1/31/22

Player Profile - Jose Butto

Jose Butto, Columbia Fireflies, 2019 Team Baseball Card

Background: 

Jose Butto, Starting Pitcher, Bats Right, Throws Right, DOB 3/19/1998 in Cumana, Venezuela; 6'1", 202 pounds; Signed by the New York Mets in June 2017 as an International Free Agent for $5,000. Added to Mets 40 Man Roster November 19, 2021.

A Top 25 Mets Prospect these past few years, Jose took things to a higher level in 2021.  After being promoted to AA Binghamton in July, he lowered his ERA by almost a run and a half.  At one point he went three outings, going 6 innings each, with no runs.  This earned him MiLB Pitcher of the Week for the Northeast League in August.  Overall his record in Binghamton, 3-2, 3.12 ERA, 8 games, 40.1 innings, 50 Ks;  An 11.16 K through 9 rate and a 29.9 K percentage.

He entered the Winter Rule 5 eligible, but his success in AA prompted his addition to the Mets 40 Man Roster, protecting him from that Draft.

Prospects Live: "Changeup: Low-80s changeup with great tunnel and depth. Changeup is a plus off-speed pitch with great depth and shape. Thrown low in the zone for plenty of whiffs. Dip in velocity from fastball creates good separation...Grade: 60...Butto's changeup is arguably the best in the Mets' system..."

From May 2020: MetsMinors.net: MMN Roundtable: Which Player is Primed For a Breakout Season? Ernest Dove’s choice was RHP Jose Butto saying: “My reports on him last season were that he was one of the most dangerous pitchers to face in the South Atlantic League. He has the confidence and determination to succeed. His teammates raved about his pitching and ability, feeling his off-speed arsenal will play at the higher levels.” 

Before the 2021 Season, FANGRAPHS ranked Jose as the #19 Mets Prospect.

Mack's Mets Tom Brennan recently had Jose as the #32 Mets Prospect.

Mets.com has him as their #14 Prospect.

Michael Mayer Metsmerized.com: #11 Prospect.

He is Amazing Avenue's #17 Prospect. 

Prospects 1500.com #13 Mets Prospect. "With his elite changeup and fastball, it could give him a relief pitcher opportunity with his ceiling getting higher if he really develops a breaking ball as a third pitch."

#12 on SNY's list. "He throws a mostly low 90s fastball that has touched 96 with the best change-up in the organization. He looks the part of a back-end starter who could potentially provide starting pitching depth sooner than later."

I think next year, lockout or no lockout, Syracuse may have a very stacked starting  rotation.  Because of that, Jose Butto could end up starting the year in Binghamton with an early callup to Syracuse.  Either way, already being on the 40 man roster, will make it very easy for Jose to come to Flushing.  However, being on the 40 man roster also means that he will be locked out should Spring Training only open for the Minor League players. 

Let's hope that does not happen.

Jose Butto’s Baseball Savant page. 

Jose Butto’s FANGRAPHS page.

Stats: 

Standard Pitching -


2021 Pitching Splits -



Videos and Audio:

Before each Binghamton Rumble Ponies game, Announcer Jacob Wilkins interviews the Rumble Pony players, coaches, and staff.  Below is an interview he did in 2021 with Jose Butto. 

For all of Jacob’s pregame interviews go here.  











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Mike's Mets - Imagining a Better Mets Farm System

 


 By Mike Steffanos

It's been great news that MLB and the Players Association are talking again, even if there is still quite a distance between the two sides' positions. However, it was telling that MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem felt the need to bring up MLB's willingness to lose some games to get what they want out of the negotiations. We're not even in February, but they just had to dangle that sword over everyone's necks. But there is also news of some progress being made in items that both sides are willing to drop from their demands, so we'll just hold onto good thoughts and optimism for as long as we can. I'm still pessimistic about the MLB season starting on time, but I am a bit less cynical than I was before this week.

We've also just learned that David Ortiz will be entering the Hall of Fame. I'm happy for the guy but don't have much to say on the subject beyond that point. Despite being linked to PED usage, Ortiz managed to be voted in on his first ballot by apparently being more likable than some other players.

The hypocrisy of some writers over steroid era players has forced me to stop caring about who receives the honor and who winds up being shut out. Basically, we can not prove definitively that any player from the late 80s through the first decade of this century was innocent of using PEDs. I'm sure that some elected players from the era did, in fact, cheat.

I get a headache when I have to listen to someone defending a vote for one guy while vehemently denying their vote to someone else, so for my sanity, I have elected to check out on the entire debate. Former Commissioner Bud Selig is as responsible for the steroid era as any man, and he's in the hall. Enough said.

