That’s all I an say after Billy Beane, deciding that he had gone the distance with the club he had, decided to blow the whole thing up and start afresh. Trading two of his most valuable commodities (Dan Haren and Nick Swisher), Beane went and traded them both for a load of prospects, many of which will be arriving at Oakland’s front door within the year.
What this has done is re-energize a Athletics farm system that was shallow in terms of talent and was arguably in the bottom third of baseball and elevated it to the middle of the pack.
So, let’s take a look at how the system would rate now. Those that made the original Oakland list are in green. The new arrivials are standard black. Some of these prospects you have seen before (Arizona’s Prospect Report), but overall, there is some new content to check out here.
Athletics Top 15
1 – Daric Barton (1B)
DOB: 8/16/85
Drafted: 1st round, 2003, California High School (Cardinals)
2008 Club: Oakland Athletics (MLB)
Height/Weight: 6-0/205
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: Barton was regarded, at the time of the Mark Mulder deal, to be the real centerpiece of the deal. Since then, Barton hasn’t disappointed, but with the emergence of Dan Haren as the ace of the staff, Barton is strictly a side piece that could make the entire deal a slam dunk winner for Oakland (considering that Kiki Calero also came in the deal.) He was called up late in the year and left a good enough impression for people to be hopeful for the future.
The Good: The gifted natural hitter was holding his own as a 20-year-old at Triple-A before breaking a bone in his elbow in a freak collision on a pickoff throw. Both his approach and his pitch recognition are above-average on a major-league level, and he can make contact on pitches of any type in any location.
The Bad: The biggest power potential that was once seen in Barton has never arrived, meaning that Barton is going to be a rather unconventional first baseman. Many believe that while he’s got the power to hit 30+ homers annually, he may never do so. As far as his defense, Barton was originally drafted as a catcher, but no one thought he’d be able to stay there. Oakland hoped to develop his bat faster, so they moved him to first base. Because of the power outage, Barton was moved to third, where he profiled better, but his terrible fielding resulted in a move back to first. Hence, he’s awful defensively.
Projection: Low. Barton has nothing left to prove and is ready to start contributing to the big league club this season, so this is likely the last year we’ll see him.
What He Can Be: A First Baseman that will get on base and hit twenty Homers.
2008 Course Of Action: The job is Barton’s starting next year, and with Jack Cust now installed as the everyday DH, this will likely force Oakland to trade Dan Johnson. That said, Barton probably isn’t a player I would be thrilled to have as my everyday first baseman, but he’s serviceable and in time would allow Oakland to take it’s time with a better power option in Chris Carter.
2 – Faustino De Los Santos (RHP)
DOB: 2/15/86
Signed: 2005, Dominican Republic (White Sox)
2008 Club: Stockton Ports (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/205
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Seeming to come out of nowhere, De Los Santos has dominated the American minor leagues and gave Low A Kannapolis an ace at the top of it’s rotation last season. He appeared in the Futures Game and game up a homer to uberprospect Justin Upton before a promotion to High A, where he remained until the trade for Nick Swisher.
The Good: De Los Santos has a neat fastball, sitting in the low 90’s and touches 96 with some sinking action. He’s got a very good curve with late movement that is a plus pitch. He’s also begun work on improving his changeup.
The Bad: The usual. De Los Santos needs to continue building his durability in order for him to continue logging some more innings, along with work to improve his arsenal of tools. He’s also a bit overaggressive, which costs him velocity and command over his stuff.
Projection: High. De Los Santos needs more experience, which could only come with time, as well as refinement. He also needs to improve that changeup, lest he be limited to a bullpen role. Whatever he is, he should do it well. This is a potential All-Star talent the Athletics have gotten, a arm that rivals many of those that are in the Rangers’ system, and they’ll do their best to make sure De Los Santos comes to fruition.
What He Can Be: A Rotation Strikeout Artist
2008 Course Of Action: De Los Santos was going to start in High A for the White Sox until the trade went down. I don’t see anything that would change, except that he’ll be heading to the California League instead of the Carolina League, and hence going to a hitter’s league instead of a pitcher’s league. I don’t think it’ll affect him too much, as with his stuff, he should handle the change with no problem.
3– Carlos Gonzalez (RF)
DOB: 10/17/85
Signed: Venezuela, 2002 (Diamondbacks)
2008 Club: Sacramento River Cats (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/200
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Gonzalez’s stock is took a bit of a tumble early one, but he was able to adjust to the more advanced level of pitching in Double A and earned himself a promotion to Tucson. All in all, it was a good season, but the emergence of Chris B. Young and Justin Upton in Arizona, plus the extension given to Eric Byrnes resulted in Gonzalez lacking a place to play. Hence, he became an extremely attractive player to acquire and was the centerpiece of the Dan Haren trade.
The Good: Gonzalez has some of the best tools in the system. Gonzalez has a smooth, fluid stroke, above-average power, good range in right field. He hits to a decent average and has a cannon for an arm. He’s got some wheels on him as well.
The Bad: Gonzalez is a bit aggressive at the plate, leading to high strikeout totals. There have been some concerns over his work ethic at times, but Gonzalez kicked it up a notch when competition arrived in the form of Aaron Cunningham.
Projection: Average. Gonzalez has the tools, the youth and some success in the upper minors, but he still needs some seasoning. In my opinion, Gonzalez should remain in Triple A for the meantime, where he could put up some monster numbers in the Pacific Coast League next year, before allowing him to take Swisher’s old place in right.
What He Come: An All-Star Right Fielder
2008 Course Of Action: I feel Gonzalez should be sent to Triple A, where he can finish his development process, but the amount of trades and lack of warm bodies to fill up the major league bench in Oakland (which consists of, right now, Travis Buck, Mark Kotsay and Jack Cust, respectively), Oakland could be tempted to promote him early and have him skip the level.
