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 - 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.

Nationals Acquire Gio Gonzalez for Four Prospects

The Washington Nationals pulled the trigger on a trade for left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez, sending prospects Derek Norris, Brad Peacock, A.J. Cole, and Tom Milone to the Oakland A's in return.  Norris, Peacock and Cole were all listed in Baseball America's Top-10 Nationals prospects.

Norris likely has the highest ceiling of the four prospects, but the Nationals have significant organizational depth at catcher, and could afford to make a deal.  Despite batting just .210 last season, he still demonstrated strong plate discipline and solid power.  Matt Eddy of Baseball America has a complete scouting report on all four prospects, while Bernie Pleskoff of MLB.com says both teams fulfilled their goals.

Keith Law of ESPN.com has his own breakdown of the trade, and believes the A's got both quality and quantity in this deal.  On the other hand, Marc Hulet of FanGraphs.com wonders where the rest of the return is for the A's.

I happen to side with Hulet on this one.  While the A's got good depth, the Nationals didn't give up anything they can't live without, or replace in their next draft.  They didn't have to part with Bryce Harper (not that they would have), and while Cole has a high ceiling, he's got quite a way to go to get to the majors.  Peacock has turned himself into a nice prospect, but his ceiling isn't any higher than what Gonzalez is right now.  Norris should be a nice player, but the Nationals are one of the few teams that had the depth to part with a power-hitting young catcher.

The Nationals unloaded some of their minor league depth, but did so in order to improve their major league pitching depth.  While the trade is by no means lopsided, I don't think the Nationals will regret anything they've lost.

Prospect Potent Potables - Harper, Molina, Flores, Reds

• Bryce Harper, the top prospect in all of baseball and the Washington Nationals right fielder of the future, could see his future in the major leagues happen as early as next season, reports Ashley Marshall of MLB.com, sourcing quotes from Nats GM Mike Rizzo, who says Harper will be in the majors as soon as they deem him ready.
• Dan Santaromita of FutreSox.com evaluates Nestor Molina, the White Sox newest prospect acquisition.
• Wilmer Flores is getting playing time again in Venezuela, starting at second base over the weekend, reports MetsBlog.com.  The Mets top position player prospect has been in and out of the lineup all winter.
• Doug Gray of RedsMinorLeagues.com profiles the state of the Reds pitching within their farm system, including a look at Daniel Corcino, Robert Stephenson, Kyle Lotzkar, Tony Cingrani, and others.

Scouting Reports on Rule V Draft Picks

The annual Rule V draft took place this morning, with 12 teams making selections.  Players taken in the Rule V draft must stay in the majors with their drafting team for the entire season, or be offered back to their original organization.

1 - Astros - Rhiner Cruz, RHP (drafted from NYM)

2 - Twins - Terry Doyle, rhp (CWS)

3 - Mariners - Lucas Luetge, lhp (MIL)

4 - Orioles - Ryan Flaherty, util - (CHC)

5 - Yankees - Cesar Cabral, lhp (BOS)

6 - Cubs - Lendy Castillo, rhp (PHI)

8 - Pirates - Gustavo Nunez, ss (DET)

21- Braves - Robert Fish, lhp (LAA)

22 - Cardinals - Eric Komatsu, of (WAS)

23 - Astros - Marwin Gonzalez, 3b (CHC)

25 - Diamondbacks - Brett Lorin, rhp (PIT)

29 - Yankees - Brad Meyers, rhp (WAS)

 

Of the position