behind the plate.

Mathis' minor league numbers were inflated by playing in hitter's parks, but he still figured to be a lot better than this. He will have a long career because of his glove.


18. Greg Miller - LHP Dodgers - Age 19 - ETA: May 2005
11-4, 2.49 ERA, 103 H, 111/41 K/BB in 115 2/3 IP for Single-A Vero Beach
1-1, 1.01 ERA, 15 H, 40/7 K/BB in 26 2/3 IP for Double-A Jacksonville

BA: #8, BP: #33

2004 quote: Only the injury risk keeps Miller ranked below Edwin Jackson. … Durability is the main concern, since he did have some minor shoulder issues last season.

Miller may well have had the most potential of any pitcher on this list. However, given the extreme command problems he's dealt with since returning from shoulder problems, it doesn't look like he'll ever make an impact.


19. Gavin Floyd - RHP Phillies - Age 21 - ETA: April 2005
7-8, 3.00 ERA, 128 H, 115/45 K/BB in 138 IP for Single-A Clearwater

BA: #23, BP: #49

2004 quote: He has the 90-95 mph fastball and decent changeup to become a No. 2 starter. However, as he makes his way through the minors, he'll have trouble with hitters who lay off his curve, which typically breaks out of the strike zone.

Like Greinke, Floyd doesn't really resemble the pitcher he was in the minors. He won 17 games last season anyway, but he's a No. 3 at best.


20. Grady Sizemore - OF Indians - Age 21 - ETA: Sept. 2004
.304/.373/.480, 13 HR, 78 RBI, 73/46 K/BB, 10 SB in 496 AB for Double-A Akron

BA: #9, BP: #24

2004 quote: The 2000 third-round pick is a fine defensive center fielder with the potential to be a Shannon Stewart-like hitter from the left side.

BA wins this one. Sizemore hit 27 homers in 1,998 at-bats as a minor leaguer. He's beaten that total in two of his four full seasons in the majors.


21. Scott Hairston - 2B Diamondbacks - Age 23 - ETA: April 2005
.276/.345/.469, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 80/30 K/BB, 6 SB in 337 AB for Double-A El Paso
.000/.000/.000, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 0 AB for Triple-A Tucson
.360/.412/.539, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 19/7 K/BB, 3 SB in 89 AB for Scottsdale (AFL)

BA: #34, BP: #44

2004 quote: Jerry's little brother was limited by a back injury for much of the minor league season, but he's a terrific hitter who closely resembles Marcus Giles from three years ago. Since he probably won't improve his defense at second base like Giles did, Hairston could end up in an outfield corner.

It took longer than expected, but Hairston has demonstrated that he'd be at least an adequate regular in the outfield. Unfortunately, he's continued having problems staying healthy. I was too high on him.


22. J.J. Hardy - SS Brewers - Age 21 - ETA: July 2004
.279/.368/.428, 12 HR, 62 RBI, 54/58 K/BB, 6 SB in 416 AB for Double-A Huntsville

BA: #19, BP: #20

2004 quote: Already a quality defensive shortstop, the 2001 second-round pick dramatically increased his offensive production as a 20-year-old in Double-A.

The ranking seems about right, though with 50 homers the last two years, Hardy has demonstrated more power than expected.


23. Adam Wainwright - RHP Cardinals - Age 22 - ETA: Aug. 2004
10-8, 3.37 ERA, 133 H, 128/37 K/BB in 149 2/3 IP for Double-A Greenville

BA: #49, BP: #43

2004 quote: The Braves have a great reputation for keeping and dumping the right pitching prospects, but Wainwright remains very promising. The 2000 first-round pick's stock began to dip after a slow start at Greenville, but he turned things around in the second half and finished 10th in the Southern League in ERA.

Wainwright dropped 10 spots in my rankings from 2003, but 31 spots in BA's. BP had him abut the same.


24. Jason Stokes - 1B Marlins - Age 22 - ETA: 2006
.258/.312/.448, 17 HR, 89 RBI, 135/36 K/BB, 6 SB in 462 AB for Single-A Jupiter
.145/.169/.290, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 22/1 K/BB, 1 SB in 62 AB for Peoria (AFL)

BA: #51, BP: #NR

2004 quote: At least some of Stokes' problems in 2003 can be traced back to the wrist surgery he had following a breakthrough 2002 season in which he hit .341/.421/.645 in 97 games for low Single-A Kane County.

In 2003, it was #19 for me, #15 for BA and #11 for BP. I gave him a free pass, thinking that he just needed the full year to recover from wrist surgery. Stokes never did put the injury behind him, though.


25. Dustin McGowan - RHP Blue Jays - Age 22 - ETA: Sept. 2004
5-6, 2.85 ERA, 62 H, 66/25 K/BB in 75 2/3 IP for Single-A Dunedin
7-0, 3.17 ERA, 78 H, 72/19 K/BB in 76 2/3 IP for Double-A New Haven

BA: #18, BP: #23

2004 quote: McGowan, the 33rd overall pick in the 2000 draft, is steadily making the transition from thrower to pitcher. He still lacks consistency with his power curve and changeup, but he's getting better, and his mid-90s fastball is overpowering at times.

McGowan's promise survived Tommy John surgery. We'll find out in May or June whether he still has his arm strength following labrum surgery.


26. Khalil Greene - SS Padres - Age 24 - ETA: Now
.275/.327/.406, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 55/16 K/BB, 2 SB in 229 AB for Double-A Mobile
.288/.346/.442, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 55/16 K/BB, 5 SB in 319 AB for Triple-A Portland
.215/.271/.400, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 19/4 K/BB, 0 SB in 65 AB for San Diego

BA: #61, BP: #28

2004 quote: Greene should be a Shea Hillenbrand-type hitter in the majors, but because of his defensive value, he'll be a better player than the Arizona third baseman.

BA was considerably lower on Greene than most of the competition both years in which he qualified as a prospect. It may yet work out for them, though Greene has had two seasons in which he's been a well above average regular.


27. Clint Nageotte - RHP Mariners - Age 23 - ETA: Aug. 2004
11-7, 3.10 ERA, 127 H, 157/67 K/BB in 154 IP for Double-A San Antonio

BA: #45, BP: #37

2004 quote: Nageotte has a quality 91-95 mph fastball, but it's his vicious slider that has made him a top prospect and allowed him to strike out 617 batters in 520 career innings.

We'll never know whether Nageotte would have fulfilled his potential, but he did seem to be inviting injury by throwing so many sliders.


28. Josh Barfield - 2B Padres - Age 21 - ETA: 2006
.337/.389/.530, 16 HR, 128 RBI, 122/50 K/BB, 16 SB in 549 AB for Single-A Lake Elsinore

BA: #20, BP: #32

2004 quote: Barfield may not have the glove to play second base in the majors, but the Padres are going to leave him there and see if he can become Jeff Kent. … Barfield has Jose Vidro-like offensive upside, but he has some plate coverage issues.

Example No. 372 of why it's never a good idea to get too excited about a breakout season in the California League. That said, Barfield did put up an 820 OPS in the PCL as a 22-year-old and a 741 OPS in Petco as a 23-year-old. It's bizarre just how far he's fallen the last two years.


29. Chris Snelling - OF Mariners - Age 22 - ETA: April 2005
Previous rankings: 2001 #31, mid-2001 #26, 2002 #19, mid-2002 #21, 2003 #22, mid-2003 #23

.333/.371/.468, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 30/8 K/BB, 1 SB in 186 AB for Double-A San Antonio
.269/.333/.433, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 12/5 K/BB, 1 SB in 67 AB for Triple-A Tacoma

BA: NR, BP: #35

2004 quote: Snelling had a difficult time coming back from a torn ACL last season and further knee problems limited him to 253 at-bats. Because the Aussie is a reckless player center field, the injury troubles probably aren't going to go away.

BA wrote off Snelling as a top-notch prospect after his partial season in 2003. Since he was still so young, it was hard for the rest of us to do the same.


30. Justin Huber - C Mets - Age 21 - ETA: April 2005
.284/.370/.514, 9 HR, 36 RBI, 30/17 K/BB, 1 SB in 183 AB for Single-A St. Lucie
.264/.350/.425, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 54/19 K/BB, 0 SB in 103 AB for Double-A Binghamton

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Defensively, he has trouble throwing out baserunners but is average elsewhere. If necessary, Huber's bat could allow him to become a decent first baseman. As a catcher, he's a potential All-Star.

Huber had another very promising offensive season in 2004, but he underwent left knee surgery and the Royals opted to move him to first base immediately upon acquiring him from the Mets. He never adjusted well to the position, and he's battled more injuries while trying to make it in the outfield the last couple of years. It's not looking good for one of my favorites.



