FINAL Results: 2014 Rule 5 Draft

Also at Mack's Mets:

     Today at 12pm is the start of the 2014 Rule 5 draft. The Mets will select 14th today due to their finish in the standings in 2014. During the Sandy Alderson regime, the team has generally not dabbled in the Rule 5 draft market for themselves. Instead, the team acts as a selection spot for those teams in the bottom of the draft order, or with full 40 man rosters, in exchange for cash or international bonus slot compensation.

     It is widely reported that the club expects to lose RHSP Logan Verrett during the MLB Phase of the draft. Other clubs view Verrett as an good option as a 6th/7th medium leverage reliever or as a #5 starter. Sandy Alderson also indicated that he expects to lose "a handful of guys" during the AA phase of the draft. This means other clubs will be looking to pluck players from the St. Lucie, Savannah, and Brooklyn rosters for their own AA clubs.

MLB Phase

Pick	Team	# on 40 Man	Player Selected
1	Diamondbacks	39	C- Oscar Hernandez - Astros
2	Rockies	39	1B- Mark Canha - Marlins
3	Rangers	38	OF- Delino DeShields Jr - Astros
4	Astros	38	RHP- Jason Garcia - Red Sox
5	Twins	39	RHP- JR Graham - Braves
6	Red Sox	39	RHP- Jandel Gustave - Astros
7	White Sox	38	Pass
8	Cubs	38	SS- Taylor Featherston - Rockies
9	Phillies	38	SS-  Odubel Herrera - Rangers RHP- Andrew Oliver - Pirates
10	Reds	38	Pass
11	Marlins	39	LHP- Andrew McKirahan - Cubs
12	Padres	39	Pass
13	Rays	40	N/A
14	Mets	39	LHP- Sean Gilmartin - Twins
15	Braves	38	RHP- Daniel Winkler - Rockies
16	Brewers	39	Pass
17	Blue Jays	37	Pass
18	Yankees	37	Pass
19	Indians	40	N/A
20	Mariners	39	RHP- David Rollins - Astros
21	Giants	40	N/A
22	Pirates	39	Pass
23	Athletics	40	N/A
24	Royals	39	Pass
25	Tigers	40	N/A
26	Cardinals	37	Pass
27	Dodgers	40	N/A
28	Orioles	37	RHP- Logan Verrett - Mets
29	Nationals	40	N/A
30	Angels	39	Pass

AAA Phase Selections
1st round
D'backs: RHP- Tim Crabbe - Reds
Rockies: RHP- Kyle Simon - Phillies

Rangers: 1B- Rock Shoulders - Cubs
Astros: C- Luis Flores - Cubs
Twins: RHP- Greg Peavey - Mets
White Sox: RHP- Peter Tago - Rockies
Cubs: OF- Ariel Ovando - Astros
Reds: C- Cam Maron - Mets
Marlins: LHP: Matthew Tomshaw - Twins
Padres: SS- Juan Gamboa - Mets
Rays: OF- Louis Urena - Pirates
Braves: C- Steven Rodriguez - Diamondbacks
Indians: RHP- Delvy Francisco - Phillies
Giants: RHP- Ramon Del Orbe - Marlins
Tigers: RHP- Jheyson Manzueta - Marlins
Cardinals: RHP- Tyler Waldron - Pirates
Dodgers: OF- Peter Lavin - Phillies
Orioles: OF- Sean Halton - Brewers
Angels: IF- Chris Curley - White Sox

2nd round
Rangers: SS- Hiram Martinez - Marlins
Reds: RHP- Euclides Leyer - White Sox
Marlins: 1B- Harold Riggins - Reds
Rays: RHP- Michael O'Brien - Orioles
Giants: RF- Brett Jackson - Diamondbacks
Dodgers: RHP- Alexander Santana - Orioles
Angels: SS- Pedro Ruiz - Diamondbacks

3rd round
Marlins: LHP- Alexander Burgos - Tigers
Dodgers: RHP Randy Fontanez - Mets
Angels: OF- Kentrail Davis - Brewers

4th round Dodgers: SS- Nate Samson - Diamondbacks

AA Phase Selections

No Players Selected

Andrew Brown, Jim Callis, Michael Fulmer, Randy Fontanez, Mets OF

Jim Callis‏ - @jimcallisBA -

Very thin before trade. @wexlerrules: I'm surprised @jimcallisBA ranks the Mets system so poorly post-Dickey trade

                 All at lowest levels, though. @mania715: lotta pitching depth pre-trade

I do like him. Also recognize it's a long way from low A to majors for a pitcher. @thatkicker: are you a Michael Fulmer believer?

RP Randy Fontanez - Indios de Mayaguez – PRWL Playoffs – 0.1-IP, 0-H, 1-SV, 0.00

Dirty got an exclusive scouting report from ‘Purple Row’ a prominent Colorado blogger about OF Andrew Brown:

“At 28, Brown looks like a prototypical AAAA player. Although he showed flashes of power at the big league level last season, slugging .429 while hitting five home runs in limited time with the Rockies, Brown doesn’t appear to have the patience or pitch recognition skills necessary to consistently produce at the highest level. In addition, Brown provides little to no defensive value. Brown has spent the last two years tearing up the Pacific Coast League, and that won’t change in 2013 if he ends up in Triple-A with the Mets moving to Las Vegas. The Mets and their fans should take extreme caution if Brown gets off to a torrid start, as things likely wouldn’t translate well from Las Vegas to Citi Field in Queens.”

               

Great. Sounds like a ‘mile high’  Val Pascucci. I guess this is what you get when you bottom fish and, right now, the more bodies the better. Let’s see, where do we stand for camp:  Righties:  Brown and Collin Cowgill. Lefties: Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Jordany Valdespin, Mike Baxter, Lucas Duda. Also on the 40-man are Cesar Puello and Juan Lagares who are not ready.

                Right now, my guess is:

                                RF           -              Lucas Duda

                                CF           -              Kirk Nieuwenhuis

                                LF            -              Mike Baxter/Collin Cowgill

                                UT          -              Jordany Valdespin

                But…  I expect much more to happen to the 40-man before opening day.

Mack Stuff – Pedro Beato, Randy Fontanez, Brandon Nimmo, Bobby Parnell, Chris Young

Red Sox Designate Pedro Beato For Assignment

LF Jordany Valdespin -  0-2, .278

LF Cesar Puello  -  0-0, .185 – getting minimal winter play with this team

C Francisco Pena  -  1-4, 1-R, 2B, .260

LF Juan Lagares  -  0-2, 1-R, 2-BB, .314

RP Gonzalez Germen  -  0.1-IP, 0-R, 1-K, 6.23

RP Randy Fontanez  -  5.1-IP, 0-R, 6-K, 0-BB, 2.89

                This was a very nice outing for Fontanez and easily was the longest he pitched in any outing including the entire 2012 season for Savannah (28-G, 60.2-IP) and St. Lucie (1-G, 3-IP). For now, he’s pitched in 10 winter games, with 19-K in 18.2-IP. Only 2-BB and a 2.89-ERA. Is he being stretched out? And why, since there’s no place to slot him?  As I have written before, I’m not sure if the Mets have any control over their players and how they are used in winter games. It’s my understanding from two of the Mets players that they cut their own deals with teams in the VWL and PRWL. If that’s true, you sure as hell have to play where that team tells you to play. St. Lucie already has on the board Michael Fulmer, Noah Syndergaard, Luis Mateo, Domingo Tapia, Jake deGrom, Alex Panteliodes, Jim Fuller, and Tyler Pill… and that’s if Rafael Montero bumps to Binghamton.

C   Juan Centeno  -  0-3, 1-BB, .306

SP Mark Cohoon  -  0.1-IP, 1-K, 4.01  -  ???  Started and pitched to only one batter, who he struck out.

photo by Christopher Gregory

The Mets also have some intriguing hitters. Brandon Nimmo is a bit of a head-scratcher. He has a passive approach and trouble with breaking pitches but does project to have plus power. Brooklyn was an aggressive assignment for him given his background as a raw and inexperienced ballplayer. 2012 looks good on paper due to his massive walk rate, but I don’t see a mid-teens walk rate continuing against good pitching. With more experience he should improve against breaking balls and his contact rate should increase. Another worry that he’ll have to move to a corner.. BB

Sources suggest the Dodgers are considering a variety of relievers, and could also make a play for either Indians closer Chris Perez or Mets reliever Bobby Parnell instead.

                -Yeah, I know… the last thing the Mets need is less relief pitching, but let’s put that aside for a second and see if there is an outfield alternative here.

                As of today, the Dodgers have under contract:

                                LF – Carl Crawford - $142mil thru 2017

                                CF – Matt Kemp - $160mil thru 2018

                                RF – Andre Ethier - $85mil thru 2017

                In addition, they have Jerry Hairston (also plays 2B) for $3.7mil in 2013, prospect Yasiel Puig $42mil thru 2017), and prospects Alex Castellanos and Scott Van Slyke.

                Puig is a Cuban defector who had only 82-AB last year combined for the Dodgers rookie/A+ team. The 21-yr. old’s stat line: .354/.442/.634//1076, 5-HR. Earliest ETA would be 2014.

                Castellanos is right up Alderson’s alley. Hit .328/.420/.590/1010, 17-HR, 52-RBI in AAA last year. And, he’s a righty.

                Castellanos for Parnell. Oh yeah… fuck relief.

According to a team insider, the Mets are still considering whether to re-sign free-agent RHP Chris Young, Andy Martino reports in the Daily News.

                I mentioned him a couple of times as an option for the first half of 2013. He’s Mets friendly and knows his way around the clubhouse. He also averaged close to six innings per start in the 20 times he took the mound. Young has very strong ties to the Mets brass and finished last season going 1-2, 2.73 in the month of September. I’m not sure we all saw the best of Young last season. He seemed to get stronger as the season went on, which is normal for pitchers coming off TJS. 

We could do worse.

The Keepers: - #93 - P - Randy Fontanez

93.              Randy Fontanez:

7-22-11: - Cyclone’s rookie Randy Fontanez went into Friday’s game with a 4.15 ERA, but came out smelling 2.84… 4.0-IP, 0-R, 3-K, 0-BB. The 2011 27^th rounder got off to rough start on his third time out (7-6); however, he returned to his scoreless way. The 6-1, 205 pound Fontanez was a starter out of the University of South Florida.

8-8-11: - Stock Up – Randy Fontanez – The 2011 27^th round draft pick continues to get his feet wet in Brooklyn. Today was his eight outing of the year and he went 4.2-IP, 7-H, 3-ER, 2-K, 0-BB. His seasonal ERA now is 2.88 and he’s proving out a good late pick in the draft.

Stock: Dustin Lawley, Carlos Gomez, Randy Fontanez, Josh Stinson, Lucas Duda

8-22-11: - Stock Up – OF Dustin Lawley – Lawley hit his 8th home run last night for K-Port, raising his stat line to .304/.341/.527/.867. We’d gladly take a .527 slugging percentage from all the Mets outfielders. Don’t like the 9-E in 50-G, but the system will gladly live with it if he keeps producing this kind of pop.

8-22-11: - Stock Up – P Carlos Gomez – Let’s not forget about somebody I did a lot of talking about last season Gomez aced the DSL league in 2010 as a starter (7-2, 1.47) and he’s equaling that as a reliever this season for the GCL team (1.59 after 8-G). I was surprised when he didn’t start this year, though I understand there isn’t a lot of velo here.Still, he continues to excel.

8-22-11: - Stock Down – P Randy Fontanez – Boy, talk about a bad outing! Fotanez was crusing this season in Brooklyn (9-G, 6-St , 0-1, 2.79) until today: 1.1-IP, 6-R, 3-ER. We usually write these hiccups off, especially ones like this. Fontanez was called upon to pitch after Chris Hilliard on ly went two innings. There’s a good chance he wasn’t mentally prepared for this outing.

8-22-11: - Stock Up – CL Josh Stinson – Okay, remember this night. Stinson disappointed as a starter this year, afer a surprisingly great stint in 2010 for Buffalo. The Mets are now using him as a closer and he’s consistently sitting at 94-95 and hitting 96. Okay, it’s straight, but it’s working and you might see him closing for the Mets in Septemeber… if there ever is another closing opportunity.

8-24-11: - Stock Up – Lucas Duda – Duda continues to play like the Mets are still in a pennant race. He hit another home run last night, and you may see many more before the season ends. We’ve witnessed his hot bat in the minors and it looks like the Mets have found their permanent right fielder.

