I can usually figure out my own trades but this one leaves me puzzled.....I've liked Chris Volstad for some time. Some of that might have to do with me living 25 minutes from the stadium and being a big Marlins' ever since the team began in '93. My mancrush is pretty obvious to the rest of the guys in my fantasy league....Well a few weeks ago I broached the possibility of acquiring Volstad via trade. The owner looked at my team and picked out Jordan Zimmerman as the guy he wanted in return. At first, i got excited, thinking that this was a steal for me, but after looking things up thought that Zimmerman might be the better long-term play.

my league scores strikeouts, era, whip, saves, holds, wins

Here are some things that stand out in Volstad's favor................

1. His mentor was Jim Palmer, which has to be a good thing

2. He gives up very few hits

3. He plays on a team that is more competitive than the Nationals and will probably be more competitive for years to come (though I can see the Nats getting better once Strasburg becomes polished)....

4. Landshark Stadium (just sounds awful) is more pitcher-friendly

5. Volstad is a bit farther along in his developmental arc than Zimmerman (he's already through with the struggles that a younger pitcher like Zimmerman will face)

Here are some things that stand out in Zimmerman's favor

1. His stuff is more overpowering than Volstad's, meaning that he has the ability to become an ace. And that helps me considering strikeouts are a category in my league

i'm at a loss here. would be great if you guys could help me with this decision

Was hoping someone here could tell me which Fish prospects will be assigned to the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League (class A+). I live about 45 minutes from the stadium and am trying to figure out who they'll have. I know that Mike Stanton will be there. I think A+ might be too much for Skipworth, Hand and Galloway. I know I'm overlooking someone?

And if you haven't already been to Roger Dean for a Hammerheads game or for a spring training game, check it out. The place is NICE. Thanks in advance.

I know it is incredibly too early to start projecting this guy. But when I start to hear things like "He has an electric arm" from a team's general manager I get REAL excited. My only question is his future role. If he goes to the 'pen, then he loses a lot of value. Even as a closer who is four years away, I would have no real reason to sign him (closers don't have much value in my league if they get moved to the bullpen or take a long time to develop)

So will this guy start or relieve? I'm in a 12-team league where each team has room to sign 30 minors (pitching is VERY hard to find). THanks in advance for your help.

I was reading the Red Sox top 15 prospects list that just moved this morning on www.baseballhandyman.com (kudos to my boy mike newman for putting together such a solid site). One guy, I kept coming back to was catcher Luis Exposito. He was a 20-year-old last season who had stints in Lancaster (A+), which I understand is a hitter's park, and Greenville (A-). He's big and projects to hit for power (20+ HRs a year when he reaches the majors). Because he plays good defense, he likely won't be moved off catcher. He's hit for a high BA almost everywhere he's been though his poor plate discipline (doesn't know how to take a walk) affects his OBP.

Baseball America and all of Red Sox nation say he'll be Boston's starter at catcher by 2012.

So my questions to you are:

1. Does this guy project to be an above-average MLB catcher?

2. Is he fantasy-worthy?

3. Should I sign him now or take a wait-and-see approach? I'm absolutely stacked at catcher (McCann, Salome, Skipworth, Lucroy, D'Arnaud)

Your help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I have Milwaukee catcher Jonathan Lucroy AND Philadelphia catcher Travis D'Arnaud on my fantasy team. I don't have room to keep both. Was wondering if you fine folks in prospectland can help me figure out which one to cut............

(the following is taken from the Phillies' 2008 season review that is currently on minorleaguebaseball.com)

Travis D'Arnaud, C: Another catcher on the rise is the supplemental first-round pick from 2007, who earned New York-Penn League All-Star honors this past summer, hitting a combined .305 between Williamsport and a promotion to Lakewood. He is a good defensive catcher as well.

here are D'Arnaud's stats:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Travis%20D%27Arnaud&pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=518595

(the following is taken from the Brewers' 2008 season review that is currently on minorleaguebaseball.com)

Jonathan Lucroy, C: Just in case Salome doesn't continue to grow, the Brewers always have Lucroy, the 2007 third-rounder from Louisiana-Lafayette University. Lucroy split this season between the South Atlantic and Florida State Leagues, and combined to hit .301 with 20 homers and 70 RBIs. He even stole nine bases. He threw out a combined 45 percent of runners attempting to steal, and will take the arm and the bat to Double-A next season.

here are Lucroy's stats:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Jonathan%20Lucroy&pos=C&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=518960

a few observations:

1. D'Arnaud was 19 the entire season while playing in the NYP, then getting bumped up to the SAL. His BA, OBP and defense all appear to be above average. I would guess that he would return to the SAL to start the 2009 season. D'Arnaud is behind Marson, whom the Phillies' brass seem to like.