4 – Gio Gonzalez (LHP)
DOB: 9/19/85
Drafted: 1st round, 2004, Florida High School (White Sox)
2008 Club: Sacramento River Cats (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 5-11/185
Bats/Throws: R/L
The Skinny: After a year with the Phillies, Gonzalez was sent back to the White Sox in the Freddy Garcia deal. His 2007 season was pretty good and has merited the trade back. However, in Kenny William’s delusion of contention, he was sent to Oakland as a part of the Nick Swisher trade..
The Good: Gonzalez is a K machine, pure and simple. However, what’s really special is that he has increased his groundout totals, always a plus at the Cell. His fastball has good velocity for a southpaw, but his curve is a filthy pitch that is his out pitch. His changeup, once a work in progress, is becoming a solid pitch as well, giving him a complete starters arsenal.
The Bad: Command is still and issue and will result in him getting some tough nights in the bigs. Despite a reduction in his flyball tendancies, they nonetheless will be a concern moving forward. His build also doesn't lend much to durability and ESPN’s Keith Law has reported that Gonzalez gets rattled on the mound and doesn’t respond to adversity right now.
Projection: Low. Gonzalez should be a factor for the A’s in a year’s time after some time spent in Triple A. He should be much better as an Athletic due to their stadium than he would have ever been with the White Sox. Still, there seems to be a sense that Chicago sold high on Gonzalez and he might not be as good as I feel he is.
What He Can Be: A Number Two Starter.
2008 Course Of Action: Gonzalez isn’t ready to be a part of the Oakland rotation just yet, meaning he’ll be a Rivercat to begin the year. However, he should be up with the big league club come August, and should be a rotation fixture come 2009.
5 – Aaron Cunningham (OF)
DOB: 4/24/86
Drafted: 6th round, 2005, Everett Junior College (White Sox)
2008 Club: Midland Rockhounds (Double A)
Height/Weight: 5-11/195
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Cunningham has been involved in a pair of trades now as well, as he was originally traded by the White Sox to the Diamondbacks for second base prospect Danny Richar, in order fill the hole in second base for 2008. However, the Diamondbacks were able to develop Cunningham further from the raw product he was when he arrived, as Cunningham jumped three levels and ended the year in Double A. He was then a part of the trade for Dan Haren, giving more outfield depth to the A’s.
The Good: Cunningham doesn’t have something that he does best, but he does most things well. He’s got a great swing and makes solid contact with the ball, plus some solid power potential, possible 20 bomb potential. He hits to all fields and he’s got solid speed on him as well. Many were wondering if Cunningham could play anywhere other than left field, but it turns out that he’s not half bad in center or right field. All in all, he’s a good prospect.
The Bad: Cunningham's pitch recognition still needs work, as he doesn’t draw enough walks.
Projection: Average. Cunningham is still developing as a player, but he's got a good tool set. Many are divided as to how they seem Cunningham long term. I may have overrated him originally, but I believe he’s better than the fourth outfielder projection many are tabbing him with already. Give him two years and you’ll have a solid player, depending on what you want to do with Travis Buck, you could shop one of the two at a later date for something nice.
What He Can Be: A average left fielder.
2008 Course Of Action: Cunningham will be headed to Midland for the year, with a possible promotion to Sacramento in the future if he continues to hit. Don’t expect to see him anytime soon in Oakland however, as he’s got a bit to go.
6 – Chris Carter (1B)
DOB: 12/18/86
Drafted: 15th round, 2005, Nevada High School (White Sox)
2008 Club: Stockton Ports (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-4/220
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Carter is already looking like a late round steal, and has been mashing ever since the White Sox drafted him. However, the White Sox, under the delusion that they are close to contention, traded him for Carlos Quentin (which in itself isn’t bad, as Quentin is a solid young player who filled a need), but Carter didn’t stay long in the desert and was a part of the Dan Haren trade. He was very nearly a Texas Ranger, however, as a deal for Akinori Otsuka that would have sent Carter to Texas was all but done until the White Sox pulled out due to Otsuka’s medicals.
The Good: Carter is quite simply the best power prospect in the Athletics’ system. He’s got great strength and power to all fields and has improved on his plate recognition, which was good to begin with. Now, Carter is able to draw a lot more walks while reducing his strikeouts and is able to choose his pitch to drive it out of the park.
The Bad: Carter is limited to first base due to limited athleticism and is a bad defender even there. While he may eventually be a passable defender, he’s a long term DH in the making. He’s also a below average runner.
Projection: Average. Carter is still a very unpolished prospect, but he has the potential to be the first pure power bat Oakland has had since Jason Giambi was wearing green and gold. He’ll take some time, but he’s a long term middle of the order run producer in the making and that is nothing to sneeze at.
What He Can Be: A Slugging First Baseman
2008 Course Of Action: Carter will likely take it one level at a time and will spend the year in Stockton, where he should have plenty of opportunities to put up some impressive power numbers this season with all the small parks in the California League.
7 – Trevor Cahill (RHP)
DOB: 3/01/88
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2006, California High School
2008 Club: Stockton Ports (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/195
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A surprise pick for the Athletics last year, Cahill had a solid senior season in high school as a first year pitcher, but fell after illness caused him to tail off. Oakland took him and thus far, Cahill has continued the tradition of Kane County pitching dominance. But his big coming out party was when he made a spot start for Sacramento at the end of the season and carried a perfect game and a no-hitter once the perfecto was gone until the 8th. Now that’s awesomeness.
The Good: Cahill’s biggest strength is his command and control, which are surprisingly good for a young pitcher. He’s able to locate the ball low and induce groundballs. He throws in the low 90’s and can touch 90’s, but his best pitch is a spike curveball that has wicked break. He's a solid athlete and is regarded to be an excellent character guy.
The Bad: Cahill doesn't over-power anyone. He also needs to refine a third pitch.
Projection: High. Cahill is still developing as a pitcher, as he was only pitching for a year after he was drafted, but the promise is there for him to be a capable major league starter.
What He Can Be: A Number 3 starter, maybe a two.
2008 Course Of Action: Cahill will be heading to the California League, where his groundball tendencies should help him survive the year in the extreme hitters league.
