The Chicago Cubs organization will have two young players on the bubble when spring training rolls around in February. Pitcher Rich Hill, and infielder Ronny Cedeno are currently on the outside looking in when it comes to 25-man roster spots.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, both players are also out of minor league options, which means the club has three options: 1) Keep them on the 25-man roster; 2) Trade them for other talent; 3) Expose them to waivers in an attempt to send them down to the minors. If the club chooses the third option, each player would definitely end up in other organizations with zero compensation, which really leaves the club with two options: Play or trade.

Hill, 28, had a breakout 2007 season and allowed just 170 hits in 195 innings of work. He posted rates of 2.91 BB/9 and 8.45 K/9. The southpaw’s control was solid all season long, although he did walk seven batters in 11 innings over his final two starts of the season (When he also threw more pitches in back-to-back games – 219 – than he did all season).

In 2008, Hill made just five starts and did not walk fewer than three batters in any one game. In those games, he allowed just 13 hits in 19.2 innings and managed 15 strikeouts, but he walked 18 batters. The final straw came on May 2 against St. Louis when Hill went just two-thirds of an inning and allowed no hits but walked four batters.

Interestingly, his first three pitches of that game – to lead-off batter Brian Barton – were three solid strikes: fastball (looking), curveball (looking), fastball (swinging).

Next up (ironically, perhaps) was Rick Ankiel, who took four straight balls on a curveball and three fastballs. The next batter was Albert Pujols, who fouled off the first pitch and then looked at three straight balls (although Gameday shows pitch three was a pretty clear strike on a curve). Hill then received a strike call before walking Pujols on the six pitch of the at-bat.

The pitching coach visited Hill on the mound prior to Troy Glaus stepping up to the plate. When play resumed, Hill buried a curveball in the dirt. Glaus then eagerly popped up the next fastball, which would have been a borderline strike at the knees. Ditching the curveball, Hill then went after Ryan Ludwick with five straight fastballs, four of which missed the strike zone by a wide margin.

Yadier Molina then faced seven straight fastballs with the first three coming in as balls, although the first two were borderline strikes: over the plate and at the knees. The third missed way up. The next two pitches were called strikes, although they were worse than the first two that were called balls. Molina than fouled off a high fastball before Hill buried the final one in the dirt, signaling the end to his night – and season in the Majors.

The Cubs sent Hill to the minors after that game but the control did not improve. In three High-A ball games his walk rate was 8.03 BB/9 and in seven Triple-A games the rate was 9.69 BB/9. Hill continued pitching in the off-season in the Venezuelan Winter League and walked 23 batters in 21 innings.

Any trade of Hill at this point would definitely be selling low on the left-hander. But the sad truth is that this past season looked a lot like the tail end of Ankiel’s pitching career, and Hill does not have the option to pursue a second career as a hitter. More time in the minors probably won’t fix Hill’s problem, if it is indeed the dreaded Steve Blass disease. But he certainly is not going to be effective on a Major League mound while facing the best hitters on the planet with limited command and control of his pitches. It appears to be a no-win situation.

On Tuesday, I will look at Cedeno. Outfielder Felix Pie was originally part of this series before his trade to Baltimore, which hit the press on Sunday.

The New York Yankees organization has had quite a successful off-season with the signings of free agent hurlers A.J. Burnett, and C.C. Sabathia, as well as first baseman Mark Teixeira. The club also added six minor league pitchers to the 40-man roster but none of them fall among the Yankees’ best prospects.

In fact, it’s a bit of a low period for the organization in terms of impact pitching prospects now that the eligibility has expired for players such as Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, and Phil Hughes – all of whom have had varying degrees of success. That’s not to say the organization lacks pitching depth; there’s a lot of it but there are no sure-fire future stars (Not that the above three succeeded as scripted). It also doesn’t mean that the players added to the roster this off-season won’t have an impact. No one expected Dan Giese, Jose Veras, or Alfredo Aceves to have any kind of Major League success. The Yankees organization always seems to squeeze talent out of the most unlikely of sources.

