DON’T laugh, but the Devil Rays are awe some. Or will be awesome. OK, at the very least, they have a crop of awesome players that will help your rotisserie team either now or, if you’re in a keeper league, in the relatively near future.

This is the case with a lot of cellar-dwelling teams. Don’t think that because a team – D-Rays, Royals, Pirates – has a poor record, that it can’t help you.

A huge crop of talent, believe it or not, comes from Tampa Bay (at least for now. They’ll be Yankees before long).

Keep on eye on these guys:

Carl Crawford, OF: Possibly a first-round pick in most leagues. Has the speed and average, now for the power numbers.

Aubrey Huff, 1B, 3B: No secrets about this guy. Incredible talent, can be inserted anywhere in your lineup and in some leagues is eligible at OF.

Rocco Baldelli, OF: Once off the disabled list, will provide you with batting average and decent power numbers. Will even throw in a stolen base now and then. Nice utility player.

Scott Kazmir, SP: Stellar first five innings in his opener. This guy’s a keeper in the very near future. Please be patient, he’s still considered a rookie and will be banged around a lot.

Dewon Brazelton, SP: With increased starts, his numbers have improved over the last two years. Solid outing in the opener, the 24-year-old has tons of promise. Nice back-of-the-rotation guy.

Jorge Cantu, IF: Has lit it up thus far in his sophomore year. The 23-year-old has become a solid option in the tough-to-find shortstop hole. Won’t give you much more than batting average, though.

Joey Gathright, OF: Recalled from Triple-A last Monday. Has immense promise if only he can stay in the bigs. Faster than Crawford, which is saying a lot. Had six stolen bases in 19 games with the D-Rays last year.

B.J. Upton, SS: In Triple-A right now. Still, he and Crawford are the future of the team. Many compare him to Derek Jeter. Watch his progress. Nab him when he’s called up.

Delmon Young, OF: Optioned to Double-A in the spring, Young (brother of Dmitri) is said to have a brilliant future in the majors. He’s a September call-up at worst and a future All-Star carryover at best.

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Quick Tips: With Eric Gagne sidelined with a strained elbow, Yhency Brazoban will fill-in at closer for the Dodgers. Had a solid 2.48 ERA last year with L.A., but got smoked in mop-up duty last week . . . In 20 games and 71 at-bats last year, Rockies shortstop Clint Barmes hit two homers. He already had that total in two games and 10 ABs . . . Mark Prior is hoping to make his 2005 debut Tuesday . . . Remember when we said to pick up sleeper Ryan Freel? Check that.

E-mail: mforde@gmail.com