Cubs Den - Mock

Cubs Den

2014 Mock Draft

1. Astros (retired scout): Brady Aiken, LHP, H.S. (CA).  "Simple. He is the best player in the draft and has the polish to move quickly."

2. Marlins:  (Jason Parks): Carlos Rodon, LHP, N.C State. "Easy pick. Best player available; top college arm in the draft; frontline ceiling with one of the highest floors in the class; plus fastball; double-plus slider; workload concerns and a few performance red flags this season, but highly competitive lefty with impact stuff. Don't over-think it. "

3. White Sox (Matt Cassidy): Tyler Kolek, RHP, HS (T). John: The latest buzz says the Sox have focused on Kolek and that he is their guy.  Keith Law has called it the biggest lock in the draft.

4. Cubs (John Arguello):  Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU:  Surprise!  I have heard conflicting stories and for me it came down to Nick Gordon or Aaron Nola.  The industry buzz I have heard recently made me go with Nola.  The Cubs may be leaning toward an arm, they prefer college players and higher floors, though the buzz is that scouts are beginning to think that maybe Nola has a higher ceiling than they originally believed.  I've also heard that they aren't especially enamored with anyone outside of the top 2 arms, so they may just get a safe player who can rise quickly.  A lot of times we mistakenly assume best available = highest ceiling within a group of similarly ranked players, which would mean Gordon or Jackson or even Hoffman.  But BPA to the Cubs means the player most capable of -- and most likely -- to make a long term impact, so they will strongly consider floor along with ceiling. They maybe even save a little bit on the bonus (though many doubt that with Nola) and go for the high ceiling talent with their 2nd pick: perhaps the very projectable Jack Flaherty or the hard-throwing Jake Bukauskus, who may have the best pure prep arm in the draft after Kolek.  Word is that the Cubs have their eye on several 2nd round pitchers.  Ask me again before Thursday and I might change my mind and flip back to Gordon or even Max Pentecost if they really want to save money.

5. Twins: (Sahadev Sharma): Nick Gordon, SS, HS (FL).  If the Cubs don't snag him, I don't think Gordon gets past the Twins. The slick fielding shortstop is more athletic than his brother with more pop and less speed.

6. Mariners (Dan Kirby): Alex Jackson, OF, HS CA): I think the M's take BPA in Jackson and even if he ends up in OF, the bat is elite. He has a mature approach and jaw-dropping raw power.

7. Phillies (Mauricio Rubio): Bradley Zimmer, OF, U. of San Francisco -When it comes to hitting prospects the primary tool I look for is the hit tool as everything plays off of a player's ability to make contact. Zimmer projects to have a plus hit tool and he's shown an ability to drive the ball for hard contact. He looks the part too which helps a lot. Add in decent speed and a good arm and I think the Phillies might have themselves a player here.

8. Rockies (Jordan Gorosh): Touki Toussaint, RHP, HS (FL).  John, "With a mid 90s fastball, a knee-buckling curve, and the athleticsm to repeat his delivery and develop better command, Toussaint has some of the highest upside in this draft, but also comes with a fair amount of risk.

9. Blue Jays: (Ty Youngfelt): Jeff Hoffman, LHP, East Carolina: . TJ surgery is almost a formality for power arms now and once healthy Hoffman is a TOR pitcher. Steal.

10. Mets: (Steve Fiorindo): Trea Turner, SS, NC State:   "After dropping early in the process, a strong finish has Turner climbing up boards again.  He's athletic, can run, and has the ability to stick at SS.  If he can hit, he will be a very good player" - John

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2014/06/mlb-mock-draft-we-chose-a-10-man-panel-to-pick-the-first-round-round-robin-style-plus-who-they-would-pick-for-cubs-at-4/