Prospects Report: All A's pitchers come in threes

If you are like most and wondering why the surprising A's, still in contention, would wave the white flag and trade Rich Harden for a pair of marginal outfield prospects, a pitcher and a catcher hitting around the Mendoza Line in Class A, check these guys out:

• Lefty Gio Gonzalez, a key piece in the Nick Swisher trade ...
• Righty Trevor Cahill, 20, their top homegrown pitching prospect ...
• And righty Brett Anderson, 20, a key piece in the Dan Haren trade.

As if they needed any more young pitching, the A's have already had a stacked young rotation. They are enjoying breakthroughs of Pitch-22 (good enough to start, once too valuable in relief) Justin Duchscherer and Haren trade chips Greg Smith, 24, and Dana Eveland, 24 -- a new-wave Big Three if you will.

That terrific trio above appears to be well on its way to setting them up well in the long term with the next wave.

Gonzalez is the closest, having the most minor league experience and proving dominant of late in Triple-A. In the past month, he has posted strikeout totals of 13, 12, seven (twice) in four of his past four starts. He has allowed just two earned runs in the past 21 innings, striking out 27.

For the season, Gonzalez is merely 6-6 with a humble 4.56 ERA, but he has a .239 batting-average against and 110 strikeouts in 102 2/3 innings. The 49 walks are alarming, but after the Harden deal, Gonzalez went out and posted six one-hit innings Wednesday night, fanning seven and walking just one.

A second-half opportunity could present itself to Gio Gonzalez. (Getty Images)

Unlike recently acquired No. 5 starter Sean Gallagher, who is more advanced despite being younger at age 22, Gonzalez is more a knockout pitcher in the mold of a Harden. Strikeouts and hard stuff tends to bring more homers, though, which is something Gallagher does a great job of limiting.

So, too, do Futures Gamers Cahill and Anderson. This pair of 20-year-olds have recently been promoted to Double-A and look like potential top 20 prospects in baseball next spring.

Cahill was our No. 1 player to watch in the Futures Game, having gone a combined 8-4 with a 2.62 ERA, 121 strikeouts and a ridiculous .167 batting-average against in 17 games and 106 1/3 innings between Class A (14 games, 87 1/3 innings) and Double-A (three games, 19 innings). He has allowed just four homers combined to date. Just four!

A rare combination of a groundball pitcher (almost 2 1/2 groundouts to flyouts) who also gets strikeouts and limits homers makes us believe Cahill is something real special. You can't hit him, he makes you hit it on the ground when you do make contact and you rarely take him deep. Wow. He isn't as certain to arrive in the second half as Gonzo, but he deserves to be owned in far more than just 2 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues right now.

Just a step behind Cahill is his left-handed Double-A complement Anderson, who is exactly a month older. Anderson is a combined 10-4 with a 3.87 ERA, 95 strikeouts and a .240 batting-average against in 16 games and 83 2/3 innings between Class A (14 games, 74 innings) and Double-A (two games, 9 2/3 innings).

Like Cahill but to a lesser extent, he is tough to take deep (seven homers allowed) and gets more outs on the ground, almost 2-to-1. Anderson is owned in less than 1 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues, so he too is undervalued in deeper AL-only and long-term keeper leagues.

Gonzalez is our initial pick to take a flier on in Fantasy immediately, but Cahill is the favorite long term. Both Cahill and Anderson can really raise their stock this Sunday at Yankee Stadium at the Futures Game. It should be fun to watch.

If you are hoping for a 2008 arrival for Cahill and/or Anderson, you might have to root against them this Sunday, though. They could position themselves to be the aces of Team USA in the Olympics, Ben Sheets-style.

Prospect watch

Every Thursday, we break down all the minor leaguers who are owned in at least 1 percent of our Fantasy leagues. This will be your essential guide to unearthing the elite prospects before they hit the big time.