8 – James Simmons (RHP)
DOB: 9/29/86
Drafted: 1st Round, 2007, UC Riverside
2008 Club: Midland Rockhounds (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/205
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Simmons was regarded to be one of the most polished pitchers in the draft and was rated as one of the closest pitchers to the majors. After going 11-3 with a 2.40 ERA in his junior season at UC Riverside, the Athletics took him in the 1st round, where he has already reached Double A.
The Good: Simmons’ game is all about command and control and he has it in ####s. His stuff is okay, but not overwhelming, with a fastball that sits around 90-92, complimented by a plus changeup and an average breaking ball.
The Bad: Simmons isn’t overpowering and while he may be close to the majors, he’s not a sure fire star or anything. He’s pretty much what I would call a right handed Joe Saunders, a guy that takes the ball every fifth day and gives you a shot to win. He also loses speed on his fastball late in a game.
Projection: Low. Simmons will rise quickly once he’s assigned to repeat Double A again. Again, he’s got limited upside, which is the only thing you can really hold against him as far as his tools go.
What He Can Be: A back of the rotation starter.
2008 Course Of Action: Look for Simmons to repeat Double A this year before he gets an assignment to Triple A, where Oakland hopes he might be able to be a factor for a September call up.
9 – Kevin Melillo (2B)
DOB: 5/14/82
Drafted: 5th round, 2004, University of South Carolina
2008 Club: Sacramento River Cats (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/190
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: Melillo’s 2007 campaign is pretty much the same for what you would expect for him. He really is just what he is, an average second baseman that could be a steady regular in the majors.
The Good: An offensive minded second baseman, Milillo has a short, quick swing that has suprising pop. He works the count well, gets on base, and all the usual things that Oakland likes it’s players to do. His defensive fundamentals are good. All in all, he’s near ready for the show and could be a producer in the 6 or 7 hole.
The Bad: Melillo has had some minor knee issues in the past and when he falls in love with the long ball, he gets pull happy. He also has below average range and hands, and is nowhere near the Gold Glover type defense Oakland has come to expect from it’s second basemen.
Projection: Low. Melillo is ready for the show and with this year looking like a rebuilding one, Oakland would be wise to see what they have.
What He Can Be: An average second baseman.
2008 Course Of Action: Ellis has recently had his $5 million club option for 2008 exercised, but that doesn’t mean he’ll remain on the team, especially now that Oakland is in full scale rebuilding mode. Ellis is pretty attractive right now as a cheap date and could fetch a decent prize while allowing Melillo to play everyday.
10 – Sean Doolittle (1B)
DOB: 9/26/86
Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2007, Virginia
2008 Club: Stockton Ports (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/190
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Doolittle was on the rise after a year in Virginia and was projected to be picked somewhere in the lower end of the first round. However, Porcello’s fall along with some other shenanigans with the Pirates resulted in Doolittle falling into the supplemental round, where Oakland took him. He had a pretty good debut for Oakland.
The Good: An athletic first baseman, Doolittle makes good, consistent solid contact from the left side and should hit for average in the future. He has an above average arm, which was seen from his days as a two way player at Virginia, plus he shows decent range and can even run a bit too.
The Bad: Doolittle lacks any sort of power potential at first base, which isn’t what you want out of a power position.
Projection: Average. Doolittle may rise quickly and while he may not have home run power, doubles power may exist within him.
What He Can Be: A average first baseman that hits for average, but not for power.
2008 Course Of Action: Doolittle has the talent to be a productive major leaguer, but it won’t be for Oakland. Barton is now the Athletics’ first baseman and the A’s now have a stronger but unfortunately for him, he’s also blocked by both Dan Johnson and Daric Barton, meaning that in the future, Doolittle’s likely value to Oakland is trade bait.
11 – Henry Rodriguez (RHP)
DOB: 2/25/87
Signed: 2003, Venezuela
2008 Club: Midland Rockhounds (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/175
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A big signing out of Venezuela a few years ago has taken a big step forward with the Cougars this year, though his record doesn’t show for it. Still, it’s pretty impressive considering how raw he was last year when he was torched in the Arizona Rookie League.
The Good: Rodriguez has the best raw stuff in the organization, as his fastball sits in the low to mid 90’s and has been clocked as high as 100. His curveball and changeup look like they could eventually be plus pitches, which could give him a potentially lethal arsenal if he’s able to put it all together. All in all, he’s a project, but one that could pay off big.
The Bad: Rodriguez is, as I’ve said, a raw product, and he’s had some issues with control that have resulted in some ugly outings for him. There are also maturity issues with Rodriguez, but that really isn’t unexpected.
Projection: Very High. Rodriguez could become a beast if he continues to work on his stuff. He’s more than just an arm strength type of prospect and he’s got the skill set to be a solid middle of the rotation K machine if he continues to develop on schedule. Still, he’s got a long way to go.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation strikeout machine.
2008 Course Of Action: With another season under his belt in Double A, Rodriguez could very well help his cause to eventually become a option for Oakland come 2009 or 2010, joining some of the other young athletics in the rebuilding effort.
12 – Ryan Sweeney (CF)
DOB: 2/20/85
Drafted: 1st round, 2003, Iowa High School
2008 Club: Sacramento River Cats (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-4/215
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: The former first rounder did nothing to shake his bust tag and didn’t earn a late season call up, even with Chicago’s less than stellar outfield situation. Chicago was shopping him furiously and finally got to get rid of him in Swisher deal.
The Good: Sweeney is big, athletic, and has some offensive skills. He has a quick swing, some power and makes good contact. He doesn’t’ strikeout often and has enough wheels to play center, along with a strong arm.
The Bad: Sweeney was always to projected to hit for power. That obviously haven’t happened and most don’t see him as a centerfielder long term. He’s also got issues against lefties as well.
Projection: Low. Sweeney may be able to stick with Oakland as a centerfielder in the short term, if they feel he might be able to be adequate in center, and he may be able to tap into that long dormant power potential with the right coaching. I kinda doubt it, though.
What He Can Be: A starting centerfielder
Timetable: While Sweeney has clearly stagnated, it’s hard to see him avoiding a third year at Triple-A without a monster spring training. This next year is absolutely pivotal for him.
