Question, from John Sussman in Chicago: Can you give me a sense for what kind of year you expect out of Kelly Wunsch? And what are the odds that Jose Valentin will shave the mustache this year, and if so, will this translate into more stolen bases?

Answer: John, I'd have to agree that bushy mustache must cost Valentin at least five bags a season, not to mention the annoyance of having to pick food out of it during the postgame meal. While he'll never steal more than 10 bases in a season, what's more interesting about Valentin this year is that he apparently is going to cease being a switch hitter and bat lefty exclusively.

He tried the approach this spring and was hitting .355 coming into this week. Not bad for a guy who normally hits around .245. With his power - 25 or more homers the past three seasons - he makes for a great middle infielder. Unless you hate mustaches, of course.

As for Wunsch, the lefty has been a solid reliever the past few years in Chicago. He can provide some value as a setup man because his average of walks and hits per inning pitched (1.17 in 2003) is usually very good.

Question, from Bryan Thompson in Cincinnati: I'd like your opinion on a couple of players that I got in the later rounds of my draft. I am in a keeper league where we can sign players to one, two or three-year deals, with each year's salary going up.

Should I sign Edwin Jackson, Rickie Weeks and Delmon Young to three-year deals? I am kind of torn on what to do. What would you do?

Answer: I think I'd go ahead and sign all three to long-term deals.

Jackson has had a lousy spring, but he will be the Dodgers' fifth starter going into the season and has oodles of potential as a top sleeper in 2004. Weeks didn't make Milwaukee's roster out of camp - he was optioned to Class AA instead - but was the second overall pick in the 2003 draft and had a cup of coffee with the Brewers last season. He should be with the big club in 2005, or for sure in 2006.

Young, the top pick in the June 2003 draft, is at least two years from appearing in Tampa Bay's outfield, but if you believe his cousin - major leaguer Dmitri Young - the kid is for real.

Question, from Alex Sanchez in Chicago: What are your thoughts on A.J. Burnett? Should I drop him, or drop Rocky Biddle and pick up Ugueth Urbina?

Answer: The latest on Burnett is he probably will be out until June, so unless you're in a league where you can afford to hold onto him for a few months, dump him.

As for Biddle and Urbina, I think both should approach 20-something saves, though Urbina is obviously more proven as a closer. Still, he won't be pitching right away in Detroit, so for now hold onto Biddle and see how he does the first few weeks of the year for Montreal.

Hot box

Pick him up: Matt Herges, RP, Giants. Herges was named San Francisco's closer earlier this week when Robb Nen was placed on the disabled list because of shoulder problems. If you're scrambling for bullpen help, Herges could serve as an early-season quick fix.

Sit him down: Rodrigo Lopez, SP, Orioles. He came into spring training as Baltimore's No. 2 starter and now is slated to begin the season in the bullpen, having been replaced by rookie Erik Bedard. Ouch. This might be short-lived, but if it isn't, you better start making contingency plans.

Keep an eye on: Orber Moreno, RP, Mets. He allowed just one run in his first 15 innings of the spring, and ostensibly would get a shot to replace closer Braden Looper, should Looper struggle early.

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John Nemo can be reached at johnmnemo@yahoo.com

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