Jim Callis: They've gotten a year's head start on Harvey, so they have a jump on him and I'd give them the edge over him now. But Harvey, once he's fully recovered from his knee injury, will be a five-tool player. His power ceiling is much higher than either of those two, and he can be a standout right fielder with solid average speed.

Jim Callis: It all comes down to the bat with Theriot. He can pick it, and he knows his offensive game is to get on base. But he's also a career .245 hitter with a .300 slugging percentage, and he's going to have to do a lot better to make it to the majors.

Jim Callis: The Cubs have a pretty deep Top 10, so don't be surprised. He has solid average stuff across the board, but not plus stuff, and that's why he didn't rank higher. I do think he's a sleeper who gets overshadowed by a lot of other arms in their system, and he's pitched consistently well, especially considering his youth. He could have made the Top 10 in some organizations, but he's more of an 11-20 guy right now.

Jim Callis: I like Choi, but the deal makes sense for the Cubs. They have money to spend, and they know exactly what they're getting in Lee. I understand it from the Marlins' end, too, as they're looking to control costs and have a surplus of corner infielders. From what we can gather, the player to be named is not significant, despite what Florida GM Larry Beinfest said. Adding Lee shouldn't hamper the Cubs financially, so they can still do whatever they feel they need to do. They're one of the few clubs willing to add payroll right now. Lee could hit 40 homers now that he's out of Pro Player Stadium. The only negative is that the Cubs lineup is very righthanded now. I still think Choi will become a good big leaguer, but he probably won't start for Florida this year.

Jim Callis: There's no real magic answer to this. The workload was heavy for a 22-year-old, but there also are a lot of people around baseball who question whether he's really 22. He did fade down the stretch, but he also has a strong frame. We'll have to wait and see.

Jim Callis: Harris wasn't as strong in 2003 as he was in 2002, but don't give up on him yet. I also believe Ramirez is signed only through 2004. Harris will hit for average and the Cubs expect to see 20-homer power in time. I think he'll spend this year in Triple-A, playing second and third base, and the Cubs will try to plug him into one of those spots in 2005.

Jim Callis: Thanks for the compliment, though my column already is a bit outdated with the Lee trade. I think the guy most likely to be lost would be Szuminski, because he pitched well in the Arizona Fall League and is closest to being ready. Blasdell is a sleeper favorite of mine, though he has to figure out a way to get lefties out. Pigniatello might have the highest ceiling because he's a lefty starter, though his stuff is more like Kirk Rueter's than Andy Sisco's or Justin Jones'.

Jim Callis: Some of the Cubs still see Montanez as an offensive second baseman, but he's going to have to start showing a lot more offense. He's not on my Top 30. As for sleepers, we've touched on Nolasco and Blasdell. Righthander Jason Wylie flies under the radar, and third baseman Matt Craig has an interesting bat.

Jim Callis: He's one of several catchers the Cubs have drafted and signed in the last two years. He's more of an offensive guy and the Cubs have brought him along slowly. He's a name to watch right now but nothing more than that.

Jim Callis: I don't like to make those comparisons, either, but that's fair enough. Tall lefty, good stuff, I'll give you that.

Jim Callis: Angel Guzman is their top prospect, but he will not break camp as Chicago's fifth starter. The Cubs are going to be very careful with him and may even keep him in extended spring training in April. They won't rush him and he might not be up until September. The free-agent market is glutted with starting pitching options and will be glutted further during nontender season.

Jim Callis: His fastball is a 60 pitch and projects as a 70 on the 20-80 scale. His slider ranges from 40-60 and needs more consistency. His changeup is a 50. If he masters that slider and adds the velocity he should, he'll be overpowering and pitch in the front of a rotation.

Jim Callis: I can't imagine either guy would be drafted, but almost every team makes 40-man decisions that look odd. The Cubs are still high on infielder Ronnie Cedeno, whom they've rushed way too much. Carlos Vasquez is a promising lefty, but the Cubs have ton of them. I will say this, though, that GM Jim Hendry & Co. do a good job of evaluating young talent.