One item that MLB is reportedly very interested in negotiating is a draft for international free agents. They've wanted this for quite a while. While the purported goal is to eliminate some of the corruption in the current process of signing these young men, MLB undoubtedly sees a draft as a way of keeping the costs of signing those players from escalating further. After all, changes in recent years to the Amateur draft of American players have served to hold down the bonuses handed out to these players.

The Athletic recently published a story bylined by Maria Torres and Ken Rosenthal on the corruption in the current system, specifically regarding ballplayers from the Dominican Republic. Quotes from various sources in the piece refer to the entire international signing process as "a failed system," the situation for amateur players in the country as "a cesspool," and accuse MLB of letting the whole industry "spiral out of control." The thought is that MLB sees the best way to achieve the international draft is for the corruption of the current system to force a change.

The article is an excellent look at the current international free agent market. However it ultimately happens, there is no doubt that MLB needs to find a way to clean up the system and stop the exploitation of young ballplayers. While a draft is MLB's choice for accomplishing this, there's no guarantee that one will be agreed to in the current CBA negotiations. If not, actual enforcement of existing rules would make things a lot better.

By all accounts, the Steve Cohen-owned Mets will be much more active in the international market than they were under the Wilpons. However, that didn't translate into the Mets feasting at the very top of the market, even though Cohen has owned the team for more than a year. The Mets did sign Simon Juan and Willy Fañas, a couple of outfielders from the Dominican Republic, to 7-figure deals, so it wasn't as if they were cheaping out. But Juan was the only one on the top international prospects lists, ranked 14th by Baseball America.*

If you were wondering why Steve Cohen's billions didn't enable the Mets to sign any of the players at the top of the list, it's explained by the current system forcing young prospects to come to an agreement with MLB clubs years before the actual signing. The groundwork for these signings was laid when the Wilpons ran the Mets.

While I very much hope that the Mets can ink some of the highest-rated international prospects in the future, I hope it's under a modified system that's less exploitive of these kids — whether it's an international draft or some other method. But however the process changes, the Mets will need to be as active as possible every year in chasing after the top talent available. If the current system continues, the Mets will need to work hard to sign some of the highest-ranked talent available.



*Note: In my original post, I had erroneously listed Fañas as the ranked prospect, as pointed out to me on Twitter by Daniel Wexler. I have corrected the mistake above.
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Reese Kaplan -- Should Brandon Nimmo Be Traded Before Free Agency?


With the calendar about to flip to February, most folks here have mentally shifted into a Spring Training mindset.  It's this time of the year when normally we find out whose winter facial hair has altered their playing day appearance, who is fighting some aches and pains from getting back to the mandated level of exercise, and how cold it is in what everyone always assumes is sunny and hot Florida.  

This year is different, of course, with no negotiation conclusions made, no new CBA signed and frankly no end in sight which will end the lockout and put 2022 baseball back on the schedule.  Some were encouraged by the little bit of negotiating activity that took place this past week, but talking together is not the same thing as signing agreements.  Call me cynical, but until a new CBA is executed, I won't put much faith in to the beginning of a new season.

During this past week one of the interesting story lines to emerge concerned Brandon Nimmo and his pending free agency after the 2022 season.  Mets fans and media types are still somewhat stuck in the past with the belief that anyone represented by Scott Boras must instantly be taken off the table as part of the team in the future.  We all remember the ridicule Boras heaped on the Wilpon family and many have so solidly put the name Boras in a no-way corner that the fact anyone should allow the man to represent him instantly becomes a persona non grata.  It is one of the primary reasons people cite for the Mets letting Michael Conforto walk away (though his horrific 2021 campaign is certainly a justifiable reason as well).

Getting us back to Brandon Nimmo, he was someone who came to the club as a high draft pick when no one thought he was deserving of such consideration after coming from a non-baseball oriented system of development.  His minor league career was good but not great.  He hit .277 overall but never showed the kind of power, speed nor defense that made people think he was worthy of the top pick designation.  About all he had going for himself was an ability to work counts and get on base at a commendable clip.  That skill seemed to refine itself further and he's regularly over .400 in on base percentage.

Now as a hitter, he was not looking to be the big stick people had hoped.  He started off his major league career in the 4th outfielder track.  He was getting on base and making people feel good with his big smile, but the batting average wasn't there.  The power was occasionally evident and his defense improved to the level of adequate, but no one has penciled him in as a long range solution.

