Today's Fantasy Rx

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

Chicago White Sox
Minor League Free Agents:
Ken Ray, 29, T:R, B:R.
12-8 and 1 Save on a 99:43 K:BB in 123.2 IP over 18 GS(29G)
with 124 H, 12 HR, and a 4.08 ERA for A+ Winson-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+/AA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA swingman by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Prospects:
Francisco Campos, 32, T:R, B:R.
12-2 on a 99:26 K:BB in 122.2 IP over 16 GS
with 88 H, 9 HR, and a 1.69 ERA for I Campeche(Mex).
2-3 on a 16:5 K:BB in 31.2 IP over 5 GS
with 36 H, 7 HR, and a 4.26 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: $5.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2007.

Ryan Kohlmeier, 27, T:R, B:R.
3-10 on a 74:23 K:BB in 102.1 IP over 17 GS(23G)
with 116 H, 27 HR, and a 6.24 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2008.

Ryan Rodriguez, 20, T:L, B:L.
0-1 on a 6:3 K:BB in 6 IP over 1 GS
with 8 H, 1 HR, and a 6.00 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
10-9 on a 102:59 K:BB in 147.2 IP over 26 GS
with 150 H, 10 HR, and a 4.02 ERA for A Kannapolis(SAL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+ starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2010.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2011.

Dennis Ulacia, 23, T:L, B:L.
1-0 on a 4:0 K:BB in 6.1 IP over 1 GS
with 6 H, 1 HR, and a 1.42 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
8-8 on a 107:36 K:BB in 129 IP over 23 GS(28G)
with 137 H, 8 HR, and a 3.77 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Tetsu Yofu, 31, T:R, B:R.
5-4 on an 111:33 K:BB in 113 IP over 17 GS(21G)
with 107 H, 20 HR, and a 4.62 ERA for AAA Charlotte(IL).
3-2 on a 41:9 K:BB in 41 IP over 7 GS
with 39 H, 4 HR, and a 2.63 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #4 starter by 2006.
2005 Fantasy Potential: $5.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2006.

Kris Honel, 21, T:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 7:5 K:BB in 6 IP over 1 GS(3G)
with 4 H, 1 HR, and a 9.00 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
0-0 on a 0:3 K:BB in 0.1 IP over 1 GS
with 1 H, 0 HR, and a 108.00 ERA for R+ Bristol(Appy).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A+/AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #2 starter by 2010.
2005 Fantasy Potential: Low-round draft pick.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $25 by 2009.

B.J. LaMura, 23, T:R, B:R.
4-4 and 2 Saves on a 39:21 K:BB in 39 IP over 2 GS(24G)
with 31 H, 4 HR, and a 3.69 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
4-5 on a 47:29 K:BB in 61.1 IP over 11 GS(12G)
with 77 H, 5 HR, and a 5.58 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2009.

Nik Lubisich, 25, T:L, B:L.
0-0 on a 15:3 K:BB in 26 IP over 3 GS(10G)
with 30 H, 2 HR, and a 2.42 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
5-7 on a 56:23 K:BB in 103.1 IP over 16 GS(22G)
with 129 H, 8 HR, and a 4.35 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2009.

Brandon McCarthy, 21, T:R, B:R.
3-1 on a 29:6 K:BB in 26 IP over 4 GS
with 23 H, 2 HR, and a 3.46 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
6-0 on a 60:3 K:BB in 52 IP over 8 GS
with 31 H, 3 HR, and a 2.08 ERA for A+ Winston-Salem(Car).
8-5 on a 113:21 K:BB in 94 IP over 15 GS
with 80 H, 10 HR, and a 3.64 ERA for A Kannapolis(SAL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #1 starter by 2010.
2005 Fantasy Potential: Mid-round draft pick.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $35 by 2011.

Ryan Meaux, 26, T:L, B:R.
7-9 on a 103:46 K:BB in 140.1 IP over 21 GS(29G)
with 163 H, 4 HR, and a 4.04 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2009.

Heath Phillips, 22, T:L, B:L.
12-10 on a 107:36 K:BB in 154.1 IP over 26 GS(27G)
with 179 H, 12 HR, and a 4.02 ERA for AA Birmingham(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2011.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

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

Today's Fantasy Rx: Based on each player's keeper potential heading into his sophomore season in the majors, select rookie starters in the following order in minor league drafts; I've included the preferred round price for Ultra leagues: Brandon McCarthy($10), Scott Baker($10), Francisco Liriano($5), Boof Bonser($2), Fausto Carmona($2), Kris Honel($2), and Dave Gassner($2). The top three teams in this division all possess a couple of top pitching prospects, although Cleveland's best arms either appeared in the majors or failed to reach AA this year. Both McCarthy and Baker look like future aces, and the other four Chicago and Minnesota pitchers recommended here should challenge for big league rotation spots no later than mid-2006.