Jim Callis: Guzman if he's healthy. At times, he'll show you three different 70 pitches on the 20-80 scale. I like all of those guys and still believe in Cruz. I'd give him the chance to win the No. 5 starter spot, but he seems like a likely candidate to be traded.

Jim Callis: There's a lot of varying opinion within the organization on this one. But I've also talked to scouts outside the organization who believe he can hit .275 with 20-25 homers a year. I'd break him in this year as a reserve corner outfielderfirst baseman, get him 200-250 at-bats, and see if he can take over for Moises Alou in 2005.

Jim Callis: They're all coming back from injuries and they'll have to prove themselves in the minors before making it to the Wrigley bullpen.

Jim Callis: Mallory is a tremendous athlete who just hasn't hit enough. Johnson isn't really in that class as an athlete, but he hasn't hit for the last two years. Neither is on the Top 30.

Jim Callis: Hagerty is No. 11 on my list, and would have made most Top 10s even though he missed the year with Tommy John surgery. He probably will return at midseason 2004. If his slider comes back to where it was in spring training right before he got hurt, he'll move very quick. As I mentioned earlier, I really like Wylie. He throws in the low 90s with a lot of life on his fastball and has an average or better slider.

Jim Callis: Yes, very much so. But he's also a couple years away from the majors and needs to stay healthy.

Jim Callis: That's true. Just looking at my Top 10, injuries or tired arms befell Guzman, Jones, Sisco (though it wasn't pitching-related) and Brownlie, and we just talked about Hagerty and Beltran, who were on last year's Top 10. I wouldn't hold that against the Cubs in particular, because I don't think there's any one reason for all that. But it does point out that organizations with more pitching depth than hitting depth often don't see their prospects pan out as much when the reverse is true. As for the second question, I think the Cubs probably fit in the 6-10 range when we rank all 30 organizations. Their position player crop doesn't look as strong as it did, even with the addition of Ryan Harvey.

Jim Callis: That could have gone either way. I just think Brownlie has a slightly higher ceiling. He doesn't have an arm problem per se. What happened was he got ready to pitch in January, rather than March, because he was negotiating with the Cubs. He just ran out of gas after midseason, but there's nothing wrong with his arm.

Jim Callis: It's the nature-nurture argument. Can you teach a hitter discipline or does he have to possess it on his own? I think what you're seeing is a result of the Cubs not emphasizing plate discipline when they've drafted, rather than poor instruction or something else.

Jim Callis: Some clubs saw Blasko as a reliever when the Cubs drafted him, but his secondary pitches improved and his long arm action turned out to be a plus (because it's deceptive) rather than a negative. He made a ton of progress last year and may not need much more than another year in the minors.

Jim Callis: Very good character guy, often compared to John Cangelosi, more of a fourth or fifth outfielder.

Jim Callis: No. Every indication I've had is that it's not a player who made my Top 30. My best guess is righthander Anderson Tavarez, who has a solid average sinkerslider combination.

Jim Callis: The Cubs talked about finding a rotation slot for him after the 2002 season, but they have so many pitching prospects that just wasn't doable. I think they'll groom him as a reliever.

Jim Callis: It's too early. Marshall had a very impressive debut summer, but he pitches anywhere from 84-93 mph and has a good curveball. Let's see how he does next year.

Jim Callis: I assume Steve is referring to the Top 10 list. David Kelton could be a reserve this year, with Angel Guzman coming up in September. Bobby Brownlie and Chadd Blasko could enter the picture sometime in 2005, as could Brendan Harris. But there's no one who will step in and be a major factor. I keep tinkering with the order, but as of right now (and barring further trades), my 11-13 is Luke Hagerty, Jason Dubois and Todd Wellemeyer.

