toonsterwu

I like Szczur, but really not surprised at the middling return. Every organization has Szczur type players. These decent defensive OF's that have some ability to be good role players/bench guys. There's always a mild tendency to over-value these guys, including by myself, within one team's one fan base. Now, I still like Szczur more than a lot of similar guys, as I think Szczur could be a fringe starter (or say, a stopgap option like, for the Nationals, but they could move Stevenson up). Best of luck to him in San DIego.

On Vosler ... it really comes down to how much of this power development is real. The most likely guess/outcome is that this is a flash-in-the-pan, like davell said, his one shining moment. If this power holds, though ... and that's a big IF ... I could see him worm his way into being say, the number 2 or 3 guy in a trade, a bit more valuable than the Rashad Crawford, lottery ticket. That's a huge IF, though. IF it happens, heck ... Cubs may not want to deal him just yet unless he can become the prime piece in a deal (again, not expecting it). After all, Vosler's a fairly versatile guy (has played 2nd/SS/3rd before and could likely swing to the OF if necessary), with a solid enough approach at the plate. Really, our coveted pieces at the deadline are likely going to be the same names bandied around for awhile. With how some pitchers have struggled, it may really come down to say, Jeimer Candelario and Ian Happ, and it's good that both have gotten off to solid enough starts. I still gotta think that someone, a rebuilding team, particularly an AL team, would have interest in Candelario as a short term 3rd baseman, until someone else comes along, at which point, he would probably go to first.

Going to be mildly surprised if the Keys/Pelicans game gets going. Was gonna head on over to Harry Grove, but weather calls for rain, and it's been sprinkling/drizzling in the area already.

I've actually been somewhat stunned at Adam Haseley's meteoric rise up the charts. At one point last year, I really wondered if he would be a better pitcher than a hitter, but now, he's supposed to be the top college OF? I get why (the numbers are stunning this year, but most importantly, the power development), but it's been a huge shock. I'm not absolutely convinced that he's a CF at the next level (long term that is, could see it in his youth perhaps).

College baseball has been in full swing for awhile. Anyhow Latest BA rankings: http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/top-25-tracker-march-6-college-rankings/#LktZfFblpDyLgrYo.97 Latest d1baseball rankings: https://d1baseball.com/rankings/d1baseball-top-25-rankings-march-6/ Same Top 5, but different order. I don't follow that closely anymore, but I don't love Florida State's pitching. Huge weekend series - UNC vs. Virginia. Virginia's lineup is it's usual solid self, and the pitching has looked good so far. Sperling was highly touted a couple years ago. Really quite remarkable for UVA considering how badly the draft stripped their recruiting class last year (top 3 all gone ... a rarity for UVA). I'm going to be very curious how good Bukauskus is ... I'm not a huge fan as a starter ... he reminds me of Carson Fulmer a bit ... but I guess the Sonny Gray comps work .... he'll be facing a good, patient UVA lineup so it's a good test for him, and will be curious how often that change comes out.

I agree with Raisin that Callis is still probably the best, at least, as it pertains to Cubs lists. I like that list at first glance ... no real quibbles. Who would you plop them ahead of on Callis' list, though? With Mills/Zastryzny/Williams, we're talking largely end of the rotation possibilities. Johnson's probably more middle relief at this stage, although if he found something late in the year, the raw fastball/breaking ball combination back in the day had enough potential to possibly think about a late inning arm. Considering his career path so far, though, hard to get excited. Much as I am not as down on Hudson as everyone seems to be (I guess it's relative) ... he's raw and really far away and Hannemann is 26 ... at some point, hope for the tools drops low. I mean, from his 14-21 ... I'd take Ademan/Paredes/Sepulveda over them on youth, up the middle, and upside (btw ... was that the first mention of Sepulveda as a possible catcher ... I don't recall hearing much about that before ... that'd be fascinating ... somewhat reminiscent of Robinson Chirinos making the move back in the day). I guess I can understand some questioning of Paulino being that high (that writeup is extremely positive, it seems ... and uh ... he claimed a 40 man spot? guess there wasn't a proofreader), although his ceiling is more intriguing than those guys in the 20's. Underwood is a lightning rod point, I guess ... but being in the top 20 is probably okay for most. Rosario and Young are two guys that seem like they could help soon and in a more significant role than some of those upper level guys in the 20's. That leaves Pena at 21, which I'd be fine dropping him and sliding others up. All in all, not sure who you'd jump a lot of those guys on the list over. I could see sliding Alec Mills up several slots.

