Well, with pitcher's and catchers reporting soon, it's time for me to dust off the hat and start picking teams at random to preview. Hopefully, I'll go through all 30 teams before the beginning of the season, if life doesn't get in the way.
The Marlins may set a record for being the cheapest team in the modern era.
Don’t get me wrong, the Marlins are a victim of their market, but really, we should accept 2007 as probably a step back, which is inevitable with a young team. However, this team has been gutted of it's most powerful offensive threat and the loss of Willis, which negligible right now, doesn't exactly instill confidence in the rest of the rotation, especially those nearing arbitration. Still, this team has some potential to be a Wild Card contender in the future, especially if some of the arms in their system continue to blossom.
Starting Rotation
Scott Olsen (LHP) – Olsen fits the old saying of “million dollar arm, ten cent head.” There is no question that when Olsen is on, he is perfectly capable of being a Number Two starter. However, whether he keeps his head together enough for him to reach his immense potential is another issue altogether. Florida looked into the possibility of moving him during the off-season, but interest was minimal. They’ll have to hitch their fortunes to him and hope he’s able to behave.
Sergio Mitre (RHP) – Mitre has turned out into a pretty decent middle of the rotation starter. He doesn’t have any offering that is any better than average, but overall he’s a decent pitcher that does a solid job of taking the ball every fifth day.
Andrew Miller (LHP) – Miller, who came over in the Cabrera-Willis swap, has the potential to become a dominant ace of the rotation. He has good size along with a big fastball, which 93-94 mph, touching 97 with plenty of natural sink. He also has a good slider and a changeup. However, command has been an issue with Miller and his changeup and slider can be inconsistent. He’s very much a project that probably should be in the minors, but won’t be due to the Marlins feeling the need to justify the trade.
Mark Hendrickson (LHP) – Hendrickson was an adequate swingman in LA, but other than that he’s merely back of the rotation roster filler here.
Ricky Nolasco (RHP) – Nolasco is another arm obtained via trade, but he’s more or less a middle of the rotation guy. The big issue is keeping him healthy enough to contribute, but if he can stay off the DL, he should be a quality third starter.
Bullpen
Kevin Gregg (Closer) - Officially the most expensive Marlin (trade him!), Gregg enters the year as the first returning closer for the fish in years.
Taylor Tankersley (Setup Man) – It's looking more and more like Tankersley is going to be a long term setup man instead of a closer, which is a shame as I think he'd be a solid one. Still, setup men are valuable and he'll help the fish either way.
Matt Lindstrom (RHP) – Another capable setup man, Lindstrom is likely going to help in the setup duties with Tankersley.
Eulogio De La Cruz (RHP) – A key piece of the Tiger's trade, De La Cruz appeals to the velocity #### of Florida, as he can hit 100 mph with his fastball and off-set it with a average curveball. He's easily got the potential to be a dynamite closer if he could just get his command under control..
Rick VandenHurk (RHP) - VandenHurk will likely remain as a swingman, making a spot start here or too, which is good as he's stretched to what he can do as a starter.
Reynel Pinto (LHP) – A dependable lefty, Pinto is also likely going to be the only one unless Hendrickson plays his way out of the rotation.
Justin Miller (RHP) – Miller should be the final piece of what should be a quality pen.
Starting Lineup
Hanley Ramirez (SS) – Overlooked at times because he plays in Florida, Ramirez is an excellent blend of speed and power. The biggest problem is that Ramirez is overmatched at shortstop and he’s probably the worst defensive shortstop in the majors. He’s very much like BJ Upton, a physical freak that simply can’t handle the infield and would be best off in the outfield.
Dan Uggla (2B) – Uggla actually improved last season, walking a bit more while hitting for more power than he did last year. Strikeouts and defense are still an issue, but overall Uggla is a nice little player to have and is a solid fit here at the second spot.
Jeremy Hermida (RF) – Lost in last season was Hermida's blossoming into a star. Underrated by many, Hermida is a solid middle of the order bat that can hit for power and average so long as he stays on the field. As he puts his injury plagued rookie year behind him, I think he'll begin to get notice.
Mike Jacobs (1B) – An average first baseman, Jacobs hits for some power and is a competant bat, but overall he's not a star, more of a solid contributor that is convient while he's cheap.
Dallas McPherson (3B) – Still blessed with the potential for 30 home run power, McPherson hasn’t been able to make the most of his chances, with injuries and a balky back short circuiting him whenever he got the opportunity to be the starter back in Anaheim. The Angels finally cut their losses with him and non-tendered him at the deadline. Florida is hoping to cash in on McPherson, hoping that his health issues have finally cleared up. If they have, Florida could have a Carlos Pena-type bargain on their hands, though still not enough to make fans forget Miguel Cabrera.
Josh Willingham (LF) - Another solid contributor, Willingham may actually see some time as a catcher again with the acquisiton of Luis Gonzalez, which would make him less of a average player and more of a solid regular that will make a couple of all star teams. Overall, I like his bat and his overall consistent approach at the plate, but I would like to see him behind the bag. After all, what have the Marlins got to lose?
Cameron Maybin (CF) – Maybin was the key part of the trade with Detroit. He's blessed with tools galore, as he has excellent bat speed, good raw power, good range in center with a strong arm and good speed. However, he shouldn't be starting with the Marlins,a s he's still very raw in all aspects of the game and would struggle mightily. Unfortuantely, he'll likely be there opening day.
Mike Rabelo (C) – Rabelo served as Ivan Rodriguez’s caddy last season and is a solid game caller with a good glove. And that’s pretty much all he is, as he’s stretched as an everyday catcher.
Bench
Matt Trenor (C) – Strictly a backup, Trenor is now the longest tenured Marlin on the squad. Still, it’s good to be him considering he lives in a nice city and is married to a smoking hot wife.
Jorge Cantu (INF) – The former Devil Ray was a washout with the Reds and now will try to come out of obscurity with Florida's other team. Cantu's got some nice power on him, but little value elsewhere.
Jose Castillo (INF) – Castillo really isn't great anywhere and is likely only going to see utility duty.
Luis Gonzalez (LF/1B) – Gonzalez shifts to a mentor/backup role, where he'll likely see some time in left and first base, depending on the needs of the team. I like Gonzalez being a full time starter in left, while allowing Josh Willingham to catch. It would be a much stronger offensive unit, though defensively it would be rather rough at first.
Alejandro De Aza (OF) – Fourth outfielder with little offensive value. That's about it.
Disabled List
Josh Johnson (RHP) - Johnson went down early with Tommy John surgery and likely won't be ready till roughly May or so. Johnson is a fully capable Number Two starter when he's right, but it'll take him until at least July or early August to get back to the promising young pitcher he was at the end of 2006.
Anibal Sanchez (RHP) - Sanchez also shows flashes of greatness, but shoulder surgery killed his year. Now, he'll likely be held out until perhaps May or so. Sanchez also has a Number Two starter ceiling when healthy and both him and Johnson would knock back Mitre to the number four spot in the rotation and Hendrickson and Nolasco into the bullpen.
