MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Nieuwenhuis, Perez, Vizcaino, d'Arnaud

• Mets OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis doesn't have much of a shot to make the Mets big-league roster this spring after missing a significant portion of last season with a torn labrum, notes Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, but once he re-establishes his health, he could work his way to the majors this season.  Nieuwenhuis could take over in center field if Andres Torres doesn't regain his 2010 offensive form, or he could take over in one of the corners, where he would be an above-average defender.
• Mike Newman of FanGraphs.com breaks down the struggles of Braves lefty Carlos Perez, attributing at least some part of it to a change in body type that Perez went thorugh bewteen 2010 and 2011.  While Perez is still far from the majors, Arodys Vizcaino is a large part of the Braves future, possibly as soon as next season.  Whether that is in the rotation or out of the bullpen is still up in the air, but Ben Duronio of CapitalAvenueClub.com offers his take on Vizcaino and a response to Keith Law's evaluation of him.
• MinorLeagueBall.com has an in-depth breakdown of Blue Jays catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud and how he stacks up against other prospects and other catching prospects throughout the game of baseball.

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 - Gose, Indians, Mets, Cardinals

• The Blue Jays want Anthony Gose to use his speed more, and to use it more effectively, including bunting more often, reports Larry Millson for Baseball America.
• The Indians don't have a ton of talent in their farm system, but they have some players who are entering important years in their careers, notes Jim Piasick of IndiansProspectInsider.com.  He names Cord Phelps, Nick Weglarz, Jason Knapp, Beau Mills, and LeVon Washington, and breaks down what each needs to do to get headed back in the right direction.
• The Mets are planning a prospects vs. veterans game on March 3rd or 4th, according to Michael Baron of MetsBlog.com.
• The Cardinals are holding a early prospect camp, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  The link has the full list of prospects, which includes Carlos Martinez and Oscar Taveras.

Prospect Potent Potables - Tolleson, den Dekker, LaMarre, Astros Invites

• Shawn Tolleson has taken a long and winding road to the top of the minor leagues, but as Ken Gurnick of MLB.com points out, he might have never become a Dodger if it wasn't for the team's current ace, Clayton Kershaw.  Now, Tolleson profiles as a potential future closer.
• Mets OF Matt den Dekker discusses his development as a player with Michael Baron of MetsBlog.com, including how he is working to cut down his strikeouts and how he plans to steal more bases next season.
• Mark Sheldon of MLB.com discussesz the progression of Reds CF prospect Ryan LaMarre, including what LaMarre is doing to try to add a little more power to his game.
• The Houston Astros have announced their non-roster invites to spring training, says Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, a list that includes 1B Jonathan Singleton, 2B Delino DeShields, Jr., SS Jonathan VIllar, and OF's George Springer and Jake Goebbert.

Cardenas Claimed by Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have claimed INF Adrian Cardenas off of waivers from the Oakland A's, reports Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

Drafted 37th overall by the Phillies in the 2006 draft out of a South Florida high school, Cardenas has always been able to hit.  In fact, he holds a career .303 batting average in over 2800 minor league at-bats.  The problem with Cardenas is that he's always been a "tweener."

Drafted as a shortstop, he never profiled to stay at the position.  Some scouts envisioned a second baseman, while some saw him as a third baseman and some thought he'd have to end up in left field.  The Phillies shifted him to second base in 2007 before trading him to Oakland in the Joe Blanton deal in 2008.  

Cardenas continued to hit for average, but unfortunately never developed any power, making him a less than ideal fit for corner positions like third base and left field.  His defense at second base was average at best, and his plate discipline remained below average, making him a less than desirable top-of-the-order hitter.

With hitting for average becoming his only plus tool, Cardenas has developed into something of a Placido Polanco-type player, but with below average defense, which means a player without a ton of value.  In fact, in a search of players who played either second base, third base of left field and hit above .300 with an OBP below .370 and less than 10 home runs, Baseball-Reference.com came up with Polanco and Bobby Richardson as the players with the most similar seasons (8), but both of them were good defenders.  After that it was Mark Grudzieanek (6), who played more SS than Cardenas ever will, but is the best example of what he could be once he moved to second base - a solid average hitter with good doubles power that doesn't walk enough or have quite enough power to be completely effective.

Cardenas could profile now as a versatile bench player, who could enter a game late as a pinch hitter and play a number of defensive positions, giving a team versatility, as long as none of those positions need to be played well.

It's not a great role, but if he continues to hit for average, teams will continue to give him a chance.