Cub prospects in the news

[CubsWin]

I don't consider Shoulders or Contreras prospects that much. For me they are guys not to give up on. I guess when I hear prospect, I hear a player with a good chance (50/50 maybe) of contributing at some meaningful level (average bench player) and top prospect have a chance at being average or better starters in the bigs.

 

Given those parameters, which of those guys would you still consider prospects? Maybe I'm underestimating some of these guys...

[Guest]

I don't consider Shoulders or Contreras prospects that much. For me they are guys not to give up on. I guess when I hear prospect, I hear a player with a good chance (50/50 maybe) of contributing at some meaningful level (average bench player) and top prospect have a chance at being average or better starters in the bigs.

 

Given those parameters, which of those guys would you still consider prospects? Maybe I'm underestimating some of these guys...

 

You want to know which players have a 50/50 chance of being at least a big league bench player? Considering these guys are in shortseason ball, I'd say none of them individually have that good a chance (if you combine all the players on the Hawks, you'd obviously have a better than 50% chance that one of the players will make it as at least a big league bench player).

[davell]

Almora has AllStar upside, Candelario MAY have an All Srar type bat, Amaya, Vogelbach, and Marco all have starter capabilities, possibly above average regulars. Martin is a bit of a question mark for me right now, but at this stage, I think I'd say his upside is average starter. Bruno has utility guy upside at worst. Contreras, as a catcher, too early to tell, but I'd say solid backup for now.

[davell]

Oh, and after seeing Raisin's post, I should also say someone hitting their upside is pretty rare. But, in each case, those guys ARE all interesting.

[El Duderino]

Instructional league starts today, stolen from Bleacher Nation:

 

Pitchers

 

Jose Arias, Dallas Beeler, Paul Blackburn, Gerardo Concepcion, Nathan Dorris, Corbin Hoffner, Pierce Johnson, Trey Lang, Dillon Maples, Chad Martin, Carlos Martinez, Ryan McNeil, Juan Paniagua, Stephen Perakslis, Starling Peralta, Anthony Prieto, Austin Reed, Duane Underwood, Ben Wells.

 

Catchers

 

Wilson Contreras, Chadd Krist, Rafael Lopez, Justin Marra, Lance Rymel.

 

Infielders

 

Arismendy Alcantara, Gioskar Amaya, David Bote, Stephen Bruno, Jeimer Candelario, Ben Carhart, Marco Hernandez, Jesse Hodges, Carlos Penalver, Jacob Rogers, Tim Saunders, Dan Vogelbach.

 

Outfielders

 

Albert Almora, Yasiel Balaguert, Shawon Dunston Jr., Trevor Gretzky, Trey Martin, Bijan Rademacher, Jorge Soler.

[davell]

Damn, I forgot Concepcion existed. Hopefully the mono affected his early pitching and he comes back from it better than Simpson did.

[davell]

On a sour note, I hate not seeing Rosario on that list. Gotta wonder if he has or is going to have TJS at this point......

[KingCubsFan]

On a sour note, I hate not seeing Rosario on that list. Gotta wonder if he has or is going to have TJS at this point......

I thought he already did for some reason. Also, who is Stephen Perakslis?

[davell]

On a sour note, I hate not seeing Rosario on that list. Gotta wonder if he has or is going to have TJS at this point......

I thought he already did for some reason. Also, who is Stephen Perakslis?

 

College draftee, decent fastball, not much else, if I remember correctly.

[El Duderino]

On a sour note, I hate not seeing Rosario on that list. Gotta wonder if he has or is going to have TJS at this point......

 

Let's not assume TJS after Ben Wells.

[davell]

Couple of tidbits from Sickels' AQA from this weekend: Amaya is now a B- for him, up from a C+. Could see him as a DeRosa tgpe moving forward. Grade solely on Vogelbach's bat and nothing else, is a B+.

[CubsWin]

Grade solely on Vogelbach's bat and nothing else, is a B+.

I never thought I would have a reason to want the DH in the National League...

[Little Slide Rooter]

Have to wonder if the fact that Hayden Simpson's not there is a sign that we've seen the last of him.

[Guest]

Have to wonder if the fact that Hayden Simpson's not there is a sign that we've seen the last of him.

Ehh... He's gotten to the age/experience level where a player doesn't often go back to Instructs.

[jersey cubs fan]

Have to wonder if the fact that Hayden Simpson's not there is a sign that we've seen the last of him.

Ehh... He's gotten to the age/experience level where a player doesn't often go back to Instructs.

 

If Billy Madison could repeat elementary school then Hayden Simpson can go back to instructional league.

[davell]

Thanks. I now have the mental image of Simpson on the mound, screaming THAT DAMN PENGUIN.......

[El Duderino]

Have to wonder if the fact that Hayden Simpson's not there is a sign that we've seen the last of him.

