CAYMAN MINOR-LEAGUE PREVIEW, PART 3

Somewhere in the Cayman Islands----Hello, BARB fans! This is PART THREE of a FREE report from Ike Goodyear, here at the East Caribbean Unlimited, Ltd (ECU). If you appreciate a good deal like that, why not consider investing YOUR ill-gotten gains with a tax-free shelter in the Caymans, through ECU?

Speaking of investments, all BARB owners invest time in developing their minor-league system! In a previous post, I provided my rankings of the top 50 prospects in BARB minor-league systems who have yet to establish their eligibility for league play. But...you may wonder....what about the players who are eligible, and ready to make a contribution? After all, many of them, such as Los Angeles OF Mike Stanton, are not just ready to be regulars, they are potential All-Stars! So, presented for your consideration, a ranking of BARB minor-league systems based on these players follows. I hasten to add that these are just the opinions of a bored account manager in Caymans, and do not necessarily reflect the views of any owner, much less Commissioner Haynes.

LOS ANGELES (6): The Isotopes clearly top these rankings, with five legitimate impact players ready to seize starting roles: While 1B Brandon Belt seems blocked by first-rounder Eric Hosmer, the same can't be said for Stanton or SS Starlin Castro, whose presence has signaled the end of the Steven Drew era in L.A. RHP Jordan Lyles and LHP Mike Minor round out this impressive group, with both ready to seize a role in the Isotopes rotation this spring. And, given the depth of the pitching elsewhere in Los Angeles's system, is it any wonder that they are generally regarded as the deepest system in the league?

POTTSYLVANIA (6): Coming up just behind the Isotopes in this area are the Creepers, who suffered through a long rebuilding year in 2010 when most of their veterans all tanked at the same time. While Japanese League import Tsuyoshia Nishioka failed to impress last year and C Tyler Flowers is still something of a wallflower, there can be no doubt about OF Desmond Jennings's readiness to seize playing time, and perhaps even the leadoff spot. RHP Jeremy Hellickson, RHP Stephen Strasberg and LHP Aroldis Chapman are three of the biggest young arms in baseball, and they are all Creepers. Small wonder that Pottsylvania feels chipper about returning to the post-season in 2012....

ARIZONA (6): The newly-rechristened Rattlesnakes got a huge late-season bonus from RHP Alexei Ogando (9-0 during the stretch), and they are counting on him for their rotation this year, along with LHP Zach Britton, acquired in trade from St. Francis. 2B Dustin Ackley seems likely to seize a regular job as well, but highly thought-of prospects like Logan Morrison, Justin Smoak and Pedro Alvarez seem blocked by veterans with big reputation and difficult-to-eat salaries.

AC/BC (5): CF Peter Bourjos and LF Jose Tabata are going to make the ballclub and are likely to both be regulars by mid-season. RHP Jordan Walden has been erratic, but no more so than veteran closers Kevin Gregg and Matt Capps, and he costs a LOT less. Less likely to make an impact, but with eligibility: DH/1B/3B Mark Trumbo, RHP Sean Sullivan and LHP Tim Collins.

BROOKLYN (4): Few GM's love to stock their minor-league systems more than Head Moabite Eric Caskey. At least one All-World arm, RHP Julio Teheran, seems ready to join the rotation, but while C Hank Conger, IF Matt Gamel and Brett Wallace are eligible, they do not seem guaranteed anything this spring. Behind veterans on the depth chart, they are competing for, at best, roles on the bench.

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA (4): Like Brooklyn, this roster has one arm who is definitely ready for prime time, and observers expect the .45's to clear a roster spot for RHP Daniel Hudson, no easy task with their established (but mostly unprotected) pitching depth. Less sanguine about their chances: IF Danny Espinosa, Jemile Weeks and Freddie Freeman. With Prince Fielder and Dan Uggla still on the roster, these guys may be trade fodder.

SIN CITY (3): LHP Matt Minor is a star in the making, and should win a rotation spot a month into the season. SS Dee Gordon has Ryan Theriot to beat out for a infield reserve role, and Ian Desmond to start. We like his chances better than RHP Kyle Drabek, who despite being eligible is simply too far down the depth chart to make the big club.

Rounding up this parade are several franchises that can't expect a big splash from the minor league system in the opening months. Their most likely contribution is listed:

Defending league champion Frostbite Falls will force-feed C Wilson Ramos with Victor Martinez out for the year, New England may let Jonathan Papelbon walk in order to pay John Axelrod about $11 million less to close, and Worcester will gladly let IF Brett Lawrie compete with Chris Johnson for the club's 3B job. "Rebuilding" St. Francis is hoping on RHP Randall Delgado, perennial contender Yuma may audition Drew Storen rather than go with a bullpen-by-committee, and a loaded Casselton lineup will see if they have room for first-rounder Mike Moustakas.