The move in claiming Justin Maxwell off waivers from the Yankees did not create a big stir in the Greater Houston area, but the blast he hit last night sure did. I have been following Maxwell as a prospect for several years, from a fantasy perspective, and I will admit that when I heard the news I personally yelped with joy . . . much to the annoyance of my wife.

Justin Maxwell, in a nutshell, is one of those players that needed a change of scenery. He needed to get out from under the thumb of the Washington Nationals development staff and get a real opportunity to succeed. The Nationals have taken two players that could be quality major leaguers (Maxwell and injury prone catcher Jesus Flores) and turned them into borderline major leaguers, AAAA type players simply by arbitrarily limiting their opportunities.

Would you take these stats from your MLB CF over 400 PA? .343 OBP, .793 OPS, 16 HR, 36 XBH, 24 SB? That's what Maxwell did if you project out his 100 PA for the Nationals in 2009. He compiled those stats while playing mostly part time and as a PH, he didn't really get a chance to start regularly until a Sept callup . . . what did he do with consistent playing time? 19/65 H/AB, .292/.370/.554, 8 XBH, 4 HR, 3 SB . . . but he still never started more than 5 games in a row. I would have thought with the Nationals uncertainty in CF he would go into 2010 as the starter . . . but the Nationals jerked him around again, gave him inconsistent playing time and Maxwell simply became frustrated. He didn't know what he was supposed to do to get regular playing time only that he had to do "better" so he started pressing and that's not good for anyone in the MLB. That lead to an awful 2010 and it seems from there that the Nationals just gave up on him.

In 2011 he went to the Yankees, but that wasn't any good for him because they are and were loaded in the outfield. In addition, injury limited him to 48 games at AAA . . . he put up a .260/.358/.588 line with 16 HR and 11 SB in only 177 AB before the injury. Then he came into spring training with the Yanks again loaded at OF and simply went .310/.408/.429 with 6 SB. He was designated for assignment and scooped up by the Astros on waivers.

What does Justin Maxwell bring to the Astros? He brings a TTO bat to the lineup that the Astros were hoping they would get from Jack Cust, but Maxwell adds great speed and league average OF defense to that equation. What could we realistically expect if he was allowed to play every day? In 600 PA I would expect this sort of a stat line . . . BA around .240, OBP near .360, OPS around .825 . . . 20 HR and 35 SB . . . he would walk 100 times and K 150 times at least.

I wouldn't mind him getting starter's ABs in CF and/or RF. Schafer is 25 years old, but has not proven he can hit consistently or with any pop in twice as many PA/AB as Maxwell has been allowed at the MLB level. Bogusevic is seen as an OF prospect with some pop, but he is only 3 months younger than Maxwell is. I wouldn't move JD Martinez off of LF because then the Astros brass would be guilty of doing to him what the Nationals did to Maxwell three years ago.

That's my take on the newest Astro . . . I hope we can get him consistent AB's . . . he could, for the Astros, turn into what Nelson Cruz has been for the Rangers, but with flip-flopped power/speed potential.

I'm a salary cap, dynasty league guy, but some of my dynasty buddies were hurting for a 12th owner in their re-draft money league this year and I decided to donate to the cause. It's a 12 team, H2H each category W/L, 6x6 league with R, RBI, HR, SB, BA, OBP, W, K, SV, HLD, ERA and WHIP as the categories. I decided to draft all offense first, punt saves, get some high quality HLD guys and lots of SP. Additional position eligibilities are shown as well. Your thoughts?