31. Casey Kotchman - 1B Angels - Age 21 - ETA: 2006
.337/.379/.593, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3/2 K/BB, 0 SB in 27 AB for Rookie AZL Angels
.350/.441/.524, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 16/30 K/BB, 2 SB in 206 AB for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga
.261/.370/.341, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4/7 K/BB, 0 SB in 46 AB for Scottsdale (AFL)

BA: #15, BP: #14

2004 quote: Kotchman undoubtedly is one of the most skilled hitters in the minors. Unfortunately, the 2001 first-round pick collects injuries and home runs in equal numbers.

Kotchman was a disappointment last year, but at least he has played in 280 games over the last two years. He still figures to settle in as an above average first baseman


32. David Wright - 3B Mets - Age 21 - ETA: July 2005
.270/.369/.459, 15 HR, 75 RBI, 98/72 K/BB, 19 SB in 466 AB for Single-A St. Lucie
.341/.427/.489, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 10/13 K/BB, 4 SB in 88 AB for Peoria (AFL)

BA: #21, BP: #5

2004 quote: Comparisons to Travis Fryman have seemed apt in the past, but with his offensive and defensive potential, Wright could be a right-handed-hitting Robin Ventura.

BP's biggest victory. I did have Wright second behind Upton in the 2004 Midseason list, but that was a case of being late to the party.


33. Adrian Gonzalez - 1B Rangers - Age 21 - ETA: Sept. 2004
.307/.368/.409, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 25/14 K/BB, 1 SB in 137 AB for Double-A Carolina
.283/.326/.393, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 27/11 K/BB, 0 SB in 173 AB for Double-A Frisco
.216/.286/.288, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 25/14 K/BB, 1 SB in 139 AB for Triple-A Albuquerque
.260/.396/.455, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 9/17 K/BB, 1 SB in 77 AB for Peoria (AFL)

BA: #52, BP: NR

2004 quote: Gonzalez had his problems last year after undergoing offseason wrist surgery, but he bounced back in the AFL and should be 100 percent this year. In a best-case scenario, Gonzalez will have a John Olerud-type career.

Others soured on Gonzalez because he was so slow to show power. As it turned out, he developed more than anyone could have predicted.


34. Bobby Jenks - RHP Angels - Age 23 - ETA: Sept. 2004
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 H, 5/0 K/BB in 4 IP for Rookie AZL Angels
7-2, 2.17 ERA, 56 H, 103/51 K/BB in 83 IP for Double-A Arkansas

BA: #62, BP: #45

2004 quote: One of the hardest throwers in baseball, Jenks has about as much chance of developing into a true ace as anyone in the minors.

Or a shutdown closer. The ranking worked out just fine.


35. John Van Benschoten - RHP Pirates - Age 23 - ETA: May 2005
6-0, 2.22 ERA, 33 H, 49/18 K/BB in 48 2/3 IP for Single-A Lynchburg
7-6, 3.69 ERA, 95 H, 78/34 K/BB in 90 1/3 IP for Double-A Altoona

BA: #38, BP: NR

2004 quote: The 2001 first-round pick has a 90-94 mph fastball with movement and his curveball is another plus pitch. His slider and changeup aren't yet so useful, but he's still made remarkable progress for someone who was primarily an outfielder in college.

It's never going to happen. Van Benschoten has simply lost too much of his stuff due to shoulder problems.


36. James Loney - 1B Dodgers - Age 19 - ETA: 2006
.276/.337/.400, 7 HR, 46 RBI, 80/43 K/BB, 9 SB in 468 AB for Single-A Vero Beach
.247/.371/.407, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 17/16 K/BB, 1 SB in 81 AB for Scottsdale (AFL)

BA: #42. BP: #25

2004 quote: A broken wrist sustained at the end of 2002 limited his ability to hit for power last season…

Loney slipped even further in 2004, finishing with four homers and a 641 OPS in his first year in Double-A. Still, he has overcome the injuries to become a quality regular, if perhaps an overrated one.


37. Joe Blanton - RHP Athletics - Age 23 - ETA: April 2005
8-7, 2.57 ERA, 110 H, 144/19 K/BB in 133 IP for Single-A Kane County
3-1, 1.26 ERA, 21 H, 30/7 K/BB in 35 2/3 IP for Double-A Midland

BA: #43, BP: #41

2004 quote: The University of Kentucky product throws in the low-90s and has two first-rate breaking balls in his curve and slider. … He's a future No. 3 starter.

We were all in agreement here. Oddly, we all went in different directions after he posted a 4.19 ERA in Triple-A in 2004. I moved him up to #19, BP held him steady at #43 and BA dropped him all of the way out of its top 100.


38. Wilson Betemit - 3B Braves - Age 22 - ETA: April 2005
.262/.315/.414, 8 HR, 65 RBI, 115/38 K/BB, 8 SB in 478 AB for Triple-A Richmond

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Betemit had his second straight rough season in 2003, but it has to be remembered that he was a 21-year-old playing in Triple-A.

Both BA and BP had soured on Betemit and bumped him from the rankings after including him in previous seasons. Call me crazy, but he's still young and talented enough to justify this position.


39. Brandon Claussen - LHP Reds - Age 24 - ETA: Now
2-0, 1.64 ERA, 16 H, 26/3 K/BB in 22 IP for Single-A Tampa
2-1, 2.75 ERA, 53 H, 39/18 K/BB in 84 1/3 IP for Triple-A Columbus
0-1, 7.47 ERA, 17 H, 16/6 K/BB in 15 2/3 IP for Triple-A Louisville
1-0, 1.42 ERA, 8 H, 5/1 K/BB in 6 1/3 IP for New York (AL)

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: His velocity was down slightly, but Claussen, acquired from the Yankees in the Aaron Boone trade, made a successful return from Tommy John surgery in 2003.

No one else hopped back on the Claussen train post-surgery. It looked like he was on his way to becoming a reliable middle-of-the-rotation starter when he went 11-11 with a 4.21 ERA for the Reds in 2005, but his shoulder gave out on him after that.


40. Jeff Francoeur - OF Braves - Age 20 - ETA: 2007
.281/.325/.445, 14 HR, 68 RBI, 68/30 K/BB, 14 SB in 524 AB for Low Single-A Rome

BA: #27, BP: NR

2004 quote: The 2002 first-round pick does need to work on his tendency to chase bad pitches, but he's hardly clueless at the plate and he shows excellent power potential.

On the other hand, maybe he is clueless. 2009 will be telling.


41. Kevin Youkilis - 3B Red Sox - Age 25 - ETA: August 2004
.327/.487/.465, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 40/86 K/BB, 7 SB in 312 AB for Double-A Portland
.165/.295/.248, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 21/18 K/BB, 0 SB in 109 AB for Triple-A Pawtucket

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Because he's a below average defensive third baseman and probably won't hit more than 15 homers per season in the majors, Youkilis is going to have to get on base 38-40 percent of the time to be an asset. Expect him to do so.

I was a believer, but I certainly didn't see him ever hitting 29 homers in one season. For the record, his OBP has fallen between .380-.400 in each of his three full seasons.


42. Felix Pie - OF Cubs - Age 19 - ETA: 2007
.285/.346/.388, 4 HR, 47 RBI, 98/41 K/BB, 19 SB in 505 AB for Low Single-A Lansing

BA: #85, BP: NR

2004 quote: The native of the Dominican Republic is already an outstanding defensive center fielder and he has the ability to become a very good hitter. As of right now, he projects as a Johnny Damon-type player.

It looks like I'm the standout here, but in 2005, BA moved Pie up to No. 31 after an unexceptional year in high-A ball (.287/.358/.441, 116/39 K/BB ratio in 431 AB). I held him steady at No. 43.


43. Joe Borchard - OF White Sox - Age 25 - ETA: April 2005
.253/.307/.398, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 103/27 K/BB, 2 SB in 435 AB for Triple-A Charlotte
.186/.246/.265, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 18/5 K/BB, 0 SB in 49 AB for Chicago (AL)

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: It's time to start getting very concerned. Borchard handled Triple-A pitching fairly well in his go-round with Charlotte, putting up a .272/.349/.498 line in 2002. In 2003, he had the same numbers as the much-maligned Drew Henson, who is actually 16 months younger than Borchard.

Just another case of me not wanting to give up on a prospect. Borchard clearly deserved it at this point.


44. Kris Honel - RHP White Sox - Age 21 - ETA: May 2005
9-7, 3.11 ERA, 122 H, 122/42 K/BB in 133 IP for Single-A Winston-Salem
1-0, 3.75 ERA, 9 H, 13/6 K/BB in 12 IP for Double-A Birmingham

BA: #55, BP: NR

2004 quote: Honel projects as a third starter in the majors. He lacks the upside of Neal Cotts, but he's a better bet to have a long career.

Honel blew out his elbow in 2004 and never made it all of the way back.


45. Shin-Soo Choo - OF Mariners - Age 21 - ETA: 2006
.286/.365/.459, 9 HR, 55 RBI, 84/44 K/BB, 18 SB in 412 AB for Single-A Inland Empire

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Choo, signed out Korea in 2000, resembles Snelling as a hitter. He's not quite so gifted, but since he does figure to be more durable, he could have the better career. … Choo could emerge as a Rusty Greer-type hitter.