13 – Jermaine Mitchell (CF)
DOB: 11/2/84
Drafted: 5th round, 2006, UNC-Greensboro
2008 Club: Stockton Ports (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/200
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: . Taken from a small school, many felt that Mitchell would only be organizational filler, a fourth outfielder at best. He's since proven to be potentially better than that after another solid season, this time for Kane County.
The Good: Mitchell could be one of the latest Oakland scouting department steals if he continues to produce. Mitchell is a solid centerfielder with a good arm, good range and solid speed. He’s also got a quick bat and some excellent plate discipline. All in all, he’s a good package of tools that could really blossom into something good.
The Bad: Mitchell’s swing is complex and needs to be simplified. The power that was thought to have been in Mitchell hasn’t manifested himself. He’s also murdered by right handers and had some extreme home-away splits as well, meaning that he’s got some work to do unless he wants to be a platoon centerfielder.
Projection: High. Mitchell took a step forward in his development, not as big as Oakland may have expected, but it’s a start.
What He Can Be: An everyday big-league outfielder.
2008 Course Of Action: I expect Mitchell to be the Ports' starting centerfielder this season. Oakland eventually sees him to be a centerfielder for the future option, though at the moment, he's still got a long way to go.
14 – Brett Anderson (LHP)
DOB: 2/1/88
Drafted: 2nd round, 2006, Oklahoma High School (Diamondbacks)
2008 Club: Visalia Oaks (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-4/215
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Last year, Anderson was one of the more difficult high school pitchers to evaluate, and his bonus demands resulted in him falling out of the first and supplemental rounds. The Diamondbacks were intrigued enough to pull the trigger on him, even though he wasn't a power pitcher and never will be. His final line was 11-7 with a 3.07 ERA between Low and High A, but Arizona won’t realize the returns on their investment, as he’s now an A.
The Good: The son of Oklahoma State coach Frank Anderson, Anderson's mechanics are solid and he has remarkable control of his breaking stuff and off-speed pitches. He's got a very deep repertoire, with three solid pitches, the best being a changeup that he can throw for strikes. He’s got a good pitcher’s build and could even add a little more mass.
The Bad: Anderson is also not very athletic and his fastball clocks in the high 80's, touching 91 on occasion.
Projection: Average. Anderson still has a lot of work to do in terms of improving himself, but his ability to induce groundballs and log in innings should result in some success in the majors. I feel he’s been overrated some due to his results, which are misleading, but his stuff isn’t fantastic and in the American League, he should fit in as a Number Three or Four starter. But hey, Barry Zito was able to last for a while with less than impressive repertoire and one major money pitch.
What He Can Be: An innings eater.
2008 Course Of Action: Anderson got hit hard in the California League and likely will repeat there to begin next year.
15 – Javier Herrera (OF)
DOB: 4/9/85
Signed: 2001, Venezuela
2008 Club: Sacramento River Casts (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 5-10/160
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After missing a year thanks to Tommy John Surgery, Herrera had a mostly average comeback season. While it’s not pretty, it’s still a promising development and should be expected form a guy coming off TJ.
The Good: Herrera He has above-average hitting skills to go with plus power and speed, as well as good range to both sides in centerfield and an above-average arm.
The Bad: Herrera's conditioning is a bit of an issue, as he did put on some weight during his inactivity, but he was able to drop most of it. He’s also a bit reckless on the field, plus his power potential hasn’t manifested itself quite yet.
Projection: High. Herrera is still working to come all the way back from TJ, but so far so good.
What He Can Be: A above average centerfielder
2008 Course Of Action: Expect the Athletics to push Herrera a bit by promoting him to Triple A, where he could work well if he’s finally able to get his tools together.
Final Thoughts
With the rebuilding effort now in full swing, Oakland has a good deal of prospect depth to develop to form the core of their next championship core. With little in terms of long term contracts other than those that are immobile (Chavez, Crosby) and one major one leaving the books after this year (Kotsay), Oakland has the financial flexibility to work with to get this set of prospects going and locked up to some near term deals when the time comes. All in all, Oakland has enough to field a contender with what they have in their system, though the pitching won’t be as explosive as it once was, back in the day when the Big Three roamed MacAfee Coliseum.
One thing to note, however, is that Oakland hasn’t done a particularly good job of drafting high ceiling, star level talent. Much of their new top 15 is from outside of the organization, with 8 of the total top 15 and 6 of the top 10 being drafted by other squads. While much kudos needs to be given to Oakland for getting them, they do need to do a better job of drafting their own star players and not always playing it safe. Spending some more money on later round talents would be a start and revamping the international scouting system would be another way to help keep the pipeline to talent flowing to Oakland.
Sources, Scouting Reports, and Thanks to: Kevin Goldstein (Baseball Prospectus), Keith Law (ESPN), Soxprospects.com, B.J. Medrano, Jim Callis And The Rest Of Baseball America, Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com), MiLB.com, Sam Corral and Erica Belmontes, Ernie Carlson, Lonestarball.com, Jamey Newberg (Newbergreport.com), Brewerfan.net and Mike Hindman (Rangers Farm Report)
The Balance of Power just shifted in the American League West thans to the Dan Haren Trade.
First, The Arizona Side of the trade. Arizona gets a solid Number Two starter and sends several blocked prospects to Oakland in exchange for roster certainty. None of the players really had a chance of cracking Arizona's roster, save Chris Carter, and for the Diamondbacks, it's about winning now and worrying about the farm depth emptying out later.
Arizona's new lineup is likely the following:
Brandon Webb (RHP)
Dan Haren (RHP)
Doug Davis (LHP)
Micah Owings (RHP)
Randy Johnson (LHP)
That's a much strong rotation, much better than last years.
Overall, this trade works for them.
As for Oakland, it's a symbol that Billy Beane has conceded the season and is beginning to rebuild. As seen from my farm system previews, Beane doesn't have a ton of high ceiling talent in his minor league system and much of the talent that is close to being drawn upon is already up.
And Beane has shown that he is willing to conduct a full scale rebuild sooner rather than later and likely saw that it was time to do so.