2. Lucroy was 22 while playing in the SAL and then getting bumped up to the FSL. His BA, OBP and defense all appear to be above average. He even has a tick of speed. The article I mentioned above that is currently on the minorleaguebaseball.com website says that Lucroy will start the 2009 season in Double-A Huntsville. He is, obviously, behind Angel Salome, who does nothing but rake.

3. Lucroy is a tick ahead of D'Arnaud developmentally, though he is also older. Lucroy has much more power right now than D'Arnaud but that could possibly be attributed to him simply being older.

I've read almost every article on the Internet about both of these players and I can't seem to find anything negative about either one. My question to you is this:

Which player would you rather have for a fantasy team?

I'm in a 12-team league that keeps 30 minor leaguers. I currently own a multitude of catchers, including Brian McCann, Kyle Skipworth, Angel Salome, and Tyler Flowers. I would prefer to keep Lucroy or D'Arnaud but not both. Please help me figure out which to cut.

Thanks in advance for your help.

He was a second-round pick of the Red Sox in '08. He's 6'1 and according to the limited information on the internet, he will develop average power once he fills out. And I understand he's very athletic and has the ability to steal bases. Currently he's listed as a 2B/SS but is expected to be moved to CF (one site said he has a good arm). I have a few questions for Red Sox nation.

1. What kind of player will GIbson look like in four years?

2. Will he fantasy-valuable?

THanks in advance for your help.

I'm in a 12-team mixed league with spots for 30 minors. Now that the season is over I've been able to find a few sleepers...not a lot but a few...the only problem is that my roster is already at 30. so i have to cut a few....that's where i thought you could help......i'm a bit of a homer and sometimes have trouble accurately assessing the strengths and weaknesses of my team.....could you help?

1. lars anderson (DEFINITE KEEPER)

2. villalona (DEFINITE KEEPER)

**3. gaby sanchez (started raking once he left the fsl. will most likely be the marlins' 1b in 2009 unless uggla is moved there)

what are your thoughts on keeping sanchez? i'm keeping teixeira and billy butler, who both qualify at 1b. not sure that i need to keep sanchez, too.

4. neftali soto (reds)---think he's a definite keeper

5. beau mills (indians)--haven't seen his name much....was drafted in '07 and hit well in high-a carolina league...nice power, a few too many Ks, nice OBP. thoughts? peter gammons said during the all star game that mills would become a mainstay in the HR derby for whatever that is worth

**6.  chris marrero (3b/of/1b for nationals): had a bad year in the SAL but still a decent prospect. what are you thoughts?

7. tyler flowers: definite keeper

8. jonathan lucroy (brewers): just keeps hitting but is stuck behind salome.....what are your thoughts?

9. angel salome...yeah he's small...so what? he's raked at every stop.......he's a keeper

10. travis d'arnaud: still young but raked last year. what are you thoughts?

11. kyle skipworth (marlins): first-round pick of the marlins. he's a keeper

YES I HAVE 4 CATCHERS IN THE MINORS AND HAVE MCCANN IN THE MAJORS. DO I NEED TO KEEP ALL 4 OF THOSE MINOR-LEAGUE CATCHERS?

12. corey brown (oakland): don't know much about him

13. danny murphy (2b/of, Mets): i have howie kendrick on my big league team and like having murphy as a second option in case kendrick gets hurt, which seems to be par for the course

**14. kelvin deleon (yanks): I think this guy may be too far away. should i cut him? what are your thoughts?

15. ryan westmoreland (red sox): a 5-tool guy the red sox just loved. got a huge bonus. still far away but i like him. what are you thoughts?