Jim Callis: Both were disappointing. Fox is an offensive guy whose catching wasn't as good as the Cubs hoped, while Richie was hampered by shoulder problems and didn't hit much. If Richie can get healthy, I see him as a good receiver who could hit .270 with some line-drive power and some walks.

Jim Callis: I would have been bothered had they brought back Randall Simon and kept Choi on the bench. They're a legit contender, and when you get the chance to add Derrek Lee for a guy who hasn't produced yet and still has to show he can hit quality breaking balls or inside fastballs, you take it. If they don't retain Lee beyond 2004, David Kelton and Jason Dubois would be two in-house options for first base.

Jim Callis: He's just outside the Top 10. Wellemeyer has a very strong arm but must resist overthrowing and keep his pitches down in the strike zone. He also needs to refine the consistency of his slider. His changeup is OK, so a lot of teams would look at him as a starter. He's also one of the Cubs' prime pieces of trade bait.

Jim Callis: Like Wellemeyer, Dubois just missed. Kelton is a better outfielder than Dubois, who might be limited to first base in the majors despite a good arm. I give Kelton the nod because he's a year younger and a year ahead of Dubois, and put up similar Double-A numbers to Dubois in 2001 and 2002.

Jim Callis: Petrick hasn't even pitched full-season ball and is still developing a breaking pitch. So while his ceiling is high, he's still got a long ways to go to reach it. It's often easier to get excited about prospects at the lower end of the system because they haven't had time to struggle.

Jim Callis: More trades are likely coming. There's no shortstop close to helping. Brendan Harris could be an option at second in 2005. And what's wrong with Corey Patterson in center? Nic Jackson could bounce back and be a center-field option, but the Cubs are committed to Patterson.

Jim Callis: He's on the Top 30 but he's not Top 10-worthy. He's got OK stuff and relies on deception. Those guys often get exposed at the higher levels.

Jim Callis: I haven't studied this closely enough to give a definitive answer, but their pitching probably ranks in the top three organizations and the hitting around the middle of the pack. I like Tony Richie the most of their 2003 catching draftees.

Jim Callis: Somewhat. He has good tools, but he has been hurt a lot and struggled a lot the last two years. He needs to get back on track with a solid year in Triple-A to put himself in the mix to contend for the left field spot that Moises Alou will vacate. Realistically, he'd probably be of most help to the Cubs as trade bait, but he needs to perform better to up his market value.

Jim Callis: That's his biggest problem. There's nothing wrong with his stuff or command.

Jim Callis: I'm not saying he'll be that good, because he's so far away, but righty Carlos Marmol might be that guy. He threw 94-96 mph while leading the Arizona League in strikeouts, but he's also very raw.

Jim Callis: Wow, very tough question. Assuming both are healthy, I might go with Hagerty because he was more advanced with his breaking ball when he got hurt. I don't know, though. Ask me again in five minutes and I might say Sisco.

Jim Callis: I wrote a column on what I would do as Cubs GM this offseason, and I'd target Jose Vidro. I don't even know if you'd have to give up both Juan Cruz and Kelton, given Omar Minaya's track record as a trader.

Jim Callis: Very, very good power, second only to former Dunedin (Fla.) HS teammate Ryan Harvey in the organization, needs to work on all other aspects of his game. Making consistent contact will be the key to getting Dopirak to the majors.

Jim Callis: I think my favorite BA day of the year is the day we ship the Prospect Handbook to the printer. Pie played very well for his age in the Midwest League, and he was 18 all year. As impressive as the season was and as talented an athlete he is, he has a ways to go offensively. His approach and stance aren't conducive to driving the ball and he lacks baserunningbasestealing instincts.

Jim Callis: Can Harvey put up a .734 OPS next year in Lansing? Yes. It's not about what players did in 2003, it's what they will do in the majors. I can see Pie becoming a .300 hitter, but Harvey can hit .280 with 40 homers. I'd take Harvey.

Jim Callis: I wouldn't read too much into Arizona League stats. He threw in the 90s with a good curveball, and got hit when he left his stuff up in the zone. It's way, way too early to compare him to Roy Oswalt, and his curveball isn't THAT good.

