Cubs Top Prospect Lists (BA top 30, Sickels top 21, BP - 11)

[nilodnayr]

Jacque Jones' career line: .280/.329/.455

 

I can't say these projections make me all that excited.

 

It's possible to still get value out of his career. The key is to keep him around for his peak years, limit the financial commitment, and be prepared to cut ties when he becomes expensive. Jacque Jones level production, at minimum wage, and as the 5th or 6th best bat on the team, isn't bad. That's especially true if he's a CF. You'd then have to commit financially to having greater production elsewhere. Ideally you'd trade him as he approaches 30 and before he hits his last year of arbitration. Maybe you can sucker some team into getting quality. But even if you just let him walk, by and large that would have to be considered a successful investment.

 

the problem is, what if felix pie turns out to be a good everyday player. i mean, i guess that's not a problem, but colvin will in no way be good enough to man one of the corner spots. i suppose he could be a 4th outfielder, but I'd just rather trade him now before everyone realizes that he isn't that good.

 

Fukudome and Soriano aren't going to allow him to play a role in the corner. If Felix turns out to be good, you trade Colvin. But that is a long way away, and by no means anything close to a certainty. As you pointed it, it's not really a problem.

 

I look at it this way. I think Colvin is a low risk low reward guy right now. I think he's a safe bet to do something at the major league level. So, you try and strike gold with Pie for now, and keep letting Colvin develop - this also allows you to delay his arbitration clock, and makes it easier to keep him during what should be his peak years.

 

Well considering we took him with our only pick out of the first 148 in the draft, I wouldn't exactly call it a low risk move.

 

That's a bit of a different point, I mean we didn't have Soriano or Kosuke when we drafted Colvin.

 

Its not like we were going to be filling the OF with Jacque Jones' just waiting for Colvin to come in and save us. My distaste for Colvin has 0% to do with anyone else on the team or in the organization and 100% to do with Colvin himself.

[nilodnayr]

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7188

 

Gpldstein gives us the 16th in organization rankings.

 

Last Year's Ranking: 21

Why They're Up: The struggles of Donald Veal and the graduation of Felix Pie are both offset by Geovany Soto's breakout seasons and what is looking like a very strong 2007 draft.

Strengths: Solid offensive prospects at nearly every level, with Josh Vitters providing big-time potential. Despite disappointing 2007 performances, there are several power arms in the system.

Weaknesses: Very little pitching that is close to being ready to help; Soto's move to the majors leaves little else in the way of power.

Outlook for 2009 Ranking: Down a tad. Soto is now in the majors; Sean Gallagher and Eric Patterson could both be moving on or out as well.