So, let's take a look at each of the players recieved:
Chris Carter (1B) - A pure masher, Carter has plenty of upside. He's not the greatest defender, but he's passable enough. Overall, he's a middle of the order power threat waiting to happen.
Aaron Cunningham (OF) - Stolen from the White Sox in the Danny Richar move, Cunningham has a high upside, as he hits the ball to all fields and has some speed and power. Many compare him to former A's outfielder Eric Byrnes. I say he's more like a young Steve Finley.
Carlos Gonzalez (RF) - Gonzalez is another young outfielder that can mash, given the opportunity. He could start in Oakland right now, pushing Swisher to center and Kotsay out the door if Oakland is willing to take pennies on the dollar.
Brett Anderson (LHP) - A decent left hander with okay stuff, he's more of a Number Four starter at best, though he does have innings eater potential. He'll do well in that ballpark than he ever would have in Arizona.
Gregg Smith and Dana Eveland - Decent arms, but more likely to wind up as relief prospects than anything else.
Overall, it's a trade of quantity over quality. The A's did get a pair of high upside players in Cunningham and Carter, but I wonder if they shouldn't have pushed the Diamondbacks for Matt Scherzer, a pitcher better than Anderson, Smith and Evaland and well worth waiting for.
It's a good trade, as it gives the A's options to play with in the outfield and a future power threat in Carter. I'm just wondering if it was enough to justify the Haren trade. Oakland needs pitching and unless they're planning on using high draft picks due to low finishes on near ready college pitching, they'll be hurting for quite some time.
This trade also officially gives the divisional race solely to the Mariners and Angels. With Oakland and Texas now entering full scale rebuilds (with Texas slightly ahead due to two good drafts and a couple of smart trades), it should be interesting watching the Mariners and Angels slug it out with each other.
If that's the case, then while my team is out of contention, I'll be rooting for Seattle.
Okay, as promised, here are my prospect rankings, according to those that asked for specific teams. We'll be going in alphabetical order here, no favoritism.
Just to clarify some other things, here are my standards that I picked rookies for eligibility:
Positional Players - 150 AB
Pitchers - 75 Innings
Post Season Numbers Not Included
Arizona Diamondbacks – Prospect Report
After watching their 2002 team fall short of their goal of returning to the series and their 2003 team imploding in flames, the Diamondbacks began their slow process of rebuilding their roster for the future. With Scouting Director Mike Rizzo at the helm, the Dbacks began taking high impact talent that fell their way in the draft, making sure no price was too hefty to pay, while acquiring overlooked talent that happened to fall their way. They also managed to acquire some excellent players via trade, all of which has added up to one of the more productive farm systems in all of baseball. The talent has fallen off a little bit with the mass of promotions over the past couple of years, but there is still a lot to like here, especially when it comes to outfield prospects and a couple of flamethrowers they’ve got in the system.
Diamondbacks Top 15
1 – Justin Upton (CF)
DOB: 8/25/87
Drafted: 1st overall, 2005, Virginia High School
2008 Club: Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
Height/Weight: 6-1/195
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: B.J.'s little brother, Justin was a highly regarded talent, too high for the DBacks to pass up. However, unlike B.J., the Diamondbacks recognized Justin's defensive lapses and immediately moved him to centerfield. Justin had a breakout season and was impressive in the Futures Game, before eventually getting promoted to the big league club and moving to right field. Since I grade differently, Upton remains on my list (though not by much.)
The Good: Upton is loaded with tools. He has power to all fields, is extremely fast, and has a strong arm in center. In centerfield, he showed great range and great instincts. He's also got a pretty neat swing.
The Bad: Just improvement on plate discipline, though he should hit for a high average anyway. Many also wonder if Upton at times plays on cruise control, though whether or not this is a result of his talent or not is unknown.
Projection: Moderate. Upton can still fill out some more, but the thought is that he still may have some untapped potential within him, as hard as it is to believe.
What He Can Be: An elite centerfielder.
2008 Course Of Action: With Upton now in Phoenix, he and Young should form one of the most exciting outfield tandems in the National League, and one of the best defensive ones as well.
2 – Max Scherzer (RHP)
DOB: 07/27/84
Drafted: 1st Round, 2006, University of Missouri (D&F)
2008 Club: Mobile Baybears (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-7/225
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Medical insecurities caused Scherzer to begin to fall in the draft as many teams began to get ####ed about him. However, former scouting director Mike Rizzo liked Scherzer’s arm as well as his ability to dial it up into the upper 90’s and pulled the trigger on Scherzer at 11. Afterward, Rizzo left for Washington and Scherzer’s agent, Scott Boras, began to play hardball, demanding that Scherzer be paid like the top talent in the draft, possibly similar to Boras client’s Luke Hochevar and Andrew Miller. Arizona refused and the result in that Scherzer headed to Fort Worth. However, unlike the Hochevar situation, Scherzer still had doubts about him, enough that the Boras camp felt it had no choice but to sign with Arizona, which they did at literally the last minute.
The Good: Scherzer is a legitimate power arm, one of the few in the Arizona system. The talent was there for Scherzer to dominate, as he has a plus fastball that can reach the upper 90’s, coupled with a plus slider that is clocked in the mid 80’s that is an effective out pitch.
The Bad: Scherzer has a history of shoulder problems, the most serious medical issue a pitcher can face. According to Baseball America’s Jim Callis, Scherzer also lacks command over his secondary pitchers to succeed as a starting pitcher. And to top it all off, he’s got a violent delivery.
Projection: Fair. Scherzer hit a speed bump in Double A, where he’s been hammered and has had the usual issues with command and durability. This year is really going to be telling, as I don’t think he’ll make the majors as a starting pitcher.
What He Can Be: A Dominant Closer
2008 Course Of Action: Scherzer will likely be sent to Double A, as he was hammered during his promotion there. As for how long Scherzer will be starting, give it a year until Arizona is forced to realize that he’s better off in the pen. That’s not a bad thing. If Scherzer is moved to the pen, he could eventually take over for the injury prone Jose Valverde.
