Today's Fantasy Rx

2007 Minor League Rule Five Draft Review

Teams can keep their selections at any level. AAA players cost $12,000 each, and AA players cost $4,000 each.

Of the 27 players selected last season, only Minnesota's Brian Buscher reached the majors. With 42 selections in this draft, at least one or two players appear likely to emerge as no worse than short-term roster filler in the big leagues.

Pick Rating Scale: Excellent/Solid/Acceptable/Questionable/Poor.

Triple-A Phase, Round One

Tampa Bay: Rashad Eldridge, OF, MIN; 26, B:S, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA Reserve outfielder by 2010.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Pittsburgh: Josh Hill, RH Swingman, MIN; 24, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2012.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential September roster filler.

Kansas City: Ray Liotta, LH Starter, CHW; 24, B:L, T:L.
Upside/ETA: Major league set-up man by 2011.
Quality of pick: Excellent (even though Liotta missed 2007 due to shoulder surgery.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential September roster filler/$1 keeper for 2009.

Baltimore: Ryan Rodriguez, LH Swingman, CHW; 23, B:L, T:L.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2012.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

San Francisco: Juan Ciriaco, SS, SD; 24, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA reserve infielder by 2013.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Florida: Smelin Perez, SS, PIT; 22, B:S, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAA infielder by 2012.
Quality of pick: Questionable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Cincinnati: Juan Apodaca, C, LAD; 21, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA backup catcher by 2012.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Chicago White Sox: Santo Luis, RH Reliever, HOU; 23, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2013.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Houston: Giuseppe Norrito, RH Swingman, LAD; 25, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA reliever by 2010.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Texas: Levi Romero, RH Starter, HOU; 23, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA swingman by 2013.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Oakland: Jose Fragoso, RH Reliever, DET; 23, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2013.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Victor Garate, LH Reliever, HOU; 23, B:L, T:L.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2013.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Milwaukee: Joe Bateman, RH Reliever, SF; 27, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2010.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential late-season roster filler.

Toronto: Marco Cabral, SS, WAS; 23, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA reserve infielder by 2012.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Detroit: Juan Cedeno, LH Reliever, WAS; 24, B:L, T:L.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2011.
Quality of pick: Questionable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

New York Mets: Garry Bakker, RH Reliever, CHW; 24, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2012.
Quality of pick: Questionable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

San Diego: Gabe DeHoyos, RH Reliever, KC; 27, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2009.
Quality of pick: Excellent.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential mid-season roster filler.

Philadelphia: Neil Sellers, 3B, HOU; 25, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA reserve infielder in 2008.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential September roster filler.

New York Yankees: Bo Hall, RH Reliever, MIL; 27, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2010.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential late-season roster filler.

Triple-A Phase, Round Two

Tampa Bay: Julio Puentes, RH Reliever, HOU; 21, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2014.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Pittsburgh: Mauricio Mendez, RH Reliever, BOS; 22, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2013.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Baltimore: Tim Brown, 1B, SD; 24, B:L, T:L.
Upside/ETA: Major league platoon starter by 2009.
Quality of pick: Excellent.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential late-season COR option.

Florida: Daron Roberts, OF, CHW; 24, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAA outfielder by 2011.
Quality of pick: Questionable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Texas: Dustin Majewski, OF, TOR; 26, B:L, T:L.
Upside/ETA: Major league reserve by 2009.
Quality of pick: Excellent.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential second-half OF option.

Oakland: Jose Rojas, RH Reliever, CIN; 24, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2011.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Milwaukee: Brett Campbell, RH Reliever, WAS; 26, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2010.
Quality of pick: Excellent.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential second-half roster filler.

Toronto: Brant Colamarino, 1B, OAK; 27, B:L, T:L.
Upside/ETA: AAAA 1B/DH by 2009.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential September roster filler.

Detroit: Ben Fritz, RH Starter, OAK; 26, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA swingman in 2009.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential second-half roster filler.

San Diego: Kurt Isenberg, LH Starter, TOR; 25, B:R, T:L.
Upside/ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2011.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential September roster filler.

Philadelphia: Luke Appert, OF/UT, OAK; 27, B:L, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA reserve infielder by 2009.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential late-season roster filler.

Triple-A Phase, Round Three

Tampa Bay: Jose Mejias, RH Reliever, NYM; 22, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2013.
Quality of pick: Questionable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Pittsburgh: Corey Hamman, LH Reliever, DET; 27, B:L, T:L.
Upside/ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2010.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential second-half roster filler.

Texas: Clayton Hamilton, RH Starter, PIT; 25, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA swingman by 2011.
Quality of pick: Questionable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Oakland: Scott Mitchinson, RH Starter, PHI; 23, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: #4 starter by 2012.
Quality of pick: Excellent.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Milwaukee: Juan Sandoval, RH Reliever, SEA; 26, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: Major league middle reliever by 2010.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential second-half roster filler.

Triple-A Phase, Round Four

Texas: Jaime Trejo, 3B, ATL; 24, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA infielder by 2013.
Quality of pick: Questionable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Double-A Phase, Round One

Pittsburgh: Rafael Cruz Chavez, RH Swingman, LAA; 22, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAA swingman by 2011.
Quality of pick: Poor.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Baltimore: J.P. Martinez, RH Reliever, MIN; 25, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2009.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential September roster filler.

Florida: Kenny Fernandez, RH Reliever, PHI; 20, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2013.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Texas: Francisco Cordova, RH Swingman, LAA; 24, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA swingman by 2012.
Quality of pick: Questionable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Arizona: Baltazar Lopez, 1B, LAA; 24, B:L, T:L.
Upside/ETA: AAAA first baseman by 2011.
Quality of pick: Acceptable.
2008 Fantasy Value: None.

Double-A Phase, Round Two

Florida: Adalberto Mendez, RH Reliever, CHC; 25, B:R, T:R.
Upside/ETA: AAAA middle reliever by 2009.
Quality of pick: Solid.
2008 Fantasy Value: Potential September roster filler.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Ray Liotta entered this season on the verge of cracking Chicago's top ten prospects before losing the entire year to injury. However, given his upside before shoulder surgery, Liotta should develop into no less than a very reliable late-inning option for the Royals. Kansas City netted one of the most promising minor league phase picks in years here, effectively lapping the field if Liota returns to full health. Oakland also scored by stealing Aussie right-hander Scott Mitchinson from Philadelphia. A few other hitters, including Tim Brown, Dustin Majewski, and Brant Colamarino, qualify as wise investments, as do several potential relief contributors around the league. Of course, given the general level of quality normally available in these rounds, none of these players should emerge into relevant fantasy roles in 2008 unless someone like Liotta or Brown earns a long look in September.