Top Prospects of "Trade Contenders"

[splitterpfj]

I'm basing this on pre-season rankings of each system, if you've got more info to add, please do.

 

Cubs -

1. Josh Vitters, Class A, 3B - 51 ABs after signing last year, 73 ABs so far this year. He's only 18 - he won't be traded at this point.

2. Tyler Colvin, AA, OF - In A+ last year, 16 HR, .299 AVE, .812 OPS, in AA this year, 7 HR, .233, .632. Was in many of the Brian Roberts rumors.

3. Jose Ceda, AA, RHP - Recently bumped to AA, and to relief work, in 10 IP, Ceda has 4 saves, a .90 ERA, 2 BB, 17 Ks

4. Donald Veal - AA, LHP - 4-5, 3.43 ERA, 94.1 IP, 49 BB, 67 K Big lefty, low 90s, still working on control.

5. Jeff Samardzija - AAA, RHP - All over the place, 50 BB, 53 K, 88 IP. Hard to figure, reaches 98 MPH...puts up these stats.

 

Cardinals -

1. Colby Rasmus, AAA, OF - Nah...they wouldn't. Not destroying AAA overall, but he's on every Top 5 Prospects list you'll see.

2. Chris Perez, MLB, RHP - 19 1/3 major league innings - 12 BB, 18 K, 1 HR, 3.72 ERA, 1.44 WHIP

3. Bryan Anderson, AAA, C - Bumped to AAA, combined season stats - .356 AVE, .896 OPS, 3 HR

4. Brian Barton, MLB, OF - 118 MLB at-bats, .254 AVE, .722 OPS, 2 HR, 3 SB

5. Jaime Garcia, AAA, LHP - Bumped to AAA, combined season stats - 7-6, 3.35 ERA, 99.1 IP, 37 BB, 97 K

Phillies -

1. Carlos Carrasco, AA, RHP - 5-7, 4.18 ERA, 97 IP, 38 BB, 89 K Venezuelan "Bonus Baby", can reach 95 MPH, "best changeup in system"

 

3. Joe Savery, A+, LHP - 3-8 4.48 ERA, 96.1 IP, 38 BB, 78 K Injury issues in past.

 

5. Kyle Drabek, A+, RHP - Yes, this is Doug's son, and yes, he has the stuff of a future ace. Still getting back from Tommy John.

 

Dodgers -

1. Clayton Kershaw, AA/MLB, LHP - Just back down to AA, he's everybody's favorite pitching prospect - I can't imagine he's available.

2. Andy LaRoche, MLB, 3B - Just 30 ABs this year, injuries have dogged him since he got to LA.

3. Chin-Lung Hu, AAA, SS - Failed with the Dodgers this season, is currently back on the DL in AAA.

4. Scott Elbert, AA, LHP - 1-1, 2.95 ERA Shoulder surgery last June, just 18.1 IP so far this season, working in relief

5. Blake DeWitt, MLB, 3B 238 ABs, .261 AVE, .706 OPS, 5 HR, 3 SB

 

Red Sox -

1. Clay Buchholz, AAA/MLB, RHP - Currently back in AAA, he has gone 4-1, 1.63 in 8 games down there. Nothing left to prove in minors.

2. Lars Anderson, A+, 1B - 267 ABs, .311 AVE, .900 OPS, 10 HR Won't be 21 until September.

3. Justin Masterson, MLB, RHP- Since his recall, has gone 4-2, 3.75 ERA Low 90s, with heavy sink.

4. Jed Lowrie, AAA, SS - 174 ABs, .276 AVE, .811 OPS, 5 HR, 1 SB

5. Ryan Kalish, A, OF - 234 ABs, .282 AVE, .732 OPS, 3 HR, 12 SB

 

Rays-

1. David Price, AA, LHP - Currently a Montgomery Biscuit, the first overall pick in the 2007 draft is certainly not available for trade.

2. Jake McGee, AA, LHP, McGee started 15 games this season, but is currently disabled.

3. Wade Davis, AA, RHP - "The Biscuits Are Loaded"...7-6, 4.14 ERA, 95.2 IP, 39 BB, 69 K

4. Reid Brignac, AAA, SS - 283 ABs, .265, .743 OPS, 7 HR, 4 SB Brignac hit very well climbing the ladder, not as well so far in AAA

5. Desmond Jennings, A+, OF - 85 ABs, .259 AVE, .772 OPS, 2 HR, 5 SB

 

Brewers-

2. Alcides Escobar, AA, SS - 359 ABs, .331 AVE, .809 OPS, 7 HR, 22 SB - If there's enough bat here, this guy will stay a LONG time

3. Jeremy Jeffress, A+, RHP - 3-3, 4.34 ERA, 47.2 IP, 18 BB, 67 K - Just stay on the mound, young man

4. Mat Gamel, AA, 3B - 340 ABs, .382 AVE, 1.086 OPS, 15 HR, 5 SB - He may be too good to trade, that really does say .382, 1.086

5. Cole Gillespie, AA, OF - 293 ABs, .273 AVE, .867 OPS, 10 HR, 9 SB - So easy to overlook, Cole is rock-solid, and yes, he was rated #5 in the system to start the season.

