toonsterwu

I'd probably consider Cardenas in the back end of my top 30, where I put a guy like Sappelt. That said, a guy like Amaya might intrigue me overall a bit more, due to SNTS of sorts. Then again, how much better is Cardenas than say, Matt Cerda. He had a perceived higher ceiling at one time, but if he's better than Cerda, it's not by much either. I really haven't pondered it all that deeply, but yeah, borderline top 30 is probably a best case for me.

I like the deal to an extent not because I think Cardenas will be anything great, but more because there was a need for an upper level utility guy that was close to ready, and he provides some tiny, tiny upside to boot. I'm not expecting him to be a regular, let alone a regular bench player in the bigs (unless he makes big improvements) but I see him more as a AAA guy. I also didn't care that much for DeWitt - his "sweet swing" never came around, and from Low A to now, that's more than enough time. He fills a role, but it's just not a significant one when Jeff Baker does the same thing, albeit different handedness.

I like this, although mildly surprised with a DeWitt DFA. That said, Cardenas essentially replaces LeMahieu in the upper levels for us, while giving us a bit more upside than DeWitt. Man, I remember when Cardenas was going to be the next big thing at 2nd. That power never came around, but he still could find a nice role as a utility option.

Beeler is a mild surprise, but the bigger surprise is someone who really doesn't really factor into many discussions, but Eliot Soto? If I were to read too much into things, it might seem to suggest that they feel it's important to have a really good glove guy at short in AA to ... perhaps try Junior Lake at other positions? The mildly interesting third note is that no mention of Szczur, which makes me sort of happy. I hope Szczur starts in Daytona - gives Ha more time in CF to see what to make of the mixed reports on his defensive work there (had some really superbly positive reports ... and some fairly negative ones) and it's not like Szczur is screaming down the doors for the AA move. Of course, way too early to make any locks of anything. Here's hoping Bour can find whatever it was that helped Rebel Ridling put together a good AA season.

Very cool/random to see some Junior Lake love. Saw him in the AFL and he looks alot like Castro at the plate (though he's got more of a Soriano build/body). Same batting stance and everything as Castro it seems. I did not dislike the swing, but I'm no expert. I thought he generated good bat speed, but when he set in the batters box the barrel of the bat was almost at his shoulders and sometimes behind it. He trades batting average and contact for power and K's because that little hitch lengthens his swing path (my guess). Castro has a little more weight on him and way better hands at the plate anyway... If Lake got any hype at all he would remind a whole lot of people physically of a young Soriano with arguably better (though still raw) swing mechanics. That said, he's still as much a bust candidate as he is a breakout one. I am fairly optimistic one between him or Vitters will break out "surprisingly." The issue with Lake is that he just is ... for lack of a better term ... too swing happy. When he connects, he looks good. The swing isn't that choppy, the bat speed is good. Problem is, he just chases after way too many pitches. Saw him a couple times this year, and he was digging at some awful, awful pitches at times. He doesn't have the contact ability to get away with that.

Maples was roughly the same guy he was purported to be, per my best recollection from instruct reports (too lazy to go check them out right now), low 90's that occasionally touched higher, but had issues with consistency on command and breaking stuff. I've probably got Maples a bit lower than most, though.

It really comes down to what reports are accurate, so I tend to be wary of going to high on him to start, but sure, if he's the low 90's guy who can hit mid-90's that craig is talking about, then yeah, I'd put him ahead of Maples and in that 5-7 range (I like my top 4 enough to not have him pass any of those guys). But BaseballAmerica seems fairly adamant that he's a low 90's guy who sits often in the high 80's. If that's a case, then projection becomes a big factor and it'd be hard for me to put him anywhere above borderline top 10, particularly since BA seems to heavily push that end of the rotation starter ceiling idea. I'm also wary of reports on plus breaking stuff based on adventures abroad. I want to see that before I buy it. Too often, there are youngsters with reported borderline plus secondary stuff from Latin America that turn out with less.

Not really ... there's a lot of concerns about Szczur's ceiling now, as much as there are concerns about his current ability, and if he liked Concepcion's upside enough, that makes some sense. Don't know if I'd agree with the placement, but there's a case for it. Notably, he would likely have him behind Maples. Really dislike the MLB aspect to the deal, but understand it somewhat.

