MLB Prospect Watch

Royals Get Odorizzi, Jeffress in Return for Greinke

The Kansas City Royals have finally played their ace, trading Zack Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for prospects Jake Odorizzi and Jeremy Jeffress and former prospects Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar.  John Maunel of Baseball America has the complete breakdown of the deal.

Views on the trade thus far have differed, but the general consensus is that the Brewers are going all-in for the 2011 season while the Royals have added depth to an already impressive farm system.  Frankie Piliere of FanHouse.com loves the deal for the Royals, while Keith Law of ESPN.com questions their ability to land at least one "impact guy," comparing this deal to the one they made for Carlos Beltran, based more abound organizational need than value.  Rob Neyer of ESPN.com, who in addition to being an analyst is also a Royals fan, appears to be reserving judgement until down the road, but admits that this pushes the rebuilding timetable back yet another year.  Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star also shares his thoughts.

The Royals likely could have held out for a prospect with a higher-ceiling, but that would have cost them in terms of the number of players in return.  What they may have lost in quality, they made up for in quantity, and in the cases of Cain, Escobar, and Jeffress, players whose impact could be seen as soon as this season.

 

 

Prospect Potent Potables - 3/3

Today's prospect-related links are brought to you by the number 3...

• Brandon Erbe of the Baltimore Orioles talks to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun about the changes he has made in his delivery.
• As if there wasn't enough pressure on 20-year-old Noel Arguelles after defecting from Cuba, Sam Mellenger of the Kansas City Star talks about how the young lefty is the "face of hope and change" for the Royals.
• Speaking of pressure, Alcides Escobar is following not only in the footsteps of departed Brewers short stop J.J. Hardy, but in the footsteps of his Venezuelan countrymen, such as Omar Vizquel and Luis Aparicio, reports Adam McCalvy for MLB.com.
• Drew Storen is enjoying playing in the shadow cast by his Nationals teammate Stephen Strasburg, notes Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
• As Spring Training games begin with professional teams playing local colleges, Gaby Sanchez reflects back on his days at the University of Miami when the team used to scrimmage the Marlins, says Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.
• So much for the over-hyping of Starlin Castro.  Amid rumors that he may start the Cubs' opener on Thursday, manager Lou Piniella released the team's starting lineup for that day, with Opening Day starter Ryan Theriot in his rightful place, leading off and playing short stop, notes Carrie Muskat in her MLB.com blog.  Castro is expected to replace Theriot after three or four innings however.
• It was a slow day for Jason Heyward in his first spring game against the Mets on Tuesday.  All he showed the Braves was hitting ability, plate discipline, and speed, according to Marty Noble of MLB.com.
• In addition to being a two-way player early in his professional career, Casey Kelly had the opportunity to be a two-sport star at the University of Tennessee.  He has no regrets, however, on passing up the opportunity to play for the Red Sox, notes the Associated Press.  The emergence of Kelly as the Sox' top prospect will hopefully take some of the pressure off of Lars Anderson and allow him to rebound from a disappointing season, notes Ron Borges of the Boston Herald.

Link: Escobar Called Up by Brewers

In a surprising move, the Milwaukee Brewers have called up top shortstop prospect Alcides Escobar and demoted veteran J.J. Hardy to Triple-A, reports Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal.  Hardy was batting .229 on the season and had an obvious replacement in Escobar waiting to replace him.

Best and Worst from 6/24

BEST

• Brandon Snyder (BAL) - 3-4, 2 2B, batting .238 in Triple-A
• Matt LaPorta (CLE) - 3-5, 2B, HR, batting .310
• Alcides Escobar (MIL) - 3-6, 2B, batting .298
• Angel Salome (MIL) - 4-8, 2B, HR, batting .283
• Ike Davis (NYM) - 2-4, 2B, batting .667 in Double-A
• Reese Havens (NYM) - 2-4, 2B, HR, batting .232
• Matt Solentic (OAK) - 4-5, 3B, 2 HR, batting .291
• Michael Saunders (SEA) - 2-4, HR, batting .288
• Jarrod Parker (ARI) - 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 K/2 BB, 3.04 ERA
• David Hernandez (BAL) - 4 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 K/0 BB, 3.30 ERA
• Michael Bowden (BOS) - 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 K/1 BB, 3.11 ERA
• Wade Davis (TB) - 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 6 K/2 BB, 2.89 ERA

WORST

• Jake Odorizzi (MIL) - 4 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 K/3 BB, 11.25 ERA
• Phillip Humber (MIN) - 3 1/3 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 3 K/1 BB, 5.88 ERA
• Dellin Betances (NYY) - 2/3 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 1 K/3 BB, 5.48 ERA

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• Pedro Alvarez (PIT) - 1-5, HR, batting .111 in Double-A
• Brad Lincoln (PIT) - 6 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 K/3 BB, 1.35 ERA in Triple-A

Best and Worst from 6/4

BEST

• Alcides Escobar (MIL) - 2-4, 2B, SB, batting .296
• Ike Davis (NYM) - 2-4, 3B, HR, batting .289
• Austin Jackson (NYY) - 2-4, 3B, HR, batting .348
• Adrian Cardenas (OAK) - 3-3, 2B, SB, batting .389 in Double-A
• Michael Taylor (PHI) - 3-3, batting .351
• Desmond Jennings (TB) - 2-3, 2B, 3B, batting .361
• Bud Norris (HOU) - 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 4 K/3 BB, 2.63 ERA
• Mat Latos (SD) - 6 2/3 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 8 K/1 BB, 0.51 ERA

WORST

• Jeff Samardzija (CHC) - 5 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 6 K/2 BB, 4.43 ERA
• Joe Savery (PHI) - 6 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 5 K/3 BB, 4.05 ERA

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• Christian Friedrich (COL) - 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 7 K/2 BB, 2.77 ERA
• Carlos Carrasco (PHI) - 6 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 K/2 BB, 5.14 ERA
• Madison Bumgarner (SF) - 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 5 K/2 BB, 1.86 ERA
• Austin Romine (NYY) - 1-4, HR, batting .282