Since I've still getting emails about why certain farm systems weren't reviewed (you didn't review this system, you ignored this prospect, you suck you Yankee/Red Sox hater, etc), I figured, what the hell, let me just start a regular feature.
Introducing The Prospect Six Pack, where I'll pick six random prospects and post up the mini scouting reports, semi-inspired by Kevin Goldstein. Enjoy.
Prospect Six Pack
Carlos Gomez (CF) – Mets
DOB: 12/4/85
Signed: 2002, Dominican Republic
2008 Club: Birmingham Mets (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/170
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Gomez has been aggressively promoted by the Mets for quite some time, but when Lastings Milledge, Moises Alou and Shawn Green all got hurt around the same time, the Mets were forced to call up Gomez and put him into service. The result was predictable, as Gomez was undisciplined, raw and clearly not ready.
The Good: Part of the reason why Milledge was dealt was because the Mets feel that ultimately, Gomez will be better. He’s a great athlete with remarkable speed, a solid defender, and good power potential.
The Bad: As I said, Gomez was rushed and the result was poor plate disciplined, power potential that is undeveloped and some rawness in the field as well. The Mets need to have him in the minors, as he shouldn’t be on a major league bench.
Projection: Average. Gomez really had no business playing in the majors last year and the Mets gambled on him not getting his development stagnated by promoting him. That said, he could still be a quality prospect if the Mets don’t do anything stupid.
What He Can Be: An above average centerfielder with an exciting speed and power combination.
2008 Course Of Action: Gomez will likely be back in Double A, where regular playing time against appropriate competition should help him continue his development process. I’m hoping the Mets don’t pull a stunt like they did last year again.
Rick Porcello (RHP) – Tigers
DOB: 12/27/88
Drafted: 1st Round, 2007, New Jersey High School
2008 Club: West Michigan Whitecaps (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-5/195
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Regarded to be the best prep pitcher since Josh Beckett, Porcello certainly looked it at times during his senior year at Seton Hall Prep and was reportedly considered by the Royals at two. However, what happened was that Porcello’s advisor, Scott Boras, demanded Beckett’s contract, which was a 4 year Major League Deal, plus a bonus adjusted for inflation. The result was that Porcello fell until the Tigers picked at 27, where they took the chance on him and gave him what Boras wanted, drawing the ire of Major League Baseball in return.
The Good: Porcello was described to be the best prep prospect in the class and has drawn Josh Beckett like comparisons. He throws a fastball that sits around 94-95 mph and hits 96, all with good movement on both his two and four seamer. He throws a curve in the low 70’s and a slider that sits at around 80. Finishing it all is his changeup, which is already a plus pitch and complements his curve well. All in all, that’s a hell of an arsenal, especially when you consider that most high school prospects only have two pitches when drafted.
The Bad: Porcello's command and control have been inconsistent. Many also wonder about his durability, as he hasn’t pitched as much because of the weather in the Northeast. The final flag is that because of his deal, Porcello has four years to develop and get to the Majors, whether he is ready or not.
Projection: Very High. Porcello could be the next Beckett, but he could also be god awful, as the contract is a contract that could stunt his development, especially if he struggles. So, he had better be what Boras has advertised. And, to be quite honest, I’m not sure that Porcello is much better than Jarrod Parker, whom the Diamondbacks took higher up and got for a less money than Porcello.
What He Can Be: A bonafide Ace.
2008 Course Of Action: Like it or not, the clock is ticking and Porcello will likely begin the season with the White Caps, where hopefully he’ll be ready for action.
Jay Bruce (CF) – Reds
DOB: 4/3/87
Drafted: 1st Round, 2005, Texas High School
2008 Club: Louisville Bats (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/195
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Drafted by the Reds in the first round, Bruce has been compared by scouts to former major leaguer Larry Walker. Since coming into the system, Bruce has done nothing but hit for power and play some mean defense and is now on the fast path to the majors for the Reds. He’s already jumped from High A to Triple A and didn’t even stay long in Double A because he was so dominant.
The Good: Bruce has great tools all around the board. He’s got 30 home run potential and hits to all fields. Though he’s got only average speed, he’s a great base runner. He's got a strong arm and he has the range to play centerfield. He does have some issues hitting lefties, but he’s improved enough where he shouldn’t have many issues with them.
The Bad: His swing can get long, resulting in lots of strikeouts. And, while Bruce is average as a centerfielder now, it’s likely that he’ll eventually move to right field as his body fills out.
Projection: Average. Bruce has been translating his tools into performance for the past couple of seasons and he's moving faster than expected. He’s moved a lot faster than anyone could have anticipated. He’s also got the potential to get a lot better than he already is, a sobering thought.
What He Can Be: An All Star Quality Right Fielder, Like Larry Walker.
2008 Course Of Action: Josh Hamilton was traded to the Rangers to eventually open up a job for Bruce, should he win one in Spring Training. However, it’s more than likely that Bruce will start the season in the minors before being called up at midseason, depending on where the Reds are in the standings as well as when Ken Griffey Jr. makes his inevitable trip to the DL.
Colby Rasmus (CF) – Cardinals
DOB: 8/11/86
Drafted: 1st round, 2005, Alabama High School
2008 Club: Memphis Redbirds (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/185
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Rasmus, the top prospect in the Cardinals system, enjoyed a breakout year in Double A and has rapidly developed faster than a lot of people may have thought possible, but it really shouldn’t be a surprise considering all the excellent prep outfield prospects drafted in 2005 (Jay Bruce, Cameron Maybin, Andrew McCutcheon, just to name a few).
The Good: Rasmus is one of the most athletic players in the Cardinals system with loads of tools. He’s got a quick bat and solid power potential to make him a 25-homer threat in the majors. He’s got good pitch recognition and should draw a good amount of walks in the majors. He’s also a dynamic centerfield, with good range and a strong arm.
The Bad: Rasmus has some problems with lefties and he can be over aggressive, leading to strikeouts and being caught stealing.
Projection: Average. Rasmus is nearly ready for the show and he’ll only get better as time goes on. Given time, he should be all that and more than what Jim Edmonds was for the Cardinals. Long term, Rasmus gives the Cardinals another middle of the order bat to plug in behind Albert Pujols, which should help the big man’s chances to see some pitches.
What He Can Be: A star center fielder.
2008 Course Of Action: In spite of what the Cardinals are saying about Rasmus being in the mix for their starting centerfielder job, that’s a hell of a jump to go from Double A to the Majors. Rasmus is going to be starting for the Redbirds, where he’ll get some more seasoning, and could perhaps see some action with the Cardinals come August, as he’s not ready yet.