BP was the highest on Choo in 2003, but I was the one who stuck with him after a mediocre season. That Greer comparison isn't looking so bad right now. Choo hit .309/.397/.549 in 317 at-bats as a 25-year-old last season. Greer hit .314/.410/.487 in 277 at-bats in his age-25 season.


46. Andy Sisco - LHP Cubs - Age 21 - ETA: 2006
6-8, 3.54 ERA, 76 H, 99/31 K/BB in 94 IP for Low Single-A Lansing

BA: #77, BP: NR

2004 quote: He also has some maturity issues -- he missed nearly two months of last season with a broken left hand sustained while punching a wall -- but since he doesn't turn 21 until January, that's not a major concern.

It turned into a major concern. Sisco's arm problems have done more to doom his career, but he certainly hasn't helped things with his attitude.


47. Macay McBride - LHP Braves - Age 21 - ETA: June 2005
9-8, 2.95 ERA, 164 H, 139/49 K/BB in 164 2/3 IP for Single-A Myrtle Beach

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: He's a future No. 3 starter who might be capable of jumping all the way to the majors this season if he were pitching for a weaker team.

A bad call on my part. The Braves shifted McBride to the pen after he struggled as a starter early on in 2004. He had a decent year for the team out of the pen in 2006, but he developed command problems in 2007 and missed last season following Tommy John surgery. He'll try to make the Tigers as a reliever this spring.


48. Hanley Ramirez - SS Red Sox - Age 20 - ETA: 2007
.275/.327/.403, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 73/32 K/BB, 36 SB in 422 AB for Low Single-A Augusta

BA: #39, BP: NR

2004 quote: Ramirez, who hit .352 between the Gulf Coast League and the New York-Penn League in 2002, had his OPS fall by more than 200 points last season. Just as much of a concern as the drop off in performance are his attitude and questionable work habits.

Both BA and I dropped Hanley about 20 spots after his rough 2003 season. BP probably did the same thing, but in that case, it meant he was off the list entirely. Oops.


49. Denny Bautista - RHP Orioles - Age 21 - ETA: April 2005
8-4, 3.21 ERA, 68 H, 77/35 K/BB in 85 IP for Single-A Jupiter
4-5, 3.71 ERA, 45 H, 61/35 K/BB in 53 1/3 IP for Double-A Carolina

BA: #59, BP: NR

2004 quote: He still needs to refine his changeup and improve his control before he'll be ready for the majors, but there aren't many pitchers in the minors with more upside.

Bautista turned out to be lying about his age. The stuff was certainly there for him to succeed, but I don't think he would have cracked the top 100 with 70 walks in 138 1/3 innings at age 22, rather than age 20.


50. Erik Bedard - LHP Orioles - Age 25 - ETA: July 2004
0-0, 1.13 ERA, 4 H, 11/2 K/BB in 8 IP for Rookie GCL Orioles
0-0, 2.35 ERA, 7 H, 13/1 K/BB in 7 2/3 IP for SS Single-A Aberdeen
0-1, 7.36 ERA, 5 H, 2/1 K/BB in 3 2/3 IP for Low Single-A Frederick

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Bedard made a successful return from Tommy John surgery in August, pitching well in six minor league starts before being shut down.

Just like the year before, I was the only one to stick with Bedard following surgery. The patience does pay off once in a while.


51. Jeff Allison - RHP - Age 19 - ETA: 2006
0-2, 1.00 ERA, 7 H, 11/4 K/BB in 9 IP for Rookie GCL Marlins

BA: #44, BP: NR

2004 quote: Allison, who went his entire senior year without giving up an earned run, was viewed as the top high school pitcher available in last season's draft.

Substance abuse problems derailed Allison's career, though he did get back on the mound last season for the first time since 2005. He finished 9-8 with a 5.22 ERA for Single-A Jupiter.


52. David DeJesus - OF Royals - Age 24 - ETA: July 2004
.338/.422/.479, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 8/9 K/BB, 1 SB in 71 AB for Double-A Wichita
.298/.412/.470, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 30/34 K/BB, 8 SB in 215 AB for Triple-A Omaha
.289/.356/.600, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 13/7 K/BB, 6 SB in 90 AB for Peoria (AFL)

BA: NR, BP: #26

2004 quote: With excellent on-base skills and improving power, DeJesus projects as Carlos Beltran's replacement in center field and the Royals' leadoff hitter in 2005.

A big success for BP here. BA kept DeJesus out of the top 100 and ranked him behind 2003 first-round picks Chris Lubanski and Mitch Maier in the Royals system.


53. Adam Loewen - LHP Orioles - Age 19 - ETA: 2006
0-2, 2.70 ERA, 13 H, 25/9 K/BB in 23 1/3 IP for SS Single-A Aberdeen

BA: #13, BP: NR

2004 quote: Loewen has outstanding stuff for a lefty, reaching 95 mph with his fastball and flashing an excellent curve. He's an injury risk, but the Orioles are going to handle him very carefully, giving him every opportunity to become a top starter.

The Orioles did handle him as well as they could have, but Loewen's arm simply wasn't up to the task. He's now going to try to make it as an outfielder in the Jays system.


54. Angel Guzman - RHP Cubs - Age 22 - ETA: April 2005
3-3, 2.81 ERA, 83 H, 87/26 K/BB in 89 2/3 IP for Double-A West Tenn

BA: #26, BP: NR

2004 quote: The Cubs are very excited about Guzman and his hard, sinking fastball, but the shoulder surgery that ended his 2003 season was a significant setback.

BA ranking Guzman 26th even after he had labrum damage repaired illustrates just how much the scouty types liked the right-hander. I think Guzman was overrated right from the start, but who knows what would have happened had he remained healthy. He's still not hopeless now.


55. Dallas McPherson - 3B Angels - Age 23 - ETA: 2006
.308/.404/.606, 18 HR, 59 RBI, 79/41 K/BB, 12 SB in 292 AB for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga
.314/.426/.569, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 25/19 K/BB, 4 SB in 102 AB for Double-A Arkansas
.218/.256/.333, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 26/4 K/BB, 0 SB in 78 AB for Scottsdale (AFL)

BA: #33, BP: #19

2004 quote: There was never much question about McPherson's power potential, but it was still surprising to see him slug nearly .600 at age 22. He's also proven to be a better contact hitter than expected.

That didn't last. We all got too excited about McPherson in part because of the numbers he put up in hitter's parks. I come off as having him pegged better here, but I did have him in the top 15 with everyone else in the 2005 rankings.


56. J.D. Durbin - RHP Twins - Age 22 - ETA: July 2004
9-2, 3.09 ERA, 73 H, 69/22 K/BB in 87 1/3 IP for Single-A Fort Myers
6-3, 3.14 ERA, 102 H, 70/29 K/BB in 94 2/3 IP for Double-A New Britain

BA: #66, BP: NR

2004 quote: Durbin projects as a No. 3 starter or a quality closer. The Twins plan to give him a chance to succeed as a starting pitcher before they consider switching him to the bullpen.

Durbin's command never improved with maturity, and he's yet to succeed in either role. It doesn't look like he ever will.


57. Jose Lopez - SS Mariners - Age 20 - ETA: Aug. 2005
.258/.303/.403, 13 HR, 69 RBI, 56/27 K/BB, 18 SB in 538 AB for Double-A San Antonio

BA: #70, BP: NR

2004 quote: Lopez didn't come close to matching his California League numbers (.324/.360/.464) in his first season in Double-A, but since he was just 19, that was to be expected.

BA apparently didn't expect it, dropping him from 38th to 70th in their rankings. I had him 50th in 2003. BP didn't rank Lopez either year.


58. Taylor Buchholz - RHP Astros - Age 22 - ETA: Sept. 2004
9-11, 3.55 ERA, 136 H, 114/33 K/BB in 144 2/3 IP for Double-A Reading

BA: #50, BP: NR

2004 quote: A 2000 sixth-round pick, Buchholz managed to have a successful season in 2003 despite pitching with bone chips in his elbow. The right-hander has a 91-93 mph fastball with an excellent curveball.

Buchholz's elbow held up fine, but he began having shoulder problems in 2004. He's now a very good setup man for the Rockies.


59. Neal Cotts - LHP White Sox - Age 24 - ETA: Aug. 2004
9-7, 2.16 ERA, 67 H, 133/56 K/BB in 108 1/3 IP for Double-A Birmingham
1-1, 8.10 ERA, 15 H, 10/17 K/BB in 13 1/3 IP for Chicago (AL)
0-2, 4.64 ERA, 24 H, 19/8 K/BB in 21 1/3 IP for Peoria Javelinas (AFL)

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Although he doesn't throw much over 90 mph, Cotts has proven to be very difficult to hit in the minors, limiting Southern League hitters to a .173 average last season. … He could be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter if he improves his control. However, walks might always be a problem for him.

