Today's Fantasy Rx

American League Outfielders without Positive Draft Value

Quick Key to the tables:
AB = At-bats.  H = Hits.  BA = Batting Average.  HR= Home Runs.
RBI = Runs Batted In.  SB = Stolen Bases.  R = Runs.  B = Bats.  T = Throws.
Pos = Position qualification based on 20 appearances or max. # of games in 2005.
Age = Player's Age as of October 2, 2005.
4x4 = BA, HR, RBI, and SB in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters in 2005.
5x5 = BA, HR, RBI, SB, and R in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters in 2005.
RAR = Runs Above Replacement in 2005; Adjusted RAR = RAR modified to
consider a player's 2005 defensive rating in Scoresheet fantasy baseball.

We ranked players in order from the highest draft value in a 4x4 league to the lowest. As the majority of fantasy leagues allow you to keep anyone traded to the other league, we listed each player in the league where he started the season.

92.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Timo Perez		179	39	.218	2	15	2	13	O
CH White Sox		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 30	B:L    T:L	-2		-1		-9		-9

Timo slipping to career worst .218/.266/.296 averages unsurprisingly resulted in the White Sox non-tendering him in December despite a general lack of outfield depth in Chicago. The light-hitting benchwarmer no longer possesses any noticeable speed or power, and with his BA completely tanking, he adds no positive value to a big league roster. Due not plan to roster Perez again.

93.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Jaime Bubela		19	2	.105	0	0	1	3	O
SEA Mariners		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	B:L    T:R	-2		-2		-2.4		-2.4

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: Seattle for my comments on Bubela.

94.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Curtis Pride		11	1	.091	0	0	0	2	O
LA Angels		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 36	B:L    T:R	-2		-2		-1.4		-1.4

While a .289/.397/.489 performance with 9 HR, 56 RBI, and a 49:65 BB:K in 280 AB for AAA Salt Lake(PCL) clearly warrants continued minor league employment, Pride offers little to big league clubs short of capable work as a sixth outfielder. He simply will not receive the playing time to warrant a spot on any fantasy roster.

95.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Matt Watson		48	9	.188	0	5	0	4	O
OAK Athletics		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	B:L    T:R	-2		-2		-3.6		-3.6

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: Oakland for my comments on Watson.

96.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Hiram Bocachica		19	2	.105	0	0	0	2	O
OAK Athletics		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 29	B:R    T:R	-2		-2		-2.5		-2.5

A broken wrist suffered at the end of spring training cost Bocachica nearly the entire season. Although he likely still owns decent speed, a persistently weak BA and general uselessness in the majors could keep him out of the big leagues outside of the briefest looks as injury filler. Oakland's decision to non-tender Bocachica similarly places his immediate baseball future in obvious jeopardy.

97.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Eli Marrero		138	25	.181	7	19	1	19	O
KC/BAL		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 31	B:R    T:R	-2		-2		-4.3		-4.6

Two terrible months with the Royals somehow led to several solid weeks with the Orioles before torn thumb ligaments ended Marrero's season in July. Hopefully most owners will look at Marrero's .181/.239/.413 line and ignore him on draft day, but since he signed with the Rockies, he only needs to break camp in the majors to gain plenty of roto value. Marrero registered a .247/.293/.584 performance against left-handers, smacking seven homers in only eighty-nine at-bats. If Ryan Shealy cannot handle the outfield, Marrero should emerge as Brad Hawpe's platoon partner, possibly pushing his value into double-digits given his intriguing power potential. Do not forget about Marrero when searching for outfield depth during the endgame in NL leagues.

98.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Shin-Soo Choo		18	1	.056	0	1	0	1	O
SEA Mariners		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 23	B:L    T:L	-3		-3		-2.5		-2.5

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: Seattle for my comments on Choo.

99.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Bobby Higginson		26	2	.077	0	1	0	1	O
DET Tigers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 35	B:L    T:R	-3		-3		-3.6		-3.7

Not officially retired despite spending all save ten games on the DL last summer with elbow problems, Higginson just might return to positive value if he can secure an NRI from a club like the White Sox, Phillies, Cubs, or Angels. He still owns plate discipline and power potential that could provide the foundation necessary for him to contribute to a contender, so if he breaks camp in the majors, a Dollar Days flyer could net you a helpful profit.

100.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Charles Thomas		46	5	.109	0	1	0	4	O
OAK Athletics		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	B:L    T:L	-4		-4		-5.9		-5.8

The Mark Mulder trade worked out so well that no one in Oakland really cares that the Tim Hudson deal proved disastrous in 2006. Fortunately for Athletic supporters, Dan Meyer and Juan Cruz remain decent starting prospects, however Thomas may not reemerge as more than bench filler. While I realize he did not receive regular playing time in Oakland, compiling a .227/.319/.361 performance with a 35:56 BB:K in 227 AB for AAA Sacramento(PCL) during the summer suggests very limited upside. He still owns a little power, speed, and the plate discipline to post a helpful BA, but until he begins succeeding in the majors, I recommend continuing to doubt Thomas.

Designated Hitters discussed here tomorrow.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Although Eli Marrero ranks as an obvious sleeper in Colorado, Bubela and Choo possess the real roto potential here. Any injury in the Mariners' outfield could open the playing time necessary for either youngster to surge into double-digit fantasy value.