Will Middlebrooks (SS) – Red Sox
DOB: 9/9/88
Drafted: 5th Round, 2007, Texas High School
2008 Club: Lowell Spinners (Short Season)
Height/Weight: 6-4/200
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A Top baseball and football prospect (QB), Middlebrooks' two-sport status may have lead to his falling down to the 9th round of the draft. Boston, never a stranger to taking high ceiling talent in the lower rounds, pulled the trigger and signed him for almost a million dollars.
The Good: A fantastic athlete with potential on the field and on the mound, Middlebrooks has good power potential and makes good, solid contact with the bat. He’s got good speed and is an excellent baserunner as well. Middlebrooks also has a strong arm and exceptional hands defensively.
The Bad: Middlebrooks lacks range, making a move to third base all but inevitable. And while his speed is solid now, that could change as he continues to fill out and mature.
Projection: High. I like Middlebrooks and felt that Boston stolen him in the 5th round, which more than made up for their lack of a first rounder in 2007. While he didn’t make my top 15 of Sox Prospects, he could easily rise up that list, depending on his campaign.
What He Can Be: A power hitting third baseman in the mold of Troy Glaus.
2008 Course Of Action: I think Middlebrooks will be kept at shortstop for now and will be worked with in extended Spring Training until Lowell starts their season, after which, he’ll being the year as the Spinners’ starting shortstop.
Daniel Moskos (LHP) – Pirates
DOB: 4/28/86
Drafted: 1st round, 2007, Clemson
2008 Club: Hickory Crawdads (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/200
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Moskos was one of the top left handed college talents in the country that’s money as a closer. However, there’s so much more to Moskos that just that. There is the potential for more if he gets drafted in the right organization. Because of the financial concerns that came with the Boras clients, the Pirates shied away from the mass of Boras arms available and instead took Moskos, who was a massive overdraft.
The Good: Moskos has good velocity, throwing in the low 90’s while working up as high as the mid 90’s as a closer. His fastball has great movement and he’s got a nice delivery. He compliments this fastball with a filthy slider. He’s also working on a changeup as a third pitch and many feel that he could be an excellent starter.
The Bad: The changeup is still a work in progress, so there’s no guarantee that he can get it up to a major league level pitch. Plus, at his size, with a max effort delivery, Moskos is probably best-suited for the bullpen long-term.
Projection: Low if he’s a closer. He could probably setup in September, similar to what Andrew Miller did. As a starter, I would say he’s going some average projection left.
What He Can Be: A dominant closer
2008 Course Of Action: Moskos has been told by the Pirates that he will remain as a reliever and he could very well enter the season as the Pirates' closer if they choose to go that route. It’s more likely, however, that he’ll begin the season in Hickory.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you want to see anyone in particular, leave a comment or send me a line at the email of FoxMail.
A return to school and an increased workload at work due to sick leave has cut into my blogging time. Not cool.
Ah well, time for a collective group of thoughts about baseball.
Scott Rolen and Troy Glaus Traded For Each Other
Kinda a odd deal, considering that both are high priced deals with huge landmines attached to them (Health) but overall the deal does work to the favor of each team in one way or another.
WIth Rolen, the Blue Jays gain a Gold Glove defender at third base, which would help compensate for the lead glove of David Eckstein, at the cost of some offense. However, Eckstein is better than the shuffle at short the Jays had and there is the off chance that Rolen can prove himself to be semi-adequate with the bat. More than anything, however, the Jays need some type of return from Vernon Wells, who disappointed last season after signing for superstar money with the Jays.
In Glaus, the Cardinals get a big bat that is needed to help bolster the offense, which is, to be frank, pathetic outside of Pujols. More than anything, however, the Cardinals needed to diffuse the situation between Tony LaRussa and Rolen, which was made all but irreparable after LaRussa poured gas on that particular fire this off-season. The signing of Cesar Izturis does help improve the defense enough where the Cardinals can suffer through Glaus' hands of stone, and the move to natural grass and away from Toronto's turf should prove to be beneficial in the long run for Glaus.
All in all, it's a good gamble for both sides, but more importantly, it clears up some potential locker room disaster that would have exploded during the season had either player remained with their former teams.
Grade For Both Sides: B
Thoughts On The Kotsay Trade
I was going to rant about how the Braves should have just offered Andruw Jones arbitration, keeping him around for one more year, as he would have accepted, and keeping the offense together.
Instead, they pull this trade.
To be honest, I gotta give Billy Beane all the credit in the world on this one, as I think Kotsay is done. He's not the defender he once was and in terms of offense, he's not going to give you much in return. In all honesty, the Braves would have been better off just giving the job to Josh Anderson for the season and just gone with it from there. At least he's mostly paid for.
Oh wait. Oakland got two prospects, one of which, Joey Devine, the Braves' first round pick from two years ago, will likely help out Oakland in the bullpen this season. And they also got Jamie RIchmond, a right hander that could be a fifth starter. That's quite a haul for a broken player.
Anyhow, that's my take on that.
Oakland Grade - B
Atlanta Grade - D
Lost A Bet
To my friend, who's an Astros fan, on the Cowboy Game on Sunday.
So, expect the first (and only) Astros Report sometime this week.
Well apparently, the Rangers have signed Milton Bradley to a one year, $5 million contract, with some incentives. The deal is pending a physical, and because the Padres declined to offer him arbitration, the Rangers don’t cede a pick to the Padres.
The deal is a risk, both because Bradley is both injury prone and batshit crazy, but Bradley, to be honest, is actually now the best outfielder on the squad and will likely slide over to centerfield once the leg heals up.
Are you gambling that Wash, who Bradley wanted to reunite with, and whom is a Washington favorite, can keep him in line? Yes. Could it work? We’ll see. Bradley will likely miss time in the beginning of the season and will stay at DH until June or so.
What will this do to Jason Botts?
What we’ll likely see is a rotation of Botts, Cat, and Shelton at Left Field and Third Base until Bradley is completely healthy. It’s a workable compromise and will keep everyone healthy until things are sorted out.
Will the Rangers do any other improvements to the outfield? That remains to be seen. Bradley isn’t blocking anyone long term and his salary isn’t prohibitive. With Fukudome now a Cub, the only real free agent option available is off the table. That means that the Rangers will likely have to look at the non-tender market later today or the trade market. More on that in a bit…
Going To War With The Rotation You Have
The meme in Texas is that the Rangers need pitching.