CBSSports.com's most-owned minor leaguers
Player	TM	POS	Own%	All-Star break note
Francisco Liriano	MIN	SP	75	Livan Hernandez is The Franchise's likely ticket to a call-up
Clay Buchholz	BOS	SP	65	Returning Friday and can impact all leagues in second half
David Price	TB	SP	54	Still has yet to be challenged ... can anyone hit him?
Brett Myers	PHI	SP	53	He expects to return right after the All-Star break now
Clayton Kershaw	LA	SP	36	Struggles with command could be expected for elite young LH
Justin Masterson	BOS	SP	34	Returning in the Pitch-22: Good enough to start, too valuable in relief
Max Scherzer	ARI	SP	21	Still held up on the Triple-A DL, so second half is in doubt
Dontrelle Willis	DET	SP	21	Knee issue is a mystery and clearly the reason he is back in Class A
Tom Gorzelanny	PIT	SP	19	Just might return after the short Fantasy Week 16 (July 17-20)
Matt LaPorta	CLE	OF	18	Move to Cleveland could expedite his arrival, pending Olympics
Cameron Maybin	FLA	OF	16	Has been much better after a brutal April, but hot Cody Ross buys time
Ian Kennedy	NYY	SP	15	Not quite up to speed again in Triple-A, but might return in late July
Rich Hill	CHC	SP	13	Sent all the way back to low Class A to get his command in order
Homer Bailey	CIN	SP	13	He is winless in his past 10 starts, but he is pitching better of late
Josh Fields	CHW	3B	11	Didn't figure he'd be so worthless and Joe Crede would be an All-Star
Ian Stewart	COL	3B	8	Great potential, but he's stuck barring Garrett Atkins trade or move to OF
Colby Rasmus	STL	OF	8	Showed progress in June, but he has been held up in July
Asdrubal Cabrera	CLE	2B	6	Bat back to life, so deeper AL-only owners can anticipate post-break call-up
Brandon Wood	ANA	3B	5	Posterboy for free-swinging slugger that can't find consistency at upper levels
Felix Pie	CHC	CF	5	Talent is coming through in minors, but you really can't expect much in '08
Travis Buck	OAK	OF	5	A's are collecting underachieving outfield prospect with hope someone rises
Ronny Paulino	PIT	C	5	On Triple-A DL for past month, so there's not much reason to own him
Matt Wieters	BAL	C	4	Move to Double-A positions him for September call-up and spring 2009 job
Franklin Morales	COL	SP	4	Entered year with such promise, but he looks awful in Triple-A now
Matthew Gamel	MIL	3B	4	It should be interesting to see if he keeps this pace with LaPorta around
Andrew McCutchen	PIT	OF	4	His development gives Pirates chance to sell Jason Bay and/or Xavier Nady
Wladimir Balentien	SEA	OF	4	Free-swinging slugger, but Mariners are in position to get him shot
Nick Adenhart	ANA	SP	3	He has disappointed and the Angels pitching staff has become too stacked
Chuck James	ATL	SP	3	Should get another look in second half but Braves clearly aren't psyched
Jerry Owens	CHW	CF	3	Speedy but White Sox have no use for him and his SB success rate is so-so
Daryl Thompson	CIN	SP	3	Pitched well last time out, so he could get full look after trade deadline
Adam Miller	CLE	SP	3	He would be up dominating for Fantasy owners if not for another injury
Dallas McPherson	FLA	3B	3	He really doesn't belong in Triple-A, so what are the Marlins waiting for?
Gio Gonzalez	OAK	SP	3	Has improved after slow start and Rich Harden deal can open door for him
Steve Pearce	PIT	RF	3	Got a brief look last week, but doesn't look ready to be major leaguer yet
Brandon Jones	ATL	OF	2	Has been disappointment in Triple-A, so clearly not ready for majors
Jed Lowrie	BOS	SS	2	Red Sox have considered making the move to him in the second half
Ben Broussard	CHC	1B	2	No way he proves useful in Fantasy if he sticks with this club
Jason Hirsh	COL	SP	2	Too strong starts in July should make him a candidate for post-break arrival
Rick Porcello	DET	SP	2	Elite talent is a bit raw, but the Tigers might need him down the stretch
Runelvys Hernandez	HOU	SP	2	He didn't warrant being owned while in the majors. Cut and ignore journeyman
