Injuries open door for notable minor-league callups

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Isn't it great when the biggest news of the week was the signing of minor league free agent contract to a last-place team? The Yankees and Roger Clemens stole the baseball spotlight but others have been quietly been making news and for at least another month likely will have a bigger impact on the major leagues than The Rocket. Here are this week's relative unknowns and whether or not you should know them for your fantasy team.

Reggie Willits, OF, Angels: Garret Anderson's torn hip flexor tendon meant that the switch-hitting Willits went from seldom used fourth outfielder to starting leftfielder and leadoff hitter for the Angels. The former Oklahoma Sooner is in his second year with the Halos but generally isn't counted among the team's multitude of potential superstars (like Brandon Wood, Erick Aybar and Kendry Morales). However for the next month or so he's the most important member of the bunch. Willits game is predicated on getting on base and stealing bases. So far this year he's been pretty good at both, hitting .358 with an OBP of .433. He has already matched his total from last season with four steals (although he also swiped 31 bags at Triple A Salt Lake), which is where his value lies. Steals are a premium, especially in AL-only leagues, making Willits a solid pickup for at least the next few weeks.

Jack Cust, DH/OF, A's: By being acquired and subsequently promoted by the A's from the Padres system, Cust made it to the majors for the sixth out of the last seven seasons, but the lefthanded swinging all-or-nothing hitter is in no way a big league veteran. One of the most prolific power hitters in recent Triple A history with 115 home runs, Cust had never hit more than four round-trippers or made more than 84 plate appearances in any big league season. That should change now as the offensively-starved and injury-plagued A's give Cust a chance to play everyday as Mike Piazza's replacement at DH. Cust has been in Oakland's system before, playing the entire 2005 season in Sacramento, and his high on-base percentage (he led the PCL last season) is exactly what GM Billy Beane looks for in a hitter. Cust homered in his first game for the A's and will challenge Nick Swisher (six) for the team lead for as long as Piazza is out.

Andy LaRoche, 3B, Dodgers: A much more hyped prospect than big brother Adam, Andy LaRoche was recalled over the weekend by the Dodgers to replace the struggling Wilson Betemit at third base. A righthanded hitter with power to all fields, LaRoche was hitting just .245 with three home runs for the Las Vegas 51's but all indications are that he's the team's third baseman of the future -- and the present, not bad for someone who was taken in the 39th round of the 2003 draft. Don't look for All-Star numbers this year, but over time LaRoche should approach the stats that Los Angeles fans and roto players came to expect from Adrian Beltre. He's a must have in NL-only keeper leagues.

Devern Hansack, P, Red Sox: When Hansack last appeared in a major league game, he was tossing a five-inning no-hitter against the Orioles on Oct. 1. The native of Nicaragua followed up that performance with an impressive spring training but was relegated back to Triple A Pawtucket because the Red Sox have the deepest rotation in baseball. Originally a member of the Astros organization, Hansack was released by Houston after four mediocre seasons. He was out of pro ball in 2004 and 2005 while pitching for his native country's national team but signed a minor league contract with the Sox prior to last year when he led Double A Portland in ERA (3.26), strikeouts (124) and innings pitched (132 1/3). This year he was just 1-3 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.28 WHIP before his promotion. Although he's supposed to be simply a reliever during this trip to Boston, he's in line (with the rehabbing Jon Lester) to take the rotation spot currently held by Julian Taverez making him an interesting, yet risky pickup.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, Braves: Atlanta possesses arguably the best catcher in baseball in Brian McCann, but when he and backup Brayan Pena were both hurt last week, it opened the door for Saltalamacchia, one of the most highly touted prospects since Jeff Francoeur. Signed as a first round pick straight out of high school in West Palm Beach, Fla., "Salty" has long been considered one of Atlanta's top prospects, even on the heels of a pretty bad 2006 season in which he hit just .230 with nine home runs at Double A Mississippi and was slowed by a wrist injury. He fell back in step with a torrid Arizona Fall League showing, hitting .565 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in just six games and back at Mississippi to start this season he hit .309 with six long balls. The future is uncertain at this point for the 22-year-old. He's not going to displace McCann and will eventually move to either first base or the outfield. However this decision won't have to be made for another year or two. Expect Saltalamacchia to return to the minors, likely Triple A Richmond, to continue his development as soon as both regular catchers are healthy. He's only a good pickup for 2007 in leagues that allow you to stash him away without costing a roster spot.