Minor League Notables
Gaby Hernandez (RHP) -Hernandez has middle of the rotation horse potential, though none of his offerings are really plus pitches. Still, he's valuable to have and will greatly benefit from that large ballpark. He'll likely make his debut in late August.
Dallas Trahern (RHP) - Another pitcher from the Tiger deal, Trahern is a groundball machine without a dominant offering, but still, a groundballer with lots of stamina makes for a good combination with a solid defense. He's also likely to make his debut late in the year.
Final Anaylsis
The Fish will likely be better than expected, but in reality that may not be saying much. As Sanchez and Johnson get worked back in, the Fish should improve themselves with more experience and hopefully more promise from some of their gambles on the free agent market (McPherson.) Overall, this is an interesting team going foward, but management does need to show a commitment and start extending some of their players in order to continue taking the necessary steps foward, and not just continue dismantling the team every three years because it becomes more expensive than the luxery tax subsidies.
The Marlins have managed to rebuild twice after conducting firesales thanks to their deep pool of minor league talent, both drafted and obtained via trades. However, that pool has dried up in the past two years, and not because of the fact that the Marlins have fallen behind in the draft, but rather because they’ve had so much talent graduate to the major league level that it’s left the system very much depleted. There are several prospects to take note of, but unfortunately, the upper levels of the system remain barren due to the depletion of talent, as I discovered during my trip to see the Albuquerque Isotopes. That’s not to say that there isn’t fruit on the vine, it’s just very raw right now.
Marlins Top 15
1 – Chris Volstad (RHP)
DOB: 9/23/86
Drafted: 1st Round, 2005, Florida High School
2008 Club: Carolina Mudcats (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-7/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Volstad is being groomed for a possible rotation spot come 2009 when Dontrelle Willis books. In fact, he was being considered to being promoted for a September Call Up until the Marlins thought the better of it, possibly because it would have started his options and arbitration clock earlier than necessary.
The Good: A imposing 6-7, Volstad is able to get great sink on his fastball, which clocks in at 89-93 mph, and is able to generate a lot of groundballs. He’s got two solid secondary pitches and his control overall is excellent.
The Bad: Volstad hasn’t added any velocity or mass for that matter, which is odd considering how huge he is. He’s also very hittable, and his strikeout rates are disappointing.
Projection: Average. Volstad is the most polished of the 2005 first-rounders, and many within the organization feel that he's the best of the group, and thus the one most likely to reach Double-A ahead of schedule. For that to happen, he'll need to make a number of adjustments, but the Marlins think that more of the groundballs will turn into outs as he moves up. While it's unlikely for everything to click at once, at the same time all of the expected changes are reasonable expectations based on Volstad's talent.
What He Can Be: A Major League Innings Eater, But A Number Three Or Four Starter
2008 Course Of Action: Volstad really didn’t do much in his limited time in Carolina, so I think he’ll likely be back to start the season. However, the Marlins will probably have him finish the year in Albuquerque, where his groundball tendencies would play well in that ballpark. Also, it will give me a chance to scout him personally. Woot!
2 – Gaby Hernandez (RHP)
DOB: 5/21/86
Drafted: 3rd round, 2004, Florida High School (Mets)
2008 Club: Albuquerque Isotopes (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/210
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: One of the big parts of the Paul LoDuca trade, Hernandez has solid stuff and is young enough to continue growing. While his overall numbers at Carolina are somewhat disappointing, he’s still got a bright future.
The Good: Hernandez has a good three pitch mix on him, with a 91-93 mph fastball, curveball, and changeup. He displays solid command and control, allowing him to spot the ball well.
The Bad: The curveball can become very hittable against lefties and despite his age, he’s really not going to get any better than he is. Lastly, he can be flyball friendly, which makes him meat at certain NL Ballparks.
Projection: Low. Hernandez is nearly ready and he should benefit from
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation starter.
2008 Course Of Action: Despite a overall disappointing record at Carolina, Hernandez will likely be sent to Albuquerque, where he had better be able to keep his ERA below 5. If he runs off a stretch of good starts, he could get a call in a much more diminished Florida rotation.
3 – Sean West (LHP)
DOB: 6/15/86
Drafted: 1st round, 2005, Louisiana High School
2008 Club: Greenville Grasshoppers (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-8/200
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: After producing solid results in his Low A season, West wound up getting hurt and had to undergo Tommy John Surgery, costing him the year.
The Good: A towering lefthander, West threw in the 91-94 mph with the potential of adding more mass, his height giving him plenty of sink on his heater.
The Bad: Even before the injury, West’s biggest problem was that his secondary offerings were below average pitches, making him similar to Mike Pelfrey in that he’s a one pitch pitcher. He also lost velocity in later innings.
Projection: High. The sky is still the limit on West and if he can get back to where he was and be able to improve his pitches, the Marlins have another homegrown lefty ace once again.
What He Can Be: A Dominant Top Of The Rotation Starter
2008 Course Of Action: High. West's ceiling is greater than any of the arms from Florida's 2005 first-round pitcher-fest, yet the gap between what he is and what he can be is significant. Like all of them, a huge season is possible as they move en masse to the pitching-friendly Florida State League.
4 – Ryan Tucker (RHP)
DOB: 12/6/86
Drafted: 1st round, 2005, California High School
2008 Club: Carolina Mudcats (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Yet another young starter in the Florida system, Tucker looks to be a potential stud in the rotation if he continues to improve. Of all of the Florida arms, I like Tucker the most.
The Good: The best raw arm in the Marlins’ system, Tucker has a low to mid 90’s heater that touches 98 and has a plus slider to compliment it. He also has the makings o####ood changeup.
The Bad: He can be very inconsistent, which leads to his overall disappointing numbers. His command also comes and goes.
Projection: High. Tucker's biggest thing holding him back is the fact that his breaking pitches are lagging behind him. Once he gets them going, he’s going to rise quickly.
What He Can Be: A Number 3 Starter, Maybe A Number 2 in the Future
2008 Course Of Action: Tucker will likely be headed to Carolina this next season, where the Marlins hope he’ll be able to make some progress on harnessing his off-speed stuff.
5 – Matt Dominguez (3B)
DOB: 8/28/89
Drafted: 1st round, 2007, California High School
2008 Club: Gulf Coast Marlins (Rookie)
Height/Weight: 6-2/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: The first positional prospect on the list, Dominguez held out until the final hour, when he finally signed for slot money. Because he signed too late to sign, there really isn’t much we can make of him other than his high school career, which is an awesome one.
The Good: Dominguez is already regarded to be a future gold glover. He’s very smooth, has soft hands and has a strong arm enough to remain at third. He has some of the top tools as well, power being the best one in particular.
The Bad: Really, the biggest knock on Dominguez is that he doesn’t have one tool that stands out above the others.
Projection: High. Dominguez will likely be the next great Marlins’ third baseman. I think he’ll be a lot like Ryan Zimmerman, or more appropriately, Mike Lowell, another great Marlns’ Third Baseman
What He Can Be: A Gold Glove Third Baseman That Hits Well.