My answer to that?
Where is it?
I’ve checked the free agent market. Unless you’re willing to roll the dice on Bartolo Colon or Freddy Garcia, there is no potential Number One or Two starters. When the best options are Kyle Lohse and Carlos Silva, back of the rotation dudes at best, that goes to show you that the market is just awful.
Now, if you want to do some trading on the market, you could find some pitchers that could be had for prospects, especially those on teams that may be looking to rebuild.
The Rangers have the ammunition to go after Johan Santana, and Tom Hicks has the funds to do it.
They could also go after Dan Haren, though I think they prefer not to trade within the division.
However, all of these deals come with a price. You lose valuable young players who can keep you competitive while spending little in these trades. You also lack that valuable pipeline of young talent to replace aging players. Michael Young won’t last forever and will likely be the Rangers’ third baseman by 2011, by which time either Elvis Andrus or Marcus Lemon will be taking over the position. Also, who will replace Padilla, who will book after 2009, and Kevin Millwood, who will book after 2010? Are you going to want to have to turn to the Jamey Wright’s and Carlos Silva’s to give you innings?
This season is a lost cause anyway, but it will serve as a way to give the kids innings while keeping the team cost effective FOR NOW. The Rangers are hoarding their dollars for the next superstar that may hit the market, by which time, there will be enough of a team for that future star to push the Rangers over the top.
Plus, the Rangers may have their own homegrown rotation sooner than you think.
Eric Hurley is nearly ready. So is Matt Harrison. The Rangers have a plethora of young arms in the lower minors, with some of them beginning to rise to the top.
Give things time. Frivolously throwing money away on mediocre starters is a poor way to build a ball club.
Ask the Cubs.
Off season Deals That I Thank God Didn’t Work Out
Mark Mulder (2006) – This was a buy low opportunity, but oh man was this bullet one I’m glad misfired. Mulder looks toast right now, something that no one thought back in the day, when he was arguably the best of the Big Three.
Barry Zito (2006) – This was a deal I actually campgained hard for, but am glad it didn't work out. Zito has been an out and out disaster for San Fran. He eats innings and...doesn't do much else.
Matt Morris (2005) – The Rangers actually went pretty hard after Morris, who was coming off of a very good year with the Cardinals and had long since had a reputation for being a good clubhouse guy and a outdated rep for being a great starting pitcher. Two years later and this deal is easily one of the biggest busts we’ve seen this decade.
Carlos Delgado (2004) – Yes, the Rangers did try to make a run at Delgado, with the idea of making him the starting first baseman and Mark Teixiera the everyday left fielder. Fortunately, he signed with Florida, who blew Texas’ offer away, and then would trade him after a single season.
Rangers Close To Signing Reliever
The Rangers are close to signing Japanese Reliever Kazo Fukumori to a two year deal, whcih would add another veteren reliever to the pen at a cheap price. Fukumori was injured in Japan last year, but could pay big dividends if he's ready.
More Trade Speculation
Noah Lowry (RHP – Giants) – On paper, this looks like a decent acquisition, as any time you can add a young starter is a good deal. Look closer, however, and I’d stay clear away from Lowry. His control is rather bad, he’s not much of an innings eater and he’s always been much more mortal away from A####mp;T Park. I heard one rumor stating that trading Ian Kinsler for him would get it done. I say nay.
Andre Ethier (RF – Dodgers) – Etheir is the odd man out in Los Angeles with Pierre moving to left field, Kemp likely in right and Jones in center and is reportedly being targeted by the Rangers. I’d totally do this if the Dodgers were willing, but a trade package might be hard to come up with. The Dodgers would likely ask for Eric Hurley or Edinson Volquez, with the Rangers offering Armando Galaragga and a few other prospects in return. It just remains to be seen if a deal can be reached that will be amicable to all parties.
Austin Kearns (RF – Nationals) – Kearns looks like he’s due for a bounce back season and playing in RFK probably didn’t help his numbers much. He’s signed to a very affordable long term deal and with the Nationals carrying four outfielders (five if they move Dmitri Young), Kearns is the odd man out. I’d be okay with signing him, especially since Kearns can reasonably play center, it’s just that the Nationals ask for the sun, moon, and stars for their players.
Matt Murton (OF – Cubs) – Murton hasn’t been given a fair shake by the Cubs to prove himself, as they’ve preferred to go after sexier names in the free agent market.
Mark DeRosa (2B – Cubs) – If the Cubs do acquire another player, I’d strongly ask them for Rosie if they won’t trade Murton. Rosie would have a chance to play everyday in Texas, likely in Right Field.
Here's some of the names that the Rangers have been connected with so far:
Carlos Quentin (OF) - The Rangers did make a inquiry to see what it would take to acquire the potential hard hitting right fielder from the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was Eric Hurley. I'm not opposed to trading Hurley, but only if it's for a pitcher, such as Santana or Haren. I would even trade him if maybe Texas had other pitching prospects close to ready. Since they don't, onto the new stop.
Scott Rolen (3B) and Chris Duncan (1B/LF) - This was strictly a salary dump in exchange for Hank Blalock. Duncan I'm not sure about, as he's a big hacking slugger that would be a fit as a platoon DH or FIrst Baseman. Rolen is pretty much done. Sorry. I just can't.
Andy LaRoche (3B) - There are also talks that Texas is looking to trade Hank Blalock to the Dodgers for Andy LaRoche and change. However, it looks like the reports are that this was strictly smoke with no substance. That's a pity. I would have loved to have had LaRoche.
Coco Crisp (CF) - And back to Mr. Crisp. Word is that Boston asked for C.J. Wilson in return and are not interested in Gerald Laird. Ummmm, no. Wilson is the closer next year and is one of the few lefties available for the pen, with Murray heading to the rotation in Oklahoma next year, leaving only Rheinecker as the lone lefty aside for Wilson. Still, this offer is a lot better than what the Red Sox originally asked for, which was Hurley, Luis Mendoza, who actually was a Red Sox, and another player. TIme to find the next Ron Mahay...
Josh Hamilton (CF) – Hamilton is attractive in that he’s young and is a physical freak of nature. He’s got loads of talent and could be a fixture long term in Texas. The only real question, aside from the past substance abuse issues (not fair, but unfortunately, still valid) are what potential trade matches could be done, as judging from the two teams and their respective farm systems, it doesn’t look like a match can be made.