It is, admittedly, an odd list. I'm actually okay with no Pena - by most accounts that I saw, it's pretty much average stuff across the board, so okay. Even if you think that the Rosario reports were over-hyped ... it seems far more likely as of right now that he has a better shot of doing something in the bigs than Pierce Johnson. I would argue that Johnson is too high (and not that Rosario should be that high). Don't they lean heavily on Cubs sources for these lists, though? If so, may say more about the Cubs feelings on Pierce Johnson than it having anything to do as a reflection on Jose Rosario.

I don't have a problem with any of the Cubs placings ... but boy ... that top of the list ... maybe it's just a weaker year for the farm overall ... I like Gleyber a lot ... but ... he's the 5th best prospect in baseball right now? Can't say I really love the placement of other MI's like Rosario/Adames/Albies - seems like they had a big MI bump. Still ... looking through the list ... it's not like there are a lot of people that I would kick up the ladder significantly ... so maybe it is just a weaker overall year at the top in the minors.

Hey, you are in this neck of the world? I go to Harry Grove a few times a year, not necessarily for any specific team. Back in the day, the gun at Harry Grove sorta sucked - I forget who it was that the Orioles had, but the gun readings there were always significantly higher. It seems to have gotten better the last few years. My hunch is that Eloy is going to be slow-played unless he absolutely balls out. I don't think they see a need to rush the kid unless he absolutely forces his way up, and I'm thinking he's going to need a monstrous, just monstrous run. Tbh ... I wouldn't rule it out. I'd be surprised if Eloy had huge problems in this circuit - if he has any adjustment issues, I suspect it'll be Tennessee, when the offspeed offerings become tougher and sharper.

I'm still intrigued by Eddie Butler. I don't expect much from him, but considering what we gave up, a heck of a gamble. Fastball/Slider still seem to be there. Honestly, ending up with Brett Anderson and Eddie Butler far exceeded my hopes of about a month ago. I thought we were going to have to wait until spring to get some more ... significant ... depth in. Again ... don't expect much from Butler, but it's a good roll of the dice for a guy who had some good action on the fastball.

What would motivate Atlanta to make this sort of move? I'm not even sure Teheran alone is something that we could go after (I mean, in this climate, Teheran might not a stronger return than some think), and all the young arms are intriguing enough that I doubt the Braves move any of them at this stage unless it's a no-brainer, knock your socks off deal.

I think Freeland could likely be had, and he'd be a nice guy to add, for a reasonable price as depth. I think that's the type of guy that could perhaps be had for a pen arm - an end of the rotation guy who could be stashed in AAA. I don't see the Rockies moving Hoffman in general, but if they do consider it, I imagine they are going to want an arm and a leg. There's still enough there to see him as more than a mid-rotation arm, and he's probably been pushed a bit. While Bridich has made some odd decisions, he's steadily built up a fairly deep and strong system.

If Jose Rosario's stuff is anywhere near as good, next year, as some of the reports that have come out about him, I'd be a bit surprised if he can't find a way to sneak onto the late inning bullpen mix. If that slider is steady ... and he's hitting triple digits ... Hard pressed for me to buy Corey Black and Pierce Johnson as "depth" right now, at least, until they prove themselves consistent enough. Henderson's a nice veteran pickup. Wouldn't be surprised if he worked his way into the bullpen mix. There is quantity. A part of me wonders if somewhere in the back of their minds, they aren't trying to eat up enough guys so that they could perhaps ponder a pen for depth move type of trade. There's enough teams with pen concerns ... still, seems unlikely they'd get that much value for any of our guys that are more plausible trade pieces. That said, if, in the back of their mind, they are thinking that adding another depth SP arm or two to the upper levels isn't the worst idea, perhaps a spare pen arm could be moved and replaced with ease. After all, if they have to call on Jim Henderson to replace, say, Justin Grimm, okay. I think the ideal pen scenario late in 2017 is something like Wade Davis closing, with a key youngster in that 7th/8th inning role (whether it be Rosario or Carl Edwards Jr., or a surprise), along with another veteran. Then, heading into 2018, you can contemplate transitioning to young closer. Thinking about it a bit more, it's clear that they are trying to build a deep pen to compensate for likely SP concerns ... but still, most managers have set patterns with pen arms, and while Maddon is a bit more unconventional than most, I'm very curious how all this shakes out. I'm not real sure where Rondon and Strop fit in my mental picture of how I hope the Cubs pen looks to start the year.

Seems so weird to think that Cahill was once so highly valued. He'll be a nice swing man for them. The Mariners offseason has been interesting, to say the least. Almost all the moves could be criticized individually, but I can't help but look at the end product and think ... it might be a better squad, and I'm not sure they gave up that much long term potential to be that hugely concerned about. Going to be curious how it plays out. Always liked Smyly enough. Could see him really take off there.