Christian Garcia was drafted in the third round of the 2004 draft out of high school but injuries have taken a toll on his promising career. He missed all of 2007 after elbow surgery, but by all reports he still has his promising stuff, which includes a fastball that tops out around 95 mph, a wicked curveball and an improving change-up. Garcia spent most of the 2008 season in High-A ball and earned a one-game promotion to Double-A, where he walked six batters in 5.1 innings. In High-A, he allowed 45 hits in 49.2 innings with rates of 3.08 BB/9 and 10.87 K/9. The right-hander also allowed just two home runs.

Wilkins de la Rosa is a converted outfielder with power from the left side. After beginning the season in A-ball, and pitching mostly out of the bullpen, he ended the year with three solid starts in High-A ball. At the lower level, de la Rosa allowed just 60 hits in 90 innings and posted rates of 3.89 BB/9 and 10.96 K/9 with two home runs allowed. At this point, he is mostly a one-pitch thrower with a mid-90s fastball, but the southpaw is also working on both a curveball and a change-up. He’ll be 24 and in High-A ball when the season starts so time is against him to a degree.

Eric Hacker falls in the realm of ‘great results but lacks great stuff.’ Like Garcia, Hacker’s career has also been sidetracked by both elbow and shoulder surgeries, after originally being drafted out of high school in 2002. Those surgeries have taken a toll on his stuff and the right-hander now relies on command/control and the ground ball (58 GB% in High-A). Beginning the 2008 season in High-A ball, Hacker allowed 38 hits in 53 innings. He also posted rates of 1.53 BB/9 and 5.26 K/9, with just one home run allowed. Upon his promotion to Double-A, Hacker allowed 83 hits in 91 innings of work. He continued to show good control by posting a rate of 2.76 BB/9, along with 8.28 K/9.

The remaining three hurlers added to the 40-man roster include Michael Dunn, Anthony Claggett, and Steven Jackson. Dunn was a 33rd-round draft pick and, like de la Rosa, began his career as a hitter. He spent most of 2008 in High-A ball and allowed 124 hits in 124.2 innings. Claggett was acquired from Detroit in the Gary Sheffield trade during the 2006-07 off-season. The 24-year-old reliever posted rate of 4.60 BB/9 and 8.44 K/9 in Double-A in 2008. Jackson was acquired in the Randy Johnson trade with Arizona in the winter of 2006-07. Last season, Jackson, 26, split the season between Double-A and Triple-A, where he allowed 44 hits in 48.1 innings and posted a strikeout rate of 10.06 K/9.

Brandon Erbe, Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz get a lot of attention in the Baltimore Orioles system, but David Hernandez could beat them all to the big leagues. The 23-year-old, right-handed hurler was recently added to the club’s 40-man roster and he could claim one of Baltimore’s vacant starting rotation slots sooner rather than later. In 2008, Hernandez spent the year in Double-A and allowed 112 hits in 141 innings of work. He posted rates of 4.53 BB/9 and 10.60 K/9, while also keeping the ball in the park by allowing just 10 home runs (0.64 HR/9). Obviously the control needs to improve if he is going to have long-term success in the big leagues, but the potential is there once things click. He features a repertoire that includes an 89-93 mph fastball, a curveball and a change-up.

Right-handed Chorye Spoone was on a similar path before shoulder surgery ended his 2008 season after just nine starts. He will miss the majority of 2009 as well, but that did not stop Baltimore from protecting him on the 40-man roster. When healthy, Spoone features a 91-95 mph fastball, plus curveball and change-up.

Brad Bergesen’s 2008 numbers at Double-A look better than Hernandez’ on the surface with a record of 15-6 and an ERA of 3.22. His walk rate was also a nifty 1.64 BB/9 but his strikeout rate was troublesome at 4.38 K/9. Despite not striking out a lot of batters, the right-hander allowed just 143 hits in 148 innings. Bergesen can dial his fastball up to 93-95 mph but he commands it better in the low 90s. He also has a slider and change-up.

Wilfredo Perez (or Wilfrido, depending on whom you speak with) is a left-handed reliever who split the 2008 season between High-A ball and Double-A. The 24-year-old fanned 92 batters in 79.2 combined innings. Like the pitchers above, though, Perez struggled with his control and posted walk rates of 4.79 at High-A and 3.09 at Double-A. After beginning his career by being very good against left-handed hitters, the southpaw has actually had more success against righties in the past two seasons (.244 versus .165 in 2007, .253 versus .192 in 2008).