The White Sox never gave Cotts another chance to show what he could do as a starter. He made their team as a reliever in 2004, and he had a great season in 2005. However, his command has held him back every other year of his career.


60. Jonny Gomes - OF Devil Rays - Age 23 - ERA: April 2005
.249/.348/.441, 17 HR, 56 RBI, 148/53 K/BB, 23 SB in 442 AB for Double-A Orlando
.316/.435/.526, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5/2 K/BB, 0 SB in 19 AB for Triple-A Durham
.133/.188/.200, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 15 AB for Tampa Bay
.295/.441/.705, 8 HR, 22 RBI, 19/17 K/BB, 4 SB in 88 AB for Mesa (AFL)

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Gomes, who had a 1017 OPS in his 1 ½ pro seasons, had some difficulty in his first year in Double-A before heading to Arizona and leading the AFL in OPS. … Offensively, he resembles Preston Wilson, though hopefully he'll be a little more consistent.

I was mostly alone in my fondness for Gomes. He bounced back to have an outstanding 2005 between Triple-A and the majors, but shoulder problems cooled him off after a quick start in 2006 and he was never able to reestablish himself in his last two years with the Rays. He's still looking for a team for 2009.



61. Ryan Wagner - RHP Reds - Age 21 - ETA: Now
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 H, 6/2 K/BB in 5 IP for Double-A Chattanooga
0-1, 4.50 ERA, 5 H, 4/0 K/BB in 4 IP for Triple-A Louisville
2-0, 1.66 ERA, 13 H, 25/12 K/BB in 21 2/3 IP for Cincinnati

BA: #46, BP: #16

2004 quote: Wagner became the first 2003 draft pick to reach the majors when the Reds called him up on July 19. … Because of his low-90s fastball and terrific slider, he's the team's closer of the future.

Wagner wasn't Craig Hansen, and he really would have been an excellent major league reliever had he stayed healthy. That terrific slider didn't stick around for long, though.


62. Jason Bay - OF Pirates - Age 25 - ETA: Now
.303/.410/.541, 20 HR, 59 RBI, 71/55 K/BB, 23 SB in 307 AB for Triple-A Portland
.250/.400/.750, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 8 AB for San Diego
.291/.423/.506, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 28/18 K/BB, 3 SB in 79 AB for Pittsburgh

BA: #74, BP: #36

2004 quote: He somewhat resembles a young Rondell White, though he's quite a bit more patient at the plate. He also should be more durable. The broken wrist that caused Bay to miss six weeks last season was a fluke. A bigger concern was the torn labrum he had surgically repaired in December.

The injuries did drop Bay's ranking a bit, but he obviously should have been higher than this. BP gets some points for this one.


63. Gabe Gross - OF Blue Jays - Age 24 - ETA: Aug. 2004
.319/.423/.481, 7 HR, 51 RBI, 53/52 K/BB, 3 SB in 310 AB for Double-A New Haven
.264/.380/.456, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 56/31 K/BB, 1 SB in 182 AB for Triple-A Syracuse

BA: #72, BP: #40

2004 quote: He does a great job of getting on base and is developing into a quality defensive right fielder. The next step is for him to turn some doubles into home runs.

Gross has added power in his prime, but he hasn't turned out to be anything more than a .240 hitter.


64. Matt Riley - LHP Orioles - Age 24 - ETA: Now
5-2, 3.11 ERA, 56 H, 73/23 K/BB in 72 1/3 IP for Double-A Bowie
4-2, 3.58 ERA, 70 H, 77/28 K/BB in 70 1/3 IP for Triple-A Ottawa
1-0, 1.80 ERA, 7 H, 8/5 K/BB in 10 IP for Baltimore

BA: NR, BP: #29

2004 quote: Riley, one of the game's elite pitching prospects back in 1999, finally made it all the way back from Tommy John surgery last season, going 10-4 with a 3.24 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 152 2/3 innings between three levels.

Riley spent about half of 2004 in the majors with the Orioles. He went on to have his second Tommy John surgery in 2005 and his third in 2006.


65. Franklin Gutierrez - OF Dodgers - Age 21 - ETA: 2006
.282/.345/.513, 20 HR, 68 RBI, 111/39 K/BB, 17 SB in 425 AB for Single-A Vero Beach
.313/.387/.597, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 20/7 K/BB, 3 SB in 67 AB for Double-A Jacksonville

BA: #31, BP: #22

2004 quote: Whether he'll do so well against advanced pitching remains to be seen -- he may need a shorter swing -- but since Gutierrez is a fine defender in center field, he has a great deal of potential.

Gutierrez did need his swing reworked, but the change has yet to result in him becoming a quality major league hitter. He still made a lot of sense for Seattle in the J.J. Putz trade.


66. Sean Burnett - LHP Pirates - Age 21 - ETA: Aug. 2004
14-6, 3.21 ERA, 158 H, 86/29 K/BB in 159 2/3 IP for Double-A Altoona

BA: #64, BP: #47

2004 quote: Burnett throws in the high-80s and has a terrific changeup. It might take him a year or so to adjust to the majors, but he should settle in as a solid No. 3 starter by 2006.

Burnett seemed like a good bet to stay healthy at least, but he blew out his elbow in 2004 and then needed labrum surgery in 2005. His failed to come all of the way back.


67. Sergio Santos - SS Diamondbacks - Age 20 - ETA: 2006
.287/.368/.408, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 64/41 K/BB, 5 SB in 341 AB for Single-A Lancaster
.255/.293/.365, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 25/8 K/BB, 0 SB in 137 AB for Double-A El Paso
.250/.308/.427, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 22/9 K/BB, 0 SB in 96 AB for Scottsdale (AFL)

BA: #37, BP: NR

2004 quote: Santos, a 2002 first-round pick out of a California high school, started his first full pro season in high Single-A and ended it in Double-A. The Diamondbacks have probably been overaggressive with him, resulting in the mediocre numbers, but the fact that he's managed to hold his own is a point in his favor.

Santos never did more than hold his own. He hasn't posted an 800 OPS since Rookie ball in 2002.


68. John Maine - RHP Orioles - Age 22 - ETA: July 2005
7-3, 1.53 ERA, 43 H, 108/18 K/BB in 76 1/3 IP for Low Single-A Delmarva
6-1, 3.07 ERA, 48 H, 77/20 K/BB in 70 1/3 IP for Single-A Frederick

BA: #54, BP: NR

2004 quote: A sixth-round pick in 2002, Maine has been perhaps the most effective pitcher in the minors over the last year and a half. … With his low-90s fastball, four-pitch arsenal and fine command, Maine projects as a No. 3 starter.

Maine was something of a disappointment in his first year in Triple-A, so he didn't make any of the lists in 2005. By the time the Mets got him in the Kris Benson deal, he looked like a fringe fifth starter at best.


69. Jeremy Guthrie - RHP Indians - Age 24 - ETA: July 2004
6-2, 1.44 ERA, 44 H, 35/14 K/BB in 62 2/3 IP for Double-A Akron
4-9, 6.52 ERA, 129 H, 62/30 K/BB in 96 2/3 IP for Triple-A Buffalo

BA: #53, BP: NR

2004 quote: Guthrie, a 2002 first-round pick out of Stanford, didn't make his pro debut until 2003. He overwhelmed Double-A hitters right from the start, leading to speculation that he could join the Indians in June or July. That never happened, of course, as Triple-A proved to be one massive speed bump.

Guthrie never did master Triple-A, and I really didn't see him helping the Orioles after the Indians let him go prior to the start of 2007. He's pulled off quite a turnaround.


70. Kyle Sleeth - RHP Tigers - Age 22 - ETA: April 2005

BA: #36, BP: NR

2004 quote: Sleeth, a product of Wake Forest, was the third overall pick in the 2003 draft. He signed for $3.35 million in August, but the Tigers elected to have him rest rather than get him some time in the minors.

Sleeth, who showed promise in 2004 before requiring Tommy John surgery, went 12-21 with a 6.32 ERA in three minor league seasons before retiring after 2007.


71. Jason Arnold - RHP Blue Jays - Age 24 - ETA: June 2004
3-1, 1.53 ERA, 18 H, 33/11 K/BB in 35 1/3 IP for Double-A New Haven
4-8, 4.33 ERA, 121 H, 82/46 K/BB in 120 2/3 IP for Triple-A Syracuse

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: The former second-round pick complements an average fastball and slider with a palmball that he can use against both righties and lefties. Many think he'll end up in the bullpen, but he deserves a chance to establish himself as a third or fourth starter.

BP had Arnold ranked 24th in 2003, and BA had him at the bottom of its top 100. However, people began to sour on him as his velocity dropped. I was just a year too late.


72. Michael Restovich - OF Twins - Age 25 - ETA: June 2004
.275/.346/.465, 16 HR, 72 RBI, 117/47 K/BB, 10 SB in 454 AB for Triple-A Rochester
.283/.406/.415, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 12/10 K/BB, 0 SB in 53 AB for Minnesota

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Because of the strikeouts, Restovich doesn't figure to be anything more than a .260-.270 hitter in the majors. However, with his 35-homer power, the 1997 second-round pick still looks like he should become an average regular in left field despite a disappointing 2003 season in Triple-A.