Fernando Martinez	NYM	OF	2	Has nice bat speed for teenager in Double-A, but not an impact guy this year
Shelley Duncan	NYY	DH	2	Currently on DL in Triple-A, but Yankees don't seem to need him in '08
Matt Murton	OAK	LF	2	Has OPS bat the A's like long term, but heads to Triple-A for now
Carlos Carrasco	PHI	SP	2	We're excited about his potential to help, but Phils more likely to trade for SP
Matt Antonelli	SD	2B	2	Good strikeout-to-walk rate, but he has been a huge disappointment this year
Anthony Reyes	STL	SP	2	Cardinals rotation is falling apart, so Reyes should be called on in second half
Travis Snider	TOR	OF	2	20-year-old should get September look for rebuilding Blue Jays
Kendry Morales	ANA	1B	1	Ship has likely sailed on his becoming a big league regular
Jarrod Parker	ARI	SP	1	Teenager has been solid in low Class A, but he is still years away
Josh Anderson	ATL	OF	1	Punchless basestealer could be Rotisserie gem in September
Jordan Schafer	ATL	OF	1	Back from 50-game suspension, but you have to question his potential now
Jason Heyward	ATL	OF	1	He is too good for low Class A, but he will be years away from Fantasy impact
Lars Anderson	BOS	1B	1	David Ortiz is showing his age, so slugging prospect becomes a bigger player
Danny Richar	CHW	2B	1	Alexei Ramirez's breakthrough has made him irrelevant this year
Matt Belisle	CIN	SP	1	Conversion to relief can get him recalled, but he is worthless in Fantasy
Greg Reynolds	COL	SP	1	Struggles should have been expected because he was rushed to majors
Taylor Tankersley	FLA	RP	1	Has to work on his command, but non-closer isn't much of a Fantasy prospect
Rick VandenHurk	FLA	SP	1	Marlins have too many prospects and injury returnees to worry about him in '08
Ryan Shealy	KC	1B	1	His bat still has life, but he looks like a minor league Crash Davis now
Michael Moustakas	KC	3B	1	California slugging shortstop prospect is getting better in low Class A
Chin-lung Hu	LA	SS	1	If he wasn't going to start with Rafael Furcal out, he is merely reserve long term
Tony K. Gwynn	MIL	CF	1	Has speed for deeper NL-only Rotisserie leagues but he is a career reserve
Alcides Escobar	MIL	SS	1	Brewers like him long term, but he is not a factor this year or even next
Philip Humber	MIN	SP	1	Has not been good in an organization that has young arms everywhere
Austin Jackson	NYY	OF	1	Yankees have held off using him as bargaining chip, but that could change
Jose Tabata	NYY	OF	1	Like Jackson, Yankees have held off using him as a bargaining chip
Eric Patterson	OAK	OF	1	He might be the best piece the A's got for Rich Harden, but very inconsistent
Trevor Cahill	OAK	SP	1	Elite pitching prospect is our No. 1 player to watch in Futures Game
Justin Germano	SD	SP	1	Journeyman should not be owned in any leagues at this point
Nate Schierholtz	SF	OF	1	Giants haven't called him up because he won't arrive as a reserve, a good sign
Brad Hennessey	SF	RP	1	Has been unimpressive in Triple-A and no longer worth owning
Mitchell Boggs	STL	SP	1	Injury-hit Cardinals can go back to him, but he is nothing more than high risk
Jeff Niemann	TB	SP	1	Should be a nice bargaining chip for Rays before trade deadline
Wade Davis	TB	SP	1	With Jake McGee's Tommy John surgery, he is right behind Price now
Jake McGee	TB	SP	1	Tommy John surgery makes it unlikely he will arrive before 2010 now
Taylor Teagarden	TEX	C	1	We won't give up on him long term, but clearly he is not their long-term choice
Elvis Andrus	TEX	SS	1	Has speed and long-term potential, but the Rangers won't have a spot for him
Kevin Mench	TOR	RF	1	Really guys? When David Gonos left, we figured his fave would go away too
Christopher Marrero	WAS	OF	1	Hasn't dominated high Class A, but he remains big-time long-term prospect
Ross Detwiler	WAS	SP	1	Hasn't proven as close to being ready as originally thought last June
Matt Chico	WAS	SP	1	Tommy John surgery makes him a cut and ignore even in keeper leagues now