3 – Carlos Gonzalez (RF)
DOB: 10/17/85
Signed: Venezuela, 2002
2008 Club: Tucson Sidewinders (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/200
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Gonzalez’s stock is took a bit of a tumble early one, but he was able to adjust to the more advanced level of pitching in Double A and earned himself a promotion to Tucson. All in all, it was a good season and Gonzalez is yet another outfield prospect to keep an eye on in this system.
The Good: Gonzalez has some of the best tools in the system. Gonzalez has a smooth, fluid stroke, above-average power, good range in right field. He hits to a decent average and has a cannon for an arm. He’s got some wheels on him as well.
The Bad: Gonzalez is a bit aggressive at the plate, leading to high strikeout totals. There have been some concerns over his work ethic at times, but Gonzalez kicked it up a notch when competition arrived in the form of Aaron Cunningham.
Projection: Average. Gonzalez has the tools, the youth and some success in the upper minors, but he still needs some seasoning. Should he remain in Tucson next year, he could put up some monster numbers in the Pacific Coast League next year, and give Arizona more questions than answers when it comes to their outfield of the future.
What He Come: An All-Star Right Fielder
2008 Course Of Action: Gonzalez will likely be sent to Triple A, which I do think he deserves judging by his second half, but his long term future with Arizona is in doubt. Still, another solid season could result in a trade to another organization.
4 – Aaron Cunningham (OF)
DOB: 4/24/86
Drafted: 6th round, 2005, Everett Junior College (White Sox)
2008 Club: Mobile Baybears (Double A)
Height/Weight: 5-11/195
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Cunningham was traded by the White Sox to the Diamondbacks for second base prospect Danny Richar, in order fill the hole in second base for 2008. However, the Diamondbacks are rapidly looking like geniuses for making the trade, as Cunningham destroyed the California League from the day he reported to Visalia, earning himself a promotion to Double A Mobile. All in all, Cunningham has had an impressive year.
The Good: Cunningham doesn’t have something that he does best, but he does most things well. He’s got a great swing and makes solid contact with the ball, plus some solid power potential, possible 25 bomb potential. He hits to all fields and he’s got solid speed on him as well. Many were wondering if Cunningham could play anywhere other than left field, but it turns out that he’s not bad in center or right field at all. All in all, he’s a good prospect.
The Bad: Cunningham's pitch recognition still needs work, as he doesn’t draw enough walks.
Projection: Average. Cunningham is still developing as a player, but he's got a good tool set and is in a good organization for developing them.
What He Can Be: An above average centerfielder or an average corner outfielder.
2008 Course Of Action: Cunningham has been great since arriving to Arizona, however his future isn’t going to be in the desert, not with Eric Byrnes signed for three more years in left and uberprospects Justin Upton and Chris B. Young in right and center. So, Cunningham will be allowed to develop, and he’ll bring in a bundle back in a trade.
5 – Jarrod Parker (RHP)
DOB: 11/24/88
Drafted: 1st Round, 2007, Indiana High School
2008 Club: Arizona League Diamondbacks (Rookie)
Height/Weight: 6-1/175
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Parker and Michael Main were regarded to be the best pitchers in the draft not represented by Scott Boras. Because the Diamondbacks paid a heavy price for last year’s 11th Overall pick, Max Scherzer, Parker was selected based on his signability, which turned out to be difficult. Coming off of a high school senior year in which he went 10-0 with a 0.13 ERA and four complete games, Parker negotiated until the 11th hour and adds a legitimately powerful arm in the Arizona system.
The Good: Parker throws three pitches, but much of his high school success depended on his powerful fastball. He throws in the 94-95 mph Range and can dial it up to 98 when he wants to. He’s able to spot it well on both sides of the plate and has a promising low-80s slider and a average changeup.
The Bad: Because Parker depended so much on his heater in high school, both of his secondary pitches are well behind his fastball. His slight build raises a few durability questions as he gets older.
Projection: Very High. Parker is easily the best starting pitching prospect in the entire system, and that includes Scherzer. Still, Parker has very much the ability to be a top of the rotation starter, similar to Roy Oswalt if he’s blessed with the same durability. Even if he doesn’t make it as a starter, he’d be a valuable reliever. Still, I have faith in him to get it done as a starter.
What He Can Be: A Front Of The Rotation Starter, Potential Ace
2008 Course Of Action: Parker will likely be headed to the AZL Dbacks, with a potential finish in a short season league by the end of the year. He’s got years ahead of him to get ready, but Arizona won’t push him more than they have to.
6 – Gerardo Parra (CF)
DOB: 5/6/87
Drafted: 2004, Dominican Republic
2008 Club: Visalia Oaks (High A)
Height/Weight: 5-11/197
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Another toolsy player n the Arizona system, Parra had a breakout campaign in Low A, hitting .320/.370/.435 before being promoted to the at Low-A South Bend, and then holding his own in a one-month California League stint.
The Good: More tools here, as Parra has some power, good bat control and is able to hit to all fields. He’s quick on the base paths and is an excellent defender with a cannon of an arm, good range and his instincts in the outfield are improving.
The Bad: The power is more of the doubles variety. He also needs to improve on his walk totals.
Projection: Average. Parra is quickly turning into one of my favorite prospects. He compares favorable to Carlos Gonzalez, though he’s a better bet to stay in center and could have value in the two spot if he draws more walks.
What He Can Be: A centerfielder that hits in the two hole.
2008 Course Of Action: Now that he’s gotten his feet wet in the higher minors, Parra will likely remain in Visalia for the year, though his star could keep on rising, forcing a promotion. Long term, Parra is blocked and would be a valuable trade chip in a couple of years.
7 – Brett Anderson (LHP)
DOB: 2/1/88
Drafted: 2nd round, 2006, Oklahoma High School
2008 Club: Visalia Oaks (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-4/215
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Last year, Anderson was one of the more difficult high school pitchers to evaluate, and his bonus demands resulted in him falling out of the first and supplemental rounds. The Diamondbacks were intrigued enough to pull the trigger on him, even though he wasn't a power pitcher and never will be. His final line was 11-7 with a 3.07 ERA between Low and High A.
