Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports that manager Ozzie Guillen picked long-time shortstop Juan Uribe to start at second base over Alexei Ramirez. Uribe has the chance to make this position his to keep, but if he gets into a slump Ramirez can seize the opportunity. Look for Ramirez, a versatile player, to possibly play in the outfield and as a backup for Uribe this year.

White Sox Manager Ozzie says he will choose a starting second baseman today, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times, and it looks like it’s a choice between Juan Uribe and Alexei Ramirez. General manager Kenny Williams tested the trade waters when he put Uribe on the waiver wire, but now that Danny Richar is on the DL and Pablo Ozuna has been designated as a part-timer (starting against left-handed pitchers), Uribe and Ramirez are the only choices left. Given his solid spring performance and Guillen’s comments in the article, it seems likely that Ramirez will get the nod and they will try to play Uribe elsewhere. Don’t sleep on this one.

• Playing center field again, Alexei Ramirez hit his first home run for Chicago on Wednesday, and finished the day 2 for 3 with 2 walks and 3 runs scored. Although the details are still unclear, it has been reported that Juan Uribe has been waived by the Sox, thus paving the way for Ramirez (a natural second baseman). This situation has the pungent aroma of a fantasy sleeper.
• MLB.com’s Scott Merkin writes that John Shelby, a natural outfielder in the process of converting to second base, is making his presence known in the White Sox minor league system. Although he is a ways away, the former University of Kentucky Wildcat’s .301 BA with 16 home runs, 35 doubles, 9 triples, and 79 RBIs in Triple-A last year shows promise. A second baseman that hits like that would be a valuable commodity in the bigs.

UPDATE: Mark Gonzalez of the Chicago Tribune is reporting that Juan Uribe has been placed on irrevocable waivers by the White Sox. Gonzalez speculates that a trade for another 2B could be coming, but based on the below referenced article it seems like Alexei Ramirez would be a great candidate for the starting job. [Thanks to reader Goose for the heads up.]

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times reports that International prospect Alexei Ramirez is the talk of the White Sox camp. Ramirez has played so well this spring, and impressed the coaching staff so much, that the Sox are trying to find ways to keep him in the big league lineup. Ramirez’s natural position would be at 2B, but he has the ability to play at SS and OF as well. It seems like Juan Uribe has the 2B spot locked up, so skipper Ozzie Guillen is trying Ramirez in the outfield. Ramirez, who is hitting .341/.350/.526 this spring, is definitely a prospect to watch as a major fantasy sleeper this year.

So, you’re diligently preparing for your fantasy draft and searching desperately for this year’s Ryan Braun - the rookie fantasy sleeper stud that takes everyone by surprise and catapults your squad to a championship. Unfortunately, all you can find are experts’ “Top 100 Prospect” lists, which include prospects that are still a year or two away, or so-called “Sleeper” lists consisting of 2nd and 3rd year players that everyone in your league has already heard of (and are already planning to draft before you). What if - hypothetically - someone had organized a constantly updated list of rookie fantasy sleepers, tiered by starting status, ranked by predicted fantasy impact, and linked to recent news on each rookie, that you could have running in the background of your draft as a quick reference?

• Look no further than the MLBProspectNews.com 2008 Rookie Fantasy Sleepers page, located under the MLBPN Features section of our navigation bar.

After bashing a bases loaded triple on Monday against Kansas City, Alexei Ramirez was at it again today going 2-4 with a tie-breaking, 2-out RBI to power the White Sox over Colorado.  Ramirez is now batting a “respectable” 8-for-17 (.471 AVG) with 4 runs, 2 doubles, a triple, 5 RBI, and 12 total bases.  Ramirez has been playing short stop and second base for the ChiSox.  By the way,  the native Cuban also went 4-5 with an RBI and 3 runs scored in his first game ever in America on February 28th.  Draft him if you can.

• Cubs’ OF Kosuke Fukudome reached base three times today against the Giants; a walk, a HBP, and an RBI single.
• The Phillies top pick in 2007, Joe Savery, had a very rough first outing.  But his pitching coach was pleased with his performance because of how he responded to a tough situation.
• Former Orioles’ top pick Scott Moore is learning 2B in anticipation of a potential Brian Roberts trade.  The Baltimore outfield is already pretty well occupied by Luke Scott, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis, so this is probably a good move by Moore.
• Mets’ top prospect Fernando Martinez got one of the team’s only four hits today.  It seems former prospect Anthony Reyes is continuing his great spring.
• In his first game of American baseball, White Sox IF Alexei Ramirez went 4-5 with an RBI and 3 runs scored.  Sleeper alert here if he wins the 2B job.
• Top IF prospect for the Red Sox, Jed Lowrie, would love to man the middle infield with 2007 ROY Dustin Pedroia.  In the same article is word that RHP Michael Bowden would get his first look of the spring against Northeastern.

Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports that Alexei Ramirez will be the 15th Cuban to play for the White Sox, and fellow countryman Jose Contreras has nothing but praise for the young slugger.

“He’s a very good player, as you have heard. He can do a lot of things. He can throw, he can run. He can hit for power and average. That’s what I saw back then. That’s what everyone was talking about throughout these years, that he was one of the best players on the national team.”

Judging by his stats during his six seasons in Cuba, Ramirez should be worthy of fantasy attention. Ramirez hit above .335 three seasons and never finished below .308. Last year he had 20 HRs and 68 RBIs. According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune Ramirez only missed a HR by a few feet on Monday during an intrasquad game. Ramirez probably won’t have much power improvement until he puts on some weight. He is currently listed at 185 but “looks like he should be running in the Boston Marathon, rather than challenging for the White Sox’ opening at second base (compliments of Joe Cowley, Chicago Sun Times)

Savage? You decide.