The trade is done....but the analysis is incomplete. 1B Ike Davis was traded for RP Zack Thornton and a PTBNL who "is a 2013 draftee of significant value" and "is the centerpiece of the deal." This tells me that the player is a Top 10 round draft pick. So lets take a look at who those guys are.
The "Highway Robbery" Guys
CF Austin Meadows- 1st round- 19 yrs old - Extended Spring Training
- The Pirates Compensentory pick for failing to sign Mark Appel in 2012 has been drawing heavy comps to Cincinnati's Jay Bruce. Meadows was a huge Mets target in the 2013 draft but was nabbed 2 picks before them. He has the potential to develop into a .270 hitter with 25+ HR and 90 RBIs. That potential also comes with 120+ K's as well. He was assigned to the GCL last season where he hit .294 with 5 HRs and 20 RBIs in 43 games. The Mets have a number of OF prospects in the lower levels right now in Jared King, Ivan Wilson, Bradley Marquez, and Champ Stuart, but none of them carry the potential Meadows has.
C Reese McGuire- 1st round- 19 year old- Single-A West Virginia
- A BP Top 60 player, McGuire was seen as a sure fire 1st rounder, but not someone who should go high in the draft. He's seen as a top rated defensive catcher with chance to develop some offensive potential. However BP grades him out as a potential .250-.260 hitter that can hit 15 HRs. While the profile isn't sexy, the Mets organization is thin at catcher at the lower levels with Jeff Glenn and Colton Plaia manning the dish for Savannah. So far in A-ball, McGuire is hitting .216 with 4 RBIs in 10 games.
The "Much Needed" Lefties
LHP Blake Taylor- 2nd round- 18 years old- Extended Spring Training
- Much like the Mets system, the Pirates organization is heavy on RH pitching prospect but lacking in lefties. Taylor is a highly projectable guy who currently has a 90-92 mph FB and a plus Curve. At 220 lbs he won't add much more velocity but his FB could become a premium pitch if he can harness his control. His lack of a 3rd pitch limits how quickly he can advance in the system though and he seems like he's at least 4-5 years away from helping a big league team.
LHP Cody Dickson- 4th round- 22 years old- Single-A West Virginia
- Dickson is pretty much a mirror image of Taylor except 4 years older. 91-93 mph FB from the left side with questionable control and a plus Curveball. His 3rd pitch is a change-up which is currently a below average pitch. Dickson perform well in the NY-Penn League last season with a 9.3 K/9 rate but did display those control issues walking 24 in 57 IP. While the system is starving for left handed starters it's hard to see Alderson liking either one of these guys without a third pitch.
The "Solid" Grab
2B/SS/CF JaCoby Jones- 3rd round- 22 years old- Single-A West Virginia
- Make sure that "C" is capitalized! JaCoby is a high upside speed/athleticism tools play that has spent time at 2B, SS, and CF. While Jon Heyman has stated that "he looks like he can be a star ballplayer," his swing is ugly and will need to be re-built and quick frankly he hasn't performed to warrant his upside. JaCoby received a full season assignment and so far looks good hitting .288 with a HR, 8 RBI's, and 2 SB. While Meadows is superior to the group of CF's the Mets have now, JaCoby seems to be the same type as them, especially King who is currently in Savannah.
The "We've Given up on Cechinni" Guys
SS Trae Arbet- 5th round- 19 years old- Extended Spring Training
SS Adam Frazier- 6th round- 22 years old- Advanced Single-A Bradenton
- If Alderson nabs either one of these two guys, it may signal that he no longer has confidence in Gavin Cechinni's ability to stick at SS long term. The Bucs went over-slot to grab Arbet who is regarded as a good all around offensive SS who has a fringy arm and fringe range at SS. In 38 games at SS for the GCL Pirates last season, Arbet did commit 21 errors. Frazier on the other hand is High IQ defensive whiz at SS with an advanced feel for the strike zone. This comes with practically 0 power though as he hit exactly 0 HRs in the 3 yr college career.
The "Never Have Enough Arms" Righties
RHP Buddy Borden- 7th round- 22 years old- Single-A West Virginia
RHP Neil Kozikowski- 8th round- 19 years old- Extended Spring Training
RHP Chad Kuhl- 9th round- 21 years old- Advanced Single-A Bradenton
RHP Shane Carle- 10th round- 22 years old- Single-A West Virginia
Look you can never have enough pitching prospect. Even though the Mets system is flooded with RH arms I wouldn't be surprised to see Alderson grab another one. Borden and Kuhl were both Pitchers of the Year in their respective conferences and both feature low 90's FB's (though Borden can reach 96), and curveballs/change-ups that could be league average pitches. At 6' 4" Kozikowski has a ton of room to add velocity to his low 90's FB but is a young who is years away from helping a team. Lastly, Carle is another tall lanky righty who makes a living off of his heavy low 90's sinker.