The Good: The son of Oklahoma State coach Frank Anderson, Anderson's mechanics are solid and he has remarkable control of his breaking stuff and off-speed pitches. He's got a very deep repertoire, with three solid pitches, the best being a changeup that he can throw for strikes. He’s got a good pitcher’s build and could even add a little more mass.
The Bad: Anderson is also not very athletic and his fastball clocks in the high 80's, touching 91 on occasion.
Projection: Average. Anderson still has a lot of work to do in terms of improving himself, but his ability to induce groundballs and log in innings should result in some success in the desert.
What He Can Be: An innings eater in the back of the rotaiton
2008 Course Of Action: Anderson got hit hard in the California League and likely will repeat there to begin next year.
8 – Dallas Buck (RHP)
DOB: 11/11/1984
Drafted: 3rd Round, 2006, Oregon State
2008 Club: Visalia Oaks (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/195
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Buck entered 2006 as one of the better college pitching prospects, but everything went wrong and combined with a drop in velocity, Buck fell hard until the Diamondbacks took a flier on him. He signed and since then has been average and productive, but the lack of velocity prompted Buck to undergo Tommy John surgery in late July.
The Good: Buck is regarded to be a very good pitcher with a decent arsenal. He currently has a filthy slider that is a solid out pitch and he also mixes in a good changeup and curveball. He projects to be very much like Derek Lowe.
The Bad: The concern was where Buck’s old velocity went, which is why he underwent TJ. Hopefully, this will do the trick.
Projection: Average. Buck is tough to evaluate. He’s got solid numbers, but considering what he once was, it’s kind of hard to figure out what he really can be.
What He Can Be: A Back Of The Rotation Starter, right now.
2008 Course Of Action: Buck will likely be continuing his rehab until June or so, after which he’ll being a rehab program to build himself back up again.
9 – Dustin Nippert (RHP)
DOB: 5/6/81
Drafted: 15th round, 2002, University of West Virginia
2008 Club: Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
Height/Weight: 6-8/225
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Nippert, once one of the higher regarded Arizona pitching prospects, hasn’t done much to prove that he’s still an elite prospect, as he was very mediocre in Triple A Tucson and got shelled when he was shuttled back and forth to Arizona.
The Good: Thanks to his huge height, Nippert is able to take advantage of his lo 90’s sinking fastball and curveball, which seem to drop out from the sky.
The Bad: Nippert has been inconsistent throughout his career and without a third pitch, he’s likely headed to the bullpen.
Projection: Low. Despite all the potential, it’s time to start looking at Nippert in relief, as his development has now stagnated. The Dbacks are hoping that he can somehow reclaim his value, but it doesn’t look very promising right now.
What He Can Be: A capable setup man.
2008 Course Of Action: Nippert is likely headed with the Snakes back to Phoenix, where he’ll function as a setup/long man for the bullpen, though to be fair, his stuff is good enough where he could be given one final shot at starting.
10 – Wes Roemer (RHP)
DOB: 10/7/86
Drafted: 1st Round, 2007, Cal State Fullerton
2008 Club: Mobile Baybears (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/200
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A first round projected pick for much of the year, Roemer put up solid numbers (10-6, 3.33 ERA, with 136 SO and 22 BB in 127 IP) during his Junior Year at Cal State and was taken late in the first round.
The Good: A smallish right-handed pitcher, Roemer gets along thanks to his excellent command and control. His repitoire consists of a fastball that clocks in the late 80’s, early 90’s, and a good slider and an average changeup. The slider is his best pitch and is an excellent out pitch.
The Bad: Stuffwise, Roemer is quite ordinary and none of his pitches are anything more than average. His size and lack of explosiveness makes it very likely he’s going to be a setup man in the future.
Projection: Low. Roemer will get every chance to start, but ultimately, I think he’ll be shifted to the pen, which isn’t a bad thing. It’s just kinda what Roemer is, a very good, but not great prospect.
What He Can Be: A capable setup man.
2008 Course Of Action: Roemer will be headed to Mobile, where he’ll be pitching with last year’s top pick, Max Scherzer, in what should be a decent looking Baybears squad next year.
11 – Tyrell Worthington (OF)
DOB: 8/2/88
Drafted: 5th Round, 2007, North Carolina High School
2008 Club: Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
Height/Weight: 6-0/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Signed away from East Carolina, who saw him as a running back, the Diamondbacks signed to a $220,000 bonus, following the Devil Rays’ pattern of paying for talent.
The Good: Worthington has an enticing power/speed combo, and projects a bit like Carl Crawford (Professionally) or Desmond Jennings (Prospect Wise).
The Bad: Worthington is still raw as a baseball player, and he’ll need a lot of work. However, he was a potential high pick in terms of tools, but his two sport status caused him to fall. Hopefully in time, he’ll become similar to Desmond Jennings, who he projects a lot like.
Projection: Very High. Though he’s at the bottom of my 15, Worthington is one of those players that can blow up big once he begins to take instruction and gains experience. Hopefully, it’ll all work out for Arizona.
What He Can Be: A corner outfielder who can hit near the middle of the order.
2008 Course of Action: Because he’s so raw, Worthington will start at the bottom, where he’ll be able to get his feet wet in the Pioneer league.
12 – Mark Rosen (LHP)
DOB: 6/30/84
Drafted: 5th Round, 2002, Massachusetts High School
2008 Club: Unknown
Height/Weight: 5-11/210
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: A commitment to the University of Miami prevented Rosen from going higher than the fifth round in 2002, but the southpaw was considered one of the nation’s premier prep southpaws.
The Good: Despite his smallish frame, Rosen packs some seriouspunch in him, working with a heater that clocks in the low 90’s and can hit 94 consistently. He’s got a good slider that is his out pitch. He induces a lot of groundouts and, now that he’s a reliever, it’s become obvious that the Diamondbacks' patience in grooming him as a reliever finally paid off.