My guess is that Concepcion comes in in the 7/8 spot on the BA list. I'd probably put him behind Dillon Maples personally, so ... for me, at best, probably borderline top 10, but really, we sort of have to wait and see what we really have with the guy, since there seems to be slightly differing reports out there about him. Could see a case for him as high as 5 if the ceiling is as good as some suggest. Makes me think of the Jin-Yeong Kim signing. A high dollar signing of a polished kid whose ceiling was questionable, but had youth on his side. Here's hoping this one starts better than the Kim signing, particularly since it's a Major League deal.

and rizzo bails out boras this year anyways. just not the guy that many expected. That said ... that's a pretty good deal for 1 year for Edwin, and for the Nats, that's a heck of a rotation, on paper. Lannan was always rumored as a possible guy to be moved, as he's just not worth the 5 mil. Detwiler looked good at year's end, and that's their 6th starter. They'll need him at some point, particularly since Strasburg is on an innings limit. Still think they are short one top of the order type bat from really jumping a level, but that's a solid team. edit: nvm, seems like the new reports suggest that Lannan may stick around. If so, wouldn't be stunned if he got sent to AAA (he has one option left) as harsh as that might be. doubt it, but something to watch.

I'm not all that enthused about that Niemann for Soto idea that Topkin threw out. 29 year old who is going to get costly soon. A healthy Soto that is hitting closer to his 2008/2010 levels, IMO, should net, if not better value, then at least higher ceiling talent that makes more sense for the organization's long term outlook. In general, I'd rather target minor league talent than young veterans (obviously, dependent upon the names, but speaking more towards timeline here).

Problem is, I don't see anyone giving up nearly enough to justify a Soto move before the season, unless an injury happens, even if Castillo AND Clevenger are lights out in the spring. Leaving aside the fact that it would leave two young catchers handling things, a catcher like Soto, in his prime, with his offensive ability and not being a horrid guy behind the plate, should net a healthy return (what that is, I haven't really contemplated that much of late), but coming off the down offensive season that he had in 2011 and having 2 sub-par offensive seasons out of his 4 so far, I'm just not sold someone forks over enough. Who knows, though.

If Soto has a good year offensively, I'll be mildly surprised if they don't shop him at the deadline to try and get some talent to build for the future. I wouldn't be stunned if they opted to keep him, but he seems a very likely candidate to be shopped (age, cost, contract situation, position) if he is doing well offensively.

Assuming the list was made with the usual "Cubs sources" giving them input (and then they sort through it), it might speak to the organization still having some decent hope for someone like Logan Watkins. He did have a couple good summer months there, so maybe they believe he's found some sort of switch offensively.

I'm mildly surprised Rizzo only made two of those four lists. I'm stunned Manuel thinks that highly of Szczur. Somewhat surprised Weathers cracked a top 30 list for us, but I guess there's still some intrigue there. Also somewhat surprised Hatley cracked the top 30. A bit stunned that Clevenger came in at 21 ... and I thought I had irrationally high interest in him.

I think the placement of the Cubs on Mayo's list was fine, although the list itself was certainly an interesting read. I actually don't mind Banuelos at 13 as much as many seem to have an issue with - it is a bit high, but the upside for Baneulos, power lefty with 3 potentially plus pitches, is so good, and he doesn't need elite control with that stuff, just decent.

I don't see the Red Sox moving for Barney as of now. I think they'll stomach the Aviles and Co. cluster until they feel Iglesias is ready. They might end up deciding they have enough offense and give Iglesias a go sooner than later.

It was the Brett Wallace trade, and the initial reactions did favor Houston landing Wallace, as Gose was viewed as a raw toolsy kid while Wallace was thought of as a polished upper level bat.

That seems fair to me. You could probably make a case for them to be a few spots higher, but it's a fair range for what I expected. Still think this is a pretty odd time in the minors. I tend to think a couple of the highly praised systems are a bit over-hyped (heavy depth, few impact), but then, if you stopped and pondered it for a second, there does seem to be fewer elite prospects as compared to say some other years. There's also a lot of systems heavily tilted one way, either towards pitching or positional talent.

In general/long run, I'd like to see an upgrade at 2nd, particularly if said player is a top of the order bat. In the short term, in a down season? Don't see the need in a rebuilding year. DeJesus can hit at the top of the lineup, and unless a guy comes cheap, I don't see the need to give up assets for an uncertain player like Brignac, who could be better than Barney, but may be more of a marginal upgrade. If the right guy is out there at the right price, sure, but I wouldn't overpay for 2nd base most off-seasons, and particularly not this one. I'm not too keen on DeWitt either, as I think Barney is significantly safer than him and a better player (at a certain point, a guys "sweet-looking" swing has to produce enough, and DeWitt simply hasn't).