2008 Course Of Action: Dominguez will begin his career in Rookie League, where he could eventually finish in a Short Season League by the end of the year.
6 – Brett Sinkbeil (RHP)
DOB: 12/26/84
Drafted: 1st Round, 2006, Missouri State
2008 Club: Carolina Mudcats (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/170
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Overall, I would have to think that Sinkbeil’s season was somewhat disappointing. He didn’t nearly do as well as I thought he would do, despite the decent numbers.
The Good: The rare college arm in the system, Sinkeil is an above average pitcher with a low-90s sinker that can touch 95 and an above-average slider. He has good size and clean, repeatable mechanics.
The Bad: Sinkbeil missed time last year with forearm tightness, something that needs to be kept an eye on. His changeup still hasn’t progressed and he may wind up in the bullpen.
Projection: Average. Sinkbeil will likely get sent to Double A, but if the forearm issues or a lack of progress with the changeup continues, the bullpen may be the best role for him, though he would make a capable setup man.
What He Can Be: A Number Three starter
2008 Course Of Action: Carolina should field one of the more intimidating rotations around, with a potential rotation (by me) of Sinkbeil, Tucker and Volstad, but Sinkbeil may be in line for a call up by the end of the season.
7 – Aaron Thompson (LHP)
DOB: 2/28/87
Height/Weight: 6-3/195
Drafted: 1st Round, 2005, Texas High School
2008 Club: Carolina Mudcats (Double A)
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Thompson is yet another member of the Marlins’ young guns, and was selected not only because of his immense polish for a young kid, but also because he would be a factor sooner rather than later. A polished lefty drafted 22nd overall in 2005, Thompson should move faster than some of the club's other recent picks. Thus far, the plan already appears to be working, as Thompson is already in High A, with Double A coming up soon.
The Good: The stereotypical crafty left has excellent command and control over this stuff, wielding an 87-90 mph fastball and plus slider to get good results. His changeup is average and when he mixes all of them together, he’s able to induce a fair amount of groundballs to help him succeed.
The Bad: Thompson’s success has been more him depending on his command and control than by him blowing people away. Double A will likely force him to adjust. He also has a slight frame and really could afford to put some poundage on.
Projection: Average. Thompson is already moving quickly and should be a factor for Florida as a starter something next year. However, he’s not a difference maker and wouldn’t be much more than a Number Four starter for the fish.
What He Can Be: An Back Of The Rotation Starter.
2008 Course Of Action: Thompson is likely headed to Double A, where he’ll round out an exceptional rotation for Florida.
8 – Tom Hickman (CF)
DOB: 4/18/88
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2006, Georgia High School
2008 Club: Jamestown Jammers (Short Season)
Height/Weight: 6-1/180
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Though Hickman also had potential as a left handed pitcher, the Marlins committed to him after taking him in the second round. After a decent season where he hit .263 with 2 Homers and 20 RBI’s in 50 games, Hickman was abysmal in 2007 and likely will repeat short season ball.
The Good: Hickman has a good lefty swing and makes hard contact with the ball. His athletic ability is one of the best I the system and he’s got a decent amount of pseed and power potential. The Marlins are gambling that his tools should eventually make him into a outfield regular.
The Bad: Can someone say platoon split? Hickman murdered lefties, but was murdered by right handers all of last season. Oddly enough, last year it was the other way around. He also doesn’t project to be a centerfielder, especially as he adds mass. He regressed on his plate discipline, as his walk totals dropped while his strikeout totals remained the same.
Projection: Very High. Despite his bad year, Hickman is a long ways off anyway, so I’m willing to give him a mulligan for his terrible season in hopes that he builds on it.
What He Can Be: A starting corner outfielder.
2008 Course Of Action: After that brutal year in Jamestown, Hickman will be heading back, hopefully where he’ll be able to build off of his failures.
9 – Chris Coghlan (2B)
DOB: 6/18/85
Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2006, University Of Mississippi
2008 Club: Jupiter Hammerheads (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/190
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: Coghlan started the year out right in Low A, hitting .325 with 10 dingers, 64 RBI’s and at OBP of .419. However, upon being promoted to the Florida State League, he vanished, going Mendoza with a dramatic drop in production. However, most of this can be blamed on the fact that Jupiter has one of the worst hitting parks in the minors.
The Good: A polished hitter, Coghlan shows the ability to make contact, work the count, as well as hit for some gap power. He also has good hands and some speed to work with as well. The tools are there for him to be at least an average major leaguer or utility dude.
The Bad: Coghlan isn’t the power hitter that Dan Uggla is, nor will he be. Defensively, because he only became a second baseman this year, he’s still struggling to learn the position, which in turn may have affected his hitting. Still, many feel that he’ll become at least average by the time he’s ready.
Projection: Fair. Coghlan still has some work to do, but he should be able to shake off his late season yips and be able to finish in Carolina by the end of the year.
What He Can Be: An above average second baseman.
2008 Course Of Action: Coglhan will be heading back to Florida, where he should be able to rebound and finish in Carolina. However, with Dan Uggla pretty much a fixture in Florida (unless he moves to first base), there isn’t a spot of Coghlan to move into in 2009. It’s more than likely that he could be traded if he gets off to a hot start next year.
10 – Mike Stanton (CF/1B)
DOB: 11/8/89
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2007, California High School
2008 Club: Jamestown Jammers (Short Season)
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-5/200
The Skinny: One of the top athletes in the draft, the Marlins paid slightly above slot for Stanton, but the bonus will be spread across four years thanks to Stanton’s status as a multisport athlete, as he was heading to USC as a baseball and football player.
The Good: A excellent athlete, Stanton has good physical tools. He’s got good power potential and some decent speed potential as well.
The Bad: Stanton is still raw and is light years away from the majors. He needs work in almost every facet of his game.
Projection: Very High. Stanton looks like he could be a solid starter in center or at the very least an Adam Dunn type masher at first, judging from the scouting reports, Baseball America love and notes from other sources. If they’re to believed, the Marlins could have something here.
What He Can Be: An offensive power source
2008 Course Of Action: I expect Stanton to make his full season debut with the Jammers, where he should remain the whole year while getting work on turning his considerable tools into performance.
11 – Gregory Burns (OF)
DOB: 11/7/86
Drafted: 3rd Round, 2004, California High School
2008 Club: Jupiter Hammerheads (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/215
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: A sleeper, Burns has great potential, but hasn’t put much of it in terms of results. This changed this season, as Burns hit .280/.401/.748 for Low A Greensboro, tearing up the Sally League in the process and showing a lot of improvement.
The Good: Morrison has good power potential that is starting to manifest itself. He still has some projection on him in that he’s still a bit of a stringbean, but he’s shown the ability to make solid contact at the plate.
The Bad: Burns wore out as the season ran on, as seen by his first half numbers (.307/.420/.799) and his second half numbers (.252/.381/.693). He’s also shown that he’s a little more ordinary against right handers.
Projection: Average. Burns has been in the system for quite a while, but is still only going to be 21 and has a world of potential for him.
