Fantasy kept up with this Jones

We enjoy watching the new CBS SportsLine most-viewed player tool at work this season. Apparently, so do our website's users.

Over the All-Star break a Seattle-based website reported burgeoning star Adam Jones, 21, would be called up by the Mariners for the second half to play a corner outfield spot and moving Raul Ibanez to DH and ex-Fantasy star Jose Vidro to the bench. We never published this player news, but it was out there and led to Jones being the most-viewed player over the All-Star break. It subsequently led to him being the most-added player over the break, spiking his Fantasy ownership from 6 percent to 14.

The Mariners never cooperated and Jones remained stuck in Triple-A.

For now.

"Ibanez should be their DH," an AL scout told ProspectInsider.com. "If you find a way to get Jones into center or left field, they have a pretty sizable upgrade in three areas -- at the plate, in the field and on the bases. Replacing Vidro with their best prospect sounds like an easy decision, so, I don't know -- a no-brainer, really."

Jones, who turns 22 on Aug. 1, is having a breakthrough campaign, hitting .312 with 23 homers, 78 RBI, 67 runs and five steals (.375 OBP, .591 SLUG). After not getting the call post-break, he has hit .389 (14-for-36) with two homers, six RBI and seven runs in his past seven games -- which including a 5-for-5 night Tuesday.

He is champing at the bit for a call-up as much as his anxious Fantasy owners are.

The Mariners are being patient with the young star they rushed to the big leagues last season (.214, 16-for-74, with one homer, three steals, .237 OBP and .311 SLUG). Rightly so, perhaps, because Jones has struck out 94 times in 88 games and 372 at-bats, which tends to suggest maybe he's not so ready to be a consistent big-league regular.

The news report above made sense, though, because Vidro is perhaps the worst DH in baseball. The former top Fantasy second baseman is hitting around .300 (actually .299), but he is one pace for just five homers and 51 RBI. Not exactly the power or production an upstart contender like Seattle wants out of a DH or corner outfield spot.

"The Mariners are blowing it right now, in my opinion," a representative of a NL club told ProspectInsider.com. "Jose Vidro might be hitting just under .300, but he does very little for that offense. It's possible that they (Mariners front office staff) look at his shiny batting average and his approach at the plate to try and justify the deal they made to get him in the first place. But if Adam Jones is still in Tacoma because they can't do the right thing, they are making a second mistake with Vidro.

"... He's been a nice player and has a good reputation as a clubhouse guy, but he can't hit anymore and it is hurting that ballclub whether they say so or not."

A reason the M's might be holding Jones back on his second chance this season is the possibility they want to bring up fellow slugging outfield prospect Wladimir Balentien, who is equally deserving of a call-up if you look at his Triple-A numbers. The Netherlands Antillies-born Balentien, who is older at 23, has hit .319 with 21 homers, 70 RBI, 67 runs, 14 steals, .391 OBP and .574 SLUG. Most important, his strikeout rate is lower (75 Ks in 357 at-bats) and his walk rate is higher (43 walks).

Balentien, who was picked up in 1 percent of our Fantasy leagues after he was announced on the Futures Game roster, is learning to make better contact after fanning 160 and 140 times in his past two minor league seasons. And his numbers above, especially the walks and fewer strikeouts, actually suggest he might be the more deserving call-up than the more elite all-around talent Jones.

But we could see both these future stars arrive around the trade deadline, though, because a struggling Ibanez (.264-6-56-41-0, .314 OBP, .408 SLUG) and/or Vidro could be marketable trade bait. Take a flier on these future M's now, if you have room in deeper AL-only or long-term keeper leagues.

On the verge

Here are some of our favorite prospects who are in the minor leagues and are worth tracking closely (stats through July 18):

Rookie watch

Here are the top rookies in Fantasy to date (stats through July 18):

Baby talk

Roger: Who's a better keeper prospect between Jay Bruce (Cincinnati) and Wladimir Balentien (Seattle)?

Emack: Bruce is more of an elite prospect right now, especially since he is arriving so quickly and has done nothing but dominate at every level in the minor leagues. He homered in the Futures Game, was promoted to Triple-A after moving from Class A to Double-A and homered in his Triple-A debut. The talk at the Futures Game and around baseball is Bruce's lefty swing and strong arm has him as the next Larry Walker. That's a big-time future star. Balentien is intriguing in his own right and perhaps not far from making an impact, but his ceiling is not as high, according to scouts, and he has had much more of a struggle through the minors in becoming a big-league ready player.

Josh Kinsey, Atlanta: I have Jay Bruce as my minor league keeper for my NL-only team, and I have been hearing a lot of talk about the Reds wanting to move either Ken Griffey or Adam Dunn. Is this an attempt to open up a spot for Bruce? If not, what is a realistic date for him to reach the majors?

Emack: We would have thought Bruce would be nothing more than a September call-up, but now we could see him much sooner -- especially since the Reds are buried in last place. We don't see the Reds dealing Griffey, who is having a comeback year and is one reason to actually go to Reds games, but a trade of Dunn could happen and would help get Bruce to the big leagues. He would be a must-add in all leagues the day he is called up. If you don't take the flier now, take it just before the trade deadline just in case.

You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Prospects Report in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we do not guarantee personal responses to all questions.