Then came the last two seasons when he upped his average into the .280s and .290s.  All of the sudden people were jumping onto the Nimmo bandwagon aggressively.  Everyone was fine with benching Dom Smith after one bad year or trading away Jeff McNeil for the same reason, but Nimmo was going to be a part of the Mets now and down the road as well.  


Nimmo's bigger issues are his health and his agent.  Right now he's earned $4.7 million for his 2021 efforts and his arbiter will likely see him get a nice bump up to the $6 million plus range for his final year of eligibility.  Many folks feel that the team's outfield right now has Nimmo in left, Starling Marte in center and Mark Canha in right.  It's that pen-to-paper arrangement that makes people think guys like McNeil, Smith and J.D. Davis are readily available in trades.

Now let's think ahead to the 2023 season (whether or not a 2022 season happens in normal or abbreviated form).  At that point Nimmo is a free agent and with Scott Boras leading his negotiations, he's surely going to be looking for an age-30 season in the 4-5 year range at a much larger salary.  Consequently it came as no great shock that the concept of trading away Brandon Nimmo now has surfaced.

Now bear in mind that Mr. Boras represented some free agent hurler named Max Scherzer and that association didn't stop the Mets from bringing the three-time Cy Young Award winner to Citifield.  Steve Cohen is not part of the Wilpon family and when a player is identified as being a good fit for the team then he will sit down to negotiate with the super agent Boras.

So that brings up the question of whether or not it makes sense to ink Nimmo to a longer term deal now before he hits free agency, do you allow him to walk away without a QO since he's not yet at that level of player, or do you deal him away in July at the trade deadline to get something in return rather than nothing?  It is a topic many have not really pondered seriously, but if the club was indeed interested in fortifying its offense with free agents like Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos or Seiya Suzuki, would dealing Nimmo now be a smart idea?

Remember that health issue when it comes to Nimmo.  Back in 2018, his third in a Mets uniform, he put in the closest approximation of a full season, playing 140 games out of 162 and had 433 ABs.  It was a decent season with a .263 average, 17 HRs and 47 RBIs, but not All Star by any means.  

He unfortunately follow up with a 2019 of only 69 games, a full 2020 during the 60-game season with 55, and last year it was just 92 games.  Health-wise, I'd think of him with a little David Wright reality when it comes to long term value.  Yes, it's nice to secure players who you think are part of your core going forward, but if they're not on the field then it's simply not good business.  

Right now I am of the opinion that you ought to at least put out some feelers to other clubs to find out if they want to fortify your minor league roster or part with some much-needed pitching.  If you're going to lose him for nothing at the end of the year as he doesn't seem to warrant a QO, it's better to get something rather than nothing.  Right now there are no contract issues on the heads of the trading block trio, so it would seem you could afford to peddle Nimmo away and retain one of them as a spare part if not a starter.  Never say never.  

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Yesterday (1/30/22) in Winter Ball - Cano 1 for 3, Double, 2 walks, RBI

 


Dominican Republic (3-0) 7 Panama 3 (Box Score):

Robinson Cano, 2B, 1 for 3, Double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 walks.

Gustavo Nunez, PR, 1 run scored.

Dilson Herrera, 1B, 1 for 4, 1 K.


Venezuela (2-1) 5 Puerto Rico (0-3) 0 (Box Score):

Johneshwy Fargas, CF, 0 for 4, 2 Ks;

T.J. Rivera, 1B, 0 for 2, 2 Ks;

Alejandro De Aza, PH, 0 for 1.

Mexico (1-2) 1 Columbia (2-1) 0 (Box Score)

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1/30/22

Jeff Innis - Rest in Peace

 

Jeff Innis - 1993 Topps Stadium Baseball Card

Former Mets PR Director, Jay Horowitz, reported this afternoon that Jeff Innis had passed away from Cancer.  

His family recently had opened a GoFund campaign so he could be with his family in Atlanta for his final days.

Jeff pitched 7 years in the majors, all for the New York Mets, 288 games, all but one in relief.




MLB Stats:


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RIGHT NOW… the Top 20 RHPs in the 2022 Draft (UPDATED INJURY NEWS)


(UPDATED) 

(previous rank - research through 1-26-22)

 

1. Dylan Lesko (1)

6-3 170 Buford HS (GA)

2021 Buford High -

0.35 ERA with 112 strikeouts in 60 innings.

Age At Draft: 18.9

93-96, T99 FB (1900-2300 rpm) , + 78-81 change (2700-3000mrpm), slider, curve

Change is one of the best seen in years.

