2013 Draft Discussion

[Guest]

#Pirates have suffered a huge blow by losing Mike Leuzinger, who was clearly their top domestic amateur scout.

 

Leuzinger declined the Pirates' contract offer and became a free agent. He will have another job by no later than tomorrow morning if he so desires. I'm finalizing the Pirates' top 30 prospects for Baseball America now and six of them were signed by Leuzinger. He also played an instrumental role -- along with a $5-million bonus check -- in convincing Josh Bell to forgo his scholarship to Texas and sign with the Pirates when NO ONE thought Bell would sign.

 

 

Not sure where else to post this, but we should get this guy.

[Cubswin11]

#Pirates have suffered a huge blow by losing Mike Leuzinger, who was clearly their top domestic amateur scout.

 

Leuzinger declined the Pirates' contract offer and became a free agent. He will have another job by no later than tomorrow morning if he so desires. I'm finalizing the Pirates' top 30 prospects for Baseball America now and six of them were signed by Leuzinger. He also played an instrumental role -- along with a $5-million bonus check -- in convincing Josh Bell to forgo his scholarship to Texas and sign with the Pirates when NO ONE thought Bell would sign.

 

 

Not sure where else to post this, but we should get this guy.

Absolutely, as long as he's not part of the crazies in that organization that implimented that navy seal training for their prospects.

[jersey cubs fan]

#Pirates have suffered a huge blow by losing Mike Leuzinger, who was clearly their top domestic amateur scout.

 

Leuzinger declined the Pirates' contract offer and became a free agent. He will have another job by no later than tomorrow morning if he so desires. I'm finalizing the Pirates' top 30 prospects for Baseball America now and six of them were signed by Leuzinger. He also played an instrumental role -- along with a $5-million bonus check -- in convincing Josh Bell to forgo his scholarship to Texas and sign with the Pirates when NO ONE thought Bell would sign.

 

 

Not sure where else to post this, but we should get this guy.

Absolutely, as long as he's not part of the crazies in that organization that implimented that navy seal training for their prospects.

 

As a scout I would doubt it, and my guess would be that is part of the reason he wanted out.

[Guest]

BA chat on the draft:

 

Jody (Chicago): Thanks for taking questions today, Conor. In the lead it's stated that this year's HS class doesn't have the top-end talent last year's draft did. Assuming the top-end guys from last year's class include Correa, Buxton, Almora, Giolito, Fried, Dahl, Russell and Cecchini, who would be the exceptions in the 2013 HS class that could be as good or better than the guys on the 2012 list?

 

Conor Glassey: Good question, Jody. Let's do a Top 10 list for HS players from last year & this year! Quickly, I'd go something like this: Buxton, Correa, Almora, Giolito, Fried, Dahl, Meadows, Frazier, McCullers & Hawkins.

 

Joe LeCates (Easton, MD): Conor, interesting to hear about Ward trying to graduate early. Considering the fact that he is a little older than a typical 2014, coupled with his possible early departure, where would he rank on the current Top 100?

 

Conor Glassey: Hey, Joe! It makes sense for Ward because he would have been old for his class (like Yordy Cabrera old). Trying to graduate early is a good move because now he's age appropriate. Apparently it's something he's been working on with his school since last summer. If I had to slot him on this list, I'd probably put him in the 26-30 range, behind Cavan Biggio.

 

Jody (Chicago): Are there any pitchers with frontline potential in this HS class? If no, there are several pitchers with huge projection so among them, who are a few (i.e. Stewart, Gonsalves, Ball, Neuse or Crawford) that might be likely to make the jump in the spring? Perhaps someone not on this short list that you especially like?

 

Conor Glassey: If Jordan Sheffield looks more like he did in Jupiter (95-97 with a HAMMER curveball) than he did earlier in the summer (90-92), he has frontline upside. It was only a one-inning look in Jupiter, so obviously it's expected that he'll settle in some, but he was electric. Scouts are very down on the HS RHP group as a whole. The lefthanders in this class are good, but all sort of have their hickeys. A couple guys who I think could really make a leap this spring would be Hunter Harvey, Devin Williams and Mark Armstrong. I also love Cal Quantrill's potential, but it's very unlikely he'll sign out of high school. He's been described to me as a "borderline genius" and is committed to Stanford.

 

Jason (Muskegon, MI): As the draft projects now...what positions project as deep? not deep?

 

Conor Glassey: For high school, it's deep with catchers and lefthanders. Righthanders and shortstops are thin (and shortstops are especially thin in the college ranks).

 

Ding Dong Daddy (My Desk): Last year was not considered a great draft either, and this one is worse. Do think this is a trend that baseball should be worried about, or just a couple of poor years?

 

Conor Glassey: Just a couple of poor years. I don't think baseball should be concerned. 2014 looks pretty legit.

 

Jody (Moulton): Pretend you can take 2013 and 2014 HS guys in the upcoming draft. Are there any guys from the 2014 class you would put in your HS top 20 right now?

