Aaron Fitt: Hello everyone, sorry for the delay.

Aaron Fitt: Mathis did indeed make the top 30. He's a guy that really trusted the organization and stayed on his program, finding a more consistent balance point through his delivery so his arm could catch up, and the results were obvious in 2006. With a quality repertoire that includes four average pitches, he profiles as a mid- to back- of the rotation starter.

Aaron Fitt: I was just talking about Ogando this morning with Rangers' Latin American scouting director A.J. Preller -- they love what they've seen in his arm, but the question is whether or not he'll be able to secure a visa to come to the states. Right now that is a question mark, and no immediate answer appears on the horizon. But Ogando is intriguing -- he's got a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and touches the upper 90s, and he also has a quality power slider. For a converted guy, Ogando also has a surprisingly good feel for the strike zone.

Aaron Fitt: Frostad is a nice sleeper prospect whose bat will have to carry him. He's working on improving his catching -- he's only been doing it a year -- but his throwing needs to get more consistent, as does his footwork, release, and ability to block balls in the dirt. He does have a good knack for calling games.

Aaron Fitt: I still believe Teagarden is Texas' catcher of the future, yes. He swung the bat well in instructs, and his back is fully healed, and the Rangers expect him to be fully recovered from his Tommy John surgery by the spring. He could start the year at Clinton, but I would expect him to see high Class A before too long. He's about as polished a defensive catcher as you'll find in the minors, so he could move quickly.

Aaron Fitt: The entire group is promising, but my favorite is Castillo, a precocious teenager with an electric arm and a 91-95 mph fastball. He also should have a plus curveball, and he shows good feel for a changeup, though he seldom had to use it in the DSL.

Aaron Fitt: I think Teagarden's omission from the projected 2010 lineup is more a credit to Laird than a slight of Teagarden. Remember, in these projected lineups, we don't assume that any player will leave the organization via free agency or trade. But I believe Teagarden could supplant Laird by 2010.

Aaron Fitt: Hurley and Danks are very, very close. I flip-flopped on them ad nauseum, in fact, before finally settling on Danks because he's a polished lefthander with three quality pitches who held his own as one of the youngest players in the PCL. For me, Danks' ability to make adjustments at every level is what really sets him apart from most prospects. I love Hurley's power stuff, and I still think he might have a higher ceiling than Danks, but Danks is a pretty safe bet, in my mind.

Aaron Fitt: Those two guys were head and shoulders above Volquez, for me. Serious questions have emerged about Volquez' ability to command his fastball and make adjustments. His stuff is still electric, but I he doesn't have the feel for pitching that Danks and Hurley have, and that is an awfully important distinction.

Aaron Fitt: Yeah, the winter performance caused Masset's stock to peak, which is why I wouldn't be surprised if the Rangers dealt him now while his value is at its highest. But they very well could hold onto him, because clearly relief pitching is at a premium in the crazy market this year. I think he would be decent insurance for Otsuka -- his stuff is certainly good enough to close in the big leagues, and it appears he has really settled in with that role.

Aaron Fitt: I did not consider Santana for the top 10 because of his labrum surgery, but AJ Preller reports he swung the bat well in instructs and is now in a throwing program, throwing up to 120 feet. He should be good to go by the time extended spring training starts April 1, but the Rangers aren't going to rush him. His talent is very tantalizing, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the top 10 a year or two from now.

Aaron Fitt: Brigham looks like a potential as a sixth-round pick out of a Florida high school. He's very athletic -- he played a lot of shortstop in high school -- but hasn't really pitched all that much. He loves to pitch and is a good competitor, and his stuff is interesting -- fastball up to 92 mph, and a good hard curveball. He should pitch at Clinton at some point next year.

Aaron Fitt: Yeah, Lemon checked in at No. 12, one spot behind another 2006 draftee, power-hitting Chris Davis. Lemon's tools aren't off the charts, but his makeup and instincts are -- comparable to Ian Kinsler, in that regard. Players like that have a way of making it.

Aaron Fitt: Danks is not a flamethrower, but he does ratchet his fastball up to 94 at times, which is pretty darn good for a lefthander. And his secondary stuff is very good -- chance for two plus offspeed pitches and a fastball that is at least solid average. I wouldn't rule out the possibility that he could even throw a little harder as he continues to add strength.