The Ross decision is certainly a disappointment. At this juncture, I'm more inclined to think that we are looking at a depth type signing, at best, a Travis Wood type signing, and waiting on how rotations shake out. I'm not inclined to really believe that any trade of any minor significance is likely to happen. I think, for a Wisler trade to happen, or something of that ilk (someone mentioned above dealing for the Phillies depth), unless we overpay, we'll likely have to wait until the end of the spring, when cuts are coming, to perhaps make a move for whomever struggles, rather than striking now. It just seems unlikely, to me, that the Braves, or even the Phillies, are going to swap out guys for a reasonable price when they have uncertainties of their own and, in a rebuilding mode, both can afford to wait. Even with the FA's available, any reasonable starter would likely want some sort of guarantee on that 5th job. One gets the feeling that the Cubs aren't likely to guarantee him that job. Hammel makes a lot of sense, but it's likely, if he's willing to accept 1 and options, that he'll find teams willing to guarantee him a rotation spot.

Almost everyone possible has been mentioned, so I'll go off the board a bit to throw two names out there ... two names I'm not even certain will be with the Cubs when the season starts. Jesse Hodges - I remember reading about him being signed way back ago, and it feels like he's been around forever. Solid enough athlete, could probably be developed into a utility player if need be (good arm should play in the corner OF's if necessary, could probably move to 2nd in a pinch). Of course, it's the bat that's the issue, but he showed some positive signs at South Bend, and there was some raw pop, IIRC, when they signed him. I'm also curious if he'll get a run as a pitcher before the Cubs close the book, but I think he should be given another run at Myrtle Beach first. Kevonte Mitchell - He was really raw, and seems to slowly be improving step by step. It seems like his name has been there forever, but this is his age 21 season. He needs to improve his strike zone discipline and see if he can tap into that raw power. Of the two, I think Mitchell should make it to a roster, although I guess you never know. Hodges seems like a borderline chance to still be here. (and it's not impossible that I missed some minor league activity that would make this post sound foolish, but a quick googling doesn't show anything)

With the de la Cruz reports, it really comes down to, I guess, the changeup. Off the top, the most pessimistic report I saw on him was a BP thing where they still slapped possible future 60's on his fastball/curveball, but they slapped a very low grade on the changeup. By most accounts, that changeup is a work in progress. The BP report I recall and the BA report both indicate his potential to drive the ball downhill and pound the bottom of the zone with a fastball with good life. If BA's report on his changeup development is accurate (in the writeup that was posted in the other thread, they said he was earning potential future plus grades on the changeup), then that's a pitcher with size, frame, good life on the fastball, and 3 possible future plus pitches. If that's the case, then it's understandable why Manuel noted in the chat that some Cubs officials felt he had a higher ceiling than Cease. Of course, if I'm being fair ... it seems like the only reports that glowing about the potential of the change came from BA, so anything less than a future plus pitch, then yes, de la Cruz's ceiling would probably be more in that murky mid-rotation ceiling range. Also, we are talking about possible future grades, so who knows if the development trends that way. After all, he has to show he can carry that stuff for a full-season's workload AND maintain the good command. Finally, as BA leans heavily on Cubs org sources, there's a possible bias factor in there that should be considered. But if the question is why some are slapping TOR on de la Cruz, then that's the case right there - potential 3 future plus pitches, size, frame, physical upside, and command. Certainly, production is a necessary component, but as typical with most prospect-oriented things, the further away and younger a guy is, the more liable that the assessments will be based upon physical potential/stuff.

As for Otani ... I'd love to get him, obviously, but my betting money would be on the Yankees. They have a strong presence in Japan, but leaving all that aside, they have a desperate need for pitching and likely the ability to trade for more bonus pool money (iirc, you can trade up to 75% of the pool). Who knows if the presence of Tanaka there will be a positive or a negative, but on the surface, it might seem like a positive. Obviously, we're limited next offseason, so Otani would have to delay things, which doesn't sound like it'll happen. Although, thinking about that 75% thing ... maybe that gives the small markets with the bigger pools a slightly better chance. Specifically, I'm wondering about teams like Arizona and Baltimore (Duquette is active in Asia).

I have always liked Clifton, but I think there's a very, very low chance that he ever jumps into a top 25 overall prospect position. At this juncture, he'd have to take a major leap in stuff to jump up there, and while it's not impossible, at this juncture of his career, with his body filled out from his prep days already ... it's hard to imagine. Not impossible ... but I'd be surprised. I'm far more liable to put a wait-and-see on Albertos than de la Cruz, personally. Too many prep/youngsters who could throw hard but as they moved up, their stuff backed up a bit from the lower level days when they just let it rip. Add in the limited body of work and limited physical upside from right now ... I'm just a bit more wary. de la Cruz is a relatively fresh arm having made the move to pitching several years ago. I've always been a sucker for a pitcher that could get groundballs, and by most accounts, he gets good action and velocity on his fastball. Secondary reports are very positive. Of course, we have to wait and see how it holds up for the course of a season in full season ball (still think sending him to South Bend makes the most sense to start), but the combination of superb reports on stuff combined with the physical frame is an enticing combination. Btw, I certainly didn't mean de la Cruz was a safe bet to be top 25 at some point in his career. Just meant that beyond Cease/Happ/Eloy that de la Cruz was the most likely bet, due to upside, but obviously, pitcher, and he has to carry a full workload first.

