For a team not known for its farm system, the Phillies sure have produced some future stars the past four years -- Brett Myers, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels.
While the minor league talent influx ends there at this point, this burgeoning contender is just getting started.
A re-made starting rotation might not look like much, but it compares favorably to any team in the NL Least -- even the Marlins'. And the Phillies certainly have the edge in experience and depth.
The bullpen will be a sore spot, but that lineup should produce some easy wins. Jimmy Rollins (.277 AVG, 25 HR, 83 RBI, 127 R, 36 SB) is coming off a career year at 27, while Howard and Utley look like perennial MVP candidates and sure-fire Fantasy first-rounders.
Protecting Howard is a concern, but you have to imagine you could bat anyone in baseball behind the burly 27-year-old slugger and he would still get pitched around. The winningest player in CBS SportsLine's Head-to-Head leagues last year -- our Fantasy MVP selection -- is too good to slip past the top five in any format on Draft Day.
Spring position battles
Third base -- Wes Helms vs. Abraham Nunez
Helms should win this job outright, relegating Nunez to where he belongs -- in a utility role. Helms has been stuck in baseball purgatory as a pinch hitter the past few years, but he has power that will play well in The Vault. Consider Helms a new-starter sleeper in deeper leagues, especially as a power man in a suitable home park and a solid lineup. Nunez is nothing more than a low-end utility man for the deepest of NL-only leagues -- with or without full-time at-bats.
Starting pitchers Nos. 4-5 -- Adam Eaton and Jamie Moyer vs. Jon Lieber
This really isn't a position battle as much as it is an audition for Lieber to be dealt for a setup man. Eaton signed a big contract this winter, so his talk about being willing to move to the bullpen this season should be ignored at this point. Philly is a tough park for a flyball pitcher, but Eaton and Moyer can prove useful behind that offense when the matchups are right in two-start weeks. Lieber needs a new situation to be anything more than an NL-only flier at this point.
Setup man -- Ryan Madson vs. Geoff Geary and Antonio Alfonseca
Yes, the Phillies are hurtin' in the 'pen. No wonder they have tried so hard to deal Lieber for a setup man. The reason this position battle is even somewhat important is closer Tom Gordon is old and figures to need some games off -- perhaps even a DL stint. Look for Madson to be the next option to save games in Philly, barring a deal. He was solid in that role in the past, despite his disappointing, and failed, move to the rotation last year.
| | Rookies/Prospects | Age | Pos. | 2006 high | Destination |
| 1 | Carlos Ruiz | 28 | C | Majors | Majors |
| Signing of Barajas gives him time to adjust to being big leaguer |
| 2 | Michael Bourn | 24 | OF | Majors | Triple-A |
| If Victorino stumbles or Rowand is traded, speedster gets shot |
| 3 | Zach Segovia | 23 | RH SP | Double-A | Triple-A |
| Tommy John survivor was once a highly-regarded prospect |
| 4 | J.A. Happ | 24 | LH SP | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| Not the best SP prospect in the system, but closer than most |
| 5 | Mike Costanzo | 23 | 3B | Class A | Double-A |
| Age suggests hot start and a Helms flop could get him at-bats |
| Best of the rest: RH SP Scott Mathieson, 23; RH SP Carlos Carrasco, 20; RH SP Kyle Drabek, 19; LH SP Josh Outman, 22; LH SP Matt Maloney, 23; OF Greg Golson, SS Adrian Cardenas, 19; RH SP Edgar Garcia, 19; RH SP Kyle Kendrick, 22; RH SP Drew Carpenter, 21. |
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