Pick-Up Lines: week of 7/15/05

by Brandon Wilson
July 15, 2005

Each week, we publish this article which highlights the players that are probably free agents in your league, but should be considered as pick-up targets. We try to offer some shallow league targets as well as some deep league targets so that different types of leagues will be covered. As always, feel free to e-mail questions to me and they will be addressed here or on the message boards.

Shallow Leagues (Mixed Leagues)
Nomar Garciaparra, SS, CHC (.157, 0 HR, 4 RBI)
No, he is not back yet, but by the time he goes out on a rehab assignment it will be too late to grab him in most leagues. Reports have Nomar coming back as soon as the end of July and as late as mid-August. Whichever the case, it seems pretty clear he will be back, so if you are stuck with Cesar Izturis or Jack Wilson as your shortstop, it might be time to consider picking Garciparra up before the rest of the league realizes he is on his way.

Curt Schilling, CL, BOS (1-2, 8.15 ERA, 1.81 WHIP)
Schilling was activated from the disabled list Wednesday and may be the team’s closer, at least over the short term. He does not feel like he can maintain his mechanics long enough to be effective as a starter at this point, but wants to contribute in one inning increments for Boston in relief. With Keith Foulke out for another 3-5 weeks, Timlin was expected to get the closing chores, but the Schilling development could change all of that. He was effective in his final two rehab outings for Pawtucket, throwing a scoreless inning in each.

Deep Leagues (AL or NL Only)
Gabe Kapler, OF, Yomiuri Giants
Boston designated outfielder Jay Payton for assignment last week and may be poised to bring Gabe Kapler back to Red Sox Nation. Ken Rosenthal of The Sporting News reports that Kapler is coming back to the U.S. and could reclaim his back-up role with the Sox. Last year, Kapler hit .272 with 6 HR and 5 SB in 290 AB for Boston. He could end up with the short side of a platoon with Trot Nixon who still does not hit lefties very well.

Jeff Francouer, OF, ATL (.308, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
Last week, Jeff Francouer joined the long list of rookies that are helping the Braves to another good year. He went 4 for 13 in his first week with two of those hits going for home runs. He was called up from Double-A Mississippi where he was hitting .275 with 13 HR and 13 SB after starting the year as Baseball America’s pick for the 14th best prospect overall and the Braves #1 prospect. The former Georgia high school football star is most often compared to Dale Murphy. He elicits the “five tool” label, but is also lauded for his makeup and leadership ability. In 335 Double-A at bats this year, he struck out 76 times and walked 21 times so it is clear he needs to develop more patience at the plate, but he also looks like a guy that will make it. He may, however, need another dose of the minors before he is really ready.

Extreme Leagues (Ultra Leagues)
Edison Volquez, SP, TEX (currently at Double-A Frisco)
Recently, Volquez was mentioned (along with two other Texas pitching prospects John Danks and Thomas Diamond) by Executive Editor Jim Callis in the “Ask BA” feature at BaseballAmerica.com. In describing him, Callis said, “Volquez lights up the radar gun more regularly, pitching at 93-95 mph and peaking in the high 90s, and has made good progress with his slider and changeup... If we were redoing the Top 100 at this point, they'd all factor in the 26-50 range.” If that is not enough to get your attention, the Ranger front office has made no secret of the fact that Volquez will likely be up by September and could be called up sooner if the situation and performance warranted it. Of the three Ranger prospects, Volquez is the only one almost certain to see action this year (due to 40-man roster considerations) and with the Kenny Rogers suspension about to begin, the Rangers are weighing their options.

Nelson Cruz, OF, MIL (currently at Triple-A Nashville)
Cruz spent most of the last half of last year at Double-A Midland in the Oakland organization where he hit .313 with 14 HR in 262 AB. Over the winter, he was traded to Milwaukee as part of the Keith Ginter trade. He started out at Double-A Huntsville where he showed that last year was no fluke, hitting .306 with 16 HR in 248 AB. After a promotion to Nashville, he is hitting .483 with 3 HR in his first 29 AB. He is already 25 so there would be no time like the present for him to get a shot. Keep an eye on the Milwaukee outfield, if Geoff Jenkins gets hurt, it could be Cruz rather than Krynzel that gets a call.

Brandon Wilson is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and can be reached by e-mail at brandon@athomeplate.com.