Baseball prospectus is holding a chat.  The panel consists of John Perrotto, Kevin Goldstein, Nate Silver and Christina Kahrl.  I'd expect some interesting last-minute stuff to be offered.

So far, the team has affirmatively stated that Eric Gagne is going to the Red Sox for Kason gabbard and some low-level prospects and answered a follow-up question about Gagne's new role.  Ken Rosenthal confirms this is likely to occur.

I can't say I like it for the Rangers pending further information

Weeks Six and Seven will prove to be the most challenging of the season as six teams will be off each week.  That leaves fewer options to start  for fantasy owners, and more teams dipping into whatever remains of the free agent pool.

Do I pick-up RB Sammie Morris or RB Mack Strong?  That question, and ones like it, are going to be asked over and over for the next two weeks.

This week's bye teams are Cleveland, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England.

Amongst their fantasy starters are RBs Reuben Droughns, Chester Taylor and the Green Bay starter of the week, Noah Herron.  There are three RBBCs that likely see all its members started during bye weeks in deeper leagues - the Jags RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, the Colts' Rbs Joseph Addai and Domanick Rhodes, and the Pat's Lawrence MAroney and Corey Dillon.

The every week QBs amongst this group are Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.  This shouldn't cause a lot of pain for any owners but those two's.  The difficulty comes from the four QBs sitting - they would be typical bye week starts.

Amongst the quality WRs are Braylon Edwards, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Reggie Williams and Matt Jones. I don't see as much pain especially with the Raiders Ronald Curry going for94 yards last week and the Dolphins adding a new starting WR in rookie Derek Hagen plus WR Wes Welker.

Today is the MLB draft.

While I have more interest this season than last thanks to frequent visits to http://www.minorleagueball.com, I am still left largely unimpressed relative to the NBA and NFL drafts.

With those two drafts, fantasy players can begin to project who will help their team the next season.  Rudy Gay?  Joseph Addai?

With the baseball draft, the projections are for 2008 and beyond, assuming you have a minor league players draft.

I believe this is the crux of my lessened interest in the MLB draft.

Really?  Kansas City Royal Luke Hochevor?