David DeJesus (CF) – This is still a valid rumor, especially if you consider the fact that the Royals are going hard after the batshit crazy outfielder we all know as Jose Guillen. If they sign him, they’ll have a outfield of Mark Teahen, Joey Gathright, whom the Royals love, and Guillen, leaving DeJesus out in the cold. The Rangers could make an offer of Joaquin Arias, Luis Mendoza, and either Doug Mathis or Michael Schlact in return for DeJesus and change.
Chris Shelton (1B) - Shelton was designated for assignment by the Tigers to make room for Kenny Rogers. Were I the Rangers, I actually would make a play for Shelton, who could at least be a platoon partner for Cat at first next year.
Raid The Pirates
Actually, there is a way for the Rangers to be able to fill several holes at once to help fill their needs.
The Pirates are looking to move RF Xavier Nady and LF Jason Bay in order to stock on prospects, as they seem to have realized that this current core of the team just isn’t working and are looking to make some deals.
Nady is a virtual lock to be traded, as the Pirates have shown no desire to pay him in arbitration and will look to either trade him or non-tender him. Jon Daniels discussed Bay with the Pirates earlier today and is in the mix to try and get him.
I’d try to make a deal for both, which would take care of left and right field and allowing them to use some sort of Marlon Byrd/David Murphy combo in center. It would also allow Texas to leave Frank Catalanotto at first base and would add a pair of decent bats in the middle. The best part is, neither of them blocks any of the Rangers’ prospects long term and potentially could allow the Rangers to reap some draft picks if they do well in Texas.
What would I hit the Pirates with for both guys? Well, it looks like the Pirates are looking for a catcher and a pitching prospect in exchange for Bay and are just looking to get something for Nady. So, here’s what I’d do:
First off, I’d offer them Laird, who is still three years away from free agency. That would be for Nady, as it is a trade of pieces that just don’t fit with their current clubs.
For Bay, since I have already offered a catcher, I would ask them if a trade for Joaquin The Dream would work, with another pitcher, possibly Michael Schlact or Armando Galarraga would work. If they elect for it, cool. If not, I’d offer some potential Rule 5 picks that may get selected from the Rangers, likely Tug Hulett a utility man, and Jesse Ingram, who had a bounceback season last year, but was blocked from getting onto the Rangers’ 40 this year.
So, if all things considered fall into place, I’d offer the following:
The Texas Rangers offer C Gerald Laird, RHP Armando Galaragga, SS Joaquin Arias and RHP Jesse Ingram for RF Xavier Nady and LF Jason Bay
I know it’s more quantity than quality right now, but it would kill some holes on the team and would allow them to try and trade Jack Wilson while trying to eat some of his salary. All in all, it’s a pretty fair deal.
Tomorrow, the San Diego Padres Farm System goes up, with the Seattle Mariners going up on Friday. Look for a Rangers Report GM Meetings Wrap Up On Thursday.
Billy Beane runs a tight ship. That is not to be debated. And his success in the draft in the past has produced such stars like Mark Mulder, Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, Jason Giambi, Nick Swisher and others that have gone on to become productive major leaguers.
However, in the past few years, it’s become more apparent that much of that has changed
Many have credited Beane with being a draft genius and for being the main reason why Oakland continues to win with a limited budget, all on the mantle of the “Moneyball” philosophy.
People seem to forget how lucky Beane has been as well.
Much of the Athletics’ success has to do with the fact that Oakland was able to develop three front of the rotation pitchers at the exact same time. Had Oakland taken Ben Sheets instead of Barry Zito (who was taken only because Oakland was unable to reach an agreement with Sheets prior to the draft), Oakland’s future would have turned out quite differently.
With that said, there has been a lot that Beane has done right. Taking advantage of college products when others avoided them like the plague has changed scouting, but hurt the Athletics in terms of the talent available for them to choose from (a side effect from having a opportunistic, narcissistic writer chronicle the way you handle your day to day job). Oakland has managed sustain it’s winning, but the talent pool on the farm is not as deep as it once was during Oakland’s stretch of playoff appearances. With the most recent round of graduations, the talent pool is shallower still.
Athletics Top 15
1 – Daric Barton (1B)
DOB: 8/16/85
Drafted: 1st round, 2003, California High School (Cardinals)
2008 Club: Athletics (MLB)
Height/Weight: 6-0/205
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: Barton was regarded, at the time of the Mark Mulder deal, to be the real centerpiece of the deal. Since then, Barton hasn’t disappointed, but with the emergence of Dan Haren as the ace of the staff, Barton is strictly a side piece that could make the entire deal a slam dunk winner for Oakland (considering that Kiki Calero also came in the deal.) He was called up late in the year and left a good enough impression for people to be hopeful for the future.
The Good: The gifted natural hitter was holding his own as a 20-year-old at Triple-A before breaking a bone in his elbow in a freak collision on a pickoff throw. Both his approach and his pitch recognition are above-average on a major-league level, and he can make contact on pitches of any type in any location.
The Bad: The biggest power potential that was once seen in Barton has never arrived, meaning that Barton is going to be a rather unconventional first baseman. Many believe that while he’s got the power to hit 20+ homers annually, he may never do so. As far as his defense, Barton was originally drafted as a catcher, but no one thought he’d be able to stay there. Oakland hoped to develop his bat faster, so they moved him to first base. Because of the power outage, Barton was moved to third, where he profiled better, but his terrible fielding resulted in a move back to first. Hence, he’s awful defensively.
Projection: Low. Barton has nothing left to prove and is ready to start contributing to the big league club this season, so this is likely the last year we’ll see him.
What He Can Be: A John Olerud type of first baseman.
2008 Course Of Action: The job is Barton’s starting next year, and with Jack Cust now installed as the everyday DH, this will likely force Oakland to trade Dan Johnson. That said, Barton probably isn’t a player I would be thrilled to have as my everyday first baseman, but he’s a decent stopgap while he’s inexpensive.
2 – Kevin Melillo (2B)
DOB: 5/14/82
Drafted: 5th round, 2004, University of South Carolina
2008 Club:Sacramento River Cats (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/190
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: Melillo’s 2007 campaign is pretty much the same for what you would expect for him. He really is just what he is, an average second baseman that could be a steady regular in the majors.
The Good: An offensive minded second baseman, Milillo has a short, quick swing that has suprising pop. He works the count well, gets on base, and all the usual things that Oakland likes it’s players to do. His defensive fundamentals are good. All in all, he’s near ready for the show and could be a producer in the 6 or 7 hole.
The Bad: Melillo has had some minor knee issues in the past and when he falls in love with the long ball, he gets pull happy. He also has below average range and hands, and is nowhere near the Gold Glover type defense Oakland has come to expect from it’s second basemen.
Projection: Low. Melillo is ready for the show and with this year looking like a rebuilding one, Oakland would be wise to see what they have.
What He Can Be: An average second baseman.
2008 Course Of Action: Ellis has recently had his $5 million club option for 2008 exercised, but that doesn’t mean he’ll remain on the team. Ellis is pretty attractive right now as a cheap date and could fetch a decent prize while allowing Melillo to play everyday.
3 – Trevor Cahill (RHP)
DOB: 3/01/88
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2006, California High School
2008 Club: Stockton Ports (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/195
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A surprise pick for the Athletics last year, Cahill had a solid senior season in high school as a first year pitcher, but fell after illness caused him to tail off. Oakland took him and thus far, Cahill has continued the tradition of Kane County pitching dominance. But his big coming out party was when he made a spot start for Sacramento at the end of the season and carried a perfect game and a no-hitter once the perfecto was gone until the 8th. Now that’s awesomeness.
The Good: Cahill’s biggest strength is his command and control, which are surprisingly good for a young pitcher. He’s able to locate the ball low and induce groundballs. He throws in the low 90’s and can touch 90’s, but his best pitch is a spike curveball that has wicked break. He's a solid athlete and is regarded to be an excellent character guy.
The Bad: Cahill doesn't over-power anyone. He also needs to refine a third pitch.
Projection: High. Cahill is still developing as a pitcher, as he was only pitching for a year after he was drafted, but the promise is there for him to be a capable major league starter.
What He Can Be: A Number 3 starter, maybe a two.
2008 Course Of Action: Cahill will be heading to the California League, where his groundball tendencies should help him survive the year in the extreme hitters league.
4 – James Simmons (RHP)
DOB: 9/29/86
Drafted: 1st Round, 2007, UC Riverside
2008 Club: Midland Rockhounds (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/205
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Simmons was regarded to be one of the most polished pitchers in the draft and was rated as one of the closest pitchers to the majors. After going 11-3 with a 2.40 ERA in his junior season at UC Riverside, the Athletics took him in the 1st round, where he has already reached Double A.
The Good: Simmons’ game is all about command and control and he has it in ####s. His stuff is okay, but not overwhelming, with a fastball that sits around 90-92, complimented by a plus changeup and an average breaking ball.
The Bad: Simmons isn’t overpowering and while he may be close to the majors, he’s not a sure fire star or anything. He’s pretty much what I would call a right handed Joe Saunders, a guy that takes the ball every fifth day and gives you a shot to win. He also loses speed on his fastball late in a game.
Projection: Low. Simmons will rise quickly once he’s assigned to repeat Double A again. Again, he’s got limited upside, which is the only thing you can really hold against him as far as his tools go.
What He Can Be: A back of the rotation starter.
2008 Course Of Action: Look for Simmons to repeat Double A this year before he gets an assignment to Triple A, where Oakland hopes he might be able to be a factor for a September call up.
5 – Sean Doolittle (1B)
DOB: 9/26/86
Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2007, Virginia
2008 Club:Stockton Ports (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/190
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Doolittle was on the rise after a year in Virginia and was projected to be picked somewhere in the lower end of the first round. However, Porcello’s fall along with some other shenanigans with the Pirates resulted in Doolittle falling into the supplemental round, where Oakland took him. He had a pretty good debut for Oakland in the lower minors.
The Good: An athletic first baseman, Doolittle makes good, consistent solid contact from the left side and should hit for average in the future. He has an above average arm, which was seen from his days as a two way player at Virginia, plus he shows decent range and can even run a bit too.
The Bad: Doolittle lacks any sort of power potential at first base, which isn’t what you want out of a power position.
Projection: Average. Doolittle may rise quickly and while he may not have home run power, doubles power may exist within him.
What He Can Be: A average first baseman that hits for average, but not for power.
2008 Course Of Action: Doolittle has talent, but unfortunately for him, he’s also blocked by both Dan Johnson and Daric Barton, meaning that in the future, Doolittle’s likely value to Oakland is trade bait. He's going to open the season in the California League for Stockton.
6 – Henry Rodriguez (RHP)
DOB: 2/25/87
Signed: 2003, Venezuela
2008 Club: Midland Rockhounds (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/175
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A big signing out of Venezuela a few years ago has taken a big step forward with the Cougars this year, though his record doesn’t show for it. Still, it’s pretty impressive considering how raw he was last year when he was torched in the Arizona Rookie League.
The Good: Rodriguez has the best raw stuff in the organization, as his fastball sits in the low to mid 90’s and has been clocked as high as 100. His curveball and changeup look like they could eventually be plus pitches, which could give him a potentially lethal arsenal if he’s able to put it all together. All in all, he’s a project, but one that could pay off big.
The Bad: Rodriguez is, as I’ve said, a raw product, and he’s had some issues with control that have resulted in some ugly outings for him. There are also maturity issues with Rodriguez, but that really isn’t unexpected.
Projection: Very High. Rodriguez could become a beast if he continues to work on his stuff. He’s more than just an arm strength type of prospect and he’s got the skill set to be a solid middle of the rotation K machine if he continues to develop on schedule. Still, he’s got a long way to go.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation strikeout machine.
2008 Course Of Action: With another season under his belt in Double A, Rodriguez could very well help his cause to eventually become a option for Oakland come 2009 or 2010, joining some of the other young athletics in a potential rebuilding effort.
7 – Jermaine Mitchell (CF)
DOB: 11/2/84
Drafted: 5th round, 2006, UNC-Greensboro
2008 Club: Stockton Ports (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/200
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: . Taken from a small school, many felt that Mitchell would only be organizational filler, a fourth outfielder at best. He's since proven to be potentially better than that after another solid season, this time for Kane County.
The Good: Mitchell could be one of the latest Oakland scouting department steals if he continues to produce. Mitchell is a solid centerfielder with a good arm, good range and solid speed. He’s also got a quick bat and some excellent plate discipline. All in all, he’s a good package of tools that could really blossom into something good.
The Bad: Mitchell’s swing is complex and needs to be simplified. The power that was thought to have been in Mitchell hasn’t manifested himself. He’s also murdered by right handers and had some extreme home-away splits as well, meaning that he’s got some work to do unless he wants to be a platoon centerfielder.
