By Aaron Fitt
December 11, 2006

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2007.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. John Danks, lhp 2. Eric Hurley, rhp 3. Edinson Volquez, rhp 4. Thomas Diamond, rhp 5. John Mayberry Jr., of 6. Joaquin Arias, ss 7. Kasey Kiker, lhp 8. Nick Masset, rhp 9. Jason Botts, of/dh 10. Josh Rupe, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Joaquin Arias Best Power Hitter John Mayberry Jr. Best Strike-Zone Discipline Tug Hulett Fastest Baserunner Freddy Guzman Best Athlete John Mayberry Jr. Best Fastball Eric Hurley Best Curveball John Danks Best Slider Josh Rupe Best Changeup Edinson Volquez Best Control Danny Ray Herrera Best Defensive Catcher Taylor Teagarden Best Defensive Infielder Joaquin Arias Best Infield Arm Joaquin Arias Best Defensive Outfielder Freddy Guzman Best Outfield Arm John Mayberry Jr.

PROJECTED 2010 LINEUP

Catcher Gerald Laird First Base Mark Teixeira Second Base Ian Kinsler Third Base Hank Blalock Shortstop Michael Young Left Field John Mayberry Jr. Center Field Brad Wilkerson Right Field Nelson Cruz Designated Hitter Jason Botts No. 1 Starter John Danks No. 2 Starter Eric Hurley No. 3 Starter Kevin Millwood No. 4 Starter Edinson Volquez No. 5 Starter Thomas Diamond Closer Akinori Otsuka

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2006 1997 Danny Kolb, rhp Brewers 1998 Ruben Mateo, of Out of baseball 1999 Ruben Mateo, of Out of baseball 2000 Ruben Mateo, of Out of baseball 2001 Carlos Pena, 1b Red Sox 2002 Hank Blalock, 3b Rangers 2003 Mark Teixeira, 3b Rangers 2004 Adrian Gonzalez, 1b Padres 2005 Thomas Diamond, rhp Rangers 2006 Edison Volquez, rhp Rangers

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2006 1997 Jason Romano, 3b Devil Rays 1998 Carlos Pena, 1b Red Sox 1999 Colby Lewis, rhp Tigers 2000 Scott Heard, c Out of baseball 2001 Mark Teixeira, 3b Rangers 2002 Drew Meyer, ss Rangers 2003 John Danks, lhp Rangers 2004 Thomas Diamond, rhp Rangers 2005 John Mayberry Jr., of Rangers 2006 Kasey Kiker, lhp Rangers

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Mark Teixeira, 2001 $4,500,000 John Danks, 2003 $2,100,000 Vincent Sinisi, 2003 $2,070,000 Thomas Diamond, 2004 $2,025,000 Drew Meyer, 2002 $1,875,000

RANGERS LINKS

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In his first year as Rangers general manager, Jon Daniels proved he wasn't afraid to take risks. He also wasn't willing to compromise his vision for the future of the franchise. That vision began to materialize in 2006, just perhaps not as quickly as Texas hoped.

With a potent offense, the Rangers hung around in the American League West race until the middle of the summer. They finished 80-82, good enough for third place, 13 games behind the division-winning Athletics. Afterward, Daniels fired manager Buck Showalter and replaced him with former Oakland bench coach Ron Washington.

As usual, Texas was undone by its lack of pitching. Kevin Millwood, who signed a five-year, $60 million free agent contract before the 2006 season, gave the Rangers a reliable workhorse at the front of their staff for the first time in years. Fellow Daniels acquisitions Vicente Padilla and Robinson Tejeda were solid for 47 starts between them, but the rest of the rotation was riddled with question marks.

Adam Eaton, acquired to be the No. 2 starter in a deal for Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez, was a major disappointment with a finger injury and departed for the Phillies as a free agent in November. Two other trade acquisitions, John Koronka and John Rheinecker, couldn't get the job done. Edinson Volquez, No. 1 on this list a year ago, couldn't adjust to the majors, and Kameron Loe couldn't make the transition from reliever to starter.

If the Millwood and Padilla signings were a success and the Eaton trade a failure, the jury is still out on the two biggest deals Daniels made in his first year. Prior to the season, he shipped free-agent-to-be Alfonso Soriano to the Nationals for Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge and minor league righthander Armando Galarraga. Soriano became the fourth member of the 40-40 club while Wilkerson and Galarraga were busts.

Just before the July trade deadline, Daniels picked up another pending free agent, Carlos Lee, and outfield prospect Nelson Cruz from the Brewers in exchange for Francisco Cordero, Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix and minor league righty Julian Cordero. Lee couldn't put Texas over the top and signed with the Astros in November. Cruz could become the Rangers' everyday right fielder in 2007.

Despite his willingness to make moves, Daniels refused to mortgage Texas' pitching future. He did dangle some of his top pitching prospects in front of the Marlins in a potential Josh Beckett deal in November 2005, only to have his offer trumped by the Red Sox. Afterward, Daniels held on to John Danks, Eric Hurley, Volquez and Thomas Diamond. They continued their steady development under first-year farm director Scott Servais, though all four struggled at different points in the season.

It wasn't a great year for Texas' farm system, as several of its most heralded prospects (especially its position players) leveled off and the six U.S. affiliates combined for a .423 winning percentage-the worst mark in baseball. But a number of the Rangers' 2006 draftees made impressive pro debuts, including lefthander Kasey Kiker (first round), shortstop Marcus Lemon (fourth) and outfielder/first baseman Chris Davis (fifth). Led by international scouting director A.J. Preller, Texas brought in another impressive haul in Latin America, highlighted by promising 16-year-old hurlers Wilmer Font and Geuris Grullon and 17-year-old third baseman/catcher Emmanuel Solis.

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