The only non-pitcher added to the 40-man roster this off-season was outfielder Nolan Reimold, a former second round draft pick out of Bowling Green University. His prospect stock has been up and down since he signed in 2005 but he rebounded in 2008 at Double-A. He hit .284/.367/.501 with an ISO of .217 in 507 at-bats. The 25-year-old has big-time power but it remains to be seen how well he’ll hit for average against Major League pitching. In his career, Reimold’s slugging percentage is almost 100 points higher against southpaws (.572 versus .482).

The Minnesota Twins organization was one of the busiest clubs when it came time to protect prospects on the 40-man rosters near the beginning of the off-season. The club added three pitchers, two catchers and four infielders.

Anthony Swarzak is the most promising out of the trio of hurlers added to the roster. His repertoire includes an 89-93 mph fastball, a plus curveball and a change-up. The former high school second-round draft pick is on the cusp of joining the Twins’ big league rotations despite having a rough year in Double-A. After making 15 appearances at that level in 2007, the right-hander was asked to start back there in 2008. Swarzak’s FIP went from 3.32 to 4.42 and his rates took a hit too from 2.40 BB/9 and 7.92 K/9 in 2007 to 3.28 BB/9 and 6.73 K/9 in 2008. Perhaps there was a lack of motivation because his numbers improved (on the surface) when he joined Triple-A late in the season. In seven starts, he allowed 41 hits in 45 innings of work and posted rates of 2.80 BB/9 and 5.20 K/9. However, there are some signs that his success at Triple-A was luck-induced. His ERA was 1.70, but his FIP was 4.40. His K/BB ratio has also reduced in each of his last four assignments: 3.60 to 3.30 to 2.05 to 1.86.

Brian Duensing, a former third-round pick out of the University of Nebraska, has seen his strikeout rate drop off dramatically as he approaches the Major League level. In his first full season in 2006, Duensing posted an OK rate of 7.00 K/9 in A-ball, only to see it settle in around 5.0 K/9 after a full season in Triple-A in 2008 (He also spent much of 2007 there with better results). The left-handed was quite hittable in 2008 and he allowed 150 hits in 138.2 innings. Duensing, 25, has excellent control as witnessed by his rate of 2.21 BB/9. He works in the upper 80s with his fastball and complements that with a good change-up and a couple of breaking balls.

Catcher Wilson Ramos is one of the club’s better hitting prospects and could eventually give the Twins an excuse to move Joe Mauer from behind the plate. The right-handed hitter spent the 2008 season in High-A ball and hit .288/.346/.434 with an ISO of .146. Like many Twins prospects, he could stand to show more patience after posting a walk rate of 7.6% last season. Defensively, Ramos, 21, threw out 32 of 74 (43%) base runners attempting to steal.

Offensively, Luke Hughes has the most present potential of the four infielders. He split 2008 between Double-A and Triple-A. At the lower level, he hit .319/.385/.551 with an ISO of .232 in 285 at-bats. At Triple-A, he hit .283/.325/.453 with an ISO of .170 in 106 at-bats. His walk and strikeout rates in Triple-A were 6.2 BB% and 28.3 K%. Defensively, Hughes has appeared all over the diamond after playing himself off second base. He spent the majority of his time at third base in 2008 but had a poor fielding percentage (.888 at Double-A) and showed below-average range.

Of the remaining infielders, Steven Tolleson is the safest bet to secure a Major League utility infielder’s role. The 25-year-old batter hit .300/.382/.466 with 12 stolen bases at Double-A in 2008. Trevor Plouffe is a former first-round pick whose numbers have never matched his potential. He spent the 2008 season split between Double-A and Triple-A. His career line is an uninspiring .255/.319/.380.

Aside from the J.J. Putz trade, the Seattle Mariners organization has had a fairly quiet off-season despite its disappointing 2008 season and 61-101 finish. Haunted and hindered by some poor contracts (Miguel Batista, Carlos Silva, Kenji Johjima), the club has made only minor adjustments to the 40-man roster via free agency with the acquisitions of corner infielder Russell Branyan, and reliever Tyler Walker. The club also selected Rule 5 draft pick Reegie Corona, a middle infielder.

