By Ken Balderston

League 14

League 15

With the trade deadline just around the corner, plenty of minor leaguers will finally get called up to the Bigs, some with their current organization, others with a new team. As many teams look to rebuild, and with lots of prospects available, there should be plenty of minor league movement in the upcoming month.

Also in July, many of these players will be at the Futures Game, the day before the Major League All-Star game, so you’ll be able to get a first hand look at the best players in the minors.  FBM Cugines is tracking the performance of the top prospects closest to the Majors, as well as the performance of the players blocking them.

Since the June 1st edition of the Cugines, there have been some pretty significant call-ups. Chase Headley and Jeff Clement were called up, and it looks like they’ll stick around. Underrated pitchers Eric Stulz of the Dodgers and Charlie Morton of the Braves got the call for spot starts and have been extended - likely to the All-Star break. Adam Lind earned another shot in Toronto and has responded with two home runs in his first four games. Homer Bailey got another chance with the Reds but was blown up in each of his three starts.  He was sent back to AAA.

Billy Butler, 1B, Kansas City Royals - 6′4″ 205lbs Born 5-3-86

Omaha (AAA PCL) - 101 AB, 18 R, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 0 SB, .337 AVG
June (’08) - 90 AB, 15 R, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 0 SB, .333 AVG
Blocked by Ross Gload (’08) - 182 AB, 22 R, 1 HR, 15 RBI, 1 SB, .264 AVG

Billy Butler was called up on Sunday but may still be on your waiver wire as he’s prematurely fallen off many fantasy radars. Butler was demoted in late May for failure to provide the Royals with any power. Since his demotion, he’s shown a great eye at the plate (14/7 BB/K) and increased power (.564 SLG). Ross Gload hasn’t done anything to prove he’s deserving of regular play (1HR and 7 RBI in June), so nothing is stopping the Royals from handing the DH job back to Butler. As of this writing, it’s unclear how much playing time Billy will get, but all signs point to him carrying his momentum to the Royals lineup on a regular basis.

Chris Davis, 1B, Texas Rangers - 6′4″ 210lbs Born 3/17/86

Oklahoma (AAA PCL) - 111AB, 25 R, 10 HR, 31 RBI, 2 SB, .333 AVG
Frisco (AA TEX) - 186 AB, 43 R, 13 HR, 42 RBI, 5 SB, .333 AVG
June - AAA only (’08) - 88 AB, 19 R, 9 HR, 25 RBI, .352 AVG
Blocked by Gerald Laird (placed on DL June 24, expected to miss 4-6 weeks)

‘08 has seen a meteoric rise for Rangers 1B Chris Davis … who was not listed among the top 60 in any of the major publications’ 2008 Top Prospects lists. A combination of dominant power hitting and the extended absence of Hank Blalock has enticed the Rangers to call up the young slugger. The Rangers have an opening at 1B; they’ve been getting by with Max Ramirez there since Gerald Laird was placed on the DL, thus moving Jarrod Saltalamacchia back behind the plate. Davis has show legit power at AAA, slugging close to .700 and hitting 10 home runs in just 111 at bats. It’s entirely possible the best power hitter to get called up this year was not on anyone’s radar in March.

Matt Gamel, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers - 6′0″ 205lbs Born 7/26/85

Huntsville (AA SOU) 322 AB, 67 R, 15 HR, 69 RBI, 5 SB, .370 AVG
June (’08) 95 AB, 13 R, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 2 SB, .337 AVG
Blocked by Russell Branyan - 86 AB, 15 R, 11 HR, 18 RBI, 0 SB, .279 AVG

The Brewers’ fourth round pick of the ‘05 First Year Player Draft, Gamel has been putting up video game type numbers in ‘08. As a 22-year old in AA, Gamel has a menacing OPS of 1.061 and actually hits for better average off lefties (.398) than righties (.359). Russell Branyan has been killing the ball since his promotion, including 10 HR in 20 games, but he’s rarely suggested that he’s capable of starting for a Major League club. When Branyan does cool down, and gets back to striking out once in every three at bats, Milwaukee might be forced to try Gamel at 3B.

Joel Guzman, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays - 6′6″ 250lbs Born 11/24/84

Durham (AAA INT) - 280 AB, 34 R, 15 HR, 51 RBI, 0 SB, .264 AVG
June (’08) - 78 AB, 8 R, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 0 SB, .263 AVG
Trade Bait

It seems like years ago that Joel Guzman was a top shortstop prospect for the Dodgers. He hit a career speed bump, was moved to third base, and traded to the Rays, but since then has quietly gotten his career back on track, and is going to draw substantial interest at the trade deadline. The Rays look like serious buyers at the trade deadline, and with Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena signed to long-term deals, there’s not a lot of room for Guzman. The Giants, Indians, Twins, Brewers, and Astros all have holes at third, and Guzman could probably start for any of them right away. As we move through July, and deals get done, you want to be sure you know who is worth a roster spot if they find themselves on a new team … and Joel Guzman is one of those guys.