Card is full of pluses, from his athleticism to mechanical operation.

Seemingly the only guaranteed pitcher to be drafted this year in the first round.

Projected SP1  -  Vandy Boy commit

 

2. Blade Tidwell (2)

6-4 200 Tennessee

2021 Tennessee stat line -

18-starts, 10-3, 3.74, 97.2-IP, 90-K

Age At Draft: 21.1

Update - 1-27: Sidelined with shoulder soreness. Out indefinitely. Could affect draft status if lasts throughout season.

Draft-eligible sophomore.

Many believe is the best college arm in the country.

93-95 fastball, tops off T 99.

Sharp low-80s slider.

Mostly works with the FB and a low-to-mid-80s slider.

Slider produces a 37% whiff rate last spring.

Low-80s change-up with fade. 

 

3. Brock Porter (4)

6-4 220 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (Mich.) HS

Age At Draft: 19.1

52-G, 52.2-IP, 81-K, 0.91 WHIP

93-95, T-99 fastball.

++ 76-78 change with 1400 rpm spin rate.

Tremendous arm-side fading action.

77-79 curve.

Cold weather pitcher - Projected SP1

High ¾ slot.

Athletic and projectable with huge arm speed.

Clemson commit

 

4. Landon Sims (5)

6-1 205 Mississippi State

Age At Draft: 21.5

2021 stat line -

25-app, 5-0, 1.44, 56.1-IP, 100-K

An incredible 4-Ks per game as a reliever.

Had 100 total strikeouts-- roughly four per game-- while allowing only nine runs scored on 29 total hits.

No more dominant reliever in college.

94-95, T98 FB, 80-89 slider

Update - Now throwing  a formidable changeup.

Threw zero last season.

Projected starter/closer 

 

5. Kumar Rocker (7)

RHP 6-5 245 ???

Age At Draft: 22.6

2021 Vanderbilt stats -

20-staters, 14-4, 2.73, 122-IP, 179-K, 39-BB

Mets drafted with 10th pick in 2021

92-95 FB, T-98

Slider is a double-plus wipeout.

Graded as high as ++ by evaluators in the past.

Health going forward is a major question.

Has begun a throwing program.

Heading to Indy ball.

 

6. Peyton Payette  (3)

6-1 175 Arkansas

2021 stat line -

15-G, 11-st, 1-2, 4.02, 56-IP, 67-K

93-95, T99 FB.

Hi-80s change.

++ 80 curveball averages north of 3000 RPM… an elite spin rate.

Elite arm.

An elite arm speed & sharp breaking ball.

Injured part of last season.

Projected SP2

Update - 2022 season lost to TJS.

Age + loss of season may create cause for pause in drafting.

 

7. Andrew Dutkanych (6)

6-3 200 Brebeuf Jesuit Prep

Age At Draft: 19.0

42,2-IP, 63-K, 1.17 WHIP

Top Indiana prep arm in years.

93-96 fastball that never drops below 90.

Fastball has excellent backspin and life up.

Mid-to-upper 80s hard slider with late tilt.

Upper 70s curveball.

Low 80s change-up that has occasional late fading action.

Dominated in his 2 inning outing at Perfect Game National this summer.

Draft him early, or over-slot, or he’s off to Vandy.

 

8. Ian (JR) Richie (8)

6-2 185 Bainbridge HS (WA)

Age At Draft: 19.1

92-95, T97 FB, mis-80s slider, hi-70s curve

Slider showing flashes of a plus pitch with sharp bite.

True three-pitch mix.

Slider with late, sharp bite.

Quality came and went at times last summer on the showcase circuit.

Solid combination of polish and upside to the mound.

Projected SP1 - UCLA commit

 

9. Walker Ford (9)

6-3 195 Pace HS (FL)

Age At Draft: 17.5

Reclassified from 2023 draft.

Soaring up the charts.

90-95-FB, T-97 (2,400-2,600 RPM range).

Projected to 100+.

Big 12-6 curve.

81-82 slider.

 3/4 arm slot, plunging movement.

 

10. Gabriel Hughes (10)

6-4 220 Gonzaga

Age At Draft: 20.9

2021 Gonzaga stat line -

10-ST, 3.23, 61.1-IP, 57-K, 30-BB

Broke hand in 2021 preventing pitching for half a season.

Very impressive when he did pitch.

97 fastball, sharp high-80s slider.

Scouts consider him a 1st round talent.

Needs to cut down walks (4.4 BB/IP ratio).