I dropped Restovich from 49th to 72nd after his rough year. BA had him 39th the year before, only to erase him entirely. Restovich spent last year in Japan, but after struggling there, it looks like he'll be a part of the White Sox's Triple-A lineup this season.


73. Merkin Valdez - RHP Giants - Age 22 - ETA: Aug. 2005

9-5, 2.25 ERA, 119 H, 166/49 K/BB in 156 IP for Low Single-A Hagerstown
0-0, 3.38 ERA, 6 H, 4/0 K/BB in 5/1 IP for Grand Canyon (AFL)

BA: #40, BP: NR

2004 quote: Valdez … used a mid-90s fastball and a quality slider to limit South Atlantic League hitters to a .213 average. His changeup is below average right now, but Valdez has No. 2 starter potential.

Valdez made it all of the way from A-ball to the majors in 2004, but he's been injured as often as not since. If he makes it now, it will be as a reliever.


74. Joel Zumaya - RHP Tigers - Age 19 - ETA: 2006
7-5, 2.79 ERA, 69 H, 126/38 K/BB in 90 1/3 IP for Low Single-A West Michigan

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Zumaya overpowered Midwest League hitters with a mid-90s fastball last season. The 2002 11th-round pick is still quite raw, but his curveball and changeup both have the potential to become plus pitches.

It's surprising that Zumaya didn't crack the BA list given his stuff. They did have him ranked third in the Detroit system, but the Tigers placed just two in the top 100 that year.


75. Guillermo Quiroz - C Blue Jays - Age 22 - ETA: April 2005
.282/.372/.518, 20 HR, 79 RBI, 83/45 K/BB, 0 SB in 369 AB for Double-A New Haven

BA: #35, BP: #17

2004 quote: The 22-year-old doesn't quite have (Kevin) Cash's defensive skills, but he is very good with the glove and he has far more offensive ability. He could hit .260 with 20 homers per year in the majors.

I had forgotten just how high everyone was on Quiroz. His 2003 season stands out as a major fluke now. Throw out the 890 mark then and his career minor league OPS is right around 700. He's hit .201/.266/.269 in 234 at-bats as a major leaguer.


76. Mike Hinckley - LHP Expos - Age 21 - ETA: July 2005
9-5, 3.64 ERA, 124 H, 111/41 K/BB in 121 IP for Low Single-A Savannah
4-0, 0.72 ERA, 14 H, 23/1 K/BB in 25 IP for Single-A Brevard County

BA: #60, BP: NR

2004 quote: Hinckley throws in the low 90s and had an excellent curveball. His changeup is well behind his other pitches, but he still could turn it into an average offering.

Hinckley hurt his shoulder in 2005 and never regained his former promise, though he does have a shot of becoming a useful reliever.


77. Todd Wellemeyer - RHP Cubs - Age 25 - ETA: Now
1-1, 5.48 ERA, 19 H, 34/10 K/BB in 21 1/3 IP for Double-A West Tenn
5-5, 5.18 ERA, 68 H, 56/33 K/BB in 66 IP for Triple-A Iowa
1-1, 6.51 ERA, 25 H, 30/19 K/BB in 27 2/3 IP for Chicago (NL)

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: The numbers aren't pretty, but Wellemeyer has a major league arm and he was dominant in his early appearances for the Cubs, striking out 12 in 7 2/3 scoreless innings during May. … With a mid-90s fastball and plus changeup, Wellemeyer is talented enough to succeed as a starter or a reliever.

It looks like this one is going to turn out just fine after all. Wellemeyer was a personal favorite of mine. BA had him ranked 13th in a Cubs system that placed six in the top 100.


78. Chad Tracy - 3B Diamondbacks - Age 23 - ETA: April 2005
.324/.372/.456, 10 HR, 80 RBI, 52/41 K/BB, 0 SB in 522 AB for Triple-A Tucson

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: He doesn't hit for the power one wants to see from a third baseman, but Tracy has batted well over .300 each year since being drafted in the seventh round in 2001. There's no reason to think he won't keep it up in the majors, and he'll belt out enough doubles to make himself a solid regular if he stays at the hot corner.

Tracy wasn't especially highly regarded by the scouting community because of his mediocre defense and lack of home run ability, but the power did come, as he hit 27 homers in his second big-league season in 2005. Unfortunately, knee problems struck in 2007 and prematurely forced him to first base last season. He should stick around for several more years, but he may be more of a role player.


79. Nick Swisher - OF Athletics - Age 23 - ETA: June 2005
.296/.418/.550, 10 HR, 43 RBI, 49/41 K/BB, 0 SB in 189 AB for Single-A Modesto
.230/.324/.380, 5 HR, 43 RBI, 76/37 K/BB, 0 SB in 287 AB for Double-A Midland

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: A borderline defender in center, Swisher figures to move to a corner now that Mark Kotsay is ahead of him in Oakland. His bat won't be so intriguing in right or left, but he still figures to become a solid .280/.370/.460 regular.

I was ahead of the curve here. BA ranked Swisher sixth in an Oakland system that placed just two in the top 100. However, by 2005, we all had Swisher in the 15-30 range.


80. Jon Rauch - RHP White Sox - Age 25 - ETA: Now
7-1, 4.11 ERA, 121 H, 94/35 K/BB in 124 2/3 IP for Triple-A Charlotte

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Rauch, one of the top prospects in all of baseball following a brilliant 2000 season, isn't yet back to where he was before hurting his shoulder in 2001. … He remains a good bet to make it as a fourth or fifth starter and he could be something more.

This was another case of me standing by a prospect long after everyone else. Rauch hasn't quite justified this ranking, but of the 13 guys in the White Sox chain that BA ranked ahead of him, Chris Young is the only one especially likely to have a better career (Ryan Sweeney and maybe Brian Anderson are also possibilities).


81. Bryan Bullington - RHP Pirates - Age 23 - ETA: July 2005
5-1, 1.39 ERA, 25 H, 46/11 K/BB in 45 1/3 IP for Low Single-A Hickory
8-4, 3.05 ERA, 101 H, 67/27 K/BB in 97 1/3 IP for Single-A Lynchburg

BA: #97, BP: NR

2004 quote: The No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 draft, Bullington put up quality numbers in his pro debut but was something of a disappointment. He lost three mph off his fastball, which was typically in the 91-94 mph range while he was at Ball State…

Bullington never bounced back, and he probably wasn't going to be anything spectacular either way.


82. Brad Nelson - OF/1B Brewers - Age 21 - ETA: July 2005
.311/.363/.395, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 22/12 K/BB, 2 SB in 167 AB for Single-A High Desert
.210/.274/.315, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 34/11 K/BB, 2 SB in 143 AB for Double-A Huntsville
.220/.304/.232, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 23/9 K/BB, 0 SB in 82 AB for Peoria (AFL)

BA: #48, BP: NR

2004 quote: Ignore his 2003 numbers. Nelson, who hit .289 with 20 HR and 116 RBI in 2002, suffered a broken hamate bone at the end of April and never recovered his power.

BA dropped Nelson from 23rd in 2003 to 48th after his poor season. I ignored the numbers and actually moved him up slightly from 88th to 82nd. Nelson's power did come back in 2004, but he also started striking out more than ever before 2008 was the first season since 2002 in which he finished with an 800 OPS in the minors (.286/.380/.480 for Triple-A Nashville).


83. Mike Jones - RHP Brewers - Age 20 - ETA: June 2005
7-2, 2.40 ERA, 87 H, 63/47 K/BB in 97 2/3 IP for Double-A Huntsville

BA: #84, BP: NR

2004 quote: Despite a disappointing strikeout rate, he was very successful for Huntsville until an elbow injury shut him down. It's possible that he'll end up needing Tommy John surgery, but the Brewers hope it can be avoided.

Jones pulled off the trifecta: labrum surgery in 2004, rotator cuff surgery in 2005 and Tommy John surgery in 2007. He did return to the mound last year and go 1-6 with a 5.71 ERA in the minors.


84. Juan Dominguez - RHP Rangers - Age 23 - ETA: July 2004
4-0, 2.84 ERA, 55 H, 72/16 K/BB in 63 1/3 IP for Single-A Stockton
5-0, 2.60 ERA, 35 H, 54/21 K/BB in 55 1/3 IP for Double-A Frisco
1-0, 3.50 ERA, 15 H, 14/3 K/BB in 18 IP for Triple-A Oklahoma
0-2, 7.16 ERA, 16 H, 13/12 K/BB in 16 1/3 IP for Texas

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: The Rangers have him focusing on improving his slider. If he comes up with a decent one, he'll be a No. 3 starter.

