MLB Prospect Watch

Big Day of Cuts - Harper, Rizzo, Pomeranz

Saturday saw a number of teams make significant roster cut downs as all teams approach the March 15th roster cut-down deadline (the last date a team has to assign an injured player to a minor league club - meaning that if a player is still in camp after that date and gets injured, the team can't send him to the minors, which is a risk teams are rarely willing to take for a few extra spring at-bats).  

Among the most notable moves was the Nationals re-assignment of Bryce Harper to Class-A Hagerstown, tweets Bill Ladson of MLB.com.  The move itself is not surprising, as it had already been reported that Harper was slated to begin his first full season in the South Atlantic League, but it does bring an end to an impressive two-week stretch from the 18-year-old Harper, who this time next year, could be legitimately competing for a roster spot.

As always, you can keep up-to-date on all the prospects who were in big league camp, and who still remain, on our spring training prospect page, Below is a list of the other prospects who were sent away from big league camp on Saturday:

• The Kansas City Royals re-assigned LHP's Chris Dwyer, John Lamb, and Will Smith to minor league camp, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.  None of the three were on the 40-man roster.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates optioned RHP Bryan Morris to Triple-A and re-assigned LHP Rudy Owens to minor league camp, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• The Philadelphia Phillies optioned RHP Justin De Fratus, 2B Harold Garcia, 1B Matt Rizzotti and RHP J.C. Ramirez to Double-A and re-assigned Michael Schwimer to minor league camp, reports David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News.  Surviving the cuts for now, however, was reliever Mike Stutes.
• The San Diego Padres optioned RHP Simon Castro to Triple-A and re-assigned 1B Anthony Rizzo and 3B James Darnell to minor league camp, reports Corey Brock of MLB.com.
• The Baltimore Orioles optioned RHP's Brandon Erbe and Chorye Spoone to Triple-A and re-assigned catcher Caleb Joseph to minor league camp, reports Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.
• The Cleveland Indians have optioned RHP Corey Kluber to Triple-A and have re-assigned RHP Nick Hagadone, LHP Drew Pomeranz, RHP Hector Rondon, LHP Kelvin de la Cruz, and RHP Bryce Stowell to minor league camp, reports Jordan Bastain of MLB.com.
• The Tampa Bay Rays optioned LHP Alex Torres to Triple-A, says RaysProspects.com.
• The Seattle Mariners have optioned 3B Alex Liddi and OF Carlos Peguero to Triple-A and OF Johermyn Chavez to Double-A, reports Larry Stone of The Seattle Times.
• The Boston Red Sox optioned RHP Stolmy Pimentel and SS Oscar Tejada to Double-A, and have re-assigned RHP Alex Wilson, C's Ryan Lavarnway and Tim Federowicz, and OF Che-Hsuan Lin to minor league camp, reports Ian Browne of MLB.com.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - 7/8

• The Houston Astros have made a major financial committment in Latin America, signing 6'4" Dominican OF Ariel Ovando to a significant contract, reports MLB.com.
• Phuture Phils.com has some unique insight on some of the pitchers in the Phillies organization with quotes coming directly from Phillies' minor league pitching coordinator Gordan Heimueller, including info on Trevor May, Matt Way, Jonathan Pettibone, and Brody Colvin.  Meanwhile, Lee Diekemper of MLB.com reports that Austin Hyatt's success this season can be attributed to the resurgence of his plus change-up.
• No official total has been anounced yet, but if Ben Badler of Baseball America's sources are correct, the $2.8 million the Blue Jays have reportedly given to Adonis Cardona would be a record for a Venezuelan amateur.  Badler also provides a more in-depth scouting report on Cardona.
• The Cubs have promoted pitcher Mitch Atkins, who will provide relief in their depleted bullpen, reports Andrew Pentis of MLB.com.
• Domonic Brown may not be in Triple-A very long, says David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News.
• Red Sox prospect Oscar Tejada has taken nicely to his new position at 2B after shifting over from SS at the start of the season, notes Pete Kerzel of MLB.com.

Prospect Potent Potables - 6/29

• Mets' GM Omar Minaya says Jenrry Mejia's shoulder injury won't affect his trade value, according to Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com.  Of course, what else would Minaya say?
• Andrew Lambo is back in Double-A after his 50-game suspension, reportedly for marijuana, says Guy Curtright of MLB.com.
• Oscar Tejada is re-establishing himself as a prospect within the Red Sox organization, reports Alex Speier of Baseball America.
• Phillippe Aumont has responded nicely to extended relief duty since the Phillies demoted him to the Florida State League, says Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.  The team would still like Aumont to be a starter down the road, but at the moment would like him to pitch more often in order to make adjustments between appearances more easily.
• The Reds need an extra starter this Thursday, and it will be either Travis Wood or Matt Maloney, says John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.  Fay thinks it will be Wood.
• Dayan Viciedo hasn't seen much action since his promotion to Chicago, and given the White Sox succes lately, it's understandable, reports Samuel Zuma of MLB.com.  The question remains, however, if he's not going to play, wouldn't he be better served in the minors?

Prospect Potent Potables - 2/22

Today's links are brought to you by the color Light Uprle...

• No official word yet, but here's one competitor out of Brian Matusz's way in his quest to make the Baltimore Orioles' starting rotation, notes Brittany Ghiroli on MLB.com.
• Mike Newman of Scouting the Sally has a scouting report on Oscar Tejada, the other short stop prospect in the Red Sox organization.
• He also has a breakdown of Jacob Jefferies and Mike Sheridan, a couple of college hitters the Rays drafted last year.
• Hopefully Jason Castro can learn from J.R. Towles mistakes as the two battle for the Houston Astros' starting catcher position, notes Brian McTaggart for MLB.com.
• If the Red Sox are going to let Josh Beckett walk after this season, they'd better hope Casey Kelly learns everything he needs to learn this spring, which apparently he's doing, according to Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald.