Well, the national nightmare is over, as it looks like the Twins will trade Johan Santana to the Mets.
But what did they get?
As seen in my last post, Santana Circle Jerk, the Twins in essence are gambling on the upside of Carlos Gomez and Delois Guerra instead of the certainty of a Jon Lester, a Phil Hughes or a Jed Lowrie.
Guerra and Gomez could blossom into superstars. But both have massive flaws. Guerra has been pushed hard by the Mets, but is still young and has some projection. He also has trouble getting out of the high 80's on his fastball, which means the Twins are hoping he'll add velocity as he matures.
As for Gomez, he too has been rushed and needs at least another year and a half of minor league play if he's to live up to his high potential.
And really, its on Guerra and Gomez that the Twins are pinning their hopes and dreams on, as Phil Humber and Kevin Mulvey are both decent arms, but not aces and don't differ much from the Scott Baker type pitchers the Twins already have in their system.
Really, as I've stated earlier, the Twins could have had a better offer from the Red Sox (Lowrie, Lester, Crisp and likely Justin Masterson) or the Yankees (Hughes, Melky Cabrera and change.)
But I think that there is another reason why the Twins agreed to this swap.
When something of ours disappears, we as people try to replace it as closely as we can.
And in Guerra and Gomez, the Twins are trying to replace Torii Hunter and Johan Santana as best they could, by trying to find similar players that could become their second comings.
It's a human reaction, albet a flawed one.
It's possible that in three years, both Guerra and Gomez could be superstars, making the Twins look wise in their deal.
It's also just as possible that both are massive busts.
I credit Omar Minaya on this deal, as he was able to get the best pitcher in baseball without giving up his best prospect, centerfielder Fernando Martinez, who also is a rushed, but promising young player. He gave up nothing that he'll really miss and no one that isn't replaceable, as the Mets could easily go out to the Dominican and sign any remaining young prospects that haven't signed with teams to help replenish the farm.
I would feel pity for the Twins, but really, this is a mess of their own making. They're choosing the riskier, but more lucrative path of gambling on the upside of some risky prospects. It's the equivalent of playing Russian Roulette with three of the cylinders loaded for a fortune. The payoff is huge. So is the failure...
TIme when I try to forecast who will get into the Hall of Fame.
And every year, I've been wrong except for last year, when no brainers Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken got in (I whiffed on Gossage twice already.)
No matter.
Here's this year's edition.
Cooperstown Locks
Rich "Goose" Gossage – This is the year Goose gets in. He got close last season, even with Ripkin and Gwynn on the ballot and will almost certainly make the hall of fame, barring any sort of mental lapse amongst the voters. There is no reason why it should have taken this long, but as I have said, I believe that Gossage’s years as a setup man may have hurt his case for the Hall of Fame.
Jim Rice – There’s been a lot of debate recently as to whether or not Rice truly is Hall of Fame worthy. Rice does have some good career averages, and he’s got 382 HR’s, though that isn’t good enough for a man with the reputation for a power hitter. His numbers were partially inflated by Fenway, but he did net a MVP award in 1978. He does get bonus points for being a slugger in a Pitcher’s Era, however and overall, with his support in Boston and much of the Eastern Seaboard, I say he gets in this year. I don’t agree with it, however.
Dark Horses
Bert Blyleven – A great pitcher, ranks fifth all time in strikeouts (3701), nine all time in shutouts, and 13th all time in innings. His career record is great (287-250) his ERA is solid (3.31) and has a career ERA of 2.47 in the post season. If he had better run support, he’d easily have over 300 wins. He should have been in a long time ago, but for some reason, voters are reluctant to admit him in, yet they are upset over why a lesser pitcher, Jack Morris, whom Blyleven laps in every category and is even better in the post-season than Morris, is not in. There’s been a rise of support for Blyleven. Unfortunately, it won’t be enough.
Tim Raines – Raines merits induction, as he was one of the best Leadoff Men in baseball for much of his career. He hit .294 lifetime, tallied 2605 hits, has a career on base percentage of .385, and scored 1571 times. People crack on his stolen bases, saying that he was afraid to drop his stolen base percentage when in reality, Raines stole bases only when necessary, not just to pad stats. He also walked more than he struck out. However, Raines won’t get his due, as people will again feel he wasn’t as good as Henderson, his rival as far as leadoff men are concerned, plus his cocaine use. Raines may have lasted even longer in baseball if he hadn’t played much of his career on the hard Astroturf in Montreal. I feel she should get in. The voters are divided so far.
Screwed
Lee Smith – A good closer, is number two on the All-Time Saves List (478), and truckload of innings logged in. His career ERA is good (3.03) and he was usually consistent. However, what kills Smith is that most people see him as a compiler and is regarded by many to be consistent, but not dominant. The fact that he only played on two playoff teams and was 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in the postseason doesn’t help him much. Still, accumulating 478 saves is amazing (just ask Trevor Hoffman), but unfortunately, it’s looking more and more like Smith will be at the mercy of the Veteran’s committee and won’t be elected by the BBWAA.
Tommy John – Almost as good as Blyleven, in terms of Wins (288-231) and ERA (3.34), John would have been a lock if he had just won 300 wins. However, people don’t realize that had it not been for the procedure that now bears his name, he wouldn’t even be close to his numbers. John was a great pitcher for some time. Why he’s not in is beyond me.
Dave Concepcion – The last member of the Big Red Machine not in the Hall (not counting Pete Rose), Concepcion was probably one of the best shortstops of his time. Many remember him for his glove work, but his career averages (.267/.322/.357) and his 2326 hits aren’t enough to get him in. It’s possible that many could point to Ozzie Smith as a possible induction into the Hall of Fame from Concepcion, but unfortunately, I don’t think he’ll get in, leaving him as a option for the veteran’s committee.
Andre Dawson – Blessed with a long, steady career that lasted 21 seasons, Dawson tallied 438 homers, 2774 hits, 314 steals, and was the 1987 NL MVP. Dawson was a great defender at both right and centerfield and hit with good power. He didn’t walk much, which is why he’s got a #### OBP, but he does have some favorable stats to some Hall of Famers already in. He was also one of the classiest men to play the game, another reason why I like him, though that’s beside the point. But unfortunately, he's seen as a complier, and most likely won't be allowed in anytime soon, which sucks for him.
Alan Trammell – Trammell totaled 2,365 hits, 185 homers, 412 doubles, 236 steals and a World Series MVP to his name. Those are solid stats and should be Hall of Fame worthy when you consider that Trammell played in an era when shortstops were expected to defend, not him. However, shortly after Trammell retired, the rise of offensive shortstops, such as Ripken, Jeter, Garciaparra, Rodriguez and others have made his numbers look quite pedestrian when compared to how they will finish. Because of that, Trammell isn’t getting in, even though he probably should.
Harold Baines – Seemingly ageless, as he played for over 20 seasons, Baines is probably regarded as one of the best hitters in White Sox history. As a whole, he was a very good hitter for a very long time, with a career .289 Batting Average and totals of 2,866 hits and 384 home runs. He played on six postseason teams but never won a ring. Not at all shabby. However, Baines was a terrible defender and never had a monster season. He also never really took walks either, meaning he’s out.
The Hall of Very Good
Dave Parker – The Cobra has a lot of good credentials. He’s got 2712 hits, led the league three times in scoring, is in the top 30 of all time in doubles and was the 1978 NL MVP, three Gold Gloves. He also won two batting titles. Those are good numbers, but not great ones, and Parker’s cocaine use has turned off several of the more self righteous voters, which means Parker is likely going in that class of Very Good, but not Hall Worthy players.
Jack Morris – Morris is a somewhat lesser version of Tommy John. He has pitched well in the postseason, and averaged at least 14 wins per season. However, Morris has an ERA of 3.90 and going through some of his career numbers, many of his wins are the result of good run support and a strong defensive unit. I don’t think he should be allowed in, even though many of the old school media are pushing hard for him to go in. He’d easily be the worst Hall of Fame pitcher ever elected.
Mark McGwire – 500 Home Runs used to guarantee you admission into the hall of fame, but times have changed and McGwire has been made the posterboy of the era. It’s not fair, but unfortunately, it happens. He won’t get in, but will likely hang around the ballot. He could get in during his final year of eligibility.
Don Mattingly – One of the most popular Yankees in history, a nine-time Gold Glover, a six time All-Star, and the 1985 MVP. A good man and a great leader, who stuck with the Yankees through the lean years and retired just before all the fun started. Early in his career, Mattingly seemed like a lock, but lingering back problems would eventually claim his career. Again, as with another 80’s era first baseman, Will Clark, Mattingly had good career averages (.307-.358-.471), but his overall numbers (222 HR’s, 2153 Hits) aren’t enough to get him in, though he’ll be immortalized in Legends Park sooner or later. To put it bluntly, Yankee fans, let it go. Unfortunately, he’ll hang around for the next few years, making this a perennial comment.
Dale Murphy – Murphy has two MVP awards and 398 homers. But other than that, he's not Hall Worthy.
Chuck Finley – Finely made quite a few All-Star teams based on raw win totals alone, but his control was average and his ERA doesn’t fairly show that he could be god-awful a great deal. He did have a reputation as an innings eater, but other than that, what else can you say except that he’s a slightly above average pitcher who likely would be vastly overpaid if he played today and isn’t worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.
Robb Nen – A former Ranger Draft Pick, Nen was traded to Florida for Cris Carpenter (the bad one) and became one of the better closers in baseball, finishing his career with 314 saves, a 45-42 record, a career 2.98 ERA and a WHIP of 1.213. However, that’s not hall worthy, meaning Nen is out.
No Chance In Hell
Chuck Knoblauch – Knoblauch certainly looked like a Hall of Fame caliber player back when he was in Minnesota. However, a neurosis that affected his glovework and eventually his hitting ended his career. Many felt that the pressure of playing in New York finally got to him. However, the fact is that what’s done is done and in the end, Knoblauch doesn’t deserve to be bronzed in Cooperstown. His mention in the Mitchell Report will also mean he falls off the ballot.
Todd Stottlemyre–An okay pitcher for the most part, I remember him mostly from his brief time with the Texas Rangers. He shouldn’t be on here. Who screens these things?
Rod Beck –Sorry, I know Beck is very much beloved by many fans, but realistically, he had a 7 year run in which he was good, after which he flamed out spectacularly. This may be his first and only time you’ll see him on the ballot.
David Justice – Justice is going to be one and done on the ballot. He was good for a long time, but was never great. His numbers (1571 Hits, 305 HR, .279 Career BA) just aren’t special enough, though he’ll likely get credit for all of his playoff experience. But, to be quite honest, he just doesn’t belong on the ballot.
Travis Fryman – Fryman played for a long time, both in Detroit and in Cleveland, and was an All-Star five times, but for the most part he was just a solid contributor and nothing more.
Brady Anderson – Another solid contributor, nothing more, Anderson shouldn’t be on the ballot.
Shawon Dunston – Dunston had a decent start to his career, but injuries and ineffectiveness turned him into a very good bench player for the most part. He was also named as one of “Barry’s Guys” in the book Love Me, Hate Me, who defended Eric Davis, who was being berated by Bonds and the time, only to shut him up by grabbing Davis’ World Series ring and asking him “Have one of these?”
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.
If you’re going to review the Mariners, Rangers and Athletics farm systems, why aren’t you doing the Angels just to finish up the division?
Good question. With a good answer.
No one gave two shits about the Angels’ farm system. In fact, you are the first to request it.
But he does have a point.
So, for the sake of completion, here are the Angels…
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – Prospect Report
The Angels farm system is long since lauded as one of the best in baseball and was near the top of all baseball’s systems in 2004.
One problem.
It’s not 2004.
Since then, the Angels’ system has taken a hit from numerous fronts. Graduations have thinned out some of the top talent, as well as a great deal of busts. It is said you could construct a team out of Angels prospects that never panned out. Combined with the losses of several high draft choices over the past few years thanks to free agent signings and what you get is a system that is weaker than in past years, but still pretty good overall.
Angels Top 15
1 – Nick Adenhart (RHP)
DOB: 8/24/86
Drafted: 14th Round, 2004, Maryland High School
2008 Club: Salt Lake City Bees (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-4/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Adenhart was regarded to be one of the top pitching talents in the 2004 draft, but injury and subsequent Tommy John Surgery hurt his standing. However, the Angels loved what they saw from Adenhart from before the draft and took a flyer on him in the 14th. The result was that Adenhart bounced back well and dominated the minors and this year reached Double A at the tender age of 20. However, he wasn’t nearly as good as expected.
The Good: Adenhart has the stuff to be a front of the line starter, as he’’s got a good fastball that sits in the low to mid 90's with great movement and his changeup is the best in the system. His curveball has the potential to be a plus pitch in time. He’s got good size and his mechanics are good. For the most part, his command and control are solid.
The Bad: Adenhart was finally hit hard for the first time in his minor league career. He tends to overthrow his fastball and his curve can flatten out at times, leading to the long ball. When he’s under pressure, he tends to nibble at the corners, which leads to him falling behind in the count. According to Kevin Goldstein, he’s also a very slow starter, and doesn’t get really into the game until the second or third inning.
Projection: Average. Though Adenhart did struggle at times in Double A, he is one of of the best right handed prospects in the minors. Plus, keep in mind that he's still only 20 and could benefit from some more development time.
What He Can Be: A Number Two Starter
2008 Course Of Action: Adenhart will likely be given an invite to Major League Spring Training to be looked at by the more advanced Angels brass to take stock in him before he’s sent back down, this time to Triple A (and I’ll be able to scout him personally in Albuquerque). He’ll likely make his major league debut at some point during the season before reaching Anaheim for good in 2009.
2 – Brandon Wood (3B/SS)
DOB: 3/2/85
Drafted: 1st round, 2003, Arizona High School
2008 Club: Los Angeles Angels (MLB)
Height/Weight: 6-3/185
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Probably the most overhyped prospect in the system, Wood’s stock has tumbled in each of the last two seasons. He’s still very good and would be a first round pick if he had gone to college, but he’s not the superstar people projected him to be.
The Good: Wood may be a bit of a noodle, but he's got great power potential in his frame and he should hit for plenty of power. He’s got a quick bat and strong wrists, which allow him to hit to all fields. He's got a strong arm and looked good at third base, though he could still move back to shortstop if needed.
The Bad: Wood long swing has resulted in a great deal of strikeouts. While this wasn’t such a big issue before, the massive amount of strikeouts Wood put up last year is now officially a cause of concern, making one wonder if he might have trouble hitting for average in the majors. He also isn’t very athletic, and will degrade as he gets older.
Projection: Low. The Angels should just go ahead and turn over the job to Wood, as he's clearly a better option that Chone Figgins and the other numerous busts they've run out there.
What He Can Be: An Solid Third Baseman That Hits in the middle of the lineup.
2008 Course Of Action: Wood should finally get the chance to play everyday at third base .If the Angels don't give him the job, it's a mistake.
3 – Jordan Walden (RHP)
DOB: 11/16/87
Drafted: 12th Round, 2006, Grayson County Community College (D&F)
2008 Club: Cedar Rapids Kernals (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-4/180
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Walden entered the 2006 draft with the tag as the best high school prospect in the draft. However, signability concerns as well as the fact that Walden lost velocity caused him to fall. The Angels took a flier on him and drafted him in the 12th and Walden turned down a scholarship from Texas, opting instead to attend Grayson County to keep his status alive. The Angels paid him $1 million to sign and Walden agreed, giving the Angels yet another talented pitcher in their organization. ####.
The Good: Walden has greatly improved since high school, with is fastball sitting at 93-95 mph and touching 99. His slider and changeup are also greatly improved and offset his fastball well. He has a classic pitcher’s build and his delivery is looser as well.
The Bad: Walden's delivery is still somewhat stiff and command still needs to continue to be refined. His breaking stuff still needs to be refined.
Projection: Average. Walden is still growing as a player, as seen from his Pioneer League stats, but so far so good, as his peripherals look good.
What He Can Be: Potentially, an ace, but there is a huge gap between that and what he is. A gap largely the size of the state of Rhode Island.
2008 Course of Action: Walden will likely start the season in the Midwestern League, where he’ll likely stay the whole season, but the million the Angels paid for him is looking like a steal. Still, don’t expect to see him anytime soon.
4 – Hank Conger (C)
DOB: 1/29/88
Drafted: 1st round, 2006, California High School
2008 Club: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/205
Bats/Throws: S/R
The Skinny: The 2006 Draft’s top prep catcher hit fairly well down in the Midwestern League, to the tune of .290/.336/.472 in 84 games. However, he also missed time due to back problems.
The Good: Conger is perhaps the best pure hitting prospect in the Angels’ minors right now. He has a highly advanced approach to hitting, has the ability to hit for power on both sides of the place and can work the count well. Many praise his maturity and leadership and he’s said to be a good student of the game.
The Bad: Conger’s defense is below average and there are concerns with his back issues that he may not be able to remain behind the plate long term.
Projection: High. He has the potential to be an offensive catcher, similar to Michael Barrett, provided that he stays behind the plate. He’d also be a good third baseman as well.
What He Can Be: A Offensive Minded Catcher
2008 Course Of Action: Conger will mead to Rancho Cucamonga for the year and if he does well, it would greatly change the Angels’ plans for Jeff Mathis and Mike Napoli.
5 – Sean O’Sullivan (RHP)
DOB: 9/1/87
Drafted: 3rd round, 2005, California High School
2008 Club: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/220
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny:: O’Sullivan had a very good year down in the Midwestern League and posted a 1.77 ERA in 14 starts after the All Star break.
The Good: O’Sullivan is a pitcher that doesn’t have good stuff, but he’s got good command and control over it, giving him results. His fastball clocks in the high 80’s/low 90’s, with plenty of sinking action, allowing him to get groundballs. His slider and changeup are average pitches and both can get hitters out.
The Bad: O’Sullivan lacks any really special pitch and his stuff will limit just how good he can be. He doesn’t have mutch of a pick off move and is easy to run on.
Projection: Average. O’Sullivan should be okay, maybe a Joe Blanton type of pitcher that doesn’t dominate, but does a lot of things well. I don’t like him as much as other people do, but he’s probably one of the more advanced prospects in the Angels system, which is why he’s here.
What He Can Be: A Number Four Starter
2008 Course of Action: O’Sullivan gets his first real test in the California League, where he’ll join Hank Conger to form one of the more interesting batteries in the circuit.
6 – Sean Rodriguez (SS)
DOB: 4/26/85
Drafted: 3rd round, 2003, Florida High School
2008 Club: Salt Lake City Bees (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After a breakout season in 2006, Rodriguez came back to earth after disappoint in Double A, hitting .254/.345/.423.
The Good: Rodriguez is a well-rounded player who has a patient approach to hitting and has good pop. He’s a solid defender with soft hands that can also play a pretty good centerfield.
The Bad: Rodriguez is good at most of the facets of his game, but he doesn’t have any tool that stands out. His range is below average and would be best off as a second baseman. His swing is a bit complex and will result in high strikeout totals.
Projection: Fair. There’s not a whole lot left for Rodriguez to improve on. He is what he is, a average shortstop prospect that would be a fairly good second baseman. He might be best off in a super-utility role, a la Chone Figgins.
What He Can Be: An average starting shortstop that might have more value as an outstanding utility player.
2008 Course Of Action: Rodriguez is slated to start the year at Triple-A, though it’s hard to figure out how he fits into the Angels’ immediate future.
7 – Peter Bourjos (CF)
DOB: 3/13/87
Drafted: 6th round, 2005, Arizona High School
2008 Club: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/175
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After missing time due to injuries, Burjos finally put his tools together in the Midwestern League, hitting .274/.335/.426 in the Midwestern League, and showed much promise when he was able to take the field.
The Good: Bourjos’ has a good package of tools, among the best in the organization. He is a burner in the outfield and plays a great centerfield, showing good instincts, hands and range. He makes good contact with the bat and has a little pop to him. He also should be a very dangerous stolen base threat in the majors.
The Bad: Because his power potential is limited, Bourjos is best off as a leadoff man, so he needs to become more patient at the plate and attempt to up his walk totals in order for him to have value. He also needs to better utilize his speed, as he has trouble reading pitchers and needs to get a better idea of when to run and when to hang back.
Projection: Average. Borujos could be a very solid player if he continues to improve his skill set and use his tools to the fullest. A lot of it means him having to accept his weaknesses and work on what he does well. However, if he does, look for a breakout.
What He Can Be: An every day centerfielder
2008 Course Of Action: Bourjos will be headed to Rancho Cucamonga, which is beginning to shake out to be quite a prospect filled team thus far, joining Conger and O’Sullivan.
8 – Matt Sweeney (3B)
DOB: 4/4/88
Drafted: 8th round, 2006, Maryland High School
2008 Club: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/210
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: Regarded to be a first round talent, Sweeney fell due to signability issues, but that didn’t stop the angels from signing him. Since then, he’s been impressive, with his signature moment being his rocket home run off of Dodgers phenom Clayton Kershaw in the Midwest League All-Star game.
The Good: Sweeney has a lot of power and the ability to make contact with the ball. He also shows thea bility to hit the ball to all fields and will pounce on mistakes.
The Bad: Sweeney isn’t much of an athlete and he’s also a horrible third baseman, with bad range and stone hands. He’s likely going to be a first baseman and he also is going to strike out a lot thanks to a swing that has several holes in it.
Projection: High. Because he’s not much of a defender, his bat is going to have to carry him at first base. Fortunately for him, it looks like the bat can play anywhere. Sweeney’s power makes his long term outlook very favorable for the Angels, who could use more thunder in what has been one of the worst power hitting lineups in baseball.
What He Can Be: A slugging first baseman.
2008 Course Of Action: Jesus, can the Quakes get any more prospects. With Sweeney and Conger batting in the lineup, that’s going to be a lot of thunder in the Number Three and Four Holes.
9 – Jon Bachanov (RHP)
DOB: 1/30/89
Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2007, Florida High School
2008 Club: Arizona Angels (Rookie)
Height/Weight: 6-4/210
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A quick riser near the draft, the Angels were happy to see that he was available in the first round. However, it should be noted that a much better pitcher in Matt Harvey was available with the same pick and the Angels may have ####ked up by passing him over.
The Good: A really raw, but really good talent, Bachanov is a classic power pitcher that uses his arsenal well. He has a low 90’s fastball that clocks as high as 96 and he doesn’t shy away from contact. He’s also got a good slider as well to compliment the heater. He’s also got quite a mound presence, almost Clemens-esque.
The Bad: As I said, Bachanov is still raw – really raw, but he’s got the tools to succeed. His slider is a plus pitch when it’s on and his tinkering with a changeup and a cutter. His control is inconsistent and many felt that he had some makeup issues before the draft.
Projection: Very High. Bachanov is a high risk, high reward player, but he could pay big dividends for the Angels in time. Still, it’s going to take a lot of time, as he’s a major project that needs a lot of attention.
What He Can Be: A front of the line starter
2008 Course Of Action: Bachanov signed too late to pitch, so he’s likely going to begin the year in extended spring training before pitching for the Angels’ complex team in Phoenix.
10 – Mason Tobin (RHP)
DOB: 7/8/87
Drafted: 16th round, 2007, Everett Community College
2008 Club: Cedar Rapids Kernals (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/210
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Pitching at Everett Community College in Washington this year, Tobin didn’t get too much attention as he was a draft and follow by the Braves. Instead, Tobin would re-enter the draft and got a nice $120,000 as a 16th-round pick, making this a scouting coup for the Angels.
The Good: Tobin is a good pitcher with nice mechanics and good size. He has plenty of heat, throwing 90-94 mph with his fastball, and touching 96 at times. He also has a good changeup and works efficiently.
The Bad: Tobin’s slider needs to be refined, as it’s his only weakness of his arsenal. For the most part, a lot of his flaws are really just because he’s inexperienced.
Projection: Moderate. Tobin is a solid prospect that is a few years away, but should give the Angels some more pitching help in time.
What He Can Be: A successful third starter.
2008 Course Of Action: Tobin is ready for his full-season debut at Cedar Rapids, but he won’t be anywhere near California for the next three years or so.
What he did in 2006: .After a breakout season, Evans did nothing to disqualify himself, hitting .316/.352/.512 for the Bees with 15 Home Runs and 75 RBI’s.
The Good: An athletic player, Evans hits for some power, has good range and has a strong arm in the outfield. He’s got power to all fields and is quick on the basepaths.
The Bad: Evans has a long swing built for power and will strike out a lot, which could hinder his ability to hit for average.
Projection: Low. Evans is ready, but the Angels outfield situation is blocked, meaning that we could see him dealt elsewhere for some talented prospects that are farther off.
What He Can Be: A starting right fielder
2008 Course Of Action: Really, I think it’s time for the Angels to do something with Evans, as the longer he stays down in Triple A, the more people are going to think he’s just a backup or career minor leaguer. The Angels should probably start shopping Evans, or at the very least seeing if there is any interest out there for him.
12 – Stephen Marek (RHP)
DOB: 9/3/83
Drafted: 40th round, 2004, San Jacinto (Texas) JUCO - DNF
2008 Club: Arkansas Travelers (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/200
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After a promising debut last season, Marek did fairly well in the California League and finished the year 8-10, with a 4.30 ERA.
The Good: Marek pounds the strikezone with a low 90’s fastball that reaches 95 and can actually touch 97 if he rears back for a bit more veclocity. His curveball is a plus pitch with late break. He’s got the ability to log in innings and his mechanics are good.
The Bad: Marek’s yet to get his changeup developed, and as a result it’s far behind his heater and his curve. He works primarily off of his fastball and he needs to do a better job of mixing his pitches. Finally, he’s lagging behind in his development, as he’s already 24 and is just barely finishing High A when he already should be in Triple A.
Projection: Low. Marek needs to hurry up and his average showing in the California League means that he needs to take quite a few steps forward if he’s to remain high on the Angels’ prospect lists.
What He Can Be: Number Three Starter
2008 Course Of Action: Marek will be starting for the Travelers, but the Angels may decide to promote him to Salt Lake at mid season in hopes of accelerating his development and getting him near ready as soon as possible.
13 – Chris Pettit (OF)
DOB: 8/15/84
Drafted: 19th Round, 2006, Loyola Marymount
2008 Club: Arkansas Travelers (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/193
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After a fairly average year at Loyola Marymount, the Angels in the later rounds of the 2006 Draft snapped up Pettit. There, he hit.336/.445/.566 for Orem in the Pioneer League, but was seen as a college veteran beating up on younger competition. However, he hit.346/.429/.579 for Low A Cedar Rapids and hit .309/.395/.502 with the Quakes in the second half of the season. So, his stock has risen from sleeper to legitimate prospect, though he’s a bit hard to make out at this point in time.
The Good: A solid hitter, Pettit has good power, solid plate discipline and can defend fairly well. He’s got some speed on the basepaths He’s a fairly decent athlete as well.
The Bad: There’s not a lot to go on, so you’re simply wondering at this point if Pettit is merely beating up on talent younger than him or if he really is this good. He’s also not going to be an impact player, but merely a solid contributor.
Projection: Fair. It’s hard to gauge Pettit. He certainly seems like he could be an average regular, or a very good fourth outfielder, but he’s just so hard to gauge. One comparison that has been thrown around is Rusty Greer, which actually fits him to a certain extent. To use an Angels reference, I would say he’s a poor man’s Garret Anderson..
What He Can Be: An everyday left fielder
2008 Course Of Action: Pettit is likely headed to Arkansas to begin the year with the Travelers, and will make his major league debut sometime next year. However, the Angels find it hard to find a spot for him, thanks to a very bad outfield situation with a lot of long term money tied up and not a lot of playing time.
14 – Hainley Statia (SS)
DOB: 1/19/86
Drafted: 9th Round, 2004, Florida High School
2008 Club: Arkansas Travelers (Double A)
Height/Weight: 5-10/160
Bats/Throws: S/R
The Skinny: Finally leaving the lower minors, Statia continued his development from last year, starting slowly, but heating up as the year went on. Overall, he hit.288/.379/.723 with 3 home runs, 74 RBI’s, 29 stolen bases, though at the cost of his plate discipline.
The Good: Statia has a good feel for contact and is a fantatsic defensive palyer with good range, a strong arm, and soft hands. He has also begun to harness his speed, cutting down on his caught stealing attempts.
The Bad: Statia doesn’t hit for much power and the regression on his plate discipline is a concern. He’s also doesn’t have blazing speed, but he’s got enough to be a threat.
Projection: Average. Statia is a nice prospect, but not awesome, but he could have a career as a Cesar Izturis type shortstop that is an exceptional defender with a decent bat. Actually, change that, he might be more similar to Omar Vizquel. Still, an improvement on his plate discipline should work wonders for him.
What He Can Be: An exceptional starting shortstop that could hit second in the lineup.
2008 Course Of Action: Statia is heading up to Arkansas, where he’ll be the starting shrotstop for the Travelers and should be one of the more exciting players on the circuit.
15 – Rich Thompson (RHP)
DOB: 7/1/84
Signed: 2002, Australia
2008 Club: Los Angeles Angels (MLB)
Height/Weight: 6-1/180
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After years of mediocrity, Thompson finally proved himself to be a solid potential prospect after posting a 2.01 ERA with a 85/20 K to walk ratio in 78 innings.
The Good: Thompson has two plus pitches, with a fastball that reaches 84 and a spike curve that is a major league out pitch. He’s got some deception thanks to his delivery and he is able to get both lefties and righties out with little trouble.
The Bad: Thompson tends to work high up in the zone, which was why he gave up 4 dingers in 6.2 innings during a brief big league stint. His stuff, while good, isn’t closer worthy.
Projection: None. Thompson is a pretty good reliever that could setup for the Angels, maybe even carve a career similar to Luis Viscaino if he’s able to be durable.
What He Can Be: A quality setup man
2008 Course Of Action: Thompson will likely make the big league club out of Spring Training. Where he goes from there is up to him.
Final Notes
All in all, this isn’t the Angels system that was supposed to be churning out superstars, but overall, there are a lot of good players here that can be used to build upon. The big problem with the Angels is that they’ve lost a great deal of talent due to graduations and attrition, plus the loss of key draft picks has thinned the system out. However, with time, if any of these guys makes a huge leap forward, the system will be considerably better.
My Niece is staying over the night with me, so we're up right now. She's playing with her toy frog (more like eating it, actually) as we speak.
So, let's take a look at some Non-Tender Musings
Ben Broussard Now A Ranger
All it really cost the Rangers was Tim "Tug" Hulett Jr., who was eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and wasn't taken. He may make a career as a utility guy, he may not. We'll see.
As for Broussard, right now I'm penciling him in as the starting first baseman. That leaves a likely lineup of the following:
KInsler (2B)
Cat (LF)
Young (SS)
Blalock (3B)
Bradley (DH)
Broussard (1B)
Salty (C)
Murphy (RF)
Byrd (CF)
It's a slightly stronger lineup than before, but it's not going to strike the fear of god in you.
What this does raise questions about is what the future will be for Shelton, Botts and Cruz. If this is the lineup, than something is going to happen soon to get rid of one of these guys. I have a feeling that Cruz may not survive the off-season. Botts could see everyday playing time in Left Field and at DH to give Bradley a break, while Murphy and Byrd could be rotated as needed. Which means that Cruz is likely getting the boot.
God damn it, this team needs better outfield options. This is getting #### ridiculous.
Bye Bye Aki
Akinori Otsuka was non-tendered, bringing the last remnant of the Chris Young/Adrian Gonzalez trade to an end.
Aki was hurt, but there was some progress in his rehab. However, I wonder how long he would have been able to have pitched for the full season. Would he have been ready in time for the season? I'm not sure.
And does any of this have to do with the fact that he recommended San Diego over Texas to Kosuke Fukudome?
If so, that's petty. But I'm taking the high road and choosing injury.
So long Aki. We hardly knew ye.
Other Non-Tenders To Look At
Mark Prior (RHP - Former Cub) - Eh, what the hell. Gabbard's got options left and if Prior can bounce back a bit, he could be something worthwhile. And could even be worth a draft pick or two if he books.
Kiki Calero (RHP - Former A) - Could be a nice, buy low opportunity for the pen.
Dallas McPherson (3B - Former Angel) - Maybe, still has some potential. Is also made out of glass.
Emil Brown (LF - Royals) - Could form a decent platoon with Cat.
Okay, someone's hungry. Time to warm up a bottle...
And now, back to your regularly scheduled program...
On The Block – Miguel Cabrera
Just to address the other sexy name on the block.
The Why: A farm system with some depth, but with a lot of graduations, an ownership unwilling to invest more than what they get in the luxury tax, and a assortment of problems at the ownership level results in the Marlins being unable to afford their superstar third baseman and potential MVP candidate. The Marlins recognize they have holes in their team that they weren’t able to fill in the fire sale two years ago and are going to try and jettison their most attractive piece in order to fill them.
The Rumored Asking Price: The Marlins are demanding FOUR players with 0-3 years in service time and all have to be studs. Ouch. That’s hard enough for any team to handle and the Marlins have already made it clear who they want from each team, no if’s, ands, or buts about it.
Can A Trade Be Done: Iffy. The Marlins have acquired a lot of talent as well as a reputation for being difficult to negotiate with. They are going to demand the very best players for Cabrera and mean to get him, but what they’re asking for is going to scare off a lot of people.
The Good: Cabrera has drawn many comparisons to Manny Ramirez in terms of hitting ability and power. He could be a potential Hall Of Famer if he continues to improve and is already better than several superstar players were at his age, including Saint Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
Potential Hang-ups:
Prospects – The amount and quality of prospects that Florida is going to want makes a trade very prohibitive for many teams, even those with the prospect depth to do so.
Health – People are wondering if Cabrera’s weight issues will continue to be a problem, limiting his long-term value.
Money – Any team that is looking to acquire Cabrera would want a negotiating window to extend him beyond his two remaining years. The problem is, the Marlins have no intention of granting one, meaning it’s a buyer beware proposition.
Potential Suitors – In Alphabetical Order
Chicago White Sox – The White Sox were aggressively going after Cabrera, offering a package of 3B Josh Fields, CF Jerry Owens, LHP Gio Gonzalez and reportedly LHP Jon Danks. That probably won’t cut it, as the Marlins seem to be going after superstar prospects and nothing less.
Los Angeles Angels – The Angels already look like they’re gearing up for a Cabrera trade, filling a rotation hole by the recent addition of Jon Garland. They can now offer Florida a package that includes Ervin Santana, who fits the service time requirements. However, the Angels would also need to add in 2B Howie Kendrick, top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart, OF Reggie Willits or one of Mike Napoli or Jeff Mathis catching tandem. Reportedly, Adenhart and Kendrick are the sticking points, as the Angels are willing to give up one, but not both. Also, the Marlins aren't too high on Santana.
Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers also can offer a good package, maybe even better than the Angels. Top pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw would have to be included in the deal, as well as 3B prospect Andy LaRoche, RHP Jonathan Broxton and one of either 1B James Loney or RF Matt Kemp. That’s a hell of a price to pay with Kershaw alone, let alone the rest of the young talent on the Roster. The Dodgers look like they’re all about it, but to be quite honest, I think I would rather pass.
New York Yankees – Yup, the Yankees apparently are still in it, looking to move Cabrera to first base. A package would have to be centered around CF Melky Cabrera, RHP Phil Hughes, and 2B Robinson Cano, which the Yankees would balk at, then state publicly that they’re waiting for the market to go down, all the while wondering why the Marlins are simply giving Cabrera to them.
San Francisco Giants – The Giants looked into getting Cabrera early in the off-season, but they lacked positional players to send back to Florida. Even then, would it really be worth sacrificing \either Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum?
Texas Rangers – The Rangers have the talent to make a trade, but the Marlins would insist on RHP Eric Hurley, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, 2B German Duran and SS Joaquin Arias (allowing them to move Hanley Ramirez to centerfield.) That is a VERY high price to pay and the Rangers have made it known that they’re rebuilding, not looking to gut the farm. This really is only out there to shut up those emails about whether or not the Rangers have a shot at Cabrera.
If I Had To Pick A Deal Right Now…Traded To The Los Angeles Angels For RHP Ervin Santana, RHP Nick Adenhart, OF Reggie Willits, 2B Howie Kendrick.
Will A Deal Ultimately Happen– Yes. The Angels are up to something and that something is likely Cabrera, as all of their moves this off-season look more and more like their gearing up to trade parts to gain him. However, the Marlins also need to realize that they can’t keep doing this, trading talent away for more prospects because they’re getting expensive. Ultimately, this is a symptom of a cancer at the top and Jeffrey Loria needs to address it with one of two solutions: move the team or sell it to someone willing to put money into it. Because, quite honestly, this can’t work for much longer.
This is a quick update to Tuesday's On The Block. Today's On The Block will be posted shortly...
On The Block - Johan Santana (again...)
Well, the trade acquistions of Delmon Young and Brendan Harris have changed what exactly the Twinkies will want in return for Santana and, subsequently, changes the amount of bidders available. The Twins will now likely look for a centerfielder as well as near ready starting pitching, and positional players. Harris is merely a stopgap shortstop and would actually be better at third base, assuming that the Twins go with Alexi Casilla and not the awful Nick Punto and second.
Here's who is going to likely not have a match:
Texas Rangers – Not that Texas was ever really in it, but this kinda kills any offer the Rangers could send. A package could be built around Hurley and Salty, but Kinsler wouldn't be as attractive.
New York Mets - The Mets now have no shot to even interest the Twins. The best thing they could do would be to try and acquire one of the Twins' lesser arms for an outfielder, but there isn't anything the Mets have that could interest Minnesota in any way.
That leaves four teams that realistically could trade for Santana, three of them the same from Tuesday, one of them new....
Potential Suitors – In Alphabetical Order
Boston Red Sox – Boston actually now would make the most sense, as they could send the Twins a good looking package of Jed Lowrie, a shortstop, Jon Lester, a ready made pitcher, Coco Crisp, a centerfielder, and likely a fourth prospect, possbly Brandon Moss, another outfielder, which could DH for the Twins, or something else.