C - Miguel Montero - Ari

1B - Joey Votto - Cin

2B - Brandon Phillips - Cin

3B - Ryan Zimmerman - Was

SS - Asdrubal Cabrera - Cle

MI - Ben Zobrist - TB (2B/RF)

CI - Billy Butler - KC (1B)

LF - Carlos Gonzalez - Col (CF, RF)

CF - Andrew Mccutchen - Pit

RF - Shin-Soo Choo - Cle

OF - Nick Swisher - NYY - (1B/RF)

OF - Shane Victorino - Phi (CF)

BN - Colby Rasmus - Tor (CF)

BN - JD Martinez - Hou (LF)

SP - Brandon Beachy - Atl

SP - Bud Norris - Hou

SP - Trevor Cahill - Ari

P - Wandy Rodriguez - Hou

P - Johan Santana - NYM

P - Erik Bedard - Pit

P - Wilton Lopez - Hou

RP - David Robertson - NYY

RP - Jonny Venters - Atl

RP - Koji Uehara - Tex

BN - AJ Burnett - Pit

BN - Jonathon Niese - NYM

BN - Chris Capuano - LAD

BN - Randy Wolf - Mil

We have 5 DL slots available and I will be replacing Burnett as soon as his DL stint is official.

As Dallas fans each of us has heard this question surrounding the coverage of our team and our knee jerk reaction as a fanatic is always "Yes! Of course he can!!" It is what we want to believe. As the data mounts and we get a better and better read on what Tony Romo actually is we have to really address this question. The facts are standing on their own and Romo isn't getting any younger. If the current group of Cowboys has a 2-3 year window (and I believe the offensive window is much wider than that) then shouldn't we take every step to take full advantage of that? I believe, if you honestly think Tony Romo CAN'T win the Super Bowl then we have a prime opportunity to jump start the Cowboys for both the present and into the future. I'll explain after the jump.

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I was recently outbid for a high quality SP in a dynasty fantasy league during trade negotiations. I thought my prospects were a better package while the trading owner took the other deal. It is making me doubt my "scouting" process somewhat, but I thought I should check in with the experts here at Minor League Ball. Which package would you prefer from a dynasty fantasy standpoint? Would your perception change if it were in a real baseball sense?

Package #1 - Dayan Viciedo and Bobby Borchering

Pacakge #2 - Jean Segura and Tim Collins

I am normally a dynasty guy, but I kept hearing about the depth of starting pitchers this year and I wanted to try out a strategy, so I joined a little 10-team ESPN standard league. If this works out I may take it to some money leagues next year. Anyhow, here was my strategy. Standard 5x5 league. Draft all of your bats, wait on closers as normal, pick up four of them next then draft the rest of your lineup as SP (one bench bat) and see how you staff rounds out. Concentrate on high K SP when you do start drafting. Draft results after the jump.

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Why is there not more talk about the Astros swinging a deal for Kevin Slowey? Especially with word that Wandy's 32-year-old shoulder is bothering him. He fits directly into their re-building plans (27 years old this year) he has a career winning percentage of .650, doesn't hurt himself with walks, is left-handed and sounds like he would not be expensive to acquire. Rotation this year - Myers, Wandy, Happ, Norris, Slowey . . . rotation in 3 years . . . Happ, Norris, Slowey, Lyles, ??? . . . all four of those names would be in or before their prime pitching ages (29-33) and Lyles would still only be 23. The Astros could set ourselves up for years to come with a simple trade and make themselves look better to potential new ownership, the only question is, do we have what the Twins want for him?

Hello all. This is my first time on Fake Teams and I want to give your internet goers something that you love. A team to tear apart!! I am in a 6x6 (+ holds and + OPS to 5x5) H2H dynasty league with 25 MLB spots and 27 effective MiLB spots. We jsut finished our 2010 MiLB draft and the Free Agent auction is about to start. There are no contract lengths, only a salary cap. I have about $10M to spend so where should I look to improve?

C - Brian McCann, Jesus Flores

1B - Michael Cuddyer (OF), James Loney

2B - Jose Lopez, Martin Prado (1B,3B)

3B - Scott Rolen

SS - Jimmy Rollins

OF - Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Hunter Pence, Torii Hunter

SP - Jake Peavy, Roy Oswalt, James Shields, Kevin Slowey, Jorge De la Rosa, Jason Hammel

RP - Brian Wilson, Heath Bell, Jim Johnson, Todd Coffey, Jeremy Affeldt

MiLB Group

MLB Ready:

IF - JR Towles (C), Edwin Encarnacion (3B)

OF - Michael Taylor, Matt Joyce, Austin Jackson

P - Neftali Feliz, Felipe Paulino, Ronald Belisario, Luke Gregerson

Deep MiLB:

IF - Hank Conger (C), Dayan Viciedo (3B), Jiovanni Mier (SS), Alexia Amarista (2B), German Duran (2B)

OF - Jaff Decker, Justin Maxwell, Brandon Jones, Daryl Jones, Chris Carter (Bos)

P - Michael Pineda, Kyle Nicholson, Michael McCardell, Cole Rohrbough, Jimmy Barthmaier

I know I need a backup SS . . . where else should I be looking to improve. I know there are some dead spots in my minors and I am working on it . . . but those are hit and miss sometimes. Let me know, tear my team apart if you like :-)

Hello all . . . I am rather new to the prospect rating/MiLB scouting field and I will admit that I come to it with a fantasy mentality. My question is rather basic, but I can't seem to find any information on it easily, so I thought I would come and ask the experts rather than just lurking on the boards as I normally do.

Can someone (or several someones) give me a list of those minor leagues that are hitter friendly, pitcher friendly and overall average? I am just looking for a list I can refer to when judging stat lines/scouting reports so that I can be a bit more accurate in my evaluations. I see you all throw out some inflated numbers due to the Cal League for batters, I was just asking the wider question for us new folks to this end of talent scouting. Thanks in advance!

I see trades being made all the time in the big leagues when a big time player's contract is coming up for youth at large. Mark Texiera, CC Sabathia, Johan Santana . . . they were all dealt by their respective teams for a bevy a quality minor league players . . . and some of those teams could have been in contenttion for playoff spots during that time. Does the same hold true in a salary capped, fantasy league? If you are offered an overwhelming bounty of minor leaguers would you trade a superstar in his prime? Does the same dynamic hold? I won the championship last year. Does the fact that I am a contender hold any bearing on the situation?

Would you trade Josh Hamilton for Mat Gamel, Hellickson, Buster Posey, a 2010 2nd and a 2010 4th in a 16 team league with 25 MLB and 25 MiLB players per team?

My team:

MiLB

MLB

I went a little crazy in my MiLB draft trying to make sure I have good fantasy backups for Brian McCann at catcher in a 6x6 H2H, 16 team dynasty league. All of these catchers are in my minor leagues (Flores is over the limits, but I snuck him through waivers and paid him while he was injured last year) and all are prospects or recently graduated . . . which are good as McCann insurance and which should be trade bait? If they aren't good #2 material now will they develop into it soon? Thanks!

Taylor Teagarden

Jesus Flores

Angel Salome

JR Towles

So our tiny little 16-team league's MiLB draft is going on . . . it's for new draftees and FA MiLB players (defined as under 250 AB or 80 IP in MLB for our league) that are not already on a team's 25 man MiLB roster. The end of the second round is approaching and I have a pick that is two picks away and another that is 10 picks away. One of the two in front of me will take Jeremy Hellickson. Would you all rate my top few on my draft board and hook me up on a little insight and/or advice? Who should I pick?Thanks!!

In no particular order:

Michael Main (SP-Tex)

Taylor Teagarden (C-Tex)

Angel Salome (C-Mil)

James Skelton (C-Det)

Jaff Decker (OF-SD)

Greg Halman (OF-Sea)

Kila Ka'aihue (1B-KC)

Kyle Nicholson (SP-SF)

Thanks in advance!

I posted this question in a different way earlier, but I felt it was too fantasy oriented and I took it down because that's not what this site is about. I feel that this phrasing of the question is more oriented towards what this site is geared for.

In your opinion, which of the following prospects will have the most succesful MLB careers? If you could keep any 3 of them on a fantasy team which would 3 you keep?

Felipe Paulino - P - Hou

Juan Gutierrez  - P - Ari

German Duran - IF - Tex

Yung Chi Chen - MI - Oak

Paul Estrada - P - Hou

Jimmy Barthmaier - P - Pit

Jamie Richmond - P - Oak

Ecclectic list I know, but isn't everyone tired of discussing the cream of the crop while we aren't getting anything new to evaluate them on? Whos and Whys would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!!