What He Can Be: A starting corner outfielder
2008 Course Of Action: Burns will be headed to Jupiter where he’ll be playing against some advanced competition. He’ll need to keep the average up as well as show some doubles power, as Jupiter is one of the worst hitters parks in the minors.
12 – John Raynor (CF)
DOB: 1/4/84
Drafted: 9th Round, 2006, UNC Wilmington
2008 Club: Jupiter Hammerheads (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/185
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A senior signee last year, Raynor had an outstanding full-season debut with Greensboro, hitting .333/.519/.948 with 13 Homers, 57 RBI’s, 54 stolen bases, and earning the Marlins Minor League Player of the Year award.
The Good: Raynor’s best asset is his athleticism and his speed. He has excellent range in center and is a solid base runner. He has a good enough arm to stay in center and has a quick stroke that allows him to put the ball into play. He’s got some power, more of the doubles variety, but all in all he’s an excellent prospect for the moment.
The Bad: Raynor takes questionable routes in center, something he needs to work on. There is also some question as to whether or not he was simply a college player taking advantage of a easier level of competition.
Projection: Average. Raynor has been a nice surprise and could eventually solve the Marlins’ long standing centerfield issue internally. The problem is that he’s at least another two years off if they accelerate him, which they might very well do, considering that he’s 23 and will need to start proving that he has a future in the pros.
What He Can Be: A starting centerfielder, along the lines of Wily Taveras
2008 Course Of Action: Raynor will likely be heading to Jupiter, where the Marlins hope that he’ll have a solid couple of months to warrant promotion to the Mudcats, where he would be up against more appropriate age related talent.
13 – Graham Taylor (LHP)
DOB: 5/25/84
Drafted: 10th Round, 2006, Miami (Ohio)
2008 Club: Jupiter Hammerheads (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/225
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Taylor won the organizational Triple Crown, tying Volstad with 12 wins finishing with a 2.99 ERA and 138 strikeouts, also earning him the Marlins’ Pitcher Of The Year award.
The Good: Taylor is a crafty lefty that isn’t afraid to throw strikes. He’s got a lot of deception on his fastball and combined with his offspeed pitches, a slider and a changeup, both good pitches, and his pinpoint command and control, Taylor was able to get results.
The Bad: Taylor’s fastball clocks in at around 86-87, meaning that if he’s not on, he’s going to get killed.
Projection: Average. Taylor is an older pitcher, but has gotten by mostly because of his exceptional command and control. But he plays in a league with a lot of pitchers parks and with groundball ability, he should manage to survive and be a decent starting pitcher.
What He Can Be: A back of the rotation pitcher
2008 Course Of Action: Taylor will likely begin the year back in Jupiter, where he showed signs of fatigue during a late promotion there, and should remain the whole year there before a late season promotion to Carolina, to see how far along he is.
14 – Gaby Sanchez (1B)
DOB: 9/02/83
Drafted: 4th Round, 2005, University of Miami (FL)
2008 Club: Carolina Mudcats (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/225
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Sanchez was the New York-Penn League's MVP after being drafted in 2005 and made an even better impression after opening last season at Greensboro, but he had a broken hand interrupt his season in June and then a broken toe end it in August. This season, Sanchez hit .270 with 40 doubles and 70 RBI’s along with a .433 slugging percentage. However, Jupiter is one of the worst hitting parks in the majors and his numbers were better after the All Star Break.
The Good: Sanchez is a lot like current Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs. He has shown that he has some hitting skills, with some solid power potential and the ability to draw a walk or two. He also has the potential to make contact and hit for a decent average in the past.
The Bad: Sanchez is limited to first base, meaning he’ll have to slug his way to the majors. Also, he was a bit old for the league, which means he needs to hurry up.
Projection: Fair. Sanchez’s time is ticking and he needs to prove that he is a legitimate option in the future for the Marlins at first base. He needs to at least put up solid numbers in Double A in order to retain prospect status and not start get categorized as organization filler.
What He Can Be: A starting first baseman, similar to…Mike Jacobs.
2008 Course Of Action: Now 24, Sanchez needs to start to hurry up and prove that he’s a viable first baseman of the future. The Marlins were hoping that Sanchez would be ready by 2009, which would have allowed them to trade Jacobs, who would be arbitration eligible for the first time. Sanchez, therefore, is very much under the gun to hurry.
15 – Carlos Martinez (RHP)
DOB: 5/26/82
Signed: 2008, Dominican Republic
2008 Club: Florida Marlins (MLB)
Height/Weight: 6-3/200
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After having to undergo Tommy John Surgery, Martinez was terrible when he returned, but he was okay during winter league action while undergoing rehab, so he should be ready to compete again soon.
The Good: Martinez throws in the mid 90’s and compliments it with a hard slider.
The Bad: Control issues from the procedure are still an issue and will have to be worked on.
Projection: Low. Martinez should be ready to help out the Marlins. It is there hope that he could eventually be their long term option at closer.
What He Can Be: A closer.
2008 Course Of Action: Now healed, Martinez should be ready to compete for a job with the Marlins this season, where they hope he can provide a solid bridge up to Kevin Gregg.
Final Thoughts
For the most part, the level of talent at the top of the organization is pretty much non-existent, thanks to the vast amount of graduations, but there is a lot of talent in the lower levels, pitching in particular, that could make some noise sometime in the 2009 season. But for the most part, there isn’t much in terms of immediate graduations, as every prospect that could have made the Marlins already has, meaning that the organization needs to either taken advantage of some injury related rehab projects to contend or hope that some of their other players step up and continue to develop. Help isn’t on the way for a while, meaning that Florida will have to make do with what they have or trade their two remaining assets in Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis in order to get some more reinforcements.
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 problems with rushing draft picks, Southside Eckstein, Pods Back On The Market, and the Price On Dontrelle Willis.
The Problems With Rushing Draft Picks
One of the things that I’m noticing in recent years is the rushing of draft picks.
Usually, this is done with relievers, who are viewed to be almost ready made, a practice that has gone back since the Nationals brought up Chad Cordero months after being drafted. However, this practice is taking it's toll on the prospects, mostly because teams feel that these college kids should be ready to start immediately.
This has recently been found out the hard way by the Detroit Tigers, who are now paying the price of rushing Andrew Miller, who has been awful his last few starts. The warning signs were there with Miller, who has walked more batters than he struck out and was regarded to be still raw coming out of college.
A better example would be Craig Hansen and Joey Devine, two players selected in the 2005 draft that were called up to the Majors quickly. Too quickly.
Devine was destroyed in limited time with the Braves and only recently has begun to show signs of coming out of his shellacking. Hansen isn't as fortunate and is in danger of possibly being dealt or cut by the Red Sox, who made the mistake of calling him up too soon.
Often times Clubs will be a bit overdependant on their system to provide them with help in their hours of need, oftentimes too soon for the kids to do much good.
And often times, those kids may never recover.
So, let it be a lesson, even a cautionary tale, of why sometimes you might need to look elsewhere rather than within, less you render your own internal asset useless for the rest of the future.
Eckstein Southside? Sounds Like A Disaster.