 

Angels

 

1. Brandon Wood, AAA, SS/3B - 276 ABs, .275 AVE, .895 OPS, 19 HR, 3 SB - .134 AVE, .376 OPS in 97 MLB ABs...no, I am not kidding.

2. Nick Adenhart, AAA, RHP - 6-10, 6.19 ERA, 100.1 IP, 49 BB, 75 K - In 12 IP with the Angels this year, Adenhart walked 13, and allowed a .360 batting average

3. Jordan Walden, A, RHP - 4-6, 2.18 ERA, 32 BB, 91 K - Just promoted to A+, 6 scoreless in debut

4. Hank Conger, A+, C - 140 ABs, .293 AVE, .867 OPS, 7 HR, 1 SB - 1st round pick, 2006, many injuries since, including broken hamate

5. Sean O'Sullivan, A+, RHP - 12-4, 4.98 ERA, 106.2 IP, 35 BB, 79 K - ERA titles last two years....not so much this time

 

 

 

 

OK, I know Salome is absolutely in the top 5 for Milwaukee now, etc - these are the guys who were top 5 to begin the season. If you'd like to expand on any particular player, or team, please go ahead and post your thoughts. I intentionally skipped Parra, Longoria, Soto, etc, because they are now firmly entrenched on their MLB teams.

 

 

 

 

[TheCrew07]

Did you just use BA's top 10 for this?

[splitterpfj]

Yep, I worked from BA's pre-season rankings.

 

What I really want people to see is:

 

First, look through there and see how many elite prospects are not blowing people away right now, guys like Brignac and Lowrie - also notice how many guys are hurt right now.

 

OK, once you've done that - take a look at what the Brewers' prospects have done this season. There hasn't been one flop in the bunch, and on top of that, Salome has plowed his way right into the middle of the list.

 

I'm trying to give people some idea of who the Indians, Rockies, etc will be asking for in trades, but I also want people to realize why it is that the guys at ESPN, etc, keep talking about Milwaukee's prospects.

 

The Brewers' prospects really are that good. Melvin is in a true position of strength, most of these teams have one obvious guy that you figure they wouldn't deal, LaPorta and Gamel are both in that class, and then you get to a great prospect at both SS and C, two very tough positions to fill, and then there's Jeffress who's BB/K ratio is excellent, and who is clearly improving as the season progresses.

 

The Brewers are clearly in a position to outbid anyone they may want to, only Tampa and Boston are in the same class - and both of those teams are chasing bats at the moment.

[StearnsFTW]

Great thread. It really drives home the point that Doug really is in the driver's seat this July.

 

Here's hoping he uses these assets wisely. I have faith that he will.

[TheCrew07]

I understand, but I would think who a team would move would depend on the deal, as in off season trade or rental, and who the players were involved. I did pretty much the same thing you did when I started researching my moves for the 2009 OOTP I just rolled over to a couple of weeks ago. Started with BAs top 10 for every team, then looked at this year's performance. Then I went to MiLB.com and sorted league leaders by the stats I favor to see who was performing well. Many of the top prospects around the game are not the best performers, but some like Price are... it was very interesting.

[JoeHova]

The Phillies have a young catcher who is also dominating AA like Salome is. His name is Lou Marson. They're the same age, but Marson's value is more in the OBP, whereas Angel's is in slugging. Depending on what Marson's D is like, I would think Angel would be more valuable because he has a much better track record (drug suspension notwithstanding). However, the Phillies supposedly have taken him off the table, so they must consider him one of their best prospects, if not their best. That makes me think we are undervaluing Salome around here.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Could you put the top 5 prospects of the Angels on there? I'm interested to see what they have for a possible Prince trade in the offseason. I assume Adenhart and Wood are on that list. Thanks.

[splitterpfj]

There 'tis.

[interestobserver]

Mets

 

Fernando Martinez - Not available unless it's for an impact player who is controllable. Say a Prince Fielder.

Jonathon Niese - Polished AA lefty who could be a three.

Parnell - Hard throwing AA righty with more upside, less polish. Could be a two and will be a live arm for the bullpen at a minimum.

Kunz - Hard throwing reliever taken out of college last year. Could be a closer and will almost certainly be a good setup guy.

Mike Carp, Nick Evans, and Dan Murphy - All good hitting AA guys who have been moved around the infield and outfield. Could all be serviceable major leaguers. Nick Evans has spent some time with the parent club.

 

Omar has said Martinez and Niese are untouchable and Parnell and Kunz are almost untouchable. He means it with Fernando, they other three he's raising the price. However mediocre rentals like Ibanez won't get that kind of talent.

 

They also have some very promising teenagers at A+ or lower who they don't want to part with and don't have enough trade value yet.