 

Conor Glassey: Right now, the 2014 class looks a lot better than 2013 for HS. Guys I would feel comfortable putting in this Top 20 from 2014 include CA C Alex Jackson, FL SS Nick Gordon, CA SS Jacob Gatewood & FL RHP Touki Toussaint

[Redfoot]

Conor Glassey: Right now, the 2014 class looks a lot better than 2013 for HS. Guys I would feel comfortable putting in this Top 20 from 2014 include CA C Alex Jackson, FL SS Nick Gordon, CA SS Jacob Gatewood & FL RHP Touki Toussaint

 

I watched Touki throw 3 straight at 96 in Jupiter. Then he threw an absolutely hellacious curveball to Oscar Mercado. He could be the next Dwight Gooden.

[CubsWin]

Conor Glassey: Right now, the 2014 class looks a lot better than 2013 for HS. Guys I would feel comfortable putting in this Top 20 from 2014 include CA C Alex Jackson, FL SS Nick Gordon, CA SS Jacob Gatewood & FL RHP Touki Toussaint

 

I watched Touki throw 3 straight at 96 in Jupiter. Then he threw an absolutely hellacious curveball to Oscar Mercado. He could be the next Dwight Gooden.

Am I wrong for hoping the Cubs stick to the patient path and trade Garza for the best pitching prospects they can (including others to optimize the return), only sign some value free agents that can be flipped if they do well (like they've done by signing Scott Baker), and not be a very good team this season in hopes of having another high draft pick in 2014?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Am I wrong for hoping the Cubs stick to the patient path and trade Garza for the best pitching prospects they can (including others to optimize the return), only sign some value free agents that can be flipped if they do well (like they've done by signing Scott Baker), and not be a very good team this season in hopes of having another high draft pick in 2014?

 

In a word: Yes.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yup. Trying to tank a season to coincide with a decent draft is probably neck and neck in terms of pipe dream foolishness as planning to be good at just the right moment when a good FA crop is available.

[CubsWin]

Yup. Trying to tank a season to coincide with a decent draft is probably neck and neck in terms of pipe dream foolishness as planning to be good at just the right moment when a good FA crop is available.

I realize hoping for your team to lose is a borderline thing. I go back and forth on that myself, but maintaining a patient long term approach is much different than tanking a season.

 

I'm a big fan of investing in a top notch front office, scouting staff, developmental staff and potential impact amateur talent. I like having place holders at positions where young talents are close to joining the majors so they have a chance to play and develop at the major league level when they are deemed ready, and so the team can have a chance to see what they've got. I like trading very good 29 year old talent for younger potential impact prospects in their early twenties when your core stars are just entering or have yet to enter their primes. I think these are sound strategies to build a team that competes annually for a world championship. I think we can agree the Cubs are not tanking a season.

 

But as the Cubs are in the 2nd year of a long term rebuilding plan and it would be unwise to sign players like Greinke and Hamilton at this point, is it wrong to hope that the Cubs lose a lot of games this coming season? I wonder myself. That's why I'm asking...

[javy knows my name]

Yup. Trying to tank a season to coincide with a decent draft is probably neck and neck in terms of pipe dream foolishness as planning to be good at just the right moment when a good FA crop is available.

I realize hoping for your team to lose is a borderline thing. I go back and forth on that myself, but maintaining a patient long term approach is much different than tanking a season.

 

I'm a big fan of investing in a top notch front office, scouting staff, developmental staff and potential impact amateur talent. I like having place holders at positions where young talents are close to joining the majors so they have a chance to play and develop at the major league level when they are deemed ready, and so the team can have a chance to see what they've got. I like trading very good 29 year old talent for younger potential impact prospects in their early twenties when your core stars are just entering or have yet to enter their primes. I think these are sound strategies to build a team that competes annually for a world championship. I think we can agree the Cubs are not tanking a season.

 

But as the Cubs are in the 2nd year of a long term rebuilding plan and it would be unwise to sign players like Greinke and Hamilton at this point, is it wrong to hope that the Cubs lose a lot of games this coming season? I wonder myself. That's why I'm asking...

 

That is a completely faulty premise, so I take issue with everything you've argued under that assumption.

[Guest]

Signing Hamilton will be unwise for whoever does it. Just a hunch.

[Guest]

Conor Glassey: Right now, the 2014 class looks a lot better than 2013 for HS. Guys I would feel comfortable putting in this Top 20 from 2014 include CA C Alex Jackson, FL SS Nick Gordon, CA SS Jacob Gatewood & FL RHP Touki Toussaint

 

I watched Touki throw 3 straight at 96 in Jupiter. Then he threw an absolutely hellacious curveball to Oscar Mercado. He could be the next Dwight Gooden.