Projection: High. Mitchell took a step forward in his development, not as big as Oakland may have expected, but it’s a start.
What He Can Be: An everyday big-league outfielder.
2008 Course Of Action: I expect Mitchell to be the Ports' starting centerfielder this season. Oakland eventually sees him to be a centerfielder for the future option, though at the moment, he's still got a long way to go.
8 – Javier Herrera (OF)
DOB: 4/9/85
Signed: 2001, Venezuela
2008 Club: Sacramento River Cats (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 5-10/160
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After missing a year thanks to Tommy John Surgery, Herrera had a mostly average comeback season. While it’s not pretty, it’s still a promising development and should be expected form a guy coming off TJ.
The Good: Herrera has above-average hitting skills to go with plus power and speed, as well as good range to both sides in centerfield and an above-average arm.
The Bad: Herrera's conditioning is a bit of an issue, as he did put on some weight during his inactivity, but he was able to drop most of it. He’s also a bit reckless on the field, plus his power potential hasn’t manifested itself quite yet.
Projection: High. Herrera is still working to come all the way back from TJ, but so far so good.
What He Can Be: A above average centerfielder
2008 Course Of Action: Expect the Athletics to push Herrera a bit by promoting him to Triple A, where he could work well if he’s finally able to get his tools together.
9 – Andrew Carignan (RHP)
Born: 7/23/86
Drafted: 5th Round, 2007, UNC Chapel Hill
2008 Club: Stockton Ports (High A)
Height/Weight: 5-11/200
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Oakland took the Tar Heels’ highly acclaimed closer after he fell down to the 5th round and quickly signed him. Assigning him to Low A Kane County, where he was lights out with the Cougars in limited duty. Carignan should be heading up to the California League next season, his first real test of his pro career.
The Good: Despite being small of stature, Carignan gets results. He’s got good arm strength excellent poise on the mound and a bulldog’s mentality on the mound. His fastball is his best pitch and he throws it well in the 88-92 mph range.
The Bad: Unfortunately, that’s all he really has in terms of weapons. Carignan got by in college by using his fastball to overpower hitters. His slider is below average and his command is the same way. One pitch pitchers don’t go far, so he is going to need a lot of work.
Projection: Average. Carignan has gotten excellent results in the past in spite of his lacking gifts, but with work, he could be a part of a big league bullpen if he’s diligent and works hard.
What He Can Be: A Big League Setup Man
2008 Course Of Action: As I said, Carignan will likely be headed to the California League, his first real test, as I don’t think he’s ever really been pushed. He’ll have to put in some serious work on the slider, or things could get ugly real quickly.
10 – Corey Brown (RF)
DOB: 11/2/84
Drafted: 1st round (S), 2007. Oklahoma State University
2008 Club: Kane County Cougars (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/210
Bats/Throws: 11/26/85
The Skinny: Going into this year’s draft, Brown was often overshadowed by his more highly regarded teammate, Matt Mangini. However, Brown was a legitimate prospect in his own right, drawing Mike Cameron comparisons. When teams began scooping up some of the falling talent, Brown got lost in the woods a bit until Oakland took him. Since then, Brown has had a decent pro debut, but has shown that he still has work to do.
The Good: Brown’s best tool is power, and he has a lot of it. Because of that, though he did have the arm and range to play center, Oakland slid Brown over to right, where his bat fits better. He’s got good speed and shows a quick bat along with the willingness to draw a walk now and them.
The Bad: Brown’s biggest problem is strikeouts, as he amassed a lot of them in college and a lot in the Northwestern League,. The bigger flag is that he faced fairly serious criminal charges in high school.
Projection: High. He’s got the tools to be a regular, but with work, he could be a star, one of the few that fits that description in an otherwise blah system. He should be capable of some 25-homer, 15-steal seasons down the road.
What He Can Be: A power hitting corner that should strikeout a lot to make Nick Swisher feel less guilty.
2008 Course Of Action: Brown will likely be promoted to Low A Kane County, where Oakland hopes he’ll be able to finish in Stockton once the year ends.
11 – Josh Horton (SS)
DOB: 2/19/86
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2007, UNC Chapel Hill
2008 Club: Stockton Ports (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/195
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: Horton was one of the key reasons why North Carolina was able to make back-to-back trips to Omaha. Though he was one of the best players on his team, Horton was rather ignored by many teams, but he fit the classic Oakland player profile, that of a player with good stats that looked relatively safe to pick.
The Good: I do like Horton a lot, even though he is one of those gritty type players that hustles his way to success that I hate so much hearing about. Horton handles the bat well and hits to all fields. He has decent speed, good hands and a decent arm as well. He also displayed some very solid plate discipline as well.
The Bad: Horton has no power to speak of and his range isn’t enough where he could stay at short.
Projection: Average. Horton has got the chops to make a major league roster.
What He Can Be: A decent second baseman or a very good utilityguy.
2008 Course Of Action: Horton will likely head to High A ball, where Oakland hopes that he continues grinding it out to eventually be a factor for the athletics before it is time to cut bait with Bobby Crosby.
12 – Matt Sulentic (LF)
DOB: 10/6/87
Drafted: 3rd round, 2006, Texas High School
2008 Club: Kane County Cougars (Low A)
Height/Weight: 5-10/170
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: .A high school hitter that destroyed competition in Dallas, but fell because many were concerned about whether or not his power potential was legitimate or if he was just beating up on weaker competition.
The Good: Sulentic has a quick bat that, when combined with his pitch recognition result in the potential for a high average and walk totals. He also has some power that should eventually make him a 20 home run threat.
The Bad: The only way Sulentic will ever really pan out is if his power comes through as expected, or he’s a bust.
Projection: High. Sulentic will likely give the Midwestern League another shot after his initial shellacking.
What He Can Be: A starting corner outfielder.
2008 Course Of Action: Sulentic will likely return to the Midwestern League, where another year of seasoning should yield better results. Suffice to say, however, Oakland is now going to be a little more careful with him in terms of hype.
13 – Jason Windsor (RHP)
DOB: 7/16/82
Drafted: 3rd round, 2004, Cal State Fullerton
2008 Club: Oakland Athletics (MLB)
Height/Weight: 6-2/220
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Windsor’s 2007 season didn’t go as expected. He wasn’t selected to be the A’s 5th starter and went down in May for much of the year due to injury. Now healthy and with Oakland lacking in viable alternatives to the end of the rotation, Windsor may have another shot at the rotation, but he’d have to be awfully good to do so.