**16. wendell fairley (giants): i guess i could cut this guy...i had him all of last year and knew that he was going to be a project. should i hold on to him? what are you thoughts?

17. anthony hewitt (Phils): huge upside....have to keep him

18. desmond jennings: i know he got hurt but i have a mancrush...he's a keeper

19. brett anderson: one of the better sp prospects in all of the minors. a keeper

20. danny duffy (royals): another nice young SP i will keep

21. fautino de los santos....he'll be even better after his TJ

22. neftali feliz (definite keeper)

23. jeremy jeffress: could've taken travis snider but chose the arm instead. still don't regret the decision...flying under the radar right now...love the dwight gooden comps...also love it that he was called up to AA at the end of last yr. i think he's a keeper

24. michael main (rangers): don't know much about him. but it seems everything i've read has been positive....what are you thoughts?

25. ethan martin: another mancrush.....and i love how the dodgers groom their pitchers

26.neil ramirez (rangers): i think he's a keeper...........nice system the rangers are putting together, huh?

27. bradley holt: i'm partial to velo..and holt has it. i just hope he can develop something else. i hear his curve is a plus pitch but that he can't spot it....what are your thoughts?

28. chris tillman: keeper. i love this guy

29. aaron laffey: probably should cut this guy

30. carlos truinfel: i 'm not as high on him as some of the minorleagueball readers. but according to what i've read on this site, i think he's a keeper

in my opinion the league is set up in such a way that arms NEED to be stockpiled. i also think i have entirely too many catchers. i'd also like to rid my squad of guys who aren't fantasy-valuable. and as if this isn't obvious, guys who profile as relievers or back-of-the-rotation starters don't do much for me.

so there's your penn state pride................your opinion of these guys is much appreciated. i've starred the guys who are questionable keepers. i'm guessing that i need to clear 3-5 spots. thanks again

they boo santa claus, then throw snowballs at him when he walks onto the field during an eagles game...then bud selig, the commissioner of baseball, speaks and they boo him. to top it all off, they even boo charlie manuel, the phils manager, when he praises the rays for their great season. are these the worst fans in all of sports? i've been to philly before to watch baseball and i've met some great fans. but their sportsmanship is overshadowed by the majority of phils fans out there who continually show that they have NO class.

i'm not sure what it is about these people that makes them act like such asses at sporting events. if i lived in philly, i'd be embarrassed by all of it.

again, i'm in a 12-team fantasy league that emphasizes minors. finding a decent minors guy in my league is a real chore (but that's what makes it fun). in looking at baseball america's recent '08 draft report cards i've come up with a decent list of players who could have an impact fantasy-wise. my question to you is this: are of the guys listed here must-signs? obviously, i can wait on those players who are far away. but if there is a player listed here who has to be signed ASAP, please let me know.

here goes:

Burgess, Jarrett (Mariners' OF)
Carter, Dexter (White Sox SP)
Castillo, Richard (Cardinals' SP -- body might not be conducive to starting?)
Chatwood, Tyler (Angels' SP)
Correa, Manuarys (Angels' SP)
De La Rosa, Wilkins (Yankees' SP)
Giavotella, Johnny (Royals' 2B)
Gutierrez, Daniel (Royals' SP)
Hayenga, Keaton (Royals' SP)
Hoes, L.J. (Orioles' 2B)
Holguin, Christopher (Blue Jays' SP)
Hudson, Dan (White Sox SP)
Jacobo, Gabe (Angels' 1B)
Jacobson, Brett (Tigers' SP)
Joseph, Corban (Yankees' 2B)
Marshall, Brett (Yankees' SP)
Moncrief, Carlos (Indians' SP)
Murphy, Tim (Rangers' SP)
Rodriguez, Rafael (Giants' SP)
Rodriguez, Yorman (OF, Cincy)
Romine, Austin (Yanks)
Satterwhite, Cody (Tigers' SP)

Wieland, Joe (Rangers' SP)
Sulbaran, Juan Carlos (Reds' SP)
Suttle, Brad (Yanks)
Wieland, Joe (Rangers' SP)