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MLB Mock Draft (cont.)

Posted: Monday June 5, 2006 12:04PM; Updated: Monday June 5, 2006 6:37PM
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By Bryan Smith, Special To SI.com

Brad Lincoln is a curveball specialist who piques the Devil Rays' interest at No. 3.
Brad Lincoln is a curveball specialist who piques the Devil Rays' interest at No. 3.
AP
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11. Arizona Diamondbacks: Tim Lincecum, RHP, Washington
It's a pitching-laden draft, and the Diamondbacks don't have a lot of pitching in their system. Lincecum has a shot of being ready this season and, with Arizona vying for a spot in the playoffs, could provide the Arizona pitching staff with a much-needed break in September.

12. Texas Rangers: Max Scherzer, RHP, Missouri
Texas is also going to draft a pitcher, and at this point it has likely narrowed it down to Scherzer and Texas prep Drabek. Both offer serious caveats: Scherzer has an injury history, Drabek a rap sheet. However, the two might be among the three most talented pitchers in the draft. If the Rangers are honest with themselves, and money isn't an issue, they'll tab Scherzer, who was at one time the top-ranked player in the draft.

13. Chicago Cubs: Travis Snider, OF, Jackson (Wash.) High
Chicago has the money to select any players who drop because of monetary reasons, but this pick will most likely be new scouting director Tim Wilken's call. Ignore those Jeff Samardzija rumors, despite Jim Hendry's close friendship with Notre Dame coach Paul Mainieri. Wilken prefers prep hitters, whom he selected often while laying the Blue Jays' foundation. With Rowell off the board, the Cubs will take Snider, the high school hitter with the sweetest swing in the draft.

14. Toronto Blue Jays: Greg Reynolds, RHP, Stanford
This would be a disappointing tumble for Reynolds, who many believed would be a top five pick. However, besides the Bucs, there isn't a good fit until the Blue Jays. If he drops to 14, Toronto will be forced to choose between Reynolds and Joba Chamberlain. Neither was discernably better than the other in 2006, so expect the Blue Jays to take the right-hander with more upside: the 6-foot-7 Stanford hurler.

15. Washington Nationals: Jeremy Jeffress, RHP, Halifax County (Va.) High
Washington has two picks in the first round this season, so they will be pinching pennies. This season Jeffress offers the same local angle that Ryan Zimmerman did a year ago. Jeffress is small and throws hard, touching triple digits often during his senior season. Dana Brown would be thrilled if he fell this far, but if he doesn't, they might look for a pre-draft deal.

16. Milwaukee Brewers: Joba Chamberlain, RHP, Nebraska
Milwaukee would be torn between Chamberlain and prep LHP Brett Anderson with this pick, as both players offer quite a bit of polish. But Joba is far more battle-tested, and his assortment of breaking pitches and Midwest connections should end his freefall here. Milwaukee has a solid foundation, but GM Doug Melvin must begin adding more pitching. Chamberlain is a step in the right direction.

17. San Diego Padres: Justin Masterson, RHP: San Diego State
As noted in a recent study by Kent Bonham at Baseball Analysts, no draft-eligible pitcher this season had an ERA more affected by context than Masterson. The big, hard-throwing Aztec suffered from the defense behind him, his home park and a tough schedule, so his true performance should be measured by the praise he receives from scouts. The Padres would want Chamberlain, and like Kyle McCulloch, but Masterson's hometown angle and 95 mph fastball will prove too tempting.

18. Philadelphia Phillies: Kyle Drabek, RHP, The Woodlands (Texas) High
Finally, a fit. The Phillies' farm system is hurting, so the best player available is a must for the franchise. No player offers better value than Drabek, who from a baseball standpoint is a top five talent. However, a recent Baseball America article chronicled Drabek's checkered past. The Phillies' weak farm will command them to overlook his past and hope that he puts it together as a pro.

19. Florida Marlins: Hank Conger, C, Huntington Beach (Calif.) High
Last year the Marlins used a slew of first-round picks to flood their farm system with prep pitching. The urge will be to do the same this year, especially with Pedro Beato still on the board. However, GM Larry Beinfest knows that to rebuild this organization he needs an offensive base. Many people have reservations about Conger's ability behind the plate, but no one questions his bat. The Fish will find a place for him somewhere with his switch-hitting power.

20. Minnesota Twins: Chris Marrero, 3B, Monsignor Pace (Fla.) High
It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Twins tab another college pitcher, or the polished Brett Anderson. However, their focus has been on pitchers the last two seasons, so the Twins will likely be leaning toward a hitter. In Marrero, Minnesota would have a player who entered the year on the verge of the top 10. A lackluster 2006 has done nothing to hide Marrero's power potential, even if his defense at the hot corner isn't great.

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