Cub prospects in the news

[davell]

Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler

 

Gonna keep surprising people RT @davidrelliott Thought on Torreyes? After one horribly unlucky month, he's looking good again, right?

Damnit, you guys are quick. I even get sniped on my own questions now. Awesome to see everyone paying so much attention to these guys though.

[Guest]

@BenBadler Right after Lindor. May end up surpassing him. RT @MarcSamet where does javier baez fit in (assuming he stays at ss)?

 

@BenBadler I give Lindor the slight edge, but there are plenty of scouts who put a higher grade on Baez. Close in value, but very different skill sets.

 

@BenBadler Baez more power, Lindor better approach & glove RT@OscarBluth5 Is it just the defense plus being 1 year younger that gives Lindor the edge?

[illiniguy]

Lol at Lindor being in the same league as Baez as a prospect.

[El Duderino]

Lol at Lindor being in the same league as Baez as a prospect.

 

He's 18 in the MIDW and way more likely to stick at SS.

[SouthSideRyan]

Lol at Lindor being in the same league as Baez as a prospect.

 

He's 18 in the MIDW and way more likely to stick at SS.

 

And Baez is out-OPSing him by 250 points.

[XZero771679666304]

Lol at Lindor being in the same league as Baez as a prospect.

 

He's 18 in the MIDW and way more likely to stick at SS.

 

 

Yeah, the perception that Lindor will remain at SS and Baez won't is a huge factor.

[illiniguy]

Lol at Lindor being in the same league as Baez as a prospect.

 

He's 18 in the MIDW and way more likely to stick at SS.

I'd rather have Javy at third than Lindor at SS. Easily.

[illiniguy]

Lol at Lindor being in the same league as Baez as a prospect.

 

He's 18 in the MIDW and way more likely to stick at SS.

 

And Baez is out-OPSing him by 250 points.

And in 300 less pa has almost caught him in steals. Baez is a lot better at this point.

[mul21]

Based on the game I was at, I think he's got a much better shot at sticking at SS than most of the experts seem to be giving him. He has good instincts, soft hands, and a rocket arm. Unless he really does grow a lot, I think he at least starts his ML career at SS.

[Guest]

Lol at Lindor being in the same league as Baez as a prospect.

 

He's 18 in the MIDW and way more likely to stick at SS.

 

And Baez is out-OPSing him by 250 points.

And in 300 less pa has almost caught him in steals. Baez is a lot better at this point.

To be fair, stolen bases won't be a part of Baez' game when he gets to the big leagues.

[El Duderino]

@BenBadler

 

Liked his bat for a few years now. Keeps getting better. RT @Drewboke thoughts on Gioskar Amaya? Surprised by his power?

[illiniguy]

Lol at Lindor being in the same league as Baez as a prospect.

 

He's 18 in the MIDW and way more likely to stick at SS.

 

And Baez is out-OPSing him by 250 points.

And in 300 less pa has almost caught him in steals. Baez is a lot better at this point.

To be fair, stolen bases won't be a part of Baez' game when he gets to the big leagues.

Yes that's true, but at this point I just don't see what Lindor does that Baez isn't doing better. Besides defense. I will always side with the elite offense over defense, always.

[TruffleShuffle]

Yes that's true, but at this point I just don't see what Lindor does that Baez isn't doing better. Besides defense. I will always side with the elite offense over defense, always.

 

Lindor walks more and strikes out less.

[illiniguy]

Yes that's true, but at this point I just don't see what Lindor does that Baez isn't doing better. Besides defense. I will always side with the elite offense over defense, always.

 

Lindor walks more and strikes out less.

He does walk more, but I wonder if at higher levels that will change since he doesn't do a whole lot of damage with his bat. Especially when he starts to face better pitching.

[XZero771679666304]

I'll put it a very simple way: no way in hell would I trade Baez for Lindor. It seems to me that Lindor's floor is probably a bit higher than Baez's, but Javier's ceiling is well beyond Lindor's.

[illiniguy]

I'll put it a very simple way: no way in hell would I trade Baez for Lindor. It seems to me that Lindor's floor is probably a bit higher than Baez's, but Javier's ceiling is well beyond Lindor's.

Yep, that's the main thing I was getting at. You just said it better.

[El Duderino]

@Kevin_Goldstein

 

Solid relief prospect. RT @UrbyJT: @Kevin_Goldstein Alberto Cabrera could be on his way up. What do you think of him?

[XZero771679666304]

I'll put it a very simple way: no way in hell would I trade Baez for Lindor. It seems to me that Lindor's floor is probably a bit higher than Baez's, but Javier's ceiling is well beyond Lindor's.

Yep, that's the main thing I was getting at. You just said it better.

 

 

I asked Goldstein on Twitter the other night if the only reason he ranked Lindor ahead of Baez was that Francisco was perceived as a better bet to stick at SS, and he said it was "huge factor". Honestly, positional value is the only reason I could conceive of that anyone would rank him ahead of Baez.

 

Obviously positional value has meaning, but if Javier were to end up a .950 OPS 3B and Lindor a .750 SS, would that value be enough to bridge the gap? I don't think so.