As well, the organization added five prospects to the 40-man roster: pitchers Gaby Hernandez, Stephen Kahn, Marwin Vega, as well as outfielders Michael Wilson and Greg Halman.

Hernandez was originally selected out of a Miami high school in the third round of the 2004 amateur draft by the New York Mets. He was then traded to the Florida Marlins for veteran catcher Paul LoDuca in December of 2005. In July of 2008, the Marlins shipped Hernandez to Seattle for ancient reliever Arthur Rhodes. The 22-year-old has excellent stuff – including an 88-93 mph fastball, plus curveball and change-up – but his results have been inconsistent. Hernandez began 2008 in Triple-A but was lit up. He allowed 94 hits in 64.2 innings and posted reasonable rates of 3.62 BB/9 and 7.52 K/9. He also allowed 14 home runs (1.95 HR/9). Hernandez was demoted to Double-A where he went 3-0 in four starts with an ERA of 4.30. The trade to Seattle followed and Hernandez was again assigned to Double-A, where he posted a 5.01 ERA in six starts. Overall on the season, he allowed 154 hits in 121.2 innings, with rates of 3.33 BB/9 and 6.95 K/9. Right-handed batters hit .327 against him. He was equally ineffective in the Arizona Fall League with 33 hits allowed in 29.1 innings and an ERA of 7.67.

Kahn was an interesting addition to the 40-man roster after missing all of the last two seasons with ACL tears in both knees. Despite having thrown just 14.1 innings since 2006, he took a valuable roster spot. Those 14.1 innings came in the 2008 Arizona Fall League, where Kahn allowed 18 hits, 10 walks and struck out just nine. There was no need to add the right-handed to the roster considering his terrible command and control – which have always been bad and will definitely not be helped by the time off. Even with a fastball that can touch 95 mph and a good curveball, it’s unlikely that a team would have taken a Rule 5 risk on him, nor would he have survived on a Major League roster for the entire season.

On the plus side, Vega has pitched in both of the last two seasons but, like Kahn, he was added to the roster despite his inability to find the strike zone. His rates from Double-A in 2008 include a 5.77 BB/9 and a 6.55 K/9. That creates a stunning 1.14 K/BB rate. The right-handed reliever allowed 67 hits in 68.2 innings and gave up just three home runs (0.39 HR/9). The Colombian throws 91-93 mph with an average breaking ball and change-up.

Wilson parlayed a breakout 2008 season into a 40-man roster spot. The 25-year-old outfielder posted a line of .276/.388/.549 with an ISO of .273 in Double-A. Some caution must be taken with his numbers, though. He was old for the league and it was his third attempt at the level. At 28.8%, Wilson did a nice job of reducing his strikeout rates from 2007 (42.8%) and 2006 (34.1%). The outfielder has definite flaws and will likely never hit for average at the Major League level, but he would have become a minor league free agent if he had not been added to the roster. This buys the organization a little more time to ensure 2008 was indeed a fluke.

Halman, on the other hand, is an outfielder who is oozing with undeniable potential. The 21-year-old split the season between High-A ball and Double-A and hit 29 home runs and stole 31 bases, making him a 30-30 threat. Like Wilson, though, Halman does not currently project to hit for average after batting .268 in High-A and .277 in Double-A (as well as a career .262 average). To succeed at higher levels, he will also need to take more walks after posting rates of 5.9 BB% and 6.4 BB% this past season. He looks like Mike Cameron without the Gold Glove defence or Chris Young with less patience.

In order to make room for the recent signing of superstar first baseman Mark Teixeira, the New York Yankees organization designated first baseman Shelley Duncan for assignment. Duncan originally burst on to the scene back in 2007 by hitting seven home runs in just 74 at-bats, good for a .297 ISO.

Being a New York ‘prospect,’ Duncan’s value was instantly overstated, especially considering that he was 27 years old and had a career minor league batting average right around .250 in seven seasons. He did have some potential, though, having been a second round draft pick in 2001 out of the University of Arizona. He had also slugged 34 home runs in Double-A in 2005.