Rookie watch

Top AL rookies to date

1. 3B Evan Longoria, TB -- This will be some race for AL ROY and in the AL East.
2. OF Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS -- Ellsbury and the Red Sox trail Longoria and the Rays, but will close the gap.
3. SP Armando Galarraga, DET -- Yet another breakthrough pitching prospect the Rangers let get away.
4. SP Nick Blackburn, MIN -- He is hittable, so we think he will fall off in second half.
5. SP Joba Chamberlain, NYY -- His name exceeds the production, but he will be big-time in the second half.

• Honorable mentions: OF David Murphy, TEX; 2B Alexei Ramirez, CHW; SP Greg Smith, OAK; OF Ryan Sweeney, OAK; SP Justin Masterson, BOS; RP Masahide Kobayashi, CLE; SP Aaron Laffey, CLE; OF Ben Francisco, CLE; SP Glen Perkins, MIN; SP Garrett Olson, BAL; 1B Chris Davis, TEX; SS Mike Aviles, KC; RP Dennis Sarfate, BAL.

Top NL rookies to date

1. C Geovany Soto, CHC -- Catchers just don't produce like this, especially rookie ones, much less start the All-Star Game.
2. SP Jair Jurrjens, DET -- Braves have a big-time winner for a long time here.
3. OF Jay Bruce, CIN -- Hopefully you sold high on him before, but if not, don't sell low now.
4. OF Kosuke Fukudome, CHC -- This pair of Cubs rookies is superior to the Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith duo in 1989.
5. SP Johnny Cueto, CIN -- It is hard to argue between the Cubs or Reds as having the best set of ROY candidates.

• Honorable mentions: 1B Joey Votto, CIN; SP Hiroki Kuroda, LAD; SP John Lannan, WAS; OF John Bowker, SF; SP Jorge Campillo, ATL; OF/3B Chase Headley, SD; 2B Edgar Gonzalez, SD; 3B Blake DeWitt, LAD; RP Kyle McClellan, STL; OF Gregor Blanco, ATL.

Newbie needs

Mark Michels, Livonia, Mich.: I am in a 10-team AL-only Rotisserie keeper league, and I am looking to pick up a closer for the second half to make a run at first place. My pitching staff is loaded with young talent and I am trying to determine which to offer in a trade for a closer. I have Joe Saunders, Dana Eveland, John Danks, Kevin Slowey and Luke Hochevar with David Price and Francisco Liriano as reserves. I know Price has immense upside and is pretty much untradeable, but how would you rank the remaining pitchers based on potential?

Emack: It is tough to trade your staff ace, but try to sell high with Saunders for an elite closer. Failing that, deal Eveland and/or Hochevar if anyone is buying.

Brian Hodak: By the way, on Jamie D'Antona, in 2003, in 271 at-bats, he had 15 homers. In 2007, in 483 at-bats, he only had 13 homers, but, as you like to note, with those 13 homers, he had 43 doubles to go along with his .308 average. With his 2008 average around .380, 13 homers, 55 RBI and 28 doubles in 299 at-bats, this guy has got to be a keeper.

Emack: D'Antona was the third piece of the Carlos Quentin and Conor Jackson trio the D-Backs were raising on the farm, but he has fallen behind for some reason. Some of it is his lack of a position. Some of it is Mark Reynolds blocking him. But D'Antona is not quite a top prospect anymore because we are no longer convinced he can be a big-league regular. He can really hit, though, obviously.

Capt. Buckhead: If the Pirates trade either Xavier Nady or Jason Bay, which one of their top prospects do you think they will call up first: Steve Pearce or Andrew McCutchen?

Emack: Well, Pearce was up for a spell last week, so he is clearly the more immediate call-up, but he has been rather disappointing this season. McCutchen, meanwhile, has been more impressive and is an elite speed-and-power prospect. He is the one to stash in keeper leagues, while Pearce is the one to have in non-keeper NL-only formats.

Tom: Michael Inoa, can you add him to the database? He is a wanted commodity in our league already.

Emack: Done, but don't expect him to be a factor for years. We have also recently added: SP David Huff, CLE; SP Neftali Feliz, TEX; 3B Taylor Green, MIL; RP Robert Bryson, CLE; SP Timothy Alderson, SF; SP Matthew Torra, ARI; 3B Matthew Dominguez, FLA; OF Desmond Jennings, TB; SP Dellin Betances, NYY and SP Kyle Ginley, TOR. Huff is the only one we think will arrive in the majors this season, and he has a pretty good chance to help deeper AL-only leagues in the second half as the CC Sabathia-less Indians take a look at their prospects for spring 2009.

You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball prospect questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Prospects in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.