Stock: - Michael Fulmer, Julio Concepcion, Randy Fontanez, Flabio Ortega, Charlie Thurber

8-8-11: - Stock Meh – SP Michael Fulmer – Fulmer started his first professional game today,ahd a no-hitter going, but didn’t get out of the first inning. No one slid into him or no hammy was pulled. Line: 0.2-IP, 0-H, 3-BB, 1-WR, 2-R, 1-ER, 13.50. We’ll write this one off as nerves and check back in five days from now.


8-8-11: - Stock Up – LF Julio Concepcion – Concepcion is having a wonderful season for the Kingsport Mets. He went 3-5, 3-R, 2-doubles, 1-RBI this afternoon, raising his seasonal stat line to: .326/.352/.442/.794. This is the fifth year in the Mets organization for the 6-4 Concepcion; however, he only turns 21 this October.


8-8-11: - Stock Up – Randy Fontanez – The 2011 27th round draft pick continues to get his feet wet in Brooklyn. Today was his eight outing of the year and he went 4.2-IP, 7-H, 3-ER, 2-K, 0-BB. His seasonal ERA now is 2.88 and he’s proving out a good late pick in the draft.


8-8-11: - Stock Up – Flabio Ortega – It’s far too early to determine what the Mets have here, but closer Flabio Ortega threw his sixth save in 13 appearances, and now has an ERA of 0.59. That’s one earned run in 15.1-IP. Also has 22-K’s. Imagine what the New York press would do with that first name.


8-9-11: - Stock Up – Charlie Thurber - I mentioned earlier this season that Thurber might be the steal of the draft. The 6-4 21-year old was the 39th draft pick out of the University of Tennessee. Baseball America had him as the 191st high school player available and he had a horrible junior year, going .230/.304/.327/.631. This is what scouting is all about. Something was obviously wrong but was the player? Well, so far this season with Brooklyn: .282/.327/.359/.685.

Wayne Garrett, Randy Fontanez, Matt den Dekker, Juan Urbina, Jeff Francoeur

Wayne Garrett:


Garrett first came up as a rookie in 1969 and platooned with Ed Charles at third base. Because Garrett was a left-handed hitter, he had the majority of playing time at third base, but he also played a good amount of second base that year as well. For the season, Garrett batted .217 with one home run and 39 RBI. Garrett's hitting improved a lot in 1970, as he raised his average to .254 and had 12 home runs and 45 RBI. Garrett only played in 56 games in 1971 due to military duties that caused him to miss part of the season. This would certainly explain why he batted just .213 with one home run and 11 RBI. While Garrett was developing, the Mets at the time always felt the constant need to upgrade at third base. However, many of these efforts did not pay off. Joe Foy and Jim Fregosi both did not turn into long-term fixtures and Garrett was still the third baseman after all that time. - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/770405-new-york-mets-top-10-third-basemen-in-team-history#/articles/770405-new-york-mets-top-10-third-basemen-in-team-history/page/6  


Randy Fontanez:


7-22-11: - Cyclone’s rookie Randy Fontanez went into Friday’s game with a 4.15 ERA, but came out smelling 2.84… 4.0-IP, 0-R, 3-K, 0-BB. The 2011 27th rounder got off to rough start on his third time out (7-6); however, he returned to his scoreless way. The 6-1, 205 pound Fontanez was a starter out of the University of South Florida.


Matt den Dekker:


7-22-11: - den Dekker hit his third home run in the past four games for Binghamton last night (Can you start a sentence with a lower case “den”?). It has taken him only 121-Abs at in AA to hit five home runs, while it took him 267-Abs earlier this year in A+ to hit six. I guess this is what they call maturing.


Juan Urbina:


7-22-11: - Urbina actually had his best outing tonight, going: 5.0-IP, 2-ER, 4-H, 6-K, 1-BB. His ERA is now 8.28. Frankly, I'm still moving him back on the Keepers list. He may have "pro" in his blood, but others, like Francisco Pena, have proven that's not enough.


Jeff Francoeur:


7-23-11: - http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/  - Jeff Francoeur: One of the perrenial teases in all of baseball, Frenchy was hitting at a .407 wOBA clip through the end of April. Despite all the talk about a changed approach at the plate, Francoeur currently sports a .333 wOBA which is a bit higher than the .309 the regression predicted.