It’s not hard to find a list of any MLB team’s top prospects, but will any of those prospects be ready to contribute in 2012? We’re here to help you prepare for the unexpected by ranking each team’s top five minor league prospects from a fantasy perspective. While they may not be the team’s brightest stars (though many of them will be) they’re the names you’ll need to know when the unexpected happens. Make sure to check out our other top minor league prospects posts for each of the 30 teams.
Potential roster vacancies: OF, 3B, SP, CL
Paul Konerko aside, the White Sox disappointed just about everywhere last season. In the infield, Gordon Beckham failed to play as expected (again), Alexei Ramirez posted lower totals in four of the five main fantasy categories (he had the same number of RBI) and Brent Morel batted just .245 with 10 homers, though he’s known more for his glove than his bat anyway.
Alex Rios, Juan Pierre and Carlos Quentin manned the outfield, and none of them has what could rightly be termed “good” seasons. Pierre and Quentin were serviceable at times, but they’re now gone. Alejandro de Aza and Dayan Viciedo will likely replace them in the starting lineup, and both have a lot of question marks. Adam Dunn is still the DH, but it’s hard imagining them taking his bat out of the lineup unless he parties like it’s 2011. I don’t see how that’s even possible. Despite the struggles of many of these players, they’re all pretty much here to stay.
Mark Buehrle, the pitching staff’s anchor for the last decade, followed Ozzie Guillen to Miami, and now the rotation is in a state of flux. John Danks (who signed a long-term extension this offseason) Gavin Floyd (who has been cited in many trade rumors), Jake Peavy (who’s always injured), Phil Humber (who broke out last year) and Chris Sale (who has a reliever in 2011) make up the projected 2012 rotation. I see plenty of opportunities for some lucky minor leaguer to make an impact.
In the bullpen, Sergio Santos was traded to Toronto for a minor league pitching prospect who many scouts claim has limited upside, and that’s freed up the ninth inning. Will Matt Thornton reclaim the role and hold it this time or will someone else step up?
Chicago White Sox Top 5 Minor League Prospects for Fantasy Baseball
1. Addison Reed, RP
There’s a really good chance that Reed wins the closer’s job right out of spring training. If that happens, look for him to become of the best closers in baseball. He has Craig Kimbrel/Carlos Marmol strikeout potential but doesn’t come with the same control concerns both of those guys did/do. There isn’t much else to say here. Reed could be special.
2. Dylan Axelrod, SP/RP
Axelrod was a reliever when he began his professional journey in the minor league, but last year the White Sox made him a starting pitcher at Triple-A. He’ll likely begin 2012 as a long reliever in the Chicago bullpen, but he’s just one injury away from a spot in the rotation. Last year Axelrod appeared in four games for the White Sox, including three starts and posted a 2.89 ERA and 3.29 FIP. He has solid strikeout potential (think 7.0 K/9) and has always been in the 2.0-2.5 BB/9 range in the minors. That’s the stuff reliable, low-end fantasy starters are made of.
3. Osvaldo Martinez, SS/IF
Martinez doesn’t have much in the way of offensive talent, but he does have opportunity. He came over to Chicago in the “trade” that sent Guillen to Miami, and right now he’s projected to start the year on Chicago’s bench. With the amount of potential disappointing in the White Sox’s infield (Beckham and Morel mainly), Martinez could sneak some at-bats.
4. Nestor Molina, SP
Molina was acquired by the organization in exchange for Santos, and I really like his potential. He’s probably more of a September call-up type, which limits his potential value for 2012 alone, but he’s demonstrated great control with potentially above average strikeout rates.
5. Jordan Danks, OF
Danks will probably start the year on Chicago’s bench but will find himself behind Brent Lillibridge on the team’s outfield depth chart. There aren’t a lot of major league-ready bats in Chicago’s minor league system so, like Martinez, Danks jumps into the top five based on potential opportunity. He played full time at Triple-A in 2010 and 2011 and showed 15-homer, 15 steal potential, but his batting average will likely be around .240.
