MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Trout, Harper, Cubs, Braves Invites

• We know Mike Trout is one of the Angels best three outfielders heading into the 2012 season, but Chris Cwik of FanGraphs.com outlines why that may not matter when it comes down to whether or not Trout makes the Opening Day roster.
• Another top-5 prospect battling for a potential starting outfield gig is Bryce Harper in Washington, and while unlike Trout, an argument could be made for Harper getting a little more seasoning in the minors, Nats manager has already come out and said he wants Harper to make the team, points out Dave Cameron of FanGraphs.com, who lays out the potential costs of making such a move.
• The Cubs have announced that they will be opening up a new facility in the Dominican Republic, reports Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.  It will be the largest facility in the D.R.  Despite current contributions from players like Starlin Castro and Carlos Marmol, the Cubs have not been huge players in Latin America in the past decade, choosing to spend the majority of their international budget in the Pacific Rim, especially Taiwan.
• The Atlanta Braves have announced the rest of their spring training non-roster invites, with Sean Gilmartin and Zeke Spruill leading the way for the pitchers, and catcher Christian Bethancourt, third baseman Joey Terdoslavich, and shortstop Andrelton Simmons rounding out the hitters, reports TalkingChop.com.

Prospect Potent Potables - Orioles, Montero, Frazier

• The Orioles have been linked as possible trade candidates with just about every low-end veteran that's reportedly on the trading block, but as Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun points out, they don't have a lot to trade that they're willing to part with.  Connolly mentions Xavier Avery and L.J. Hoes as the only realistic trade pieces among the Orioles top prospects.  If the team can't get significant return or significant improvement in an area of need (which, for those prospects they probably can't), then I don't see how a trade makes sense.  The Orioles aren't close to competing in the AL East, and giving up a prospect with any kind of upside for a marginal starter or middle reliever isn't the way to build long-term.
• Jesus Montero's power potential is even more valuable now than it would have been a decade ago, which is why the Mariners were willing to part with such a young, talented pitcher in order to get him, says Larry Stone of The Seattle Times.  Stone quotes scouts that even say that young position players are becoming more difficult to develop than young pitching, which, if true, and given the Mariners staple of young pitchers, makes the move a good fit for the Mariners even more.
• Todd Frazier's best chance to make the Reds roster this spring is his versatility, but the team has signed other versatile players Wilson Valdez and Willie Harris, potentially bocking Frazier's path, notes Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.  While Valdez and Harris have veteran experience, Frazier can duplicate all of their versatility in one player, and has more power potential than either one.  At 26, if Frazier isn't ready for the majors, he may never be.
• I wrote a piece for MLB Depth Charts discussing which of the top prospects in the game will make their team's Opening Day roster, including Montero, Matt Moore, Bryce Harper, Jacob Turner, Shelby Miller, Mike Trout, and Trevor Bauer.

Prospect Potent Potables - Angels, Sanchez, Orioles, Cubs Invites

• Sam Miller of The Orange County Register cites a Baseball Prospectus article (subscription needed) that breaks down the things that could go wrong with the Angels top prospects.  Miller's article has the quote on Mike Trout, explaining his potential troubles against right-handed pitching, based on his struggles in the majors last season.
• Pirates C prospect Tony Sanchez apparently had another off-the-field incident, occurring during the instructional season in Florida this past fall, reports Rob Biertempfel of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.  Sanchez allegedly broke his jaw in a bar fight, although he was not hurt a few weeks later at a team mini-camp.  Sanchez has already had jaw issues, missing much of the 2010 season after breaking his jaw getting hit by pitches.  He also was suspended for three games last season after ripping umpires on his Twitter feed.
• The Orioles have announced their second South Korean high school signing in the past week, inking Seong-Min Kim, a 18-year-old left-handed pitcher, reports Jordan Tuwiner of Orioles-Nation.com.  Just two days ago, the team announced the signing of 17-year-old South Korean lefty Kim Sung-min.
• The Cubs have announced their spring training invites, says Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.  Among the prospects invited are outfielders Brett Jackson and Jae-Hoon Ha, and pitchers Jay Jackson, Trey McNutt, and Dae-Eun Rhee.

Potent Potables - Mariners, Angels, Gillies, Cole

• Mariners 3B Alex Liddi is apparently done for the winter after being released by teams in Venezuelan and the Dominican, reports Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.  After a long season, that was extended by a major league call-up in September, fatigue is being cited for Liddi's winter struggles.  On a more positive note for the Mariners is the positive end to the 2011 season for Nick Franklin, who's regular season was riddled with injuries, notes Robert Emrich of MLB.com.
• Another prospect who's winter league struggles are being blamed on fatigue is Mike Trout of the Angels, who had a poor offensive showing in the hitter-friendly Arizona Fall League.  Sam Miller of The Orange County Register is the one doing the blaming here, and he also cited Jean Segura's progress in the AFL as well.
• Phillies OF Tyson Gillies is getting in extra at-bats in the AFL to make up for the significant time he's missed the past two years due to injury, notes Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Daily News.
• Gerrit Cole had no problem adjusting to his first taste of professional baseball, as the Pirates top prospect saw success in the AFL, says Dejan Kovacevic for Baseball America.

 

 

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.