A really odd case. Dominguez went 5-7 with a 4.15 ERA for the Rangers between 2005 and 2006 -- which is quite good for a Texas pitcher -- but the team was really disappointed by his attitude and shipped him off to Oakland prior to the 2006 season. He went on to have a very disappointing year for the Athletics' Triple-A club, and he hasn't been heard from since.


85. Freddy Sanchez - 2B/SS Pirates - Age 26 - ETA: Now
.341/.430/.493, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 36/31 K/BB, 8 SB in 211 AB for Triple-A Pawtucket
.400/.400/.600, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 5 AB for Triple-A Nashville
.235/.235/.294, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 8/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 34 AB for Boston

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: While he probably won't ever be an All-Star, Sanchez should be a .300 hitter and an effective regular in the majors.

One of my better calls.


86. Manny Parra - LHP Brewers - Age 21 - ETA: 2006
11-2, 2.73 ERA, 127 H, 117/24 K/BB in 138 2/3 IP for Low Single-A Beloit

BA: #69, BP: NR

2004 quote: Featuring a junkballer's mentality along with legit stuff, Parra was one of the Midwest League's top pitchers until hurting a pectoral muscle in August.

Five years later, Parra could still stand to be more aggressive in attacking hitters.


87. Dioner Navarro - C Yankees - Age 20 - ETA: 2006
.299/.364/.467, 3 HR, 28 RBI, 27/17 K/BB, 1 SB in 197 AB for Single-A Tampa
.341/.388/.471, 4 HR, 38 RBI, 26/18 K/BB, 2 SB in 208 AB for Double-A Trenton

BA: #41, BP: #30

2004 quote: Signed out of Venezuela in 2000, Navarro is a switch-hitter with a line-drive swing and doubles power. Defensively, he projects as a slightly above average regular.

Navarro still has a pretty good chance of justifying the more aggressive rankings. He was just 24 while hitting .295/.349/.407 last season.


88. Ramon Nivar - OF Rangers - Age 24 - ETA: June 2004
.347/.387/.464, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 23/20 K/BB, 9 SB in 317 AB for Double-A Frisco
.337/.368/.472, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 5/5 K/BB, 6 SB in 89 AB for Triple-A Oklahoma
.211/.253/.267, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 10/4 K/BB, 4 SB in 90 AB for Texas
.381/.400/.540, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 6/2 K/BB, 6 SB in 63 AB for Peoria (AFL)

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Nivar is primarily a singles hitter right now, but he is a very good one and he should add more doubles.

I really wish I didn't fall for this one. Nivar did nothing but hit for average in nice environments for hitters. BA ranked him third in the Texas system, one spot ahead of Dominguez, but neither cracked the top 100.


89. Ryan Madson - RHP Phillies - Age 23 - ETA: Now
0-0, 5.63 ERA, 11 H, 9/2 K/BB in 8 IP for Single-A Clearwater
12-8, 3.50 ERA, 157 H, 138/42 K/BB in 157 IP for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: After recovering from elbow tendinitis, Madson continued his steady climb up the ladder in 2003, finishing with very solid numbers for the fourth straight season.

An appropriate ranking. I also had him in the 80s on the 2003 list.


90. Jeremy Hermida - OF Marlins - Age 20 - ETA: 2006
.284/.387/.393, 6 HR, 49 RBI, 100/80 K/BB, 28 SB in 468 AB for Low Single-A Greensboro
.000/.000/.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 3 AB for Triple-A Albuquerque

BA: #28, BP: #46

2004 quote: The 11th overall pick in the 2002 draft showed impressive on-base ability in his first full professional season and he should have 20-25 home run power as he gets stronger.

I got a late start on Hermida. I followed suit the next couple of years by placing him in the 20 in 2005 and top five in 2006.




91. Matt Cain - RHP Giants - Age 19 - ETA: 2006
4-4, 2.55 ERA, 57 H, 90/24 K/BB in 74 IP for Low Single-A Hagerstown

BA: #91, BP: NR

2004 quote: The fractured elbow that cost Cain half of last season also dropped him behind Merkin Valdez on the Giants' top-10 list, but the 2002 first-round pick has at least as much upside as any pitcher in the team's farm system.

Cain went on to have an outstanding 2004 season and was universally regarded as one of the game's top pitching prospects entering 2005.


92. Blake Hawksworth - RHP Cardinals - Age 21 - ETA: July 2005
5-1, 2.30 ERA, 37 H, 57/12 K/BB in 54 2/3 IP for Low Single-A Peoria
1-3, 3.94 ERA, 28 H, 32/11 K/BB in 32 IP for Single-A Palm Beach

BA: #47, BP: NR

2004 quote: Hawksworth, who missed time last season with an ankle problem, throws in the low-90s and has a quality curveball. His changeup should develop into an effective third offering.

Hawksworth missed most of 2004 and 2005 with shoulder problems, and he never has made it to the majors.


93. Bobby Brownlie - RHP Cubs - Age 23 - ETA: June 2005
5-4, 3.00 ERA, 48 H, 59/24 K/BB in 66 IP for Single-A Daytona

BA: #92, BP: NR

2004 quote: Brownlie was a candidate to be the first pick in the 2002 draft before hurting his shoulder during his junior season at Rutgers. He ended up going 21st overall to the Cubs and held out for a while before signing in March. Brownlie pitched well in his first action as a pro, but he was shut down in July as a precaution because of more shoulder troubles.

Brownlie lost his best stuff to shoulder problems, and while he's still trying, it doesn't look like he'll ever reach the majors.


94. Kelly Shoppach - C Red Sox - Age 23 - ETA: April 2005
.282/.353/.488, 12 HR, 60 RBI, 83/35 K/BB, 0 SB in 340 AB for Double-A Portland
.281/.370/.516, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 19/8 K/BB, 0 SB in 64 AB for Mesa (AFL)

BA: #78, BP: NR

2004 quote: Although he doesn't do any one thing especially well, Shoppach could be similar in quality both offensively and defensively to the catcher he might replace in Boston in 2005, Jason Varitek.

That was certainly a bit strong. If Shoppach was really similar to Varitek, then he should have been ranked an awful lot higher. Shoppach wasn't given a chance to establish himself in Boston, but he's looking at a decent career as a regular now.


95. Seung Song - RHP Expos - Age 23 - ETA: June 2004
5-2, 2.35 ERA, 55 H, 44/24 K/BB in 72 2/3 IP for Double-A Harrisburg
7-2, 3.79 ERA, 69 H, 40/33 K/BB in 73 2/3 IP for Triple-A Edmonton

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Song… probably doesn't deserve this ranking unless he regains the velocity he had back when he was a Red Sox prospect. The Korean right-hander rarely touched 90 mph last season, leading to the drop in his strikeout rate.

I should have listened to my own words. Song didn't regain his velocity and never did reach the majors. He's pitching in Korea now.


96. Corey Hart - 3B Brewers - Age 22 - ETA: May 2005
.302/.340/.467, 13 HR, 94 RBI, 101/28 K/BB, 25 SB in 493 AB for Double-A Huntsville

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Hart… had a disappointing 2003, posting an OPS 50 points lower than his career total and making 32 errors at third base. Hart is really a first baseman and may never make the adjustment to third, which could lead to him being switched to left field.

Hart was viewed as more of a prospect after 2002, but even then, I was quite a bit higher on him than anyone else (I had him 54th, BA 91st, BP NR). In 2005, I had him 44th and he was again unranked by BA.


97. Dustin Nippert - RHP Diamondbacks - Age 22 - ETA: May 2005
6-4, 2.82 ERA, 66 H, 96/32 K/BB in 95 2/3 IP for Low Single-A South Bend
1-2, 3.60 ERA, 26 H, 30/12 K/BB in 30 IP for Scottsdale (AFL)

BA: #83, BP: NR

2004 quote: Nippert flashed a mid-90s fastball and a ferocious curveball while striking out a batter an inning for Scottsdale. His changeup is getting better, leaving his health as the only major question mark.

Nippert had Tommy John surgery in 2004 and missed the first third of 2005. He's looking like a fringe fifth starter these days.


98. Ian Stewart - 3B Rockies - Age 18 - ETA: 2007
.317/.401/.558, 10 HR, 43 RBI, 54/29 K/BB, 4 SB in 224 AB for Rookie Casper

BA: #57, BP: NR

2004 quote: The 10th overall pick in the 2003 draft, Stewart has the potential to be a top-notch offensive third baseman. His glove isn't so solid, but he has plenty of time to work on his defense and the Rockies are going to do everything in their power to keep him at third base.

After three straight uninspiring seasons, Stewart took a big step forward in 2008. Whether he's a third baseman is still in question.


99. Dave Krynzel - OF Brewers - Age 22 - ETA: April 2005
.267/.357/.357, 2 HR, 34 RBI, 119/60 K/BB, 43 SB in 457 AB for Double-A Huntsville
.233/.295/.314, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 14/3 K/BB, 3 SB in 86 AB for Peoria (AFL)

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Krynzel's stock was as high as it's ever been after a strong first half in 2003 (he came in at No. 49 on the midseason top 100 list), but the 2000 first-round pick struggled in August and September, ruining what chance he had of making an impact in the majors in 2004.

