MLB Prospect Watch

More Opinions on Rizzo/Cashner Trade

Yesterday's trade between the the Cubs and Padres is getting mixed reviews.

• Baseball America has their usual full player scouting reports, but doesn't formulate too much of an opinion.  
• Paul Swydan of FanGraphs.com makes the case that the acquisition of Andrew Cashner makes the Padres better in three ways, but the entire argument seems a stretch to me.  One of his reasons, that the addition of Cashner to the Padres bullpen removes the temptation of using pitching prospects Casey Kelly, Joe Wieland, or Robbie Erlin in a relief role to start the year, may be true, but it is a completely secondary effect of the trade that could have been accomplished without Cashner by simply showing restraint.  And it's certainly no reason to trade a potential starting first baseman.  Fellow FanGraphs.com writer Jason Roberts is on the Cubs side of things, saying that "trading a reliever with injury and control problems for a young, slugging first baseman is almost always a good idea."
• John SIckles thinks Zach Cates has some nice potential, which only adds to the lopsidedness of this trade to the Cubs side.
• Keith Law of ESPN.com thinks the Cubs got a "slight edge" in the deal, going as far as saying that Cashner "could be the next Craig Kimbrel."

Perhaps I'm missing something with Cashner.  He does have a enticing power arm, and could end up being a very effective reliever for the Padres, not just this year but also in the future.  But he's never thrown more than 115 innings in a professional season and has battled wildness throughout his career.  He's essentially a two-pitch pitcher, having never been healthy long enough to effectively develop his change-up.  I don't see him having the repertoire or durability to ever be an effective starter long-term.  He could be a dominant reliever, but I don't see that as enough value for a starting first baseman.  Anthony Rizzo may never be an all-star (he reminds me a lot of Adam LaRoche), but he's still an effective piece.  Opinions are split on him and Yonder Alonso, and one clearly had to be traded, but the value in return could have been higher.

Potent Potables - Trout, Schoop, Kelly, May

• It appears that, barring spring injuries, the Angels will send Mike Trout to Triple-A to begin the 2012 season, according to Sam Miller of The Orange County Register.
• If the Orioles are looking to improve their big league ballclub via trade this off-season, Jonathan Schoop will be among the first names to come up, says Jordan Tuwiner of Orioles-Nation.com.
• Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com takes a look back at Casey Kelly's first year in the Padres farm system, and reviews the rest of the system as well.
• Now that Trevor May has been dubbed as the Phillies top prospect, PhuturePhillies.com considers what to expect from him in 2012.

 

 

Prospect Action - Surkamp, Franklin, Turner

• Eric Surkamp extended his Eastern League ERA lead on Sunday, as the Giants prospect threw eight scoreless innings, says David Schoenholtz of MiLB.com.
• A rough start by Felix Doubront wasted a solid offensive night by his Red Sox teammates, including two doubles by Che-Hsuan Lin, reports WPRI.com.
• Nick Franklin went 3-for-4 in his first game in eight weeks after the Mariners prospect recovered from a combination of a concussion, food poisioning, and mono.
• Cale Iorg knocked two hits to help his fellow Tigers prospects complete their series sweep, notes The Erie Times-News.  Former teammate Jacob Turner earned the win in his Triple-A debut, according to David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Joe Benson's two-run homer helped lead his Twins teammates to victory, says The Hartford Courant.
• Padres pitching prospect Casey Kelly got back in the win column on Sunday, two runs over five innings of work, notes David Schoenholtz of MiLB.com.

 

Prospect Action - Matzek, Pomeranz, Kelly

• Tyler Matzek came back with a good outing after missing a month while the Rockies worked with the prospect on his mechanics, according to David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Indians prospect Drew Pomeranz tossed five innings on Wednesday, allowing just an unearned run, says The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• Pirates pitching prospect Zack Von Rosenberg took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, notes Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Tom Koehler tossed five shutout innings, but Matt Dominguez and his other Marlins teammates still had to come from behind to earn the victory, reports Tim Grubbs of NOLA.com.
• Casey Kelly threw five shutout innings, despite the Padres keeping the young right-hander on a strict pitch count, notes David Schoenholtz of MiLB.com.
• Brett Lawrie went 3-for-5 in his thrid game back from injury as the Blue Jays 3B prospect continues to work his way towards a 2011 debut in the majors, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.

 

Prospect Action - Harper, Turner, Delgado

• Bryce Harper knocked two more base hits, as the Nationals prospect extended his hit streak to 13 games, notes Danny Wild of MiLB.com.
• Mike Trout homered again, says Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• Red Sox OF prospect Bryce Brentz homered, extending his hitting streak to 21 games, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Casey Kelly gave up just one run over six innings of work, notes Josh Jackson of MiLB.com, as the Padres prospect lowered his ERA to 3.43 on the season
• Jacob Turner finally got his first Double-A win on Monday, as the Tigers top prospect surrendered just an unearned run in 6 2/3 innings of work, reports Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• In other prospect action...
  • Paul Goldschmidt hit his 12th home run of the season and A.J. Pollock went 3-for-5 with a double for the Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate in Mobile.
  • Tigers 3B prospect Nick Castellanos went 3-for-4 with a triple.
  • Phillies C prospect Sebastian Valle homered and doubled in a three-hit day at the plate.
  • Braves P prospect Randall Delgado gave up three earned runs over seven innings, including a home run by Mariners prospect Johermyn Chavez, but struck out ten batters in the process.