Los Angeles Angels – Artie Moreno and Co. look like their willing to go all in this offseason, with the acquisitions of Garland and Hunter. It would be tough to see who Santana would replace, though it would likely come at the expense of Jered Weaver, a pitcher who is nowhere near as good as he's made out to be. The Angels could offer Minnesota a package of Reggie Willits, who could man center and bat leadoff, Brandon Wood or Erick Aybar, both of whom can play shortstop, Weaver, who could slot in right away, and likely a fourth prospect, maybe Mark Sweeney, a power hitting first baseman in the lower minors.
Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers MIGHT be able to make a deal now. Since the outfield is now out of player, the Dodgers would likely have to center a deal around Andy LaRoche, their top third base prospect, Chin-Lung Hu, their top shortstop prospect, as well as Clayton Kershaw and one more player. That would be too rich for me.
New York Yankees – The one team that the Young trade screws over the most is the Yankees, who now not only have to include Melky Cabrera in a trade, but would also have to include Robinson Cano, along with Kennedy and Hughes for a deal to work. And before the Yankee hate mail comes it, there aren't ANY positional prospects in the Yankees' minors aside from Austin Jackson, thanks to a lot of pitching centered drafts.
If I Had To Pick A Deal Right Now...Traded To The Boston Red Sox for SS Jed Lowrie, LHP Jon Lester, OF Brandon Wood and CF Coco Crisp.
Will A Trade Happen - Yes. The Twins are nowhere near close to competing in a very stiff AL Central and the window with this current nucleus closed about two years ago, making a rebuilding effort long delayed. At the very least, the trades of Santana and Joe Nathan would allow the Twins to get enough young pieces that the farm has failed to produce to put together a nice, young talent core to mount a challenge to the Indians and Tigers in two years.
Now, after my rant for the day, let's take a look at the Rangers report, shall we...
Dinner At Hicks' House - Not A Good Sign
The past few winters, having dinner with Tom Hicks has always been the symbol of something happening on the horizon.
In 2005, it resulted in John Hart getting fired, eventually clearing the way for Jon Daniels.
In 2006, it resulted in Buck Showalter getting fired, leading to Ron Washington.
In 2007, it could mean Torii Hunter is coming to Texas.
I'm not pleased, as I've made it well known that I think Hunter will eventually be a disaster for the Rangers. I think he's lost a step defensively, that he's not going to hold up over the course of a full season and will likely be a poor player after the age of 35.
Yet there is talk of a 5 year deal with him.
I'm just hoping that the talk of him going to the White Sox is true.
Centerfield And The 2005 Draft
Speakng of centerfield, watching the Boston Red Sox during the World Series only served to remind several Rangers fans of one of the biggest mistakes in the Rangers’ drafting history.
Namely, that Jacoby Ellsbury should have been a Ranger.
Let’s go back to 2005, when gas was cheaper, the Rangers were coming off of a winning season, when I was dating Sandra Lawson, and when the Rangers were picking #19, and the prospects for a good player were good, especially with all the screwy draft activity going on. The Blue Jays famously took Ricky Romero at 7, leaving Troy Tulowitzki for the Rockies at 8 (and giving ESPN’s Keith Law a story to tell), while several other teams went in other directions, resulting in Oregon State’s centerfielder dropping to the Rangers. At the time, Texas was in need of a centerfielder, as Lanyce Nix was beginning to show the signs that he may not be able to last over the course of a full season and the farm system being a lot shallower than it is now. Taking Ellsbury was a no-brainer and, from many sources within the Ranger organization, that was exactly what they were going to do.
Except for the one guy that had the power to screw it all up.
Tom Hicks, the Rangers’ owner, had apparently taken to John Mayberry Jr., liked his power potential, and when conversing with GM John Hart, told him to draft Mayberry over Ellsbury. As a result, the selection was made, and Ellsbury fell all the way to the Red Sox at 23.
And the results, well, are what they are.
Ellsbury went through the system quickly and is now going to be player for Boston for the next six years.
Mayberry is struggling in Double A and despite hitting for power, still has a lot of holes in his swing and will likely wind up being a bust.
I know the draft is a crapshoot and hindsight is 20/20.
But damn, this was a mistake back then that is only being magnified now.
Thanks a lot Tom and John.
Gerald Laird To The Mets? What Would It Take?
Read a note on Newsday saying that the Mets are interested in Gerald Laird to fill their hole at catcher, adding at least a second team to the mix for a potential Laird trade (with the Red Sox being the other.)
Both teams would have to give up talent in order to acquire the young backstop, who had an off year but is still promising and if partnered with a mentor like Jason Varitek in Boston, could be a good catcher for several years.
But both would require talent to be exchanged back (as draft picks can’t be swapped, which I believe if they could Texas already would have had a deal done).
But anyways, we already know what the Boston offer would be (Coco Crisp straight up.) What would it take for the Mets to do an offer?
At the moment, one of the rumors I’ve checked up on over the Internet (Lonestarball.com) has the Mets are apparently dangling Lastings Milledge as a return for Laird. However, there is a catch. They want the Rangers to include Joaquin Benoit in the deal while they would enclose Ruben Gotay in exchange.
That’s a bit too rich for my blood, but I would be willing to use that deal as a starting point. Benoit I want to keep. However, if relief help is what the Mets also want, I wouldn’t be opposed to adding Frank Francisco and Scott Feldman in the deal, which would result in the Mets getting a pair of relievers with a good amount of service time while also filling their catching vacancy. The Rangers would lose a valuable piece in Francisco, but will be able to fill the vacancy from within, as Luis Mendoza and Armando Galarraga may be near ready, with other mix and match pieces able to be worked out. And, it would give them a good young player that can man center while allowing David Murphy to be the right fielder and allow the Rangers to use Marlon Byrd as the fourth outfielder.
All in all, should the Rangers go that route, here’s what the lineup would look like:
Kinsler (2B)
Cat (1B)
Young (SS)
Blalock (3B)
Botts (DH)
Milledge (CF)
Salty (C)
Murphy (RF)
Byrd or PTBNL (LF)
Not bad, and it’s a much stronger lineup, though it’s also a very young and cheap lineup. At this point, Texas does need to see what they’ve got on the team and if several of the players blossom as expected, well, then all is good.
Rangers Steal Pitcher From The Angels
Thanks to a rare screw-up by the Angels, the Rangers have netted themselves a prospect.
Apparently, the Angels were in the process of adding RHP Warner Madrigal to the 40 Man Roster and even made a announcement stating that he was added.