I wasn't Krynzel's biggest fan, but I overrated him. He struck out way too much for the kind of player he was.


100. Kelly Johnson - SS Braves - Age 22 - ETA: 2006
.275/.340/.425, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 81/35 K/BB, 10 SB in 334 AB for Double-A Greenville
.303/.364/.573, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 13/6 K/BB, 1 SB in 89 AB for Mesa (AFL)

BA: NR, BP: NR

2004 quote: Johnson's defense at shortstop has improved quite a bit over the last couple of seasons, but it's still expected that he'll end up at third base or in the outfield. Look for an offensive breakthrough in 2004 or 2005.

Johnson moved to the outfield in 2004 and busted out in 2005. The surprise is that he's managed to make it as a second baseman, and even though the Braves were willing to move him back to the outfield to make room for Rafael Furcal, they do feel he's capable there.


In BA's top 100, not in mine:

Kaz Matsui - BA: #7, BP #10

I didn't and still don't rank veteran imports. Matsui and Akinori Otsuka were the notables to arrive over the previous winter.

Felix Hernandez - BA: #30, BP: NR, RW: #145
Justin Jones - BA: #56, BP: NR, RW: #107
Clint Everts - BA: #58, BP: NR, RW: #121
Travis Blackley - BA: #63, BP: NR, RW: #103
Ryan Harvey - BA: #65, BP: NR, RW: #115
Scott Olsen - BA: #67, BP: NR, RW: NR
Chris Lubanski - BA: #68, BP: NR, RW: #104
Alberto Callaspo - BA: #71, BP: NR, RW: NR
Adam LaRoche - BA: #73, BP: NR, RW: NR
Bubba Nelson - BA: #75, BP: NR, RW: #135
Fausto Carmona - BA: #76, BP: NR, RW: #111
Michael Aubrey - BA: #79, BP: NR, RW: #150
John Danks - BP: #80, BP: NR, RW: NR
Matt Moses - BP: #81, BP: NR, RW: NR
Dan Meyer - BP: #82, BP: NR, RW: NR
Lastings Milledge - BP: #86, BP: NR, RW: NR
Francisco Rosario - BP: #87, BP: NR, RW: NR
Matt Peterson - BP: #88, BP: NR, RW: #131
Jesse Crain - BP: #89, BP: NR, RW: #114
Nick Markakis - BP: #90, BP: NR, RW: NR
Jeff Francis - BP: #93, BP: NR, RW: NR
Jayson Nix - BP: #90, BP: NR, RW: NR
Joey Gathright - BP: #95, BP: NR, RW: #117
Aaron Hill - BP: #96, BP: NR, RW: NR
Brent Clevlen - BP: #98, BP: NR, RW: #110
Jake Dittler - BP: #99, BP: NR, RW: NR
Jason Lane - BP: #100, BP: NR, RW: #124

In BP's top 50, not in mine:

Edwin Encarnacion - BP: NR, BP: #34, RW: #128
David Bush - BP: NR, BP: #39, RW: NR
Russ Adams - BP: NR, BP: #42, RW: NR
J.J. Davis BP: NR, BP: #48, RW: NR
Charlie Zink BP: NR, BP: #50, RW: NR

Obviously, Baseball America was very aggressive with the 2003 first-round picks. Harvey, Lubanski, Aubrey, Danks, Moses, Milledge, Markakis, and Hill were all selected then, as were top 100 prospects Delmon Young, Rickie Weeks, Kyle Sleeth, Ian Stewart, Ryan Wagner and Jeff Allison. Chad Billingsley, Carlos Quentin and Conor Jackson were also first-rounders, but they didn't make any lists.

BA gets big points here for ranking King Felix so high after just 69 innings as a pro.

BP's gutsier picks have proven to be a mixed bag. I think Encarnacion will end up justifying that ranking, and it's good that they gave Bush some attention, even if placing him 39th was excessive.

Note that Ryan Howard is nowhere to be found on any lists. He hit .304/.374/.514 for Single-A Clearwater in 2003, but he was already 23 and he had a 151/50 K/BB ratio in the process.

In the end, it looks like Baseball America had the best list. They get points for placing Upton second, Sizemore in the top 10 and Felix No. 30. I had some victories (Youkilis, Bedard and Adrian Gonzalez among them), but also more ugly misses than BA did.

[Hache Man]

Turning the page to baseball
(Greg Ambrosius is the founder of the NBC Sports National Fantasy Baseball Championship and an industry veteran of 20+ years. Email him or call him at 1-800-726-9966 to talk about the NFBC or just shoot the breeze about baseball as he's always ready to talk baseball. In fact, LABR League auctions are just two months away and he needs YOUR help.)

When we turned the calendar to 2009 last week, we did more than just move past an unforgettable 2008 and into a new year. We changed the direction of the National Fantasy Baseball Championship and added NBC Sports/Rotoworld.com as our new partner of the only high-stakes fantasy baseball game in the industry.

Yes, after five years of live baseball events in four different parts of the country, the NFBC will now be known as NBC Sports' National Fantasy Baseball Championship. The partnership between F+W Media and NBC Sports/Rotoworld.com will produce more participation in the live events, more exposure for the live events and a new way to compete for a national championship from the comforts of your home.

We'll still have the same $100,000 grand prize, $5,000 league prize and live drafts in Las Vegas, New York, Chicago and Orlando, but this year we'll also have online components that will allow you to still "be in the game."

The NFBC has come a long way since its debut in 2004 as the first multi-city, live high-stakes event. During that debut season, 195 teams paid $1,250 each to compete for a $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prizes. Artie Rastelli of Hoboken, New Jersey – the birthplace of baseball – appropriately won our debut title and the $100,000 grand prize. Incredibly, his team was tied for the overall title with Aaron Seefeldt of Northbrook, Illinois with just two days left in the season, before edging Aaron for the grand prize.

We then grew to 300 teams in 2005, 330 teams in 2006, 375 teams in 2007 and 390 teams in 2008 and have now awarded more than $3 million in baseball over the last five years. Along the way, we've also expanded our contest to include online satellite league offerings at prices starting at $125 to $1,000 per team, while adding more live events like AL, NL and Mixed Auction Leagues, and serious private leagues like the NFBC Ultimate League that has a $5,000 entry fee and a $40,000 league prize.

But in 2009 we are projecting our biggest change with the partnership of NBC Sports/Rotoworld.com, while providing the industry's first live draft championship for 12-team leagues. All of the NFBC leagues are 15-team, 30-round contests that really test the skills of serious fantasy players because of the depth of the player pool and the sheer number of competitors in each league. It's a 26-week marathon that can't be entered lightly.

The NBC Sports NFBC Online Sports Championship will be held online the week before Opening Day and provide a slightly easier format with the same concept of an overall national champion and a grand prize. Cost is $350 per team and 300 teams (25 leagues) will compete for a guaranteed $20,000 grand prize and league prizes of $1,300 for first place and $650 for second place.

Live online drafts will be held for eight days (2 draft times per day) from March 28-April 4 and teams will compete in their individual leagues, with an overall Rotisserie league of all 300 teams comprising the overall competition. To win this national title – along with the NFBC main event – you need balance and excellence in all 10 Rotisserie categories.

Owners can draft as many NFBC Online Championship League teams as possible because each league is separate.

Our past champions have come from every walk of life and are perfect examples of how tough the NFBC competition has become. Each champion has had success mixed with humility and only two owners have won three league titles in five years: Shawn Childs of Forestdale, Massachusetts and Stephen Jupinka of Waldwick, New Jersey.

Our 2009 NFBC grand champion is a reflection of what can happen in the NFBC. Robert Jurney of Dunkirk, Maryland joined the NFBC in 2005 and finished 160th overall. He returned in 2006 to win his first NFBC league title, while finishing 41st overall. His "Some Assembly Required 3" team bottomed out in 2007 with a 345th overall finish out of 375 teams and during Week 2 of the 2008 season, "Some Assembly Required 4" was 389th out of 390 teams.

Then the fun began.

Jurney's fortunes turned around when he picked up Cliff Lee on the free agent wire for $43 in Week 2. Lee's Cy Young Award-winning season along with top picks Miguel Cabrera (9th overall) and second-round gem Albert Pujols propelled Jurney to the top of Chicago League 2 and eventually into the Top 20 overall. From second to the bottom to second to the top with a chance to win $100,000 all in about 20 weeks, it was a remarkable turnaround for Jurney and his co-manager, Joe Rawlings of Wichita, Kansas.

"It was absolutely amazing to win the title," he said. "I could not wait for the season to finally end. Once we got into first overall, the final week seemed like it took forever to end. I thought we had a chance to win when we finally cracked the Top 10 overall. The team kept hovering from 12th to 20th for about four weeks and then we finally cracked the top. Then I began to look more closely at the top teams' rosters and see what I needed to happen on a nightly basis."