The Bad: He’s very hittable, which comes with the territory as a groundball pitcher. Really, the issue is that Rosen will may be exposed to the Rule 5 Draft this season if he’s not offered a spot on the 40 Man roster, meaning that all of the Diamondbacks’ hard work could pay off…for someone else.
Projection: Low. Rosen posted some decent numbers in winter ball, and he should be ready sooner or later.
What He Can Be: A lefty setup man.
2008 Course Of Action: Rosen’s future with Arizona is murky at the moment, as he’s not on the 40 man roster and he’ll likely be taken in December’s Rule V Draft if he isn’t protected. We’ll see what happens to him.
13 – Barry Enright (RHP)
DOB: 3/30/86
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2007. Pepperdine
2008 Club: Visalia Oaks (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/200
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Enright was the Friday night starter for Pepperdine, but questions about his stuff resulted in him falling to the 2nd round, where he was converted to relief by Arizona. Thus far, he’s been lights up and will likely return to Visalia to start the season.
The Good: Enright’s success has been mostly because he’s got good command and a large amount of deception to keep hitters off balance. His fastball sits in the 88-89 mph range, but he can hit 91-92 if he reaches back. He’s got a good slider that clocks in at 79-80 mph and has late life. He’s also got a changeup that may be salvageable if he wants to be a starter, but it’s not great.
The Bad: None of Enright’s pitches are plus ones and his arsenal isn’t good enough for him to remain a starter unless he somehow manages to salvage the changeup. He’s a bullpen guy.
Projection: Low. Enright could rise quickly, but overall he’s a middle reliever,
What He Can Be: Middle Relief
2008 Course Of Action: Enright is likely going to be starting in the meantime for Visalia, as it's a quick way to build his innings and hasten his development. I still feel he's bullpen bound, however.
14 – Edward Easley (C)
DOB: 12/21/85
Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2007, Mississippi State
2008 Club: Visalia Oaks (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/195
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Rated a second-team All-American coming out of high school, Easley has had a rather vanilla career at Mississipi State, where he has played catcher and third base. His reputation was that of a solid hitter, but the Snakes felt that Easley has the tools to at least be a major league backup in time, though they probably picked him up way too high.
The Good: Easley is a fairly athletic backstop who has shown some ability to play the infield. Easley's bat has improved each year he's been at Mississippi State and he's currently hitting .400, though he's not expected to hit that well at the next level. During infield and between innings, Easley looked like he could barely reach second base with his throws. During the game, however, he threw a bullet to throw a guy out trying to steal, making it a little puzzling for scouts if the plus arm is always there. Easley caught well, received the ball well and blocked balls in the dirt effectively, though his bat has always been better than his glove. He's also played a lot of third base in the past.
The Bad: None of his tools stand out or profile to be above-average at the next level. Easley is a below-average runner, but isn't awful for a catcher. He's got some pop, with eight homers this season, but that's more a testament to the metal bats. He won't be a big power guy as a pro.
Projection: Average. Plate discipline is a necessary, but he hasn’t been able to get the hang of it yet. He’d better, or he’s pretty much screwed.
What He Can Be: Fringy starting catcher/capable backup
2008 Course Of Action: Easley has shown at least some ability with the bat and behind the plate. He's got some power, but is more of a doubles hitter in the future. His skill set profiles more as a backup catcher in the Kelly Stinnett or Doug Mirabelli mold, where he won't get to hit enough to make it matter.
15 – Emilio Bonifacio (2B)
DOB: 4/23/85
Drafted: 2001, Dominican Republic
2008 Club: Tucson Sidewinders (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 5-11/180
Bats/Throws: S/R
The Skinny: Another toolsy player n the Arizona system, Bonifacio put up deceptively good numbers at Mobile this year, but didn’t do to well in limited action with Arizona.
The Good: Bonifacio has great speed and could at the very least have a career as a pinch runner/defensive replacement, a la Miguel Cairo. He’s more of a slap hitter and tries to beat the ball to first.
The Bad: The bat is what keeps Bonifacio as nothing more than a backup as he can’t hit consistently, can’t walk, and has some range issues as well.
Projection: Average. Plate discipline is a necessary, but he hasn’t been able to get the hang of it yet. He’d better, or he’s pretty much screwed.
What He Can Be: A leadoff second baseman.
2008 Course Of Action: Bonifacio will likely be down in Tucson to begin the year, but could be called up in the event a utilityguy gets hurt, or if he’s traded.
Final Thoughts
Mike Rizzo deserves a standing ovation for the job he did during his tenure as the Snakes’ scouting director, as he did a solid job. Many of the building blocks for the current Arizona team are already there, with the potential for more on the way if the system keeps churning out talent. Current GM Josh Byrnes deserves a lot of praise too, as he’s been able to continue to stock the system with solid players and talent in exchange for overpriced or overrated talents that had no place on what he had envisioned for the team (3B Troy Glaus, RHP Javier Vasquez, to name a few.)
The big problem with Arizona is that the system has failed to produce any sort of impact prospects. Outside of Brandon Webb, there really hasn’t been any sort of front line starter produced by the system in years. This could be remedied if the Twins were ever willing to let go of some of their hoard of pitching prospects in exchange for bats (something the Twins suck at developing, but that’s for another column), or if Parker develops as expected. All in all, this remains without a doubt, one of the Top 10 organizations in baseball.
Sources, Scouting Reports, and Thanks to: Kevin Goldstein (Baseball Prospectus), Keith Law (ESPN), Soxprospects.com, B.J. Medrano, Jim Callis And The Rest Of Baseball America, Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com), MiLB.com, Sam Corral and Erica Belmontes, Ernie Carlson, Lonestarball.com, Jamey Newberg (Newbergreport.com), Brewerfan.net and Mike Hindman (Rangers Farm Report)
I'm a long time Texas Rangers fan who has come to love baseball as a whole. I recently began this blog as a way for me to showcase my opinions, provide some analysis, and hopefully entertain those who happen to stumble upon my little soapbox online. I'll toss in an NFL, College, or NBA nugget every now and then. Enjoy the posts everyone, and yes, getting a little love in a Deadspin post was probably the highlight of the year, blogwise.
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