Rays system is more depth right now (and Sickels grades reflect that). They are really banking on guys coming through from this past draft, and maybe guys from last year's class. I wasn't too keen on the Garza trade at the time, but if the Garza of last year is the Garza of the future, or if Garza nets us a heck of a package coming off his excellent year, then it's the risk you take, and it's a justifiable risk. Not too concerned about Guyer. I think he might be a decent starter for a few years, but not the elite corner OF bat that we need.

I somewhat agree with this, but didn't BA have Beeler in it's top 15? That said, BP/Sickels/Hulet, off the top, didn't rank him.

I'm curious, with most of the major lists out, who people think were under-rated, over-rated, under-hyped, over-hyped, under-appreciated (if any ... it is one of those years where the clump of guys after the top tier might make it hard to really find guys that were under or over) either relative to the lists, or overall? Since I'm asking, I'll offer some thoughts - - still don't love the ranking of Dolis so high by most places. - more than Dolis, though, still bothered by the Zych rankings. Big time fastball and a below average slider? Sure, he can turn it around, but is that top 20 material when there are plenty of pen arms that hold enough intrigue? - still don't love Junior Lake as a rock solid top 10 guy for the two main pubs, but I guess I understand why they did. Let's see, some guys I think fall under some sort of under- category (as I type this, I realize it is more under-appreciated than under-hyped or under-rated) C - Steve Clevenger - Still think he's somewhat under ... something. Under-appreciated perhaps. Not that I expect him to be a star, or that I even expect that he will be a starter, but upper level catcher who is at least solid defensively and makes decent contact? Just doesn't sound that bad to me. 1st/OF - Rebel Ridling - Season was bookended by 2 excellent months. He's not as good as he was in those months, but if he's better than his 3 down months, there's a decent useful asset there. Put this as ... under-appreciated as well. 2nd/3rd - Matt Cerda. Let's see ... undersized catcher, minimal power, strong eye. Grittiness personified! Bigger issue is that he isn't good at 2nd, and for the life of me, I still don't understand why he can't be passable. SS - Carlos Penalver. I guess here's a case where a guy might be a bit under-hyped/under-rated? All reports suggest a strong glove and some offensive potential, making him, tools wise, arguably the 2nd most intriguing Cubs shortstop prospect that's viewed as having a decent shot to stick there. 3rd - Marquez Smith. He's going to have to fight for time as well, probably, but if he's in better shape (IIRC, poor shape 2 years ago in spring?), I'm still curious if he could get some OF time to become a super-util type of guy. Some pop, decent approach. 3rd/OF/1st - Dustin Geiger. There's some pop, and he doesn't strike out an obscene amount. He's going to have to fight hard to hang on, as there's going to be a surge of incoming young talent sooner than later, but there's some stuff to work with here. Of course, may be better off at 1st or corner OF. CIF/COF - Greg Rohan. There's no reason to be THAT intrigued, considering his age, but I'll be curious if the discipline holds in the higher levels and what type of power he might show. Occasionally has me wondering if he could be a Scott Spiezio util type. P - Luis Liria. Here's a 2nd case where I think a guy could be somewhat under-the-radar, under-rated, under-hyped, including by myself (since I slid him off the back of my top 30 post-trades). He's got an electric fastball and 2 solid, albeit inconsistent, secondary offerings that flash some more potential. There are some more touted/talked about arms that are only working on their 2nd pitches. P - Blake Parker. I don't think he's anything great, but he rebounded and feels like he could have a few decent years in MR, maybe an occasional year where he's a solid setup guy. Somewhat feel like he's a bit lost in the mix. Anyhow, trying to spur some discussion.

I think Kyler could move fast as a pen arm (wouldn't surprise me if he could be up in AA as a pen arm sooner than later if the reports on his stuff are accurate and it holds), but I think a lot of us are intrigued with whether or not he could adapt to the rotation and maintain his stuff, as he'd give us a power lefty arm. The system really hasn't had an intriguing power lefty starting prospect since ... Donald Veal? And that was only for a year or so where he held high intrigue.

Um, Andruw Jones is pretty much slated for part-time DH duty already. Gardner in LF, Granderson in CF, and Swisher in RF. Unless they move Swisher, those three should be the starting OF's entering the season. I just don't see the Yankees taking a look at Soriano unless we eat the whole shebang. My guess is that they'll look to add a cheap lefty that mashes righties, pair him with Jones as a DH-platoon of sort, while occasionally rotating an older player like ARod there, at which point Jones may be utilized to give one of the OF's a day off. Carlos Pena makes a ton of sense, but I do wonder if they'd prefer a more versatile guy on the bench, someone that could rotate in as depth for some of their aging options.