At the beginning of spring training in 2008, Yankees manager Joe Girardi was quoted by the New York Daily News as saying Duncan, “will get every chance to win the first base job.” Some New York fans touted Duncan as the next late-blooming star-in-the-making, while others warned of the next Kevin Maas (who set a record as the quickest player to 10 home runs to begin his career: 72 at-bats, but was out of Major League Baseball at the age 30).

The latter group of fans appears to have been correct about Duncan. Although his 2008 season was marred by injuries, it is fairly clear that he is a Quad-A player. After hitting .295/.380/.577 in Triple-A in 2007, Duncan slumped to .239/.365/.483 in 2008. His career MLB line is .221/.299/.435 with rates of 10.3 BB% and 22.8 K% in 131 at-bats.

There is no doubt that Duncan has power; he was one of the best power-hitting players in the NCAA during his college career. But his long swing and questionable plate discipline has haunted him throughout the upper levels of the minors during his pro career.

From here, Duncan would be best off finding a new organization because first base is not going to open up any time soon in New York, with Teixeira having signed an eight-year contract. In fact, he might want to consider joining the growing number of fringe Major Leaguers and Quad-A players jumping over to Japan for the 2009 season.

Unexpected stories and performances, like Duncan’s 2007 MLB season, are part of what makes Major League Baseball so much fun to watch. But it’s important to not get too wrapped up in them when valuing players and their future potentials.

Not long after claiming the World Series title, the Philadelphia Phillies organization added a group of prospects to its 40-man roster, including pitchers Carlos Carrasco, Drew Naylor, and Sergio Escalona, as well as catcher Joel Naughton.

Carrasco has been near the top of the Phillies’ prospect list since recovering from a brutal 2005 season. The 21-year-old began the 2008 season in Double-A and held his own by allowing 109 hits in 114.2 innings of work. He posted rates of 3.53 BB/9 and 8.56 K/9, with a FIP of 4.11. Promoted to Triple-A towards the end of the season, Carrasco allowed 37 hits in 36.2 innings and posted rates of 3.19 BB/9 and 11.29 K/9. He did a better job of keeping the ball down and allowed just one home run in Triple-A, after allowing 13 in Double-A. Carrasco’s phone number should be on General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr.’s speed dial in 2009 for when the club tires of Adam Eaton and/or Kyle Kendrick.

Naylor had a breakout 2008 season after spending the previous two seasons in short-season ball. Beginning the year in A-ball, the Australian hurler allowed 69 hits in 87.1 innings of work and posted rates of 2.16 BB/9 and 10.00 K/9. His K/BB ratio was 4.62. Naylor, 22, did not fare as well in High-A ball and allowed 86 hits in 78 innings. The right-hander posted rates of 3.58 BB/9 and 6.81 K/9, with a K/BB ratio of just 1.90. His FIP went from 2.99 to 4.29. He should start 2009 back in High-A ball but could move up quickly if he rights himself. Naylor has an 88-92 mph fastball, curveball and developing change-up.

Escalona, a southpaw, was added to the 40-man roster after a fast-moving season that saw him begin in A-ball and end in Double-A. He recovered nicely from a poor 2007 season, in which he allowed 91 hits in 70.1 innings over three minor league levels as a starter. The 24-year-old reliever started 2008 by allowing 36 hits in 44.2 innings with rates of 3.63 BB/9 and 12.09 K/9. He also allowed just one home run. Promoted to Double-A, Escalona allowed 27 hits in 24.1 innings and posted rates of 5.18 BB/9 and 10.73 K/9. His struggles should not be surprising given the two-level jump. Escalona’s slider makes him a good bet for a future LOOGY role after holding left-handed batters to a .188 average in 2008, compared to right-handers at .281. In his career, right-handed batters have hit .300 against him.