[TruffleShuffle]

well there's obviously the risk factor. Lindor is a lot better bet to be a .750 ops shortstop in the bigs than Baez is to be a .950 ops 3b (or .950 ops anything, really)

[Guest]

BA rated the 10 best prospects who were traded. Jacob Turner was #1 and Jean Segura was #2: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/column/2012/2613830.html

 

3. Arodys Vizcaino, rhp, Cubs. Chicago has very little advanced young pitching, so it was willing to take the sidelined Vizcaino and throw-in Jaye Chapman from the Braves in exchange for Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson. Considered untouchable a year ago, Vizcaino had a mid-90s fastball and sharp curveball before blowing out his elbow this spring. If he's not durable enough to start, he has the stuff to close.

 

5. Christian Villanueva, 3b, Cubs. For Ryan Dempster, Chicago got Villanueva and righthander Kyle Hendricks from the Rangers. Stuck behind Adrian Beltre and Mike Olt in Texas, Villanueva has a broad base of tools: solid bat, potential average power, average baserunning, soft hands, strong arm.

 

I'd rather have Vizcaino than Turner or Segura.

[imb]

BA rated the 10 best prospects who were traded. Jacob Turner was #1 and Jean Segura was #2: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/column/2012/2613830.html

 

3. Arodys Vizcaino, rhp, Cubs. Chicago has very little advanced young pitching, so it was willing to take the sidelined Vizcaino and throw-in Jaye Chapman from the Braves in exchange for Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson. Considered untouchable a year ago, Vizcaino had a mid-90s fastball and sharp curveball before blowing out his elbow this spring. If he's not durable enough to start, he has the stuff to close.

 

5. Christian Villanueva, 3b, Cubs. For Ryan Dempster, Chicago got Villanueva and righthander Kyle Hendricks from the Rangers. Stuck behind Adrian Beltre and Mike Olt in Texas, Villanueva has a broad base of tools: solid bat, potential average power, average baserunning, soft hands, strong arm.

 

I'd rather have Vizcaino than Turner or Segura.

 

Over segura definitely. id probably rate turner and vizcaino equal, considering the risk vizvaino never recovers his stuff

[toonsterwu]

@Kevin_Goldstein

 

Solid relief prospect. RT @UrbyJT: @Kevin_Goldstein Alberto Cabrera could be on his way up. What do you think of him?

 

I've been pushing this awhile, but I think Alberto Cabrera could be the closer for the club in a couple years. The only caveat now is what happens with Arodys, as Arodys fastball/breaking ball combination is a clear notch ahead, but

 

a) Cabrera's stuff isn't that far behind, and he might have more consistent velocity out of the pen.

b) Here's hoping Vizcaino can make it as a starter

[JGalt73]

From Goldstein's mid-season, reshuffled top 50 prospects (not including 2012 draft, not in MLB July 1):

 

Baez (15)

Soler (24)

[Guest]

Goldstein ranks the 43 prospects traded at the deadline.

 

3. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Cubs (from Braves)

 

Scouting Profile: A 21 year-old Dominican who dominated at times last year out of the big league bullpen. Tommy John surgery in spring, back for spring 2013. Undersized, with violent delivery, but stuff plays up out of the bullpen with a fastball that sits at 96 and touches 98, as well as a plus power breaking ball. Closer potential.

 

Path With New Club: The Cubs have plenty of room for their prospects, and once fully healthy and rehabbed, Vizcaino could assume a role in the back of the Cubs bullpen as a closer-in-training while Carlos Marmol plays out the last year of his contract.

 

8. Christian Villanueva, 3B, Cubs (from Rangers)

 

Scouting Profile: A 21-year-old whose greatest strength is a lack of weaknesses. Sound approach with good bat speed and the potential for average power once he fills out. Plus defender with plus arm and athletic with at least average speed. Projects as a solid, average starting third baseman with some chance at a higher ceiling.

 

Path With New Club: Villanueva is behind Josh Vitters on the Cubs' depth chart, but he's also behind him in terms of development, as Villanueva is slated to begin the 2013 season in Double-A, while Vitters will get a long look for the big league job. Villanueva's picture gets more clouded if the Cubs' top prospect, Javier Baez, slides from shortstop to the hot corner down the road.

 

15. Jacob Brigham, RHP, Cubs (from Texas)

Slow-to-develop starter has back-end starting potential with good command of low 90s fastball and solid breaking ball.

 

36. Kyle Hendricks, RHP, Cubs (from Rangers)

Extreme command, but very fringy stuff with 86-90 mph fastball and no notable secondary pitch.

 

39. Jaye Chapman, RHP, Cubs (from Braves)

Minor league veteran has outstanding changeup, but few believe his trick will work in big leagues without another good pitch.

[El Duderino]

@Kevin_Goldstein

 

Jackson way off. Vitters probably not. RT @Cioannacci: @Kevin_Goldstein are Vitters or Jackson anywhere in second half of your list?

 

@BleacherNation

 

@Kevin_Goldstein I know the Ks are a huge concern. But similar other numbers and Jackson plays tougher D spot better.

 

@Kevin_Goldstein

 

@BleacherNation 152 Ks in 391 ABs is not a concern. It's a nightmare.