The Good: Windsor bounced back in 2006, reeling off 16 straight wins at one point wrapped around a brief MLB stint. Outstanding command allows his below-average fastball (87-89 mph) to play up a bit, but he's used it effectively to set up a plus changeup, his primary out pitch. His curveball has improved to become an average offering.
The Bad: In 2005, Windsor experienced arm soreness and was shut down and last season he lost most of the season due to shoulder strain of his right shoulder. Windsor also doesn’t have great stuff and is far from overpowering and will likely be nothing more than a 5th starter.
Projection: Low. He’s pretty much completed his development and aside from the injuries, he should be with Oakland by now.
What He Can Be: A 5th Starter or Swingman
2008 Course Of Action: Windsor is going to try it all over again, where hopefully he’ll be able to latch on the big league club.
14 – Daniel Meyer (LHP)
DOB: 7/03/81
Drafted: 2002, 1st Round (S), James Madison (Atlanta)
2008 Club: Oakland Athletics (MLB)
Height/Weight: 6-3/210
Bats/Throws: R/L
The Skinny: The big piece of the Tim Hudson trade, Meyer has struggled since being traded, being both injury-prone and ineffective until this year, where he managed to put up a solid enough Triple A season to merit time with Oakland late in the season.
The Good: Meyer throws a low 90’s fastball, but his best offering is his slider, which has regained it’s former edge to become a plus pitch again. He also throws a decent changeup as well.
The Bad: Meyer used to throw a lot harder, but he’ll never get that velocity back. He also still has command issues and throws too many pitches.
Projection: None. There really isn’t much more you can expect out of the dude. He is what he is.
What He Can Be: Middle Reliever
2008 Course Of Action: Meyer will likely be competing for a job at Spring Training. With Oakland in a bit of transition, the 5th starters role should be an open race. Otherwise, I think Meyer could do a good impersonation of Kirk Saarloos in the bullpen.
15 – Andrew Bailey (RHP)
DOB: 5//31/84
Drafted: 6th round, 2006, Wagner College
2008 Club: Stockton Ports (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/220
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Another pick looking like a late round steal, Bailey performed well with Kane County and with Stockton, and put up a very good ERA while exhibiting excellent command over his stuff.
The Good: Bailey’s got a nice three-pitch mix, sporting an 89-93 mph fastball along with a pair of solid breaking pitches in his curve and changeup. His command and control are also very good as well.
The Bad: There’s some skepticism about Bailey’s results considering his age, as Oakland has a history of several of these type of players that dominate the low minors before getting destroyed as they move up.
Projection: Low. Bailey should be tested at the next level for you to really buy into his performance.
What He Can Be: A back of the rotation starter.
2008 Course Of Action: Bailey will likely head back to Stockton, where Oakland will see how he handles the California League on a more extended basis before deciding what to do with him next.
Final Thoughts
Oakland is in a bit of transition. There really isn’t much in terms of high impact talent waiting in the wings and many of the players that are in the minors are either solid everyday players or talented role players, with almost zero in terms of future stars. I will gives props to Billy Beane, who has tried at various points to keep the system stocked with various prospects in an effort to keep the lifeline of cheap talent flowing, but at the moment, the well is a little dry. While he’s found talent on the waiver wire, Beane has recently acknowledged that it may be time for him to blow up the current squad in order to acquire more young talent in order to fuel the next Oakland run. The process began in earnest last season with the Athletics allowing various players to get claimed via waivers in an attempt to clear salary, and with the trade of Marco Scutaro to Toronto for a pair of arms. Beane will also hear offers for Huston Street, Joe Blanton, and perhaps Dan Haren and Nick Swisher in order to restock on talent, though there is one problem if he does that. Because of how Beane evaluates talent, many will wonder if there is something that Beane knows that they don’t know, and could be scared off.
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.
Potential Edgar Renteria Scenarios, A Former Wideout Might Be Coming Up And A Potential Rick Ankiel - In Reverse...
Possible Stops For Edgar Renteria
The Braves were really serious about looking to unload Edgar Renteria and replacing him with Yuniel Escobar at the deadline, but the right trade couldn’t be made. Now, the Braves will look to move him in the off-season.
Renteria has been excellent for the Braves and has regained his All-Star form. He's basically an $8 million a year player since Boston is foothing a large part of the bill on his contract and would bring in two draft picks if allowed to leave via free agency. The Braves are looking for some sort of pitching, or a centerfielder.
Is there a fit?
Sort of.
Take a look
Chicago White Sox - The Sox could offer Jon Garland and Brian Anderson and change in exchange for Renteria, who would fill a hole if the White Sox allow the awful Juan Uribe to leave. The only problem is would the Braves believe that Anderson is a talent that just needs a change of scenery, or is he a disaster waiting to happen.
Oakland Athletics - Bubba Crosby looks done and there aren't a lot of shortstop options available. The A's could potentially move parts in exchange for Renteria, but as far as any sort of impact talent, there isn't much on this roster that fits the bill.
Minnesota Twins - The Twins could be on the move, as Jason Barlett would be able to move over to Third Base and allow Renteria to take over short, plugging two holes at once. The only issue is this...The Twins won't trade pitching, and even though they have some in the minors, they aren't going to move it.
Detroit Tigers - The Tigers have been looking for a way to move Carlos Guillen to first in order to manage the wear and tear on him. They have the farm system to do the move and could afford the contract. There is a fit here, especially since they have a centerfield prospect in Gorkeys Hernandez that Atlanta would find very tempting. I like this move a lot.
Toronto Blue Jays - The Jays would like to add Renteria and would love to find a way to get him, but there isn't a lot to move here and the Jays would balk at any package surrounding Alex Rios. There also isn't any farm products even near ready to be traded.
So all in all, the potential is there for a move, but really there isn't a lot of players that Atlanta would be able to come away with and claim victory for the trade. Personally, I'd be all over a deal for the Tigers, as Hernandez could really be that good.
The Next Rick Ankiel? - Sort Of
Lance Niekro is a bad positional player for the Giants.
That much is known.
He was pretty much drafted by the Giants because of his bloodlines and the fact that his father played for the Giants.
Apparently, Niekro is going to give something else a try.
Pitching.
Niekro has been working on a knuckleball. Should he feel up to it (and if the Giants feel, what the hell, can’t be much worse), he could try and pull a Rick Ankiel and come back…as a pitcher.
