Building 2012 Rosters Prospects First - Picks 6-10

Okay,  the one change I considered was putting Jeurys Famila back to AA, but the majority of opinion was he will move on th Buffalo. So, I followed my original projection.

Moving on:

6. Aderlin Rodriquez - First the good news...  he's tied for 19th place in the Sally League with 14 home runs, tied for 9th in RBIs, and is only 19-years old. The bad news... an OBP of .266, 98-Ks, and 41-errors. He may just be the top power bat in the system, but where do you play him? He's a first baseman in waiting, but the Mets already have Davis, Duda, Dykstra, Welsh, and Ozga, none of which deserve to be moved out. And, we still want to move Wilmer Flores here. My guess is he remains at 3B in 2012 for St. Lucie. If I'm wrong, you will see position movement in winter ball.

 

7. SP Michael Fulmer – Admittedly, I had Fulmer ranked too high in my last roster feature. I simply confused him with someone else. It really doesn’t matter where or how the high school kid is used this season and there is no reason to rush him. There are a fair amount of college arms that were signed in the last 30 days and they will move ahead of Fulmer in the pecking order. My guess is he will remain in extended camp when the season starts and head up the Brooklyn rotation in 2012.


ETA: 2016

8. SS Jordany Valdespin –


Valdespin was promoted earlier this month to AAA-Buffalo and he is having a little problem with that level of pitching. I have Ruben Tejada remaining in Queens regardless of whether Jose Reyes is signed, so it looks like Valdespin will become the emergency shortstop in waiting. There was a recent sub-only article on him at Baseball America that focused on his attitude problems. The story said that is all in the past. We'll see.


ETA: Ready in 2012, but blocked

9. 1B Wilmer Flores – Flores has done everything he can to convince the Mets that he can make it someday as a third baseman, but the reality is he can’t. He is too slow which takes out any corner outfield option as well. I would keep him in Florida for another season, playing and learning first base. Hopefully, his bat will blossom to its projected level.


ETA: Ready in 2013, but blocked

10.CF Matt den Dekker – den Dekker is starting to figure out AA pitching, but the season will end soon. He will return to the Binghamton centerfield come 2012 opening day, where his increasing pop will hopefully continue to grow. The Mets fall desperately short on outfield talent right now, but that doesn't mean they should rush the talent they have in the system. Most probably, this is the future centerfielder in Queens, but it takes time.


ETA: 2013


Rosters So Far:


Buffalo: (1) – SS Jordany Valdespin


Binghamton: (4) – SP: Mike Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, OF Matt den Dekker


St. Lucie: (2) – 1B Wilmer Flores, 3B Aderlin Rodriguez


Savannah:


Brooklyn: (2) – SP: Michael Fulmer, OF: Brandon Nimmo