Jeff Baker to the Tigers

[Beer Kaese]

Yes, a BOR pitcher on a bad team. In Theo's master plan, I sure hope his vision of a 4th or 5th starter is a helluva lot better than Chris Volstad.

 

In perspective, I'd take him over Z every day.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Just for the hell of it, I was combing through the Tigers minor league affiliates for possible PTBNLs for Jeff Baker, and came up with a few. Forgive the lack of exciting optiong, but this is Jeff Baker we're talking about. 2 moths of Jeff Baker to be specific.

 

-Jeff Farrell. 21, SP/RP. In his 2nd season in A ball, he's pitched in 17 games, 10 as a starter. 4.42 ERA 1.136 WHIP 22/60 BB/K in 59 IP.

 

-Ryan Robowski. 24 LHRP. Bad ass mustache. in 55.2 IP between AA/AAA, mostly AA 3.56 ERA 1.114 55.2 IP 16/49

 

-One more interesting option would be Colin Balestar. Fits the Theo reclamation mold as a former top 100 guy, last on the list in 2008, he just turned 26 in June and is under team control through 2017.

 

Perhaps we could aim for one these 3 and 1 raw low level guy.

[davell]

They DFA'd Baker today, less than a month after they got him.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I take it that our PsTBNL will be similar to the Kosuke return, only instead of a crappy minor league reliever and a highish ceiling OF, we'll get 2 crappy minor league relievers.

[Little Slide Rooter]

@mlbtraderumors: Braves Acquire Jeff Baker From Tigers http://t.co/YeLX0mwN #mlb

 

Looks like Baker will be joining his fellow lefty-masher in the A T L.

[davell]

And now he's been dealt to the Braves for a PTBNL. Damnit, someone step up on Marmol tonight and give us something to follow.

[El Duderino]

How weird is that.

[JeffH]

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2012/10/report-cubs-acquire-marcelo-carreno-as-ptbnl-for-jeff-baker/

[sneakypower]

well, that guy definitely finished the year on a high note

Marcelo Carreno (9-8) earned the victory in his last start of the year. He struck out 13 and walked none in six scoreless innings. He gave up four hits.

scout.com:

Scouting Report: Heavy fastball that reaches 88-89 with projection for more. Backed by average change-up with good arm speed, and a below-average curveball that shows some potential.

he was unanimous Tigers Prospect Report pick for class-A pitcher of the year

Brian: Marcelo Carreno, RHP

 

If I were giving out awards based on projection, I’d probably go with Kyle Ryan here (I’m a Kyle Ryan slappy, sue me), but Carreno is easily worthy of this award based on what he did in 2012. Very good strikeout numbers, limited walks, good innings pitched, etc, Carreno brought the whole package to the WMI rotation this season. I’d like to see him improve his groundball %, but he’s still young. Look for him in Lakeland in 2013

 

Jeremy: Marcelo Carreno, RHP

 

This 6’1’’, 170-pound righty was the Whitecaps’ best pitcher this season, going 9-8 with a 3.23 ERA. He walked only 28 in 139.1 innings while striking out 119. It might be hard to crack the Tigers’ rotation in the next few years, but keep an eye Carreno.

 

Jordan: Marcelo Carreno, RHP

 

Carreno has steadily climbed the ladder in the Tigers organization since 2008, playing in the VSL, the NYP, and finally Low A this season. The Venezuelan made 27 starts for the Whitecaps, logging 139 innings. In those innings, he only allowed 129 hits and 28 walks, while striking out 119. Carreno has probably worked his way onto the top 50 prospect list for the Tigers organization, and should move up to A+ ball next season.

Edited October 16, 2012 by sneakypower

[jersey cubs fan]

He's 21 with a body that has filled out but people still project his fast ball to accelerate? That seems odd to me. Is that like all the talk that Volstad would eventually throw harder? I've been under the impression that most guys top out velocity wise in their early 20's. Expecting more out of it, aside from a guy going from starter to reliever seems like a lot to ask.

[sneakypower]

to be fair, we have no idea when that was last updated

http://www.scout.com/a.z?s=25&p=8&c=1&nid=5018751

 

i assume raisin & co probably have something more currently relevant from BA or whomever

[CubColtPacer]

Obviously from an author who is high on him, but here is a report from middle of this year:

 

14. Marcelo Carreno (SP) West Michigan

 

The pitcher formerly known as Josue, Carreno is back repeating a level at West Michigan this year. While his numbers aren’t as impressive as Tommy Collier’s, Carreno has a mid-rotation ceiling, and probably the most aggressive ranking here that you will see on him. Despite repeating, Carreno turned 21 years old just last week. He has a 3 pitch repertoire that includes a fastball, curve, and change up. His fastball is just average in the low 90′s, but he has a solid breaking ball and good change. His frame suggests an innings eater, and he is a strike thrower. Carreno has a strong K/BB rate, and keeps the ball in the yard. Carreno’s walk rate, and BAA has improved each of the past two years, as has his ERA.