Aaron Fitt: It looks like the strength of the 2007 crop will be high school players -- it's an outstanding group of prepsters. The college ranks are thin, but there are a number of potential high-impact college relievers who could move quickly, such as Daniel Moskos, Cole St.Clair and Josh Fields. One of those guys could be a very good fit for the Rangers, I think.

Aaron Fitt: I haven't heard anyone bring up that option, but it makes some sense. My guess is it's more likely they'll trade Arias, because he's got a chance to be a quality big league shortstop, and he's still very young. But I bet he'd make a fine center fielder.

Aaron Fitt: To follow up on Arias, remember that he played all year as a 21-year-old in Triple-A, and he's never repeated a level. He still has the tools to be a productive big league hitter, and the Rangers certainly have not lowered expectations for him.

Aaron Fitt: Scouts who saw Diamond in the second half were actually encouraged by the development of his slider, which I think will be key for him to have a chance as a starter. If he can rely on that pitch as a complement to his fastball and changeup, and if he can improve his command, he could still be a quality starter. That last "if" is the big one, though.

Aaron Fitt: The Rangers have plenty of depth with their relief pitching right now, giving them pieces to use in a trade or flexibility to set up their bullpen a number of different ways. If they keep Otsuka and use Masset to set him up, Littleton isn't a bad guy to have pitching the seventh inning.

Aaron Fitt: Volquez has great makeup, but I would think confidence would have to be an issue to some degree because of the magnitude of his struggles. 2007 is a big, big year for him -- could determine if he ends up in the rotation or the pen down the road.

Aaron Fitt: One scout who saw Hurley during that stretch thought he looked a little disinterested, which doesn't exactly fit Hurley's profile but does explain why he got hit. I think some of it could also be chalked up to the struggles of that Bakersfield team -- losing can take its toll on players, even in the minors. In any case, it doesn't seem like reason for much concern.

Aaron Fitt: Herren got off to a rough start this year and it snowballed on him, but he felt like going back to Spokane and regrouping was the best thing for him. He did make a few adjustments in the second half, getting off his back side more and driving the ball more consistently, but certainly his prospect star has faded somewhat. You can't write off a 21-year-old kid with decent tools, but he's not a top-30 prospect in that organization right now.

Aaron Fitt: That's not a bad comparison, although Wilkerson can play center field in a pinch, and Harrison will never be able to. He's a corner bat with above-average power who punishes fastballs, and his performance in the Venezuelan Winter League was very encouraging. I think he's improved his stock from a potential fourth outfielder to a possible everyday left fielder, with a solid arm and fringy range.

Aaron Fitt: He does still have a long swing and remains vulnerable inside, but the progress he made correcting those things in the last year is a very good sign. I don't think the Rangers are too worried about the strikeouts -- big, long power hitters tend to strike out more than other types of players, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that. As for Poveda, his performance at a young age in the Midwest League was nice to see, and I think he's got a real chance to be a mid-rotation starter down the road. He's got a good feel for pitching and an excellent changeup to go along with an 88-92 mph fastball that figures to add velocity as he fills out.

Aaron Fitt: He checked in at 13.

Aaron Fitt: There are a number of decent prospects at the lower levels who are a long way off but have quality tools: Poveda, second baseman Jose Vallejo, Lemon, Davis, Johnny Whittleman, Jacob Rasner, Brigham, and a group of very young Latin players that includes Fabio Castillo, Cristian Santana, Emmanuel Solis, Wilmer Font and Geuris Grullon.

Aaron Fitt: Danks is behind those three guys simply because he doesn't have the same kind of power stuff they've got. Hamels, Elbert and Miller could all be No. 1 starters, but I don't think anyone projects Danks as a No. 1.

Aaron Fitt: I don't think so -- looks more like a solid organizational player at this point.

Aaron Fitt: I think this one gets question of the day -- nicely phrased. My gut is that Rupe winds up in the bullpen -- that seems to be the only place he feels comfortable and stays healthy, for whatever reason.

