MLB Prospect Watch

International Signings

We've seen two international signings in the past two days.  The St. Louis Cardinals made a big splash today, doling out $750,000 to sign Dominican right-hander Andres Serrano, reports Ben Badler for Baseball America.  The bonus is the largest given to a pitcher from the Dominican Republic this season.  Serrano still has to have his age and identity verified by Major League Baseball, but assuming all goes well, the Cardinals have added another piece to what is becoming a well-stocked collection of international talent.

Yesterday, the Kansas City Royals added another international player to their farm system, signing another right-hander from the Dominican, Branly Crisotomo, reports Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.  Crisotomo is 17-years-old and throws between 87 and 91 mph.

Prospect Potent Potables - Castro, Familia, Lake, Yankees, Royals

• The White Sox hope that newly acquired prospect Simon Castro proves to be a manageable reclamation project, notes Mark Gonzales of BaseballAmerica.com, who also notes that the Sox have made a $250,000 investment in 17-year-old RHP Luis Martinez out of Venezuela.
• Joe Wieland and Robbie Erlin were acquired together by the Padres at last year's trade deadline, and Corey Brock of MLB.com suggests that both could make it to the majors this season.
• After a long 2011 season and a trip to the DL, the Mets didn't let Jeurys Familia pitch a lot in the Dominican Winter League this off-season, but as Andy McCullough points out for Baseball America, they still let him pitch a few innings to get him some experience coming out of the bullpen.
• Junior Lake may have tore up the Arizona Fall Leauge, but the Cubs' prospect's game is still largely hit or miss, says Mike Newman for FanGraphs.com.
• George King of Baseball America points out how Yankees pitching prospects Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos are actually further away from the majors than they were this time last season, despite positive development since that time.
• The Royals have an array of prospects and veterans attending camp as non-roster invitees, and Paul Thompson of KingsofKauffman.com breaks down the chances all of them have of making the team's Opening Day roster, giving pitching prospect Mike Montgomery the best chance of all.

Prospect Potent Potables - Munoz, Mitchell, Adrianza, Rays, Royals

• The Oakland A's have signed 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Yairo Munoz, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America.
• Jared Mitchell is trying to put a lost season and another disappointing one behind him, says Scott Merkin of MLB.com.  Mitchell will be in White Sox camp this spring as a non-roster invitee.
• Giants SS prospect Ehrie Adrianza will always be a better defender than a hitter, but as Andy Baggerly points out for Baseball America, his bat closed the gap between the two last season.
• The Rays have announced their non-roster invites to Spring Training, including a pair of shortstops Tim Beckham and Hak-Ju Lee, reports Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times.
• The Royals have also announced their Spring Training invites, which include a quartet of pitchers - Mike Montgomery, Will Smith, Chris Dwyer, and Jake Odorizzi - and outfielder Wil Myers, according to Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Rangers, Colon, Harper

• The Texas Rangers need a lefty in their bullpen this season, and that role could be filled by prospects Martin Perez or Robbie Ross, notes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, who quotes GM Jon Daniels as stating the possibility.
• The Kansas City Royals have been picking near the top of the draft for years, but only once recently did they draft for need instead of talent, says Kevin Scobee of KingsofKauffman.com.  That pick was SS Christian Colon, who has since switched positions and looks like he may end up as nothing more than a utility player.
• The chances of Bryce Harper making the Nationals Opening Day roster might be aided by new manager Davey Johnson's propensity to play young players, thinks Bill Ladson of MLB.com.

Pirates Aquire INF Navarro for Pounders

Yamaico Navarro, who was sent to the Kansas City Royals by the Royals this past season in exchance for Mike Aviles, has been traded again, this time to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  In exchange for the 24-year-old infielder, the Pirates will send prospects Brooks Pounders and Diego Goris to Kansas City, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.

Navarro, traded to the Royals by the Red Sox at last year's trade deadline, has hit just .206 between the two organizations over the past two years, but was rated as the Red Sox No. 9 prospect in 2009 by Baseball America, who projected him as the team's shortstop of the future.  

At the time of the trade, Baseball America said about him:

"Navarro controls the strike zone reasonably well and has tremendous bat speed, so he has the ability to hit for solid average with as many as 15-20 homers per season. His strong arm is his best defensive tool, and he also shows some quickness and soft hands. His effort and conditioning waver at times, though he has gotten more consistent in those regards in recent seasons. Aviles may be better prepared to help the Red Sox today, but Navarro has more long-term potential."

The Royals had no place to give Navarro regular playing time in 2012, with Johnny Giavotella, Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas firmly entrenched at second base, short stop, and third base, respectively.  In exchange, they got two prospects.

Pounders was a second-round pick in (with a first-round name) taken by the Pirates in 2009.  Despite being 6'4" 255 lbs, Pounders' fastball topped out in the low-90s coming out of high school, but was noted for having advanced secondary stuff and a feel for four pitches.  Despite a lack of power stuff, however, the Pirates have already converted Pounders to a reliever.  It remains to be seen what the Royals will do with him.

Goris is a 20-year-old INF who has played primarily short stop and has spent all four of his professional seasons in the Dominican Summer League, having yet to play domestically.  He has hit .302 during his four years, showing little power or ability to draw walks, but not striking out frequently either.