Jim Callis: I'm nowhere close to doing my list yet, but I'd say the first seven guys (Angel Guzman, Justin Jones, Ryan Harvey, Andy Sisco, Felix Pie, Bobby Brownlie, Chadd Blasko) have a good chance.

Jim Callis: It comes down to which player you'd rather have in the long run, and I think Harvey is better the Pie and Sisco. I will say, however, that you could rank the seven guys I just mentioned in almost any conceivable order and be able to defend your decision.

Jim Callis: Webb bounced back in the Arizona Fall League after his stuff dipped following 2001 Tommy John surgery. He was throwing in the low 90s and flashed a good slider. With the Cubs, he'd probably be a middle reliever because of their pitching depth.

Jim Callis: Harvey and Jones. I think Harvey is a safer bet to hit and has more power than Milledge, and I'll take that over Milledge's superior athleticism. The pitchers are close, but Jones has more polish and a better frame.

Jim Callis: Wow, taking shots at the rest of the division. Astros righty Taylor Buchholz and outfielder Jason Lane and Cardinals righty Blake Hawksworth (Sisco's high school teammate) would have made the Top 10, but that's it. Hawksworth would have been in upper half and Buchholz and Lane would have been toward the end of the Top 10.

Jim Callis: His slider is average at best, so he's going to have to be a hard-throwing lefty reliever. That will be his role in Triple-A in 2004.

Jim Callis: I'm still an officer in the Juan Cruz Fan Club, but he's failed enough times in the majors that I'll have to go with Guzman. There are a ton of questions remaining and not much time, so I'm heading into lightning-round mode. One-sentence answers only, assuming I can control myself!

Jim Callis: I've addressed Richie and Fox, and the jury is still out on both. My personal opinion is that Landon Powell has been way overhyped, and yes, I know we at Baseball America are responsible for some of that. He has a big body, and scouts think it will go south, and he hasn't hit for power despite his bulk. Throw in a seven-figure bonus demand, and why pursue that. Fuld had a great summer on the Cape and scouts love his makeup but wonder if he's really more than a fourth outfielder because he's a tweener. The Cubs couldn't give him enough money to make him forego his final year at Stanford. I wouldn't fault them on either decision.

Jim Callis: They like his physical potential but he's had two woeful years in the Arizona League.

Jim Callis: Because he's their best catching prospect and it won't be Damian Miller.

Jim Callis: I'd sign him, they have money to spare, maybe four years at $50 million?

Jim Callis: Don't really see one because it's hard for a pitcher to win and I think it's too early for Ryan Harvey or Felix Pie.

Jim Callis: He has some gap power and good speed but still needs time to adjust from moving from the outfield to shortstop.

Jim Callis: What crazy guy wrote that? I guess that would be me. I still like Cruz, as mentioned, but I'd be surprised if Dusty Baker had the faith to make him the No. 5 starter, and Cruz really hasn't earned it.

Jim Callis: Todd Wellemeyer or John Leicester, but they're more likely to go shopping for relievers.

Jim Callis: Has a chance but has to get healthy first.

Jim Callis: He has a legit bat but finding a defensive home is a priority, as he's kind of rough at third and second would be a stretch.

Jim Callis: Legit prospect but wouldn't shock me to see him traded either.

Jim Callis: Pitchers don't always pan out, but the Cubs have the big league nucleus, farm system and financial resources to contend for a while and none of their division rivals don't have all three.

Jim Callis: Good news: The Brewers may have the best farm system in the game. Bad news: Bud Selig still owns the team.

Jim Callis: That's the next step, incorporating homegrown talent. Carlos Zambrano wasn't homegrown, but he was a Cubs system product. You also have to give the Cubs credit for having quality prospects to make trades to bolster their team. But you're right, their late-1990s drafts look very average right now.