Aaron Fitt: I've still got Teagarden ahead of Tracy on the depth chart, because Teagarden is an exceptional defensive catcher, but there are serious doubts about Tracy's defense. If I had to bet on it, I'd say Tracy ends up at first base down the line. But he'll probably start as the catcher at Clinton this year, assuming Teagarden goes to the Cal League.

Aaron Fitt: Chris Davis can really kill the ball, and he brings a much-needed power bat to the system. As I mentioned earlier, he just missed the top 10, coming in at 11. He's probably ticketed for Clinton this year, though I wouldn't be shocked to see him push his way to high A.

Aaron Fitt: Rough year, but still on the map. He's just still very raw, and he needs to work on some mechanical things at the plate, such as improving his timing. He's got excellent makeup though, and I expect him to bounce back.

Aaron Fitt: Just a brutal year for both of those guys -- a number of younger players in this system did not perform like the Rangers hoped they would. Funk really struggled to repeat his delivery, and his confidence sank. Kirkman pulled a hamstring early on and was never able to get his mechanics in synch. Both guys are young, but clearly there is much work to be done.

Aaron Fitt: The Rangers did not use a premium pick on pitching in 2005, instead opting for Mayberry in the first round and concentrating on pitching in the middle rounds. Some of those guys, like Funk and Kirkman, really struggled, and others made slow but steady progress, like Jake Rasner and Doug Mathis. But they used their top pick on pitching this year, taking Kasey Kiker, and he's in their top 10. Danks, Hurley and Diamond are at the higher levels of the minors, however, and a young, recent draft pick wasn't going to supplant them unless he was something really special.

Aaron Fitt: I think it comes down to this: Herrera can pitch, no matter what the altitude. He absolutely befuddles hitters with his unusual repertoire and ability to spot his pitches anywhere he wants, and that recipe will make him successful whether he's pitching in Death Valley or the top of Mount Rainier. He's a legitimate prospect, and it will be very interesting to see how he fares against more advanced competition. Gimmick pitchers eventually get eaten up in the big leagues, but Herrera just might be more than a gimmick pitcher, thanks to his impeccable command and toughness.

Aaron Fitt: Daniel Bard.

Aaron Fitt: Exactly. Botts could platoon at DH this year, but Mayberry and Arias both have a chance to be everyday position players, and potentially standouts.

Aaron Fitt: Teagarden slipped only because new players entered the system. I don't think his value declined, but Kiker's a better prospect, and Davis and Lemon might be as well after their encouraging debuts. As for Herrera, I think he continues to start at AA next year, but I think he profiles as a reliever eventually. He ended up ranking in the 25-30 range.

Aaron Fitt: He's built like Jermaine Dye, with a similar tools package.

Aaron Fitt: I still don't think he's a future true No. 1 starter, but I think he can be a legit No. 2. But remember, not all clubs have a true No. 1 starter, so a guy who would be a "classic" No. 2 might end up at the front of your rotation. I would cite Kevin Millwood as an example of this.

Aaron Fitt: He's a guy worth keeping an eye on. He started strong in 2006 before struggling with his command and confidence in the middle of the season and then finishing strong. He's an 87-90 guy with a good, short, downer curveball and a good feel for a changeup. Not loud stuff, but interesting.

Aaron Fitt: Lightning round time. Webster was in the 20s. He had a good bounceback year, i'm just not sold on his profile -- seems more like an extra outfielder.

Aaron Fitt: With his outstanding plate discipline and instincts, Hulett's got a chance, but he'll have to prove it at every level.

Aaron Fitt: Haigwood's stuff is fringy, and he struggled with his command this year. He was a low-20s type guy. There is indeed still hope for Galarraga -- it looked like he was getting his arm strength back toward the end of the year. I still love his FB-SL mix and his aggressive approach, and I think he's in for a big bounceback year in 07.

Aaron Fitt: No, not even close. I'd put them in the back third -- a number of their guys took steps back this year, and until some of the younger talent starts to develop more, it's not a great system. There's a reason there are so many relievers in their top 15.

Aaron Fitt: Harrison's 25 now, and he's hardly a shoo-in to be an everyday big leaguer outfielder. He really needs to improve against breaking balls -- if he does that in 2007, his stock will rise.

Aaron Fitt: That's it for me. Thanks everyone for stopping by -- I enjoyed it, as always.