Francisco Liriano, SP, Minnisota Twins - 6′2″ 22lbs Born 10-26-83

Rochester (AAA INT) - 4-2, 77 IP, 4.44 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 62 K
June (’08) - 4-0, 29.2 IP, 4.85 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 29 K
Blocked by Kevin Slowey 5-6, 72.2 IP, 3.47 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 54 K, Nick Blackburn - 6-4, 97.2 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 54 K, and Glen Perkins - 4-2, 58.1 IP, 4.47 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 31 K

Liriano has done some good things and some bad things this month. The good is that he’s started striking out hitters again, averaging just under 9K/9 for the month of June. The bad news is that management said they’d like to see Liriano string together a few more good starts before giving him anther look in the Bigs, and Liriano then gave up 10 earned runs in his next 10 innings pitched. Combine that with the impressive performances of Slowey, Blackburn and Perkins, and the team’s recent 10-game winnings streak, and it might be anther couple of weeks before Liriano is called up again.

The problem for fantasy owners is that he’s probably not on your waiver wire, and if you drop him, someone else in your league will likely snatch him up. The last thing you want is to hold onto a guy for two months, while he’s in the minors, and have someone else get the rewards when he’s finally given another shot. It’s best to practice patience in this situation.

Dallas McPherson, 3B, Florida Marlins - 6′4″ 235lbs Born 7-23-80

Albuquerque (AAA PCL) - 248 AB, 56 R, 28 HR, 59 RBI, 7 SB, .310 AVG
June (’08) - 80 AB. 21 R, 11 HR, 19 RBI, 5 SB, .363 AVG
Blocked by Mike Jacobs (’08) - 244 AB, 31 R, 18 HR, 47 RBI, 1 SB, .230 AVG

McPherson is beginning to make the Marlins look foolish for keeping him in the minors. He hit an incredible 1.365 OPS for June, which included a minor league record-tying 7 straight games with a home run towards the end of the month. Jorge Cantu had a solid month at the plate, but Mike Jacobs struggled, hitting .196 in June. Dan Uggla twisted his ankle, and if he has to go on the DL, Cantu could be shifted to second (his primary position while playing for the Rays in ‘05 & ‘06).

David Price, SP, Tampa Bay Rays - 6′6″ 225 lbs Born 8/26/85

Vero Beach (A FSL) - 4-0, 34.2 IP, 1.82 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 37 K
June (’08) - 2-0, 23.2 IP, 2.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 24 K
Blocked by (’08) Edwin Jackson - 4-6, 95.2 IP, 4.33 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 60 K, and Andy Sonnanstine - 9-3, 101.2 IP, 4.60 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 67 K

At first glance, Price looks to be too far away from the Majors to be fantasy relevant. Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine, and Edwin Jackson have been pitching effectively, as the Rays challenge for the top spot in the AL East. The Rays also have prospects such as Jeff Niemann, Jacob McGee, and Wade Davis who have been in pro ball longer than Price.

But Davis and McGee both struggled in June, and Niemann allowed 9 runs in two Big League starts back in April. Like the Angels’ Jered Weaver, Price was considered to be nearly Major League ready when he was selected first overall in the ‘07 First Year Player Draft, and he has already been promoted to AA Montgomery, where he’ll get at least 3 starts. If injury strikes the Rays’ rotation, the team might look to their minor leagues instead of the trade market and give Price a look before his future rotation mates.

Colby Rasmus, OF St. Louis Cardinals - 6′2″ 195lbs Born 8-11-86

Memphis (AAA PCL) - 209 AB, 33 R, 7 HR, 21 RBI, 7 SB, .220 AVG
June ‘08 - 90 AB, 20 R, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 5 SB, .356 AVG
Blocked by Ryan Ludwick (’08) - 256 AB, 51 R, 16 HR, 56 RBI, 4 SB, .285 AVG, and Skip Schumaker (’08) - 276 AB, 52 R, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 6 SB, .304 AVG

Just when you thought Colby Rasmus was packing it in for ‘08, he puts up his best month of the year. In June, the future Cardinals star hit .356, raising his season average 30 points in the process. The problem, however, is still the same as it was in March.  Skip Schumaker, Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick continue to hit well at the Major League level, combining for 14 homers in June. With Albert Pujols back off the DL, Rasmus might have to raise his average another 30 points and hope the team trades one of their current outfielders for pitching help in order to get to the Majors this year.

Rich Hill, SP, Chicago Cubs - 6′5″ 205lbs Born 3/11/80

Iowa (AAA PCL) - 2-4, 26 IP, 5.88 ERA, 1.92 WHIP, 32 K
June ‘08 - 1-2, 9.2 IP, 8.38 ERA, 2.61 WHIP, 12 K
Blocked by himself

Hill was demoted to AAA Iowa in early May, and his season has now spun out of control (pun intended). In 9.2 June innings, Hill walked an incredible 17 batters. The team reported Hill is not close to returning to the Majors, and he promptly gave up six runs and four walks in two-thirds of an inning his next time out.

At 28 years of age, with a 4.37 ERA in 337 career innings, Hill should be far off your fantasy radar. At this point, it looks like the only way for him to be fantasy relevant is to pick up a bat and head to the outfield … like former control-challenged pitcher Rick Ankiel.

If you have any comments or feel there is a prospect deserving to be included on the Cugines report, email me at KenBa@FantasyBaseballMafia.com.