Am I wrong for hoping the Cubs stick to the patient path and trade Garza for the best pitching prospects they can (including others to optimize the return), only sign some value free agents that can be flipped if they do well (like they've done by signing Scott Baker), and not be a very good team this season in hopes of having another high draft pick in 2014?

 

Keep in mind you want to throw away a season after reading about, amongst others, a 16-year old prep pitcher (those are fickle even if they stay healthy), a prep C (those have incredibly poor success rates and Dee Gordon's equally weak younger brother. These are all 16-year olds, none with a Harper/Uptons/Hamilton/Beckett/ARod/Griffey profile which might make you consider tanking. Even the leading candidate for the #1 overall pick, isn't as good a prospect as David Price, let alone Strasburg.

[Guest]

Signing Hamilton will be unwise for whoever does it. Just a hunch.

That I agree with too.

[Guest]

Conor Glassey: Right now, the 2014 class looks a lot better than 2013 for HS. Guys I would feel comfortable putting in this Top 20 from 2014 include CA C Alex Jackson, FL SS Nick Gordon, CA SS Jacob Gatewood & FL RHP Touki Toussaint

 

I watched Touki throw 3 straight at 96 in Jupiter. Then he threw an absolutely hellacious curveball to Oscar Mercado. He could be the next Dwight Gooden.

Am I wrong for hoping the Cubs stick to the patient path and trade Garza for the best pitching prospects they can (including others to optimize the return), only sign some value free agents that can be flipped if they do well (like they've done by signing Scott Baker), and not be a very good team this season in hopes of having another high draft pick in 2014?

 

Keep in mind you want to throw away a season after reading about, amongst others, a 16-year old prep pitcher (those are fickle even if they stay healthy), a prep C (those have incredibly poor success rates and Dee Gordon's equally weak younger brother. These are all 16-year olds, none with a Harper/Uptons/Hamilton/Beckett/ARod/Griffey profile which might make you consider tanking. Even the leading candidate for the #1 overall pick, isn't as good a prospect as David Price, let alone Strasburg.

 

Yea. If there were a Prior/Strasburg/Harper blue chip fast mover type in the 2014 draft, then I just might look the other way if we were to suck again next year... but otherwise, I'll take improving at the ML level and let them draft well wherever they end up drafting.

[XZero771679666304]

Signing Hamilton will be unwise for whoever does it. Just a hunch.

That I agree with too.

 

 

Yeah, I have a strong suspicion that whoever signs Hamilton is going to wear that contract, and not in that "you have to overpay a bit for top talent" way, either. I mean really wear it.

[Guest]

Kiley McDaniel on Crawford and Whitson at Florida's scout day: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/reports-from-florida-gators-scout-day/

[Redfoot]

I think Whitson is going to have a monster season and come June he's going to be right in the middle of the 1-1 discussion.

[Gilby]

We'll see how much Jed and Mcleod want to deal with Whitson again, but Jonathon Crawford will definitely be someone I'll pay attention to.

[davell]

If I remember correctly, they had an agreement with Whitson, then he changed his mind and wanted more money the last day.

[RammyFanny]

Still think Kris Bryant is underrated and will be a top 3 guy come June. Assuming he can stick at 3rd.

[Guest]

11:45 AM: Phil Rogers says his people tell him the Cubs are zeroing in on Stanford’s Mark Appel and Indiana State’s Sean Manaea with the second overall pick in this June's draft.

[davell]

I kind of find myself leaning towards Appel myself. He could possibly begin the 2014 season in the major league rotation. He's very likely to be a mid rotation guy at least, possibly much more. And as a senior, his leverage can't be much. Could possibly get him a tad under slot, which wouldn't be a bad thing, in giving us a bit extra to throw at other guys later. Not to mention, he's still considered the best SP available, at this point.

[Guest]

I kind of find myself leaning towards Appel myself. He could possibly begin the 2014 season in the major league rotation. He's very likely to be a mid rotation guy at least, possibly much more. And as a senior, his leverage can't be much. Could possibly get him a tad under slot, which wouldn't be a bad thing, in giving us a bit extra to throw at other guys later. Not to mention, he's still considered the best SP available, at this point.

 

I wouldn't mind that.

 

Where would you slot Appel into our current top 10?

[SABR Gamer]

I kind of find myself leaning towards Appel myself. He could possibly begin the 2014 season in the major league rotation. He's very likely to be a mid rotation guy at least, possibly much more. And as a senior, his leverage can't be much. Could possibly get him a tad under slot, which wouldn't be a bad thing, in giving us a bit extra to throw at other guys later. Not to mention, he's still considered the best SP available, at this point.

 

I wouldn't mind that.

 

Where would you slot Appel into our current top 10?

 

2 or 3? Can't imagine he would be lower than 4th. Alright well I can imagine it if someone really loved Vizcaino, but my guess is he would be top 3.

[Guest]

If you believe the Cubs' brass liked Almora more than any prospect in the 2012 draft, then Appel would rank 4th.