MLB Prospect Watch

A's Aquire Parker, Cowgill for Cahill

The Oakland A's sent established pitcher Trevor Cahill and reliever Craig Breslow to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for top pitching prospect Jarrod Parker, OF prospect Collin Cowgill and relief prospect Ryan Cook, according to the league.  Matt Eddy of Baseball America has a full scouting report on all the players involved.  Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic profiles the trade from the Diamondbacks side.

Parker is the key to this trade, immediately becoming the top prospect in the A's farm system.  A potential ace, Parker is a full season removed from Tommy John surgery and is still regaining his command, especially with his slider.

Reactions to the trade have varied.  Kevin Goldstein thinks it's a "really good trade for the A's," while Keith Law of ESPN.com doesn't think the A's got enough in return.  Zach Sanders of FanGraphs.com likes the deal for the Diamondbacks as well, and Athletics Nation thinks the A's got back "roughly 60%" of Cahill's value.

Prospect Action - Walker, Odorizzi, Parker

• Taijuan Walker turned in his most dominating performance as a professional, as the Mariners RHP prospect fanned 11 batters over six innings of shutout ball, reports John Parker of MiLB.com.
• Catching prospect Gary Sanchez blasted a home run to help ignite his fellow Yankee prospects to victory, says Corbin Ensminger of The Post and Courier.
• Jake Odorizzi battled himself in his first Double-A start, but the Royals prospect gave his team a chance to win, and earned his first victory at his new level, notes Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• Marlins 3B prospect Matt Dominguez hit a walk-off homer on Thrusday night, reports Bob Fortus of the Times-Picayune.
• Jarrod Parker threw five scoreless innings as the Diamondbacks top prospect picked up the victory, according to Daniel Paulling of The Birmingham News.  Marc Krauss provided Parker with all the offense he would need, driving in three runs on the night.

 

 

Weekend Wrap-Up - Owens, Mier, Harvey, Borchering, Parker

Saturday

• Rudy Owens took a no-hitter into the sixth inning as the Pirates pitching prospect advanced to 2-0 on the season, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• Jiovanni Mier hit his first home run of the season as part of a breakout day for the Astros short stop prospect, says Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.

Sunday

• Mets 2010 first round pick Matt Harvey finally gave up a run as a professional, but it was unearned, leaving him with a still spotless ERA, notes Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.
• Bobby Borchering's season is off to an incredibly slow start, but he burst out in a big way on Sunday with a 4-for-5 day at the plate, including a home run, says Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.  That's good news for the Diamondbacks, who need some right now after watching top pitching prospect Jarrod Parker struggle yet again in his second start back from Tommy John surgery.  Parker allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 innings of work, and while his velocity is back to its previous levels, his command and slider are still trailing behind, says J.J. Cooper of Baseball America.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Tate, Noesi, Wimmers

• The Padres had to deal with a double-blow on Tuesday as two of their top outfield prospects, Donavan Tate and Everett Williams, crashed into one another going after a fly ball, reports Corey Brock of MLB.com.  It appears Tate will head to the 7-day DL while Williams will miss 3-to-5 games.
• Hector Noesi has been called up to the majors by the New York Yankees, reports Josh Norris of The Trentonian.
• Royals OF prospect Brett Eibner will miss 8-12 weeks after breaking his thumb, says Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star.
• Due to his horrid first start, the Twins have elected to remove Alex Wimmers from the starting rotation in Class A Fort Myers, says La Velle E. Neal III of the Minnesota Star Tribune.  Wimmers walked all six batters he faced and threw three wild pitches, which reportedly went straight to the backstop.
• Ben Badler of Baseball America says that Jarrod Parker's rough opening start can absolutely be attributed to the effects of coming back from Tommy John surgery.

 

Prospect Action - Torres, Parker, Montero, Wimmers

• Alex Torres struck out nine batters in his first Triple-A start for the Rays affiliate in Durham, says Danny Wild of MiLB.com.
• Joe Savery went 2-for-3 on Monday night, and his batting average dropped, notes Joe Berkery of the Philadelphia Daily News.
• In a game that could only happen in the California League, Jaff Decker led his fellow Padres prospects to a 23-10 victory behind a home run, a triple, and a stolen base, reports Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.  In that same game, Rockies OF prospect Tim Wheeler homered twice.
• Jerry Sands homered for the third straight game on Monday, making his case to the Dodgers that he's more ready for the majors than previously anticipated, notes Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Jarrod Parker's first start back in a real game didn't go as he had hoped.  The Diamondbacks top prospects, was hit all over the park, giving up seven earned runs in 3 2/3 innings pitched, notes Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.
• In other prospect action...
  • Braves C prospect Christian Bethancourt was a single short of the cycle and drove in three runs.
  • Cubs OF prospect Michael Burgess hit two home runs, an even more impressive feat once you realize he did it in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League.
  • After a rough spring, Jesus Montero has broken out in Triple-A, as the Yankees top prospect went 3-for-5 on Monday to raise his batting average to .450.
  • Blue Jays 3B prospect Brett Lawrie homered and doubled, raising his average to .381.
  • Twins 2010 first round pick Alex Wimmers had a meltdown of a performance on Monday, walking all six batters he faced to start the game, and threw three wild pitches.