Jim Callis: Fastest guy in the system, led the Florida State League in OBP, old for that level, hard to project as a starter but better than most pure speedsters.

Jim Callis: Chirinos has some upside and is a name to watch, more than just a guy but not a Top 30 Prospect right now.

Jim Callis: There isn't much of a trade market for Alex Gonzalez, is there? They're probably stuck with him for 2004.

Jim Callis: He's in the 11-20 range, and I keep shuffling the order around. My guess is he could be trade bait, especially if he's going to get a chance to start.

Jim Callis: I would, especially because I wouldn't want to pay Clement as a free agent after 2004.

Jim Callis: It was a financial decision, but I would have spent the extra $300,000 or so to get Harvey, because I like his power more than Lubanski's line-drivespeed game. Nothing wrong with Lubanski, though.

Jim Callis: None of those guys is real close, Dopirak is the best of that group, Hoffpauir started fast and faded in 2003, not real high on Collins.

Jim Callis: Lefties Sean Marshall (sixth round) and Darin Downs (fifth), righty Robert Ransom (23rd).

Jim Callis: You hit the nail on the head, Hill misses a lot of bats but needs to throw a lot more strikes, could be pretty interesting if he figures it out.

Jim Callis: Never was 100 percent after coming down with tendinitis in the spring, could be very impressive next year, has a very good curveball.

Jim Callis: Well, one outlet compared Brendan Harris to Albert Pujols last year, which was preposterous. I like Felix Pie, but I think some fans expect him to be a five-tool Superman, and I don't see the power. Similarly, I like Brian Dubois, but I think some fans are getting overly excited by his Arizona Fall League numbers.

Jim Callis: They'll nontender him rather than go to arbitration, and it would be foolish for anyone to trade for him rather than just pick him up as a free agent.

Jim Callis: I thought I said "can" rather than "will."

Jim Callis: Good curveball, very good command and makeup, but his ceiling is limited by an 83-85 mph fastball.

Jim Callis: Has a shot but not a huge one because he's old (25 next season) and limited to first base.

Jim Callis: Live arm, doesn't always harness it, projects more as a reliever, lots of teams ask about him in trade talks.

Jim Callis: He threw better in the Cape Cod League than he did at Vanderbilt, needs more life on his fastball and to improve his secondary pitches.

Jim Callis: I heard the Cubs offered both Juan Cruz and Todd Wellemeyer, and I would have taken that over what the Giants gave up. The Cubs wanted Pierzynski and went after him hard, only to come in second.

Jim Callis: Kaz Matsui would solve a lot of problems but I haven't heard him mentioned with the Cubs.

Jim Callis: He has a good curveball but his stuff is fairly average, definitely can make it there but probably not in a major role.

Jim Callis: Nope. They've gotten lucky with Mark Prior (2001), Bobby Brownlie (2002) and Ryan Harvey (2003), but Verlander isn't lasting 25 picks.

Jim Callis: Just the Dontrelle deal, but that made sense at the time and I don't think even the Marlins thought he'd be this good.

Jim Callis: I'm the man. He's athletic for a catcher but not real big and hasn't hit with much authority, so he's a long ways away.

Jim Callis: So many injuries that he's just a longshot now.

Jim Callis: Has some athleticism, probably more of a corner guy than a center fielder so he'll have to really hit.

Jim Callis: Just mentioned Boyer, Cherry has a low-90s sinker and decent breaker but also a history of injuries in college.

Jim Callis: More than enough, and wouldn't the Rangers almost be better served by getting rid of A-Rod, no matter how good he is, and allocating that $25 million to 3-4 players rather than one?

Jim Callis: Best player available in the first few rounds, then look for some up-the-middle players later.

Jim Callis: Good athlete, never has really hit, just a fringy guy at best.

Jim Callis: Nondrafted free agent from Creighton (where Jim Hendry once coached), second straight Cubs NDFA to win the Arizona League batting title, best tool is speed, has to prove it at much higher levels but he bears watching.