Ehh... He's gotten to the age/experience level where a player doesn't often go back to Instructs.

 

If Billy Madison could repeat elementary school then Hayden Simpson can go back to instructional league.

 

Fabulous.

[davell]

I got a question in on both Callis and Law today. On my cell, so can't post chat answers, but I asked Callis if any of Brett, Vogelbach, Candelario, Szczur, Villanueve or Vitters had a shot at the top 100. According to him, Brett and Villanueva do and Vogelbach and Candelario will in the future. I asked Law about Boise's team and how excited should we be about Candelario, Vogelbach, Amaya, Marco, Almora, Paniagua, and Pierce Johnson. He said Vogelbach and Amaya aren't elite, Marco probably isn't, but he loves Almora and Paniagua and thinks Candelario is very interesting. Didn't mention Johnson.

[Guest]

David (Va Beach): Do any of Villanueva, Vogelbach, Candelario, Szczur, Vitters, or Brett Jackson have a shot at being in the top 100?

 

Jim Callis: Villanueva and Jackson. No on the others, though Vogelbach and Candelario could hit their way there in the future.

 

Jake (Chicago): Best overall SS prospect: Alen Hanson or Javier Baez?

 

Jim Callis: They both may have to move off shortstop, Hanson because he lacks plus arm strength and Baez because he may outgrow the position. Baez has huge upside to his bat, so I'd take him.

 

Andrew (Chicago): I know you are not a trade guy, but if you were in Theo and Jed's place would you consider moving Samardzija, considering Cubs are probablly 3 years from being serious contenders?

 

Jim Callis: I'm not sure what not being a trade guy means . . . But I don't think any player should be untouchable if the right offer comes along. I'd certainly listen to offers for Samardzija, whose value never has been higher.

 

Kyle (Chicago): Trey McNutt now profile as a reliever or does he still have the potential to be a mid rotation guy?

 

Jim Callis: Reliever.

[Guest]

David (va beach) Thanks for the chat, Keith. How excited should Cub fans be about the general group that finished the year at Boise? Including Almora, Vogelbach, Candelario, Amaya, Hernandez, Paniagua, and Pierce Johnson? Is there anyone on that list you see as less than a solid prospect?

 

Klaw (1:08 PM) Amaya and Vogelbach aren't elite guys. Probably wouldn't have Hernandez in there. I love Almora and Paniagua and Candelario is really interesting.

[TruffleShuffle]

Andrew (Chicago): I know you are not a trade guy, but if you were in Theo and Jed's place would you consider moving Samardzija, considering Cubs are probablly 3 years from being serious contenders?

 

[expletive] you, andrew.

[Cubswin11]

That's the first time in a while we've heard the Baez off of SS thing again from a writer. It seemed as the season went on their was a growing optimism he might stay there. I wonder if Callis is still going off of old knowledge/scouting reports/perceptions or if something new has come up in the scouting/writing community on him?

[Guest]

That's the first time in a while we've heard the Baez off of SS thing again from a writer. It seemed as the season went on their was a growing optimism he might stay there. I wonder if Callis is still going off of old knowledge/scouting reports/perceptions or if something new has come up in the scouting/writing community on him?

 

I don't think what he said there strays from what has been said. If anything, that comment is a reflection of the growing optimism you speak of, because it says he may have to move off of SS. They used to be fairly convinced that he would have to move.

 

I don't think it's the first time in a while we've heard a comment like that, either. Just about every comment on his future at the position is something along those lines. I never heard of anybody convinced that he was absolutely going to stick there.

[KingCubsFan]

That's the first time in a while we've heard the Baez off of SS thing again from a writer. It seemed as the season went on their was a growing optimism he might stay there. I wonder if Callis is still going off of old knowledge/scouting reports/perceptions or if something new has come up in the scouting/writing community on him?

Although Baez has shown flashes, has there ever been a prospect who, at the time he was drafted, scouts and writers said he'd eventually have to move off a position and he DIDN'T move off that position? I think it's only a matter of time, and given the gaping hole at third base I'm OK with it.

[jersey cubs fan]

That's the first time in a while we've heard the Baez off of SS thing again from a writer. It seemed as the season went on their was a growing optimism he might stay there. I wonder if Callis is still going off of old knowledge/scouting reports/perceptions or if something new has come up in the scouting/writing community on him?

Although Baez has shown flashes, has there ever been a prospect who, at the time he was drafted, scouts and writers said he'd eventually have to move off a position and he DIDN'T move off that position? I think it's only a matter of time, and given the gaping hole at third base I'm OK with it.

 

I'm sure there's been a guy who didn't have to move after people said he'd have to. Lots of people said Castro couldn't stick at SS when he was 18/19 but he clearly can.