One problem.
They got the date wrong. And Madrigal was no longer their property, thanks to his 6 Year Free Agent Status.
So, what do the Rangers have here?
They get a poor hitting outfielder that was converted to the mound last year and is looking like a promising relief prospect. He can throws a mid 90's fastball that reache sin the upper 90's while working on a slider and a changeup. All in all, he could become an effective setup man or a closer.
Nice job J.D.
Additions To The 40 Man Roster
Well, the 40 Man Roster has been set and for the most part, I was right.
Here are the additions:
Matt Harrison (LHP) – A solid number four starter, has better stuff than Gabbard and has proven to be more durable.
Thomas Diamond (RHP) – I wasn’t aware that Diamond wasn’t on the 40 Man Roster. Well, he’s back…
Max Ramirez (C) – The booty acquired for Kenny Lofton, giving the Rangers more catching depth.
Brandon Boggs (CF) – A potential dark horse centerfielder candidate for the Rangers in the next year or so.
Here are the casualties:
Victor Diaz (RF) – Diaz has legitimate 30 home run power, but the fact that he can’t walk means his fate was sealed.
And, in the event a player needs to be added, here’s who is going to be victimized:
Bill White (LHP) – White will likely be the first DFA candidate if the Rangers add any more players via trade or free agency.
Freddy Guzman (CF) – Guzman is an excellent defender, but quite frankly, the Rangers have enough speedy centerfielders already that can’t hit.
And, here who may be taken in the Rule 5 Draft:
Jesse Ingram (RHP) - The Former Cal Closer notched up 70 Punchouts this year and is likely Rule 5 Bait. He never really seemed to establish himself as a dominant closer and has average stuff. Hopefully, the Rangers will be able to keep him, or that he won't stick.
Tug Hulett Jr. (INF) - The son of a former Major Leaguer, many feel that he'll be able to eake out a career as a utility guy. The Rangers didn't add him because they likely felt that he won't be taken.
The Yankee Farm System Preview will be up shortly. But first, time to deal with a surprise move, as the White Sox have apparently traded Jon Garland to the Angels for OrlandoCabrera. And honestly, I think that the White Sox have done themselves a disservice, while the Angels are positioning themselves for another move.
Garland was worth a lot on this market and could have netted the White Sox a good collection of parts to help rebuild themselves for the long term. For example, a trade with the Rangers could have netted them a shortstop prospect (Joaquin Arias), a pitching prospect (can't think of one right now), and another prospect. A trade to another team, such as the Dodgers could have netted them Andre Ethier, Chin-hui Tsao, and another player. But instead, they trade for a good defensive shortstop and nothing else. If anything, this impacts the rotation severely, as they will now field a rotation of the following:
The White Sox will surely miss Garland's durability and consistency, and for the most part will be going with a cheaper, but less proven rotation. True, this move could lead to the discovery of one of their arms being able to take the next step foward, like Gonzalez or Broadway, but it is still a very short term move.
All in all, it should be an excellant defensive infield, but it doesn't do much to push the White Sox ahead of Detroit, Minnesota or Cleveland, and at the most, pushes them ahead of Kansas City.
White Sox Grade - C
As for the Angels, they now have an embarressment of riches, with a potential rotation of the following:
John Lackey (RHP)
Kelvim Escobar (RHP)
Jered Weaver (RHP)
Jon Garland (RHP)
Joe Saunders (LHP)/Ervin Santana (RHP)
This gives them an opportunity to now trade for a big bat, with Santana likely being the victim. Truth be told, he has better stuff than Saunders, but he just doesn't have the command over it. And, with the acquisition of Garland and the rise of Nick Adenhart, their best pitching prospect, time has simply run out for the Angels to try and fix him.
Theoretically, the Angels could put a big bat in the lineup by using Santana as bait. They can easily place Figgins or Erick Aybar at shortstop and not suffer much of a loss in offense there, but third base is a hole and could use an upgrade, although they could simply just promote Brandon Wood to play third and see if the kid can hit.
There aren't a lot of options out there at third base that are available. They could try and deal for Hank Blalock, but it seems unlikely they'd do a deal within the division.
What this could symbolize, however, is the beginnings of a push to acquire Miguel Cabrera. The Angels now have a spot cleared for him and they could offer a package of Santana, Reggie WIllits (who can handle center), Wood and a fourth prospect, perhaps Terry Evans, though no doubt the Marlins will demand Howie Kendrick thrown in as well.
Overall, I like the trade from the Angels' standpoint, as they give up nothing and now can get to work on adding that big bat to add to the lineup, giving them a two year window to own the division until Seattle and Texas are ready to begin their respective campains to knock them out.
Normally I love the guys from Baseball Prospectus and their various takes on the world of Baseball, but there are times when I do take issue with some of the opinions they write.
Like this recent piece that Joe Sheehan, writing for SI.com, indicating five trades that need to happen raised my ire. Sheehan's words are in italics, mine are normal.
Red Sox trade CF Coco Crisp to the White Sox for 1B Chris Carter. Boston must unload Crisp, who was supplanted as the team's centerfielder by Jacoby Ellsbury during the ALCS. The Red Sox' every-day lineup is set for 2008, but they could use some depth among their hitting prospects as they move toward the end of the Manny Ramirez -- David Ortiz era. The White Sox are focused on the short term, as shown by their extending the contracts of veterans Jermaine Dye and Mark Buehrle. So 20-year-old first baseman Carter, who was third in the Class A Sally League with 25 homers, is expendable. Getting Crisp, 28, who is owed a very reasonable $11 million over the next two years, at a down moment would be smart shopping.
I would almost agree with this if the Red Sox on record hadn't already said they would target high talent in the lower minors. With that in mind, the Red Sox would be more likely to target Faustino De Los Santos, a impact righthander in the White Sox's Low A affiliate. That would probably kill the trade.
A more plausible trade would likely be with Texas, who could offer a young arm in Jake Brigham, a highly projectable right hander who is similar to Sox prospect Michael Bowden, or the Dodgers, who have a load of ammunition they could offer in return.
Rockies trade 3B Garrett Atkins to the Twins for RHPs Anthony Swarzak and Eduardo Morlan. Ian Stewart (.304/.379/.478 at Triple A Colorado Springs) is ready to take over at third base for Colorado, which should be looking to add strikeout pitchers to a staff heavy on contact guys. Minnesota has a glut of young pitchers and desperately needs to add a bat to help Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer. Swarzak, 22, a starter who projects as a mid-rotation guy, is buried in the Twin