Naughton, like Naylor, is Australian. He was definitely the most surprising addition to the 40-man roster, especially given the presence of top hitting prospect Lou Marson. The club also has three Major League catchers (although they are all more second-string catchers than starters) in Chris Coste, Carlos Ruiz and Ronny Paulino. Naughton, 22, has spent the past two seasons in A-ball. In 2008, he hit .275/.336/.359 with an ISO of .083 in 276 at-bats. He also walked 8.9% of the time and struck out 14.1% of the time. The left-handed hitter has held his own against southpaws in his career (.244 average versus .264 against RHPs) but he has not been allowed to face many: 131 career at-bats versus left-handers, 569 at-bats versus right-handers. Naughton will likely use up all his options before he is ready for the Majors.

Outfielder John Mayberry Jr. was also added to the 40-man roster for the first time after being acquired from Texas for fellow outfield prospect Greg Golson. Both players were also former first round draft picks (Mayberry 19th overall in 2005 out of Stanford University, Golson 21st overall out of a Texas high school). Both outfielders are basically Major-League ready. Golson is more athletic, with tons of raw potential. Mayberry, 25, is less athletic and is close to being a one-dimensional, offensive player with above-average power. In a sense, he’s almost a younger Pat Burrell, whom the Phillies recently lost to free agency. The signing of free agent Raul Ibanez, formerly of Seattle, makes it unlikely that Mayberry will begin 2009 in Philadelphia. It’s unfortunate that his Major League progress will be hindered by the likes of Ibanez, Geoff Jenkins, and Matt Stairs.

The Florida Marlins organization made some fishy choices when adding pitchers to the 40-man roster recently.

Right-hander Dallas Trahern, who was acquired in the Miguel Cabrera trade with Detroit last year, had a dismal 2008 season at the Triple-A level. He posted a 5.72 FIP with 141 hits allowed in 111 innings of work. Trahern was hit hard and allowed 20 home runs (1.62 HR/9). On the plus side, he did not walk a ton of batters (3.65 BB/9) but that positive feeling is negated by his low strikeout rate (5.76 K/9). Trahern’s repertoire includes an 88-92 mph fastball, curveball and change-up.

Canadian Chris Leroux is your typical talented but raw Northerner, who needs to improve his command by pitching as many innings as possible. The right-hander was originally a starter, but could not stay healthy so he was shifted to the bullpen in 2007, which was a wise move. Since that time, Leroux has appeared in 103 games out of the bullpen and improved last season despite advancing from A-ball to High-A. In 2008, Leroux allowed just 60 hits in 74 innings and posted rates of 3.16 BB/9 and 9.49 K/9. His WHIP dropped from 1.41 to 1.16. He’ll be a little old for Double-A in 2009 at 24, but Leroux has less experience on the mound than most his age. He can touch 94 mph with his fastball and also has a solid slider.

Tim Wood was definitely a head-scratcher when he was added to the 40-man roster – if you look at his numbers. The 26-year-old was originally selected in the 44th round of the 2002 draft. The right-handed middle reliever had a nice season in High-A ball by allowing 25 hits in 40 innings (His BABIP was a fluky .209) but posted mediocre rates of 3.38 BB/9 and 4.95 K/9. His ERA was 1.80 but the FIP was a less-impressive 3.85. Promoted to Triple-A, Wood allowed 20 hits in 20.1 innings and posted rates of 2.66 BB/9 and 6.64 K/9. His FIP was 4.18. Wood’s fastball hits 95 mph and he has a power slider, but the numbers just don’t add up.

The Cleveland Indians organization has been busy this off-season with the acquisition of former Cubs infielder Mark DeRosa, as well as serving as the third team in the Seattle-New York (NL) trade of J.J. Putz. Prior to those moves, though, the club added four players to the 40-man roster (Five really, but Jeff Stevens was one of the players used to acquire DeRosa). The organization added right-hander Hector Rondon, outfielder Trevor Crowe, and catchers Carlos Santana and Chris Gimenez.

Rondon, 20, is on the fast-track to Cleveland. Prior to the 2008 season, his name was not even mentioned amongst the club’s top prospects. He just made Baseball America’s Top 30 Prospects List for the organization last year, coming in at No. 28. The 2009 handbook is not out yet, but you can bet Rondon is going to be listed a lot higher this season. In 145 High-A innings, the right-hander allowed just 130 hits and posted rates of 2.61 BB/9 and 9.00 K/9. He also allowed just 12 home runs (0.74 HR/9). His repertoire includes an 89-93 mph fastball, a developing curveball and a change-up. Rondon will be 21 when the 2009 season begins and he will also be in Double-A, not far from a Major League call-up.

