7/26/12

Q and A - What Prospects Are Out There?

Ross Clark asks:

Some reports have Sandy looking for pieces that would help in 2013.  What prospects around the minors would be a good fit?

Mack:

Good question.

The pieces the Mets need are:

1.     An everyday outfielder

2.     A star second baseman

3.     Lots of relief pitchers

4.     Another top starter

5.     A catcher to compliment Josh Thole

You have to find a team that already has a young star playing one of these positions and also has one or more prospects playing the same position who are blocked by the above mention young star.

Take Toronto:

J.P. Arencibia is a 26-year old ‘star’ (having a meh season, by the way, but still 16-HRs). The backup, Jeffrey Mathis (.253) is 29-years old and considered no more than a backup, but their system also has one of the top prospects in all of baseball, Travis D’Arnaud (AAA - .333, 16-HR, 52-RBI). BTW, D’Arnaud is not one of the top catching prospects in baseball… he’s one the top in all of baseball at any position.

But, we’re not done there. Toronto also has another catching prospect in their system. A.J. Jimenez is graded B- by John Sickles, saying “Superior defensive skills and hits for average, even steals a few bases. How much power will he develop?”[i]  He has recently been promoted to AA after playing A+/Dunedin at: .303/.353/.417/.770



I could do this all day, but let’s take one more for now…

Minnesota Twins – Outfield

The current trio consists of Ben Revere (24-yrs.old – doesn’t hit arbitration until 2018 - .278), Josh Willingham ( .271 - rumored to being traded in the next 10 days) and Denard Span (.285 - signed through 2014) .

Let’s say Willingham goes, leaving an opening. Well, in the system are:

    Darin Mastroianni – just finished up hitting .346 for AAA… now on parent squad

    Aaron Hicks – team’s #2 prospect – hitting .284 for AA

    Eddie Rosario – team’s #3 prospect – hitting .293 for A+

    Oswaldo Arcia – team’s #4 prospect –  hitting .331 in AA ball

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