Oh, if cease counts, then yes, he would top my list. Midseason is bold, though. He would really have to get out of the gate hot, and be working deep (at least 5) into games, I think, to jump to top 25 by midseason. Here's hoping.

de la Cruz is the safe choice, but since it's already been mentioned, I'll go off the walls a bit and go with DJ Wilson. I guess Galindo/Pieters could be mentioned. It's also possible that the next top 25 is someone from the draft/next international signing crop

I sorta, sorta get it for Dipoto. He made the move for Dyson to improve the defense, but it left them thin, so they took a gambit on Gallardo, which is basically a one year deal (since it's a 2018 buyout), and the Orioles chipped in some money (IIRC). You hope that the park can help make Gallardo, with his decreasing fastball and increasing FB rate, passable, but I'm not certain about it. I'm just not sure how much better Dyson/Gallardo could be as a combination, even accounting for Dyson's defense, versus Karns/Smith. Do like the deal for the opposing parties. Really think Karns is still an intriguing young arm and a good add for the Royals. Could be getting him at the right time. As for the Orioles, well ... Duquette gave up a pick for Gallardo last year, and until he starts to focus on fixing the farm, the Orioles are stuck playing out the string with this core, but just to focus on Gallardo for Smith - nice pickup for the Orioles, even if they need a righty hitting OF to platoon with Smith and/or Kim. I do wonder if the Orioles end up investigating Hammel - he's been there, they could perhaps use the rotation depth (Gausman/Tillman/Bundy and then ... Miley/Jimenez/Wright/Wilson?). Sliding Hammel in at 4 and letting Miley/Jimenez fight for one spot, while sticking Tyler Wilson in AAA and moving Wright to the pen looks much better.

I'm honestly pretty excited about bringing him back :D . I know he didn't contribute much on the field, but he seemed like a great teammate that keeps everyone loose/makes them laugh (in a good way). I was worried we were going to lose him since we would only be offering him a minor league deal/spring training invite. Kawasaki seems like a great guy. I didn't used to be so big on team chemistry, but that D. Ross signing and the overall effect it had on this team has won me over. Ross wasn't so much signed for chemistry as he was a personal muse to Lester. That and everyone needs a backup catcher, few of which are going to be able to hit their way out of a wet paper bag. Kawasaki's a mascot and to grant the media their 'look, the Chinaman (yes, I know) thinks he's people' interviews. Okay ... I haven't checked this thread out in awhile ... but explain that last part to me? Kawasaki was signed to be a mascot and to grant the media their ... "Chinaman" (I mean, in this day and age, most baseball media would be more surprised with a Chinese baseball player, there's Taiwanese, Japanese, and Korean, but off the top, no "Chinaman", but that's almost a political issue, so forget it) fetish (fetish isn't even the right word, but I'm not sure what to make of "look, the Chinaman thinks he's people" considering that Asian Americans have been in baseball for long enough now?) Perhaps I'm missing some sort of joke in there that I'm not aware of, as I've never really followed individual poster's and their habits, but I'd argue that Kawasaki has a career because he's a capable defensive sub, and that the Cubs could use someone like that to call up in a pinch.

I still believe that it's probably Manny they were referencing (Boston connection to top leadership, higher hit tool, LF, not exactly a top tier athlete, and so forth, but that means they really buy Eloy's strike zone discipline improving a lot). Just for fun, but if they were just making an offensive comparison and they REALLY believed in Eloy's bat ... Alex Rodriguez isn't out of question. Here's a long armed, long levered guy who had some scouts question him about a potentially long swing when he was young, but had top end hit tool and power grades when he was young. A far superior athlete and played a premium position, so the comparison would really only exist on the offensive side. It'll be fascinating to see how Eloy's discipline carries to A+ and on up. Manuel's/BA's comments reads as if they really believe that he will improve on those aspects a bit (not suggesting any sort of dramatic improvement, just steady improvement).

I'm assuming Evan White? _____ I still don't love Kevin Smith. Seen him a few times, definitely understand the intrigue, but that seems awfully high to me. _____ I'm biased for UVA, but I really wouldn't be surprised if Derek Casey finally got going and jumped up lists this year. He had TJ last year, but he had electric stuff out of high school. Should get a chance to be the Friday starter for UVA.