According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, shortstop David Eckstein has become the top off-season target of the White Sox, who are now tired of Juan Uribe’s lack of production (is it possible to be out hit by Adam Kennedy? It’s starting to look like it.)
I’m not sure if that’s a great idea, even if the shortstop market is looking dismal. Eckstein will be 33 heading into next season, and he’s begun to break down, with more and more time on the DL due to injuries. Big money would be a mistake, especially when you consider that Eckstein lacks lower and as a leadoff man is very depended on slapping the ball and hoping his speed will let him beat it out. That’s not going to last much longer, especially as he begins to lose speed next year.
Another nugget to consider is that Eckstein may be classified as a Type A Free Agent, and would warrent the White Sox surrendering their Second Round Pick, something that the Whtie Sox may give pause to, especially as they begin what is likely a rebuilding process that will require all the high picks it needs.
The White Sox, really, should begin to look around at the various farm systems in the league (Kenny Williams has scouted several systems and knows the prospects he wants from each one religiously) to see if there is any way to net a shortstop prospect that is near ready, but blocked. A young player would be much better as it would give the White Sox payroll flexability and the potential to groom another face of the franchise around them.
Pods Back On The Market
Scott Podsednik is going to be available soon.
The White Sox have begun playing Josh Fields in left field. This likely means that
Joe Crede will be brought back for his final season.
Podsednik is out of a job, as the White Sox have fallen in love with Darin Erstad (big mistake) as their fourth outfielder.
Does Pods have any value?
Some, but not enough to start him. He'd make a decent fourth outfielder on a team that has several established ones and he's got the speed to be a decent pinch runner. With his stock down, his price will be cheap as well.
Pods has really had only one good year, but beyond that, he's prett y much useless as a starter.
And to think, I got the most hate mail over my view of Pods as a backup.
Heh.
The Price On Dontrelle
Dontrelle Willis has had a difficult season in Florida, and with his price increase coming in arbitration, followed by Miguel Cabera's impending raise, Willis could finally be out there for the taking.
The Marlins have kinda messed up this situation a bit, as Willis was at the peak of his value last off-season and would have netted a nice haul. However, Willis has lost some of his luster and teams may be less willing to give up the farm for him.
However, there still will be a great deal of suitors, as Willis is a power pitching lefty on the right side of 30 and has a reputation for being a horse as well as an innings eater. Someone will bite.
The Marlins have indicated that they want pitching and catching in return in exchange for Willis. Is there a match?
Somewhat.
The Mariners have catching prospect Jeff Clement to offer up and potentially Wladmir Baltentin, a centerfielder, that they could offer back, but no real pitching of consequnce.
The Mets could offer up an outfield prospect and potenitlally Philip Humber and Mike Pelfrey, but no real catching prospects exist in that organization.
The Rangers could offer back Gerald Laird, who has been displaced by Saltalamacchia, but the Marlins would demand Salty instead, along with top prospect Eric Hurley, a package that would scare off the Rangers.
The Yankees will likely be mentioned, but will only offer up end of the rotation starters such as Tyler Clippard and Jeff Marquez, while the Marlins would demand either Ian Kennedy or Joba Chamberlain.
The Dodgers could be interested, but their only real prospect of value of Clayton Kershaw and he's untouchable.
Perhaps the Rockies and Diamondbacks, teams in need of starting pitching, could make an offer with some of their depth of positional prospects, but no pitching options are available to make a fit possible.
The Marlins are thus in a touchy spot. They could let Willis leave after this year and reap the two comp draft picks, but if he's signed by a crappy team, all they'll get is a second rounder and a sandiwch pick. If they trade him, they'll want to get what Willis was worth last season, and not what he's worth then.
So, it's going to be interesting to see how the Marlins operate this, to put it lightly, delicate situation when they've handled so many of their public relations issues with bazookas.
Getting near the end here. THe last of the previews will be done next week.
Florida Marlins
The Marlins were one of the big stories last year, as I don’t think there has every been a team that underwent such a huge makeover and was still able to contend for much of the season.
That aint’ happening this year.
Here’s why.
Starting Rotation
Dontrelle Willis (LHP) – The lone remainder of the 2005 rotation, Willis lead the staff last season and posted a solid 3.87 ERA with 160 strikeouts. However, his 12-12 record is largely due to the Marlins' struggles early on in the season, as well as a bit of a hang over from the World Baseball Classic. With free agency approaching next year, Willis will be a hot commodity, though some teams will be wary about all the innings he's logged in since he broke into the league. On a side note, Willis also is a excellent hitter and has hit as low as 8th in the order.
Scott Olsen (LHP) – Olsen gets very good velocity for a lefty, as he’s able to #### it up to the mid 90s. He compliments that with a great slider and he’s got a good changeup that he should mix in more often. The problem with Olsen is that he works high in the zone, and gets pounded from time to time as a result. He also needs to improve his stamina, as he should start to pass the 200 innings mark sometime soon.
Anibal Sanchez (RHP) – Sanchez has all the stuff to become an ace, and he blossomed last year when called up by Florida. Sanchez went 10-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 17 starts, plus threw a no hitter, paving the way for a Rookie Of The Year quality season. Sanchez's only knock is his size and his history of arm troubles, which have recently reared their ugly head again when Sanchez reported soreness in his shoulder. Thus, this situation bears watching, as yet another talented arm for the Marlins takes a possible hit.
Ricky Nolasco (RHP) – Nolasco has average stuff that projects him to be a fourth or fifth starter or a long reliever, depending on what the Marlins decide to do with him long tern. They’ll be depending on him to pitch as the fourth starter, especially with Johnson out for two months.
Yusmeiro Petit (RHP) – Petit lacks any plus pitches, but he’s got a very deceptive deliver that hides the ball well and results in a high number of strikeouts. However, he wasn’t able to translate that success into wins at the majors, resulting in a demotion to the bullpen. Petit will likely begin the season with the Marlins, but he’ll be sent back to Albuquerque as soon as Johnson is ready to come back.
Bullpen
Taylor Tankersley (Closer) – After being switched to the bullpen, Tankersley really took off, finishing the season in the majors and functioning as a setup man. Tankersley has good enough stuff to close, but the concern is that he may not be healthy enough to remain in the role. It should be interesting to see what happens.
Logan Kensing (Setup Man) – Kensing was okay as a part time setup man. He’ll man the full time duties this Spring.
Henry Owens (RHP) – Obtained from the Mets, Owens looks to be a finished product and should be a more than capable swingman for the Fish. Owens has got a great fastball, but the lack of a breaking pitch is rather troublesome, as his slider really doesn’t exist. He’ll likely team up with Kensing for setup duties.
Carlos Hernandez (RHP) – Hernandez was tremendous coming out of the pen last year and seems to be a lock to make the pen this Spring.
Randy Messenger (RHP) – Messenger had a roller coaster year last year, as he was either effective or awful, depending on the month. A excellent September gives the Marlins some hope that he can be good.
Reynal Pinto (LHP) – Pinto looks to have the makings of a shutdown lefty reliever, but he was an excellent minor league starter. Hence, there will be some teams asking abou him as part of a trade, in hopes of using him in that capacity.