 

Currently for West Michigan Carreno has an ERA of 3.62 and I wouldn’t be surprised if he pitches for Lakeland by the end of the year.

 

http://motorcitybengals.com/2012/07/05/tigers-mid-season-top-30-prospects-15-11/

 

Looks like Sickels had him as one of the players receiving consideration for his top 20 at the end of last year, and obviously this year was a better year for him overall (with the only big blemish repeating the level). I've looked at 3 other smaller scouting reports, and they all say a fastball in the low 90's. I saw another scouting report that said his breaking ball is poor but that his change was good. Seems like a prospect between 15-30, basically another pitcher with a chance.

[davell]

Goldstein had him 17th. Their system isn't as deep as ours, so he's likely another guy that fits in between 25-40 for us. If it's true, its not a bad return at all for Baker, who they only kept a month or so themselves.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

that reaches 88-89

 

Fringe prospect, don't care about him.

 

Not a bad return for Jeff Baker, by any means, but don't care about him.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I was starting to wonder if that was to be swept under the rug along with whatever compensation we may or may not owe the Padres for Hoyer. Wasn't Baker with the Tigers for like 2 weeks? Any fully functioning biped we get in return would be a win.

[Guest]

that reaches 88-89

 

Fringe prospect, don't care about him.

 

Not a bad return for Jeff Baker, by any means, but don't care about him.

 

He's definitely no longer working in the upper 80s.

 

@jimcallisBA: Good not great arm, low-90s FB w/sink. @BleacherNation: thoughts on #Cubs landing Marcelo Carreno for Jeff Baker rental? Steal, right?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

that reaches 88-89

 

Fringe prospect, don't care about him.

 

Not a bad return for Jeff Baker, by any means, but don't care about him.

 

He's definitely no longer working in the upper 80s.

 

@jimcallisBA: Good not great arm, low-90s FB w/sink. @BleacherNation: thoughts on #Cubs landing Marcelo Carreno for Jeff Baker rental? Steal, right?

 

Okay, then I care about him a little. Not bad.

[Guest]

Baseball America[/url]"]Carreno snuck on to the back of the short-season New York-Penn League top 20 prospects list following his age-19 campaign with Connecticut in 2010. He's shown swing-and-miss stuff the last two years while repeating the low Class A Midwest League, though he made a breakthrough with his control and general efficiency this year. Carreno ranked eighth in the MWL with a 3.23 ERA and fifth with a 1.13 WHIP while walking just 1.8 batters per nine innings. He throws strikes with a live low-90s fastball he throws to both sides of the plate, and while his curveball and changeup are presently below-average, he has shown he can rotate the former and sink the latter at times. Scouts who like Carreno see three future average pitches and the clean pitching mechanics required to profile as a starter.

[El Duderino]

This is highway robbery for Jeff Baker.

[Tracer Bullet]

that reaches 88-89

 

Fringe prospect, don't care about him.

 

Not a bad return for Jeff Baker, by any means, but don't care about him.

 

He's definitely no longer working in the upper 80s.

 

@jimcallisBA: Good not great arm, low-90s FB w/sink. @BleacherNation: thoughts on #Cubs landing Marcelo Carreno for Jeff Baker rental? Steal, right?

 

Okay, then I care about him a little. Not bad.

 

What is this nonsense? Is it supposed to be funny?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

What is this nonsense? Is it supposed to be funny?

 

It's serious. If he's working at 88 in game action, then he's organizational filler masquerading as a prospect.

 

If he's working 90-91, he's got an interesting chance to be a back-of-rotation starter.

[Tracer Bullet]

He was working 88-89. So if at any point in his career, he's working below 90 with his fb, he's filler? That's what you said. Then you completely contradicted yourself. Not that you didn't know this or weren't doing it intentionally.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

He was working 88-89. So if at any point in his career, he's working below 90 with his fb, he's filler? That's what you said. Then you completely contradicted yourself. Not that you didn't know this or weren't doing it intentionally.

 

If he's working below 90 at 21, he's filler.

 

I contradicted myself because new information contradicted the information I was working off of.

[Tracer Bullet]

He was working 88-89. So if at any point in his career, he's working below 90 with his fb, he's filler? That's what you said. Then you completely contradicted yourself. Not that you didn't know this or weren't doing it intentionally.

 

If he's working below 90 at 21, he's filler.

 

I contradicted myself because new information contradicted the information I was working off of.

 

It was simply more information. At one point, he was working below 90. Based on that, you totally write him off. Once you've reached that conclusion, you contradict yourself if you find him interesting when he later increases his velocity.

 

Your position, as usual, is needlessly extreme.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Okay, I apologize. In the future, I promise to make my initial evaluation of pitching prospects while keeping in mind that immediately subsequent reports may add several MPH to their fastball.