 

11. Jacob Miller (11)

6-2 180 Liberty Union

Age At Draft: 20.6

Key Stats: 48.2-IP, 69-K, 1.71 WHIP

One of the best curve in the draft.

 @ 81-82 w/ 2500+ rpm spin.

Fastball up to 95.

Slider up to 85.

Update - scouting grades per MLB Pipeline:

Fastball: 55

Curveball: 60

Slider: 55

Changeup: 50

Control: 50

Overall: 50

Really quick arm with tons of projection ahead.

 

12. Jonathan Cannon (new)

6-6 215 Georgia

2021 stat line -

13-G, 12-starts, 4-2, 3.98, 63.1-IP,  57-K, 13-BB

2021 Cape -

3-ST, 13-IP, 0.63 ERA

Age At Draft: 22.0

Impressive command (1.8 career BB/9).

93-FB, mid-80s slider, change.

Needs to develop movement on fastball.

Viewed as a solid second or third round type.

 

13. Adam Maier (12)

6-0 195 Univ. British Columbia

Age At Draft: 20.6

2020 UBC stat line -

5-G, 2-ST, 3-0, 2.84, 19-IP, 22-K, 4-BB

2021 Cape -

25.2-IP, 4.56 ERA,  solid three-pitch mix including a fastball up to 94-95 mph.

COVID shut down UBC in 2021.

Transferred to Oregon for 2022.

Impressed this summer at the Cape.

Fastball now hits 96.

Should start there.

High-spin slider exceeding 3000 RPM.

Deceptive change-up.

 

14. Jackson Cox (13)

6-1 185 Toutle Lake High School (Toutle, WA)

Age At Draft: 18.8

Key Stats:

26-TP, 30-K, 1.42 WHIP (!)

Excellent mechanics.

Fastball generally 90-93. T-95.

79-81 slider is an elite pitch with 3000+ RPM,

Bread and butter is a hi-70s breaking ball.

79-83 mph range with sharp, two-plane biting action and spin rates in the 2900-3000 rpm range.

Projection arm.

Needs to work on the WHIP.

 

15. Victor Mederos (new)

6-2 225 Oklahoma State

Age At Draft: 21.1

2021 Miami (transferred) stat line -

11-G, 2-3, 5.21

2021 Cape -

4.64-ERA, 21.1-IP, 19-K, 12-BB.

Touched 99.

Impressive breaking ball.

Needs to work on 3.7 BB/9 rate in Miami

And 5.1 this summer in the Cape.

 

16. Chase Shores (new)

6-8 240 Midland HS (TX)

Age At Draft: 18.2

Touched 97 mph at Perfect Game’s National showcase this summer.

FB has impressive life and riding action on top of its velocity.

82-83 breaking ball with depth and sharp bite.

Upper 80s changeup.

Needs to improve consistency.

  He is committed to Louisiana State.

 

17. Marcus Johnson (new)

6-6 200 Duke

2021 -

56-IP, 3.05, 1.9 BB/9

Age At Draft: 21.6

Pitched strictly out of the bullpen for Duke in his first two seasons.

Was stretched out for 2021 ACC Tourney.

Becomes starter this season.

FB sits 92-94, T-97.

Low-80s slider, mid-80 change.

 

18. Alex McFarland (new)

6-4 210 Miami

2021 Miami stat line -

16-G, 2-1, 4.50, 34-IP

Age At Draft: 21.1

From the US Virgin Islands.

Pitched 2021 as a starter and reliever.

Fastball ticks up to 99.

Quality secondaries in a wipeout slider and an impressive changeup.

Needs to work on his 4,7 BB/9 ratio.

Will start this spring.

 

19. Eric Adler (new)

6-2 190 Wake Forest

2021 Wake stat line -

1-3, 2.00, 24-K

2021 Cape -

15.2-IP, 0.96-ERA, 29-K

Age At Draft: 21.8

Key reliever for Wake over last 2 seasons.

Mid-90s fastball, touched 98.

High spin rates.

Projected to remain a reliever and with Landon Sims going to the Mississippi State rotation, should be first reliever drafted.

   

20. Henry Williams (new)

6-5 195 Duke

2021 Duke stat line -

8-G, 6-starts, 3-3, 3.65, 1.27, 37-IP, 45-K

Missed 2 months last year with injury.

FB 90-93 MPH w/late run - 2,500 RPM spin rate.

81-85 slider with tight spin.

Good command of both pitches.

CU - high 2,300 RPM spin rates. 85-87 w/sink.

Plenty more projection.

Friday starter this coming season for the Blue Devils.

UPDATE - Out for the 2022 season for TJS.  

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