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The [tag]San Francisco Giants[/tag] just traded [tag]Armando Benitez[/tag] to the [tag]Florida Marlins[/tag] for [tag]Randy Messenger[/tag]. This is a tricky trade to evaluate from a fantasy standpoint. What’s Benetiz going to do in Florida? Can you really place him ahead of [tag]Kevin Gregg[/tag] into the closer spot? Can Benitez be placed in front of recently healed [tag]Henry Owens[/tag]? Does that mean Benitez is pitching the 7th inning now?

On the Giants side there are questions too. Does Brad Hennessey get the closers job or does he stay as the main set up guy and Randy Messenger slide right into the closers role?

Until the dust settles, let’s not make any rash moves. However, if you have some dead weight you were thinking about cutting, Hennessey is my pick in San Francisco and Gregg is my pick in Florida.

The [tag]Toronto Blue Jays[/tag] called up [tag]Brian Wolfe[/tag] from Syracuse on Monday. This 26 year old, right handed relief pitcher has a 20:4 k:bb ration in 21.1 innings of work. Those numbers in addition to his sub 1.00 ERA and WHIP could make him someone to watch if your league uses the holds category or if you’re in dire need of strikeouts.

Here is a list of 10 [tag]hitting prospects[/tag] that you should get to know. Get a head start on the competition in your keeper leagues.

“The following players were generally not considered among their respective organizations’ top five prospects before the season started, but all are off to good starts and could be considered top prospects by the end of the year.”

Here’s an interesting look at why sinkerballers may be great additions to your fantasy pitching staff.

If the 10 hitting prospects weren’t enough for you keeper league guys, check out what three draft experts have to say about the upcoming [tag]baseball draft[/tag]. P.S. It’s too early to draft any of these guys in any fantasy format.

The [tag]Minnesota Twins[/tag] said Sunday that they are considering demoting [tag]Ramon Ortiz[/tag] to the bullpen. If that happens, top [tag]pitching prospect[/tag], [tag]Kevin Slowey[/tag], would get the call up.

Slowey, who was one of the topics of my top minor league prospects article early in May, is still sporting a sick strikeout to walk ratio of 57:5. His 6-2 record with a 1.54 ERA could make him a very special addition to your fantasy roster. He’s now available in Yahoo leagues and should be considered in all formats for pickup off the waiver wire.

[tag]Milwaukee Brewers[/tag] [tag]starting pitcher[/tag], Dave Bush, received a vote of confidence from manager, Ned Yost, yesterday saying that Bush would remain in the starting rotation even though he is currently having trouble.

“This kid won 12 games for us last year,” Yost said. “It drives me crazy when you struggle a little bit and people want to start digging graves for them. That’s not the way the game is played. It’s not what I’m going to do.”

Asked to access Bush’s overall performance this season, Yost said, “He has had a couple of bad games and he’s had a couple of good games. He’s not giving up six runs every game. The games he has thrown the ball good, when he looks like Dave Bush, they’re good games.

Yost is right on that remark. [tag]Dave Bush[/tag] has only given up 6+ earned runs 3 times this season, out of 10 starts. He’s also had 3 starts where he gave up 4-5 earned runs and only 2 out of his 10 starts has Bush given up 2 runs or less.

Bush had had some considerable command issues so far this season. But working them out in the bullpen and calling up the Brewers top pitching prospect, [tag]Yovani Gallardo[/tag], isn’t an option.

Yost said calling up Gallardo and putting Bush in the bullpen for a spell to work out his problems is not a good idea because Bush has experienced most of his command problems while pitching from the stretch.

As we all looked at Bush this pre-season, we drafted him as a cheap option for strikeouts. However, at this point, his north of 6.00 ERA may be a deterrent to keeping him in your lineup. I am not an advocate of cutting Bush yet. But I would stash him on your bench until he brings his ERA down and starts winning ballgames.

The [tag]Milwaukee Brewers[/tag] have announced that they will be calling stud third base prospect [tag]Ryan Braun[/tag] up to the big leagues for Friday nights game.

