Aside from the fact that it's a mistake to schedule games in Cleveland in early April, it's safe to say we have learned little from a mere two-and-a-half weeks of baseball. The season is a long grind, and it's silly to make any judgments this early.
Therefore, we will save our discussion of whether certain players' hot or cold starts are legitimate or just a fluke until next week. This week, we will focus on the future.
Playing in a keeper league can be the most fun for an avid fantasy player. In addition to trying to do as well as possible this season, one has the opportunity to think about the future. Do you want to trade two or three prospects for that one veteran pitcher who is doing really well this year but might not be so good next year? Do you want to forgo competing this year in order to "rebuild" into a competitive team for years to come? Decisions like these make running a fantasy team much more like running a real team, making it even more fun.
With this in mind, let's take a look at some players who are important to learn about now, in order to have an advantage in a keeper league. Most people probably know about the top prospects: guys like Homer Bailey, Philip Hughes, Tim Lincecum, Adam Miller and Evan Longoria. But here are some underrated prospects.
Glen Perkins (starting pitcher, Minnesota). Perkins' minor-league track record resembles that of Indians pitcher Cliff Lee, except Perkins allows fewer homers. Lee is probably a good comparison for what Perkins can become, and sooner rather than later.
Billy Butler ("outfielder", Kansas City). Butler currently plays in the outfield but was born to be a designated hitter due to his defensive deficiencies. Butler, however, can absolutely rake in the offensive numbers and is only a Mike Sweeney-injury away from proving it in the bigs.
Fausto Carmona (starting pitcher, Cleveland). Most people will remember Carmona from his failed trial as the Indians' closer last season. They forget, however, that Carmona's ground-ball rates were extremely high, and so far this season, his strikeout rates are improving. Carmona could prove a valuable starter for the Tribe throughout this season and beyond.
Joel Guzman (third/first baseman, Tampa Bay). Lost in the glut of incredible young Devil Rays, Guzman is still quite young and has tremendous raw power. If he can make some adjustments, he could be the Devil Rays' solution at first base.
Mitch Talbot (starting pitcher, Tampa Bay). After being dealt to the Rays in the Aubrey Huff deal, Talbot sported a 59/18 K/BB ratio in 66 AA innings, with an almost 2:1 ground-ball/fly-ball ratio. He will begin the year in AAA and should see time in the majors before the All-Star break.
Dustin McGowan (starting pitcher, Toronto). Because he failed to impress in a few big league innings and was shuffled between the rotation and bullpen, people have forgotten just how good McGowan is. Still only 24, McGowan struck out over a batter per inning last year and should be a huge upgrade over Josh Towers.
Adam Jones (center fielder, Seattle). Jones represents an athletic blend of power and speed and is a star in the making. The Mariners are known for rushing their prospects, and thus Jones reached AAA (and then the majors) at age 21 last season. If the Mariners fail to resign Ichiro Suzuki, Jones could take over the centerfield duties for the M's.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (catcher, Atlanta). Salty struggled mightily last season but was hampered by injuries and a pitcher's park. He recovered from his injuries, however, and posted excellent numbers in July and August. While Brian McCann remains the Braves' long-term answer at catcher, Salty is either excellent trade bait or a future first baseman. Either way, the kid can hit.
Yovani Gallardo (starting pitcher, Milwaukee). He did not receive as much hype as Homer Bailey or Philip Hughes, but pitched just as well. At the tender age of 20, Gallardo compiled 155 innings between high-A and AA ball, surrendering only 104 hits and a meager six homers, while posting a stellar 188/51 K/BB ratio. Scouting reports back up the statistics, and Gallardo should be a second ace in the Brewers' rotation, perhaps as early as this season.
Andrew McCutchen (outfielder, Pittsburgh). In a system nearly devoid of position prospects, McCutchen almost makes up for it entirely by himself. At just 19 years old, he managed a .853 OPS in a limited stint at AA last season. McCutchen boasts power, speed and plenty of room for improvement, and little stands in his way at the major league level.
Chad Billingsley (starting pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers). Lost in the hype of silly moves by GM Ned Colletti and the play of athletic youngsters such as Andy LaRoche and Matt Kemp, people forget that a year ago Billingsley was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Currently relegated to the Dodgers' pen (another silly move by Colletti), Billingsley still figures to be a force in the rotation. Only 22, Billingsley has struck out over 10 batters per nine innings over his minor league career.