The idea isn’t unheard of. Trevor Hoffman was a weak hitting shortstop before he became a hall of famer. Ron Mahay was originally an outfielder before becoming a decent pitcher. Troy Percival was originally a catcher before he became a pitcher. First round bust Matt Bush was having success as a pitcher until he blew his arm out. So the track record is there.
Who knows? Niekro could wind up being very good. He could also wind up being an even worse disaster than he already is. We’ll see..
Samardzija Coming To Chicago?
The Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when the rosters expand on September 1. Samardzija may get a start and appear in relief, depending on how far the Cubs are ahead or behind in the divisional race once the 1st rolls around.
I’m not exactly sure if this is a great idea. I understand that Samardzija is classified as a power pitcher, but his lack of strikeouts for the year disturbs me. I’m really not sure if this is a great ideal at all. This idea seems #### horrible to me.
There are going to be some names on this list if things stay put the way they look right now. However, there is no clear cut dominating favorite, as many of these closers are either A) Old, B) Injury Prone, or C) Inconsistent.
Mariano Rivera (Yankees) – It’s hard to imagine that Rivera would consider closing for someone else, but he’s apparently ready to make good on his threat if the Yankees won’t sign him. If he hits the market, Rivera can still be a viable closer, provided that all those innings that Torre used him to cover the deficiencies in the bullpen don’t catch up to him. However, I doubt New York will let him get away. As much as the Yankees make of Rivera being sort of expendable, the fact is that there isn’t many pitchers in the system that could replace Rivera. Proctor is likely going to be a starter at some point, Farnsworth should only be a closer in the NL and J.B. Cox in the system is a setup man.
Eric Gagne (Rangers) – Okay, everyone in Ranger Nation knows that Gagne is really only a one year wonder with Texas, as he’ll likely strike it rich somewhere else with another team, in spite of his recent comments that he wants to remain in Texas. Gagne looks all the way back so far and he could be the best free agent closer on the market.
Francisco Cordero (Brewers) – Coco Cordero was a solid closer with the Rangers, but he fell on hard times after his command left him, which is a shame as he’s actually a very underrated closer. Cordero brings excellent stuff and is effective as long as his command doesn’t desert him. After Gagne, Cordero could prove to be very attractive to a team needing a long-term answer at closer, but be careful. While Gagne has health issues, Cordero still has control issues that have resulted in his new nickname in the state of Texas: Blow-co.
Jason Isringhausen (Cardinals) – [If $8 million Club Option Declined]. I’m not sure that Isringhausen can last a full season, let alone serve as a closer for a team on a regular basis. I think he’s likely going to retire, though there’s always the chance that some team will take a chance with him if the price is right (I’m looking at you Florida.)
Bob Wickman (Braves) – Wickman is likely going to be a free agent, especially with all of the closers and closer quality arms that Atlanta acquired during the off-season. Like Isringhausen, I think he’ll also retire or sign with a team willing to take a flier on his.
Todd Jones (Tigers) – Everyone knows that Zumaya will be the closer in Detroit comes next year. Jones is a heart attack closer that really shouldn’t be closing anymore, as he’s quite hittable and makes you nervous when he takes the mound.
Jeff Allison Attempting A Comeback…Again
Jeff Allison, the much-troubled former first-round pick for the Marlins, who I've written about at length in this blog, is attempting another comeback, trying to work his way back into playing shape at the Marlins' spring training facility in Jupiter, Florida. However, it's unknown where Allison would be assigned, as he's now been out of baseball for almost two years, though any comeback will likely begin at Rookie Ball.
Allison was taken off the restricted list and re-joined the organization for formal workouts June 20. Allison is currently awaiting trial on felony possession of a stolen vehicle, but has been struggling most often with drugs, specifically the drug Oxy-Contin and Heroin.
Like the Josh Hamilton story, this could have a happy ending, though it would take a lot longer than Hamilton due to the development time needed on pitchers. However, I'm a little more skeptical on Allison, mostly because we've heard this story again and we've seen it end in collosal failure.
I do with him the best. I really do.
I'm just a bit more jaded about him.
Not All Lost In Cincinnati
Despite General Manager Wayne Krivsky taking a virtuall wrecking ball to the Reds, when realistically, there was enough of a solid foundation built and in place that only some minor tweeking to repair, he has managed to assemble enough of a young foundation to work on.
Consider the fact that while most of the team blows, Cincinnati does have two young starters in Aaron Harang and Broson Arroyo, a potential closer in Marcus McBeth, a pair of young stud positional players in Brandon Phillips and Josh Hamilton, and finally, a pair of superstar caliber prospects in Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey, respectively.
That's not bad, especially when you consider the potential impact of Bruce, who many feel is the second coming of Larry Walker.
There's a lot more to be done. Krivsky made a huge, potentially fatal mistake in trading away Felipe Lopez, Austin Kearns, and others for relievers, what is now regarded to be his big weakness (so if you got a reliever, give him a call) and he's grown visibily impatient with Adam Dunn due to his strikeouts, and his first draft pick, Drew Stubbs, is struggling mightily in Low A.
But for now, there is some comfort in knowing there's enough of a young core to identify and grown around in the future.
Key Piece Of The Abreu Deal Might Be Done With Baseball
Earlier this week, there was news that Phillies outfielder C.J. Henry was no longer is going to play baseball and planned to leave the Phillies organization soon. The news is premature, as Henry has cooled the fires down somewhat, but has admitted that he might join his younger brother Xavier on a college basketball team in 2008-09 if baseball hasn't worked out.
So far, it's looking that way.
Henry was drafted more on the basis of his gifts than his actual abilties. Henry was thought to eventually be a future version of Gary Sheffield with his extreme power potential and speed. Unfortunately, Henry's swing is long and he has struggled to hit advanced pitching. He's inadequate as a defender and is now on this third position change, now playing left field.
Should Henry opt out, his original contract provides for eight semesters of tuition at $15,000 per semester under baseball scholarship's plan. Henry's basketball prowess is still said to be high and he would essentially be able to name his program and try and join as a walk on.
Just another reason to blame Pat Gillick for not getting enough in return for Abreu.
This deal looks like hell now that you consider how Haren has ascended to the role of staff ace and how Calero has been one of the best setup men in the business. But how did this trade look like before, when the deal first went down? Let’s take a look back shall we?
With Mulder and Hudson nearing free agency, it was beginning to look like Oakland would have to move one or two of their big three aces as soon as possible or ri