Braun has been Brewers fans’ favorite prospect for a while now, he’s top a lot of my lists here, and now you should go out and sign him immediately (although, it’s probably too late in most competitive leagues).

The [tag]Chicago Cubs[/tag] have caused quite a buzz over the last 2 days in regards to their closer situation and whether or not [tag]Ryan Dempster[/tag] will remain the teams option for saves.

Sunday morning, word came out that Dempster would be moved to the starting rotation to give way for [tag]Carlos Marmol[/tag] to close out games. However, that news, and Dempsters spot in the rotation, was short lived, as the Cubs now say that Dempster will remain in the bullpen.

Who knows how this is going to unfold. If you have extra space on your fantasy squad, you may want to go grab Marmol or [tag]Angel Guzman[/tag] and see who ends up closing.

Run, don’t walk with this information, to your nearest beat the streak competition. There are a ton of hitting streaks going on in this weeks edition of Fantasy Baseball MVP’s.

Catcher: Jorge Posada (NYY) is having a heck of a year in 2007. He’s currently working on a 15 game hitting streak wich has been a catalyst to his top catcher honors here. Last week he averaged .476/.542/1.000 while hitting 3 home runs. Mike Napoli (LAA) hasn’t exactly been tearing it up this year, but last weeks .333/.350/.667 with a home run, 4 RBI and a stolen base may get him on the right track.

First Base / DH: Kevin Youkilis (BOS) is also working on a hitting streak. Youk’s is only 13 games, but nothing to shake a stick at. Last week he averaged .407/.429/.815 with 3 home runs and 7 runs batted in. Carlos Pena (TB) hit 2 home runs with 5 RBI last week while averaging .474/.565/.895.

Second Base: I guess this is the hitting streak edition of the weekly MVP list. Brandon Phillips (CIN) hit .375/.385/.750 while extending his hitting streak to 22. Phillips also had 2 home runs, 6 RBI and a stolen base. Dan Uggla (FLA) hit .300/.382/.600 last week while launching 2 home runs.

Third Base: Welcome to 2007, David Wright (NYM). It’s nice to finally see you on this list. Wright hit 4 home runs, 10 RBI and stole two bases while averaging .409/.462/1.000. Aramis Ramirez (CHC) came in a close second with .423/.464/.885 with 3 home runs and 12 RBI.

Outfield: Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) is also on a 13 game hitting streak, but the big news is that he swiped 8 bases last week. His power numbers are not top notch, but if he hits .577/.607/.577 and swipes 8 every week, do they have to be? One of my favorite spring training sleeper picks, Hunter Pence (HOU), is blasting the ball right now. Last week he averaged .591/.625/1.091 with 2 home runs, 5 RBI and a stolen base (P.S. Pence has an 8 game hitting streak going). Grady Sizemore (CLE) hit .444/.464/.704 while swiping 3 bases, clubbing 2 home runs and batting in 5. Victor Diaz (TEX) still may not have an everyday lineup spot, but last week he smashed 4 home runs and hit .400/.429/1.050. If he continues this, the Rangers will have to find a way to get him in the lineup.

Starting Pitcher: Randy Johnson (ARI) had a 2 win week. But that’s not as impressive as his 1.54 ERA and 0.69 WHIP. And that’s not even as impressive as his 19 strikeouts, which are big; but not crazy big until you notice that he didn’t allow a walk. A 19:0 k:bb ratio reminds me of the Big Unit of old. Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) also won 2 games, had an 11:0 k:bb ratio (which also is crazy good) and sported a 2.12 ERA and 0.88 WHIP.

Relief Pitcher: How many times am I going to mention Jose Valverde (ARI)? He notched 4 more saves this past week and didn’t give up an earned run. His WHIP was a tiny 0.50. He also had 4 strikeouts and zero walks. Brett Myers (PHI) may turn out to be a fit for the Phillies closer role. He recorded 3 saves last week with a 1.59 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. He did walk 4 batters, but struck out 8.