A route manager for the Washington Post, Jurney is married and has five children. He had a lot of people rooting for him down the stretch as he won a total of $105,000. As if that wasn't enough, Jurney also won two NFBC Satellite Leagues for another $2,600, and a league title and $5,000 in the National Fantasy Football Championship. He even had a shot at the NFFC's $100,000 grand prize, before falling short. Nobody has ever won national titles in different sports, but Jurney is as good a candidate as anyone to do it down the road.

And what has been his reward for all of these fantasy sports winnings? "I might get a new set of golf clubs and a new laptop as a present to myself," Jurney said, laughing.

Jurney was the first official signup for 2009 as the NFBC main event will be held on Saturday, March 21 at the Flamingo Las Vegas, New York Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Chicago Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and the Orlando Embassy Suites International Drive Resort. Cost is $1300 per team and the contest will be limited to 390 teams. We've also added an online component this year where teams can compete against others in an online main event league, with the same shot at the $100,000 grand prize. The main event is almost half full already as NFBC participants are a loyal bunch who plan ahead and make March Madness a part of their weekend of fun.

Signups for the Online Championship are also available now, along with the NFBC Satellite Leagues, Auction Leagues, Super Leagues and Ultimate Leagues. There really is something for everyone, with prices starting at $125 per team. And if you just want to talk baseball, the NFBC die-hards are on the NFBC Message Boards 24/7.

If you're serious about fantasy baseball and want the ultimate competition, then join NBC Sports/Rotoworld.com and the NFBC community for a season to remember. It will sure make you forget all about 2008 and look forward to a better new year.

[Blondie]

Player notes

Position Hitters Pitchers Catcher 1B 2B SS 3B OF DH SP RP All Teams Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Chicago White Sox Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians Colorado Rockies Detroit Tigers Florida Marlins Houston Astros International Player Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Twins New York Yankees New York Mets Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Seattle Mariners St Louis Cardinals Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers Toronto Blue Jays Washington Nationals AL & NL AL only NL only

Ramon Castro - C - Mets

According to the New York Post, the Mets "keep trying to find a place to deal Ramon Castro."

The newspaper reports that the Mets feel comfortable with Robinson Cancel backing up Brian Schneider and would like to get Castro's $2.5 million contract off the books. Feb. 4 - 10:31 a.m. ET

Source: New York Post

Manny Ramirez - OF - Dodgers

According to agent Scott Boras, Manny Ramirez is expected to immediately resume talks with the Dodgers after rejecting their one-year, $25 million offer Tuesday.

Boras keeps insisting that Ramirez has other offers on the table, but aside from the Dodgers and maybe the Giants it's tough to see where. Both the Nationals and Mets have indicated that they won't be making plays for Ramirez and few other teams have even been linked to him this offseason. Feb. 4 - 10:20 a.m. ET

Source: MLB.com

Ty Wigginton - 3B - Astros

According to the Baltimore Sun, Ty Wigginton's two-year contract with the Orioles is worth $6 million.

The deal will become official once Wigginton passes a physical exam later this week. Wigginton hit .285/.350/.526 last season, but poor defense and a lackluster free agent market leave him with a part-time job and $1.35 million paycut. For now he looks likely to platoon with either Aubrey Huff or Luke Scott, playing mostly against left-handed pitchers, but there's been some speculation that the Orioles may look to shop Scott. Feb. 4 - 9:48 a.m. ET

Source: Baltimore Sun

Josh Hamilton - OF - Rangers

General manager Jon Daniels said Tuesday that Josh Hamilton will remain in center field this season.

Last week Rangers president Nolan Ryan said that Hamilton would be moving to right field because "he's too big to be a center fielder," but Daniels shot that down while admitting that "it's something that we’ve talked about." A move from center field would likely help keep Hamilton healthy and improve Texas' defense, but the Rangers currently lack a great glove to replace him. Feb. 4 - 9:20 a.m. ET

Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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John Parrish - RP - Blue Jays

The Detroit Free Press reports that John Parrish will sign a minor league contract with the Orioles "within the next several days."

Parrish drew interest from the Tigers as well, but chose to return to the Orioles after coming up through Baltimore's system and playing there from 2000-2007. He has a 4.54 ERA in 271 2/3 career innings and has logged more than 50 innings in a season just twice. Feb. 4 - 9:01 a.m. ET

Source: Detroit Free Press

Garrett Atkins - 3B - Rockies

Rockies agreed to terms with third baseman Garrett Atkins on a one-year, $7.05 million contract.

Atkins submitted a $7.95 million request in his second season of arbitration eligibility, while the Rockies countered at $6.65 million. He gets a raise of nearly $3 million despite seeing his OPS drop 73 points last season and 175 points over the past two years. Feb. 4 - 8:45 a.m. ET

Todd Helton - 1B - Rockies

Manager Clint Hurdle said Tuesday that the Rockies' goal is to have Todd Helton ready for Opening Day.

"We don't have a timetable other than we are going to make every attempt, as he is, to be ready for opening day," Hurdle said. "The reports have been very solid. Spring training opening day we don't give a hoot about. He's going to play innings and get at-bats, but we are going to keep that close to the vest on how we do that." Feb. 4 - 8:42 a.m. ET

Source: Denver Post

Hector Gimenez - C - Pirates

Hector Gimenez hit a walkoff homer in the bottom of the 11th as Venezuela moved to 2-0 in Caribbean Series play with a 1-0 win over Mexico on Tuesday.

Mexico and the Dominican Republic are 1-1, while Puerto Rico is 0-2. Gimenez, who recently signed a minor league deal with Pittsburgh, hit .335/.400/.517 in Venezuela this winter. He'll likely play at Triple-A Indianapolis this season. Feb. 4 - 12:56 a.m. ET

Edgar Gonzalez - RP - Diamondbacks

Edgar Gonzalez fanned nine over seven scoreless innings in his start against Venezuela on Tuesday.

Gonzalez allowed just two hits and walked none. The soon-to-be 26-year-old right-hander remains out of work after being dropped from Arizona's 40-man roster in November. It's surprising that a team in a bigger ballpark hasn't picked him up as a potential swingman. Feb. 4 - 12:54 a.m. ET

Tim Lavigne - RP - Mets

Free agent Tim Lavigne got five outs without allowing a run in the ninth and 10th innings Tuesday in his Caribbean Series debut.

Lavigne was added to Mazatlan's roster after posting a 1.74 ERA and saving 19 games as Guasave's closer this winter. The 30-year-old from Hawaii generates a lot of grounders, and he's been very effective against left-handers in Mexico. He should be part of a Triple-A bullpen this season. Feb. 4 - 12:51 a.m. ET

Fernando Martinez - OF - Mets

Fernando Martinez came off the bench to hit a two-run homer and guide the Dominican Republic to a 2-1 win over Puerto Rico in Caribbean Series play on Tuesday.

That's two days in a row in which the Dominican team has homered off immediately after the opposing starter was replaced. Ronnie Belliard did the damage yesterday, but Licey still lost the game. Fortunately, the 2-1 lead stood up today, as Alfredo Simon went seven strong innings and Valerio De Los Santos, Felix Rodriguez and Julio Manon finished up well. Martinez's homer came in his first and only at-bat of the series to date. He hit .314/.376/.542 in 153 regular-season at-bats. Feb. 3 - 8:22 p.m. ET

Erick Aybar - SS - Angels

Erick Aybar went 2-for-2 with two walks Tuesday in Caribbean Series play.

He was also caught stealing and picked off first base, so he never did score a run. Aybar hit .358/.401/.488 in 164 regular-season at-bats for Licey in the Dominican Winter League. However, he was caught six times in nine steal attempts then. Feb. 3 - 8:16 p.m. ET

Eddie Guardado - RP - Rangers

Rangers signed LHP Eddie Guardado to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Guardado finished with a 4.15 ERA last season, but he was at 3.65 and had a 1.11 WHIP in 49 1/3 innings before Texas traded him to Minnesota. He'll likely help set up for Frank Francisco. Feb. 3 - 8:12 p.m. ET

Javier Valentin - C - Nationals

Nationals signed catcher Javier Valentin and infielder Alex Cintron to minor league contracts and invited them to spring training.

Valentin thought he was in line for another major league deal as a free agent, but it looks like he's no longer viewed as a true backup catcher. As a third catcher and pinch-hitter, he'd make for a decent 25th man. Cintron will be a long shot to win a job as a utilityman. Feb. 3 - 8:08 p.m. ET

Manny Ramirez - OF - Dodgers

The Nationals still aren't in on free agent Manny Ramirez after he rejected the Dodgers' latest offer.

"We are not pursuing Manny Ramirez," GM Jim Bowden said. As a potential draw for a stadium that could be pretty empty this year, Ramirez makes a lot of sense for the Nationals. However, he's probably not worth $25 million to a non-contender. Feb. 3 - 8:06 p.m. ET

Source: Hot Stove Blog