Crowe has had an up-and-down minor league career and was considered one of Cleveland’s top prospects after the 2006 season. After stealing 45 bases that season, the 14th overall pick in the 2005 draft stole just 18 in 2008 while battling injuries. He also has not developed much in-game power and his batting average has fluctuated: .329 in High-A ball in 2006, .234 in Double-A in 2006, .259 in Double-A in 2007, .323 in Double-A in 2008, and .274 in Triple-A in 2008. With Grady Sizemore in center-field for Cleveland, Crowe’s only shot at playing everyday is at a corner spot and he lacks the offensive potential for such a position.

Santana was obtained last season from the Dodgers in the Casey Blake trade and instantly became Cleveland’s catcher of the future. He could eventually force Victor Martinez to first base full-time and Kelly Shoppach back to the second string catcher’s role. In 2008, split between High-A and Double-A, he hit more than 20 home runs, batted above .300 and walked more than he struck out. Did I mention he scored 125 runs and drove in 117? At this point the switch-hitter’s offensive game is pretty solid but he needs to focus on his defence behind the dish, having begun his career in the outfield and at third base.

Gimenez has the lowest ceiling of the bunch. The now 26-year-old began the 2008 season in Double-A and hit .339/.489/.537 with an ISO of .198 in 177 at-bats. He then moved up to Triple-A and hit .272/.349/.374 with an ISO of .103 in 195 at-bats. Gimenez also posted rates of 10.6 BB% and 30.8 K% at Triple-A. His true value comes from his versatility. Along with catching, he can also play at third base, first base and in the outfield.

The Chicago Cubs recently traded infield veteran Mark DeRosa to the Cleveland Indians for a trio of pitching prospects. The transaction was more about clearing salary room ($5.5 million) for the National League squad than it was about acquiring said prospects. The money saved by the Cubs could possible allow the organization to acquire free agent outfielder Milton Bradley or reopen trade negotiations with San Diego for starting pitcher Jake Peavy.

All three players – Jeff Stevens, John Gaub, and Chris Archer – are interesting but none of them are future impact players and they all appeared destined for roles in Major League bullpens. It was suggested in one Internet report that some or all of the above prospects could be used to help snag Peavy from San Diego but none of the prospects would be key players in a deal for a pitcher of his caliber.

Stevens is currently the closest to being Major League ready. He spent last season in both Double-A and Triple-A. Combined, Stevens allowed 38 hits in 59.2 innings of work and posted rates of 4.02 BB/9 and 12.22 K/9. His flyball tendencies resulted in a ground ball rate of 39.2%. He was originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth round of the 2005 draft out of Loyola Marymount University. Stevens was traded to Cleveland as part of the Brandon Phillips (robbery) deal. He throws an 89-94 mph fastball, curveball and change-up.

Shoulder surgery in college robbed Gaub of a few million dollars. The southpaw was touching 96 mph in college before injuring his arm and he now operates in the 87-91 mph range with his fastball. He also utilizes a slider and an occasional change-up. The Indians grabbed him in the 21st round of the 2006 draft out of the University of Minnesota. Last season, as a 23-year-old in A-ball, he allowed just 44 hits in 64 innings and posted rates of 4.50 BB/9 and 14.06 K/9. The strikeouts are eye-catching, but the control issues are worrisome. If he can harness his stuff, Gaub could move quickly in 2009… but that is a big if at his point.

Only 20 years old, Archer has a little more time to develop than his trade mates. He allowed just 92 hits in 115.1 A-ball innings in 2008 but it may have been partly due to the fact that he could not find the plate to give the batters a chance. Archer’s aim is not nearly as impressive as his surname suggests as he walked 84 batters, good for a rate of 6.55 BB/9. His strikeout rate was 8.27 K/9. His repertoire includes an 88-92 mph fastball, curveball and change-up.

Stevens could easily surface in Chicago in 2009 if injuries strike the Major League bullpen but Gaub and Archer will not set foot on a Major League mound in the Windy City until 2010 or 2011.