Sergio Mitre (RHP) – Not sure what to make of Mitre. He’s likely going to be the swingman, though I wonder if there are better options available in the farm system that could help right now.
Starting Lineup
Hanley Ramirez (SS) – Ramirez, part of the Josh Beckett deal, proved to be a capable replacement for Alex Gonzalez. He thrived as a leadoff man and is proving that he’s an excellent fielder as well. Though Ramirez will eventually be moved down in the lineup, as he seems to be a better fit as a number two man, he should be able to duke it out with Jose Reyes for the title of best leadoff man in the National League.
Dan Uggla (2B) – A Rule 5 pick from the Diamondbacks, Uggla slugged his way into keeping the starting job while entering the record books as the new record holder for for homers by a rookie second baseman. Uggla has evolved into a pretty good defender and should hit for some nice power in the two spot. I don’t think that Uggla will have the same success that he did last year, as he is likely still adjusting to the majors, and pitchers figured him out a little, but if he can hit around .280 to .290 with 15 to 20 bombs, the Marlins will be more than happy.
Miguel Cabrera (3B) – Cabrera is one of those players that you know is destined for Cooperstown the first time you see him play. Cabrera was a beast for the Marlins, hitting .339 with 26 homers and 114 RBI’s, all the while showing that he can be a more than capable defender at third. The real question about Cabrera is whether or not he’s willing to be a leader, as he had his lapses much of last season and management seems determined to set the grounds for an eventual trade, as they’ve been feuding with him for much of the off-season.
Josh Willingham (LF) – Willingham isn’t the greatest left fielder, as he lacks range and his decision making in the field is questionable at times. However, his bat is excellent, as seen from his .277/26/74 batting line. Willingham should improve with experience, and hopefully as the Guppies enter their second season together, Willingham can further improve on his hitting an be a monster of a cleanup man.
Mike Jacobs (1B) – Jacobs doesn’t have the amount of power that his predecessor, Carlos Delgado, had, but he hit very well and is one of the only lefty batters that offers any sort of power. The bigger question is whether or not Jacobs can defend, as he was often times awful playing first.
Jeremy Hermida (RF) –Hermida's rookie season was ruined by hip and ankle injuries, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a stud. He still has excellent plate discipline and doubles power, though his strikeout rate may keep his batting average down. He should have a very good career and he projects similar to Brian Giles, a very good outfielder with some pop. I still wish Texas had drafted him instead of Drew Meyer.
Miguel Olivo (C) – Olivo had a very nice season as a full time starter and he put up career best numbers in all three triple crown categories, plus was capable of providing guidance to a rookie staff. He also threw out 34 percent of attempted base stealers. The only problem is the strikeouts and his lack of plate discipline. He had nine walks, the fewest ever for a player with at least 100 strikeouts.
Alfredo Amezaga (CF) – This utilityman is hoped to be able to provide at least some sort of offense from center, all the while being able to capably man the postion. He’s likely a placeholder for someone else, should the Marlins choose to make a move. Word has it that they’re interesting in making a deal for Tampa Bay’s B.J. Upton and Elijah Dukes to man center, though the Rays are asking for too much and the Marlins are unwilling to offer any young pitching. Oh, and to a certain baseball writer who said that the Marlins shouldn’t trade any of their young pitching because they’d be better off long term, all I have to say is #### you. The Marlins need a centerfielder and frankly, none of these guys that they have in camp will cut it. Sometimes you gotta trade pitching to help the team now, especially when FOUR of your starters won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season.
Bench
Matt Treanor (C) – One of the best backup catchers in the league, Treanor should provide some leadership on the young Marlins. That and bring his smoking hot wife to games.
Aaron Boone (1B/3B) – Boone is done as a regular, but it’s possible that he may have something left to offer as far as a reserve. Boone is most remembered for his home run against the Red Sox in the ALCS, plus inadvertently causing Drew Henson to head back to football.
Robert Andino (INF) – Andino has a great glove and will likely sub for Ramirez or Uggla in case of injury.
Cody Ross (OF) – Ross may be a option for center, but he needs to improve his plate discipline if he hopes to wrestle the job away from Amezaga. He does have some power, which gives him a slight edge over Amezaga, though.
Joe Borchard (OF) – Borchard is better off playing the outfield corners as a backup, but he’s also a bit of a disappointment as far as a centerfield option.
Disabled List
John Johnson (RHP) – Johnson is a solid right-handed pitcher that was dominating for much of last year. However, he’ll be out for two months thanks to an irritated ulnar nerve. Secretly, the that will likely force him to miss at least the first two months of the season.
Down On The Farm…
The Marlins still have some great pitching talent in the lower minors, but the biggest weakness in this system is that they lack any bats that are capable of making an impact. Their lack of position prospects has become noticeable, which was evident in the fact that their six minor league affiliates had a combined.467 winning percentage. There’s not an awful lot to call up at this moment, as the staff appears to be set, but there are some players that could make a contribution at some point.
Reggie Abercrombie (CF) – The Marlins had high hopes for Abercrombie, but I think that he was rushed to the majors too soon and that may have hurt his development. With some more time in the minors, along with instruction, Abercrombie could be at the very least a league average centerfielder in a year.
Brett Sinkbeil (RHP) – The sky’s the limit for Sinkbeil and there’s talk that he could move through the system quickly. Sinkbiel is an extremely polished pitcher with a low 90’s sinking fastball that touches 95 that he uses with a above average slider. His changeup is still a work in progress, but the potential is that if he gets that last pitch together, he could reach Florida by the end of 2006.
Jose Garcia (RHP) – Garcia is a short pitcher, but he’s got great stuff, as his arsenal includes a low 90s fastball, a decent slider, and changeup that is already a plus pitcher. The problem is that his size allows for little movement and he’s got very little projection left on him. Garcia rose quikyl through the system, beginning in Class High A and hitting the Majors, but he’s likely going to be in Triple A, where he’ll await a call up.
In Conclusion
Last year’s 78 win team surprised many, and showed that you could win with a payroll less than Derek Jeter’s yearly salary. That won’t happen this year, as the Marlins will likely suffer some attrition due to injuries, the league catching up to some of the starters, and the improvement of the National League as a whole. They may finish at .500, but I don’t see them making the playoffs. They will, however, be a threat to the Phillies, Braves and Mets next year and will be dangerous thanks to that staff. But until then…
Final Standing: Fourth Place In The National League East.
P.S. – Yes, I was in a bad mood when I wrote this.
This season was a disappointment for the most part. I expected, with all the changes that were made, that a winning season would at least be possible. Instead, all we got was one more win.
The Rangers sorely underachieved through this season. I can't help but wonder how the season could have turned out differently. What if Adam Eaton hadn't missed half the season due to injury? What if Francisco Cordero hadn't gone up in flames? What if Mark Teixiera hadn't slumped badly early in the season?
Such a lot of questions:
For Texas, this off-season will be one of important decisions. Will Tom Hicks decide to pour more money to bring a contender to Dallas? With the Rangers make a philosophical change and force Buck Showalter tomorrow night, like so many Dallas area writers are expected? Will the kids, whom the Rangers have spent several draft picks and several million dolllars, finally begin to make their presence know?
I don't know.
Like all things in Texas, we try not to make things more dramatic than they are.
They just end up becoming that way.
The Rangers Report will shift to Off-Season mode, turning it's focus to the Arizona Fall League, prospect rankings, and possible free agency targets. Expect a full write up of possible free agency and trade targets in two weeks, though if there is a Showalter firing, there will of course be an update.
In the meantime, enjoy October. Go Tigers!
Building A Champion
Here’s how the team, as constructed, will look in 2007.
· C – Gerald Laird - $0.335M
· C – Miguel Ojeda - $0.5M (Option Probably Exercised)
· RP – Akinori Otsuka - $3.25M (Estimated – Arbitration)
· RP – C.J. Wilson - $0.328M
· RP – Rick Bauer - $1.1M (Estimated – Arbitration)
· RP – Ron Mahay - $1.1M (Option)
· RP – Wes Littleton - $0.33M
· RP – Frank Francisco - $0.345M
· RP – Scott Feldman - $0.329M
Minor League Possibilities (Not Counted Toward Final Payroll)
· RP – John Rheinecker - $0.33M
· SP – Kameron Loe - $0.348M
· SP – John Koronka - $0.329M
· SP – Edinson Volquez - $0.329M
· RP – Nick Masset - $0.33M
Total Payroll For 2006 – $72,329,570 (Not Counting Alex Rodriguez Salary Contribution)
Total Payroll For 2007 – $38,817,000 (Ditto)
That’s a hell of a lot of payroll coming off the books, which is understandable considering the amount of free agents (9), plus the Chan #### Park contract coming off the books. Alex Rodriguez’s payment is usually not regarded as part of the payroll and is paid for separately.
The Rangers had an eight-man bullpen going in seems a little extreme, so it’s likely that Rupe or Feldman could be optioned to Triple A – Oklahoma, depending on what happens in Spring Training. However, Rupe or Wilson could crack the rotation as the fourth or fifth starter, with the edge likely going to Rupe because he’s far more talented. If that were to happen, it’s a certainty that Mahay’s contract option will be exercised and Nick Masset will wind up back at Oklahoma for another year of seasoning. Ojeda’s option will likely be exercised, as he’#### well enough to be a serviceable backup catcher. Depending on John Koronka’s performance in Spring Training and the Arizona Fall League, he could be back to the rotation. While many people disregard AFL success, keep in mind that Wes Littleton was one of the best pitchers in the AFL last season.
Then there’s the Carlos Lee situation. Brewers GM Doug Melvin really gave the Rangers a problem when he included Nelson Cruz in the package for Carlos Lee. The Rangers love Cruz’s power and his great instincts in the field. He’s got a strong arm and had great success in the minors. Plus, in fewer at bats, Cruz nearly hit the exact same amount of Home Runs as Lee did. If I had to go with my instincts, I think the Rangers, who have stated they want to give Cruz a chance, will probably let Lee walk.
With that in mind, let’s look at Team Needs:
The Texas Rangers Team Needs
Centerfield – The Rangers need to get Gary Matthews Jr. signed before he hits the market. As long as he remains under the Rangers’ control, Texas would be able to avoid overpaying him. If he were to get onto the open market, there has been talk of Seattle, Colorado, Los Angeles, just to name a few, who are interested in signing the 32 year old. While Matthews has great range, he doesn’t walk as often and his on base percentage is mostly batting average driven. If Texas isn’t able to sign Matthews’ long term, other options include going after Eric Byrnes of the Diamondbacks, or trading for Vernon Wells, though Byrnes is likely the cheaper option.
Starting Pitcher – The Rangers are losing Vicente Padilla, Adam Eaton, and the disaster that is Kip Wells this year to Free Agency. Of those three, Padilla must be re-signed, even if it costs the Rangers 3 years, $30 million to do so. Padilla brings a fierce presence to the mound and also brings an element of surprise, as you never know what he’s going to do. Aside from bringing back Padilla, the Rangers need at least one more innings eater to finish off the rotation. Jake Westbrook is a strong option, as he’ll give you six or seven before turning it over to the pen. Dontrelle Willis is another option, though it should be noted that both players are going to cost a lot in prospects and of the two, only Willis has any sort of long term commitment attached to him, though that’s only for a year. Free Agency looks pretty bleak, with only Houston’s Andy Pettitte (who is likely to re-sign with the club) or Toronto’s Ted Lilly being the most attractive, due to Ameriquest’s fondness for left handed pitching. Of the two, Lilly is the one that is going to be easier to obtain, though he won’t come cheap. Still, a rotation with Millwood, Lily, Padilla, with Rupe and Tejeda along for the ride should be good.
Third Base – Hank Blalock has long been lacking in the second half of the season with the Rangers. With that in mind, I have a new idea. Why not bring back Mark DeRosa as the third baseman and move Blalock to the DH. Many attribute Blalock’s offensive slump to fatigue over the season, allowing Blalock to hit solely as the DH could keep him fresher and allow him to keep more consistent.
Arizona Fall League Candidates
Texas has released some of the names of their players being sent to the Arizona Fall League.
· John Koronka – (Texas/AAA-Oklahoma)
· Jesse Ingram – P (AA-Frisco)
· Danny Touchet – P (AA-Frisco)
· Pitcher To Be Named
· Kevin Richardson – C (AA-Frisco)
· Travis Metcalf – 3B (AA-Frisco)
· Anthony Webster – OF (AAA-Oklahoma)
The other pitcher hasn’t been named yet, though there is talk about having the name switched to Jason Botts.
Playing Out Of Position
One of the odder lineups that has been posted in days was used yesterday against Seattle. Several players were used out of position. Here’s the list:
On The Block:How To Get Dontrelle Willis In Pinstripes
Continuing with the topic inspired by E Shamus O'Connor’, can the Yankees get Dontrelle Willis?
Actually, after much research, discussion, MVP Baseball 2005, alcohol, and KFC Buffalo Snackers, it’s not as impossibe as I thought it could be.However, it will take some work.
The Yankees had an opportunity to exchange Carl Pavano to Seattle for Jeremy Reed, which would not only have given the Yankees a solid, inexpensive centerfielder, but would also have allowed the Yankees to avoid the inevitable decline of Johnny Damon (the last two years of the contract.)Of the two pitchers, Pavano is still the more valuable one due to his one fluke year of success.
The way I see the Yankees getting Willis would to make a series of deals that would create a lot of player movement.The Yankees’ greatest strength is their ability to take on payroll, but they should only do so if said player is going to be off the books within a year.They’ll also need partners, mainly those with excess players and needs that can be satisfied.So here’s my take on a trade that would result in Willis going to the Bronx, along with an attempt to get both Pavano and Wright off the books:
New York Yankees trade Carl Pavano to the Washington Nationals for Alfonso Soriano.Yes, I know I said I would not trade for Soriano, but in this case, Soriano needs to get out of Washington as the situation there is becoming toxic.Washington would be getting a pitcher that they sorely need, even if he is a tad overpriced.Still, this is the best they could get for Soriano at this point.
New York Yankees Trade Alfonso Soriano to the New York Mets for John Maine and Brian Bannister.The Yankees would give the Mets the second baseman they sorely need in exchange for a pitcher that is still young enough to improve and for one of their farm system pitchers.Brian Bannister is a decent prospect, but he’s not going to start for the Mets for a while.
New York Yankees Trade Jared Wright to the Baltimore Orioles for Luis Ramirez, David Haehnel or Chris Britton and $5 million.Wright is a Mizzone disciple and was eager to reunite with his old pitching coach when it looked like he was headed to the Yankees.If the Yankees offer Wright along with cash to make a deal, the Orioles could jump on it.If Wright did poorly, they could exercise his buyout option for 2007.In return, they would be trading either Ramirez, who is 23 and has average stuff, Haenel, who isn’t overwhelming, but has a deceptive delivery and is projected to be a setup man or a closer, or Britton, who throws for strikes, but also is slated to be a setup man or closer.More than likely, Ramirez will be offered, but the Yankees could offer a little more cash to the Orioles to include Haehnel as part of the deal.Peter Angelos is stupid enough to go along with it.
New York Yankees trade John Maine, Luis Ramirez, David Haehnel, Brian Bannister, Miguel Cairo, Scott Proctor and Yankee Prospect Christian Garcia to the Florida Marlins for Dontrelle Willis.A seven-player package to the Marlins would entice them to give up Willis.They would be receiving the second baseman that they sorely need, who is also much cheaper than Tony Graffanino, a pair of starters, and developing prospects that will probably be ready for a call up by September of next year when rosters expand.The Yankees will have given away prospects they will have had no use for and gained an extra starting pitcher that is experienced.The only loss will be Christian Garcia, who has some promise to be a decent starting pitcher, but out of the current Yankee Farm Boys, he is the one that is the most expendable. As for Cairo's place on the bench, he can easily be replaced from within the system. Semi-Prospect Kevin Thompson hits about as well as Cairo and does well enough with a glove to be used as a utilityman.
It should be noted that this post read differently before the Red Sox dealt for Wily Mo Pena. Inconsiderate ####s.
Oh, for any members of the Cuban National Team are reading this:if you happen to see a van like this parked outside of PetCo Park:
There’s someone inside that wants to meet you.
Here are my thoughts on the Wily Mo Pena deal:
Pena has great power, that much is obvious. He reminds many of Sammy Sosa. Now that he's on the Sox, he would hit behind Ortiz and Ramirez. Plus, he’s entering a park that’s extremely kind to right handers, so he would see a spike in terms of his offensive production.On the other hand, he doesn’t fit what the Sox are trying to do:improve defense without sacrificing offense. Also, once you get past the offensive potential, Pena isn't all he's cracked up to be. True, he's versitile in that he can play all the outfield positions, but he's a poor defender. Pena would be a butcher at Fenway, especially in that funky right field.
Plus, his offensive capacity isn't all that it's cracked up to be. He has poor plate discipline, strikes out way too often and has one of the worst on base percentages in baseball. And while the same can be said about Alfonso Soriano, Soriano at least has the speed to make him a threat on the bases, something that can't be said about Pena.
On a last note, it was an extremely #### move on Boston's part to deal Bronson Arroyo, especially after Arroyo had his arbitration years bought out, at $3.5 million this season, $3.8 million in 2007 and $3.95 million in '08 respectively, just so he could remain in Boston for years.It’s rare to see loyalty to a team by athletes now a days.If this is how Boston repays it’s loyal soldiers, then I have no respect for the Red Sox and hope the Orioles see them in hell…the Bottom of the American League East.
Well, that’s what I’ve got.As Fox Sports Radio would say, pick up the phone and react!
No introduction, let’s just get straight to business.
Why He’s On The Block: Honestly, I could see Pettitte on the block if the Astros play themselves out of contention by the All-Star break.Pettitte, if he is healthy and productive, would bring a bonanza of talent to help the Astros in the future.Plus, the Astros could get out from under the heavily back loaded contract they offered him.
Asking Price:High.Mostly in the form of cheap, offensive talent.The Astros have a wealth of pitching and will rely on that to build into the future.
Negotiable:No.The Astros know they have a hot commodity and will seek to sell to the highest bidder.
What He Offers:Pettitte offers the following:
·Plus:Succeeded in a park that’s hard on lefty pitching.
·Plus:Works lots of innings.
·Plus:Great command.
·Plus:Has experience in the post-season.
·Minus: Has had problems with injury.
·Minus:Can be temperamental.Rough streaks tend to bother him greatly.
·Minus:Will be 33 years old
·Minus:Has over 18 million dollars owed to him this season.
Long Term Future: Good.Pettitte has loved pitching in his hometown and is open to staying there.However, he’s due a huge chunk of change this season and it looks like the Astros are going to have a difficult time contending thanks to the Brewers and Cubs gaining a little strength.The Astros could deal Pettitte if they are out of contention for parts that could help them reload.Plus, they always could re-sign Pettitte if he is traded.
Will He Stay Or Will He Go:50%-50%, depending on the Astros.Looking at the landscape, here’s the most likely destinations Lefty could travel:
·New York Yankees – 70%.Though Pettitte and New York ended badly, Pettitte has recently softened his tone when talking about a return to the Yankees.The Yankees would love to reacquire Pettitte, but it’s unknown if they have anything of value to the Astros.Still, this is the most likely destination.
·Texas Rangers – 25%.Out of all the choices, this makes the most sense.The Rangers would love to add Pettitte to create depth in the rotation.Plus, the Rangers have value they could ship back to Houston in the form of Joaquin Arias (a fine shortstop that is currently road blocked by Michael Young) and another player, either Laynce Nix or Gary Matthews Jr., depending on which one is more expendable.Plus, Pettitte would be near Houston and could insist to be allowed to remain at home if he isn’t needed to pitch.There may be something here…
·New York Mets – 5%.Again, because of the fact that the rotation is shallow, the Mets would be more than happy to deal for a strong starter.But again, the Mets do want to hang on to some of their top prospects.
End Result – If Astros are out of contention, Pettitte traded at trade deadline to New York Yankees.
Here are my notes from my Sports Vacation:
If Roger Clemens doesn’t pitch again this year, it would be a crime.Clemens has still got it and can easily turn any team on the bubble into a title contender.
The Texas Rangers’ Farm Class still has some maturing to do.Edison Volquez seems to be progressing ncely, but he still gives up WAY too many hits.He’ll be a great pitcher…for someone else.Look for a future On The Block feature on this prospect.
Surprise, Arizona has the nicest ballpark, but the Brewers’ home crowd is rocking.
The Brewers looked surprisingly immature against the Cubs, who looked great.
Didn’t get to see the Padres-White Sox game the other day, but the day wasn’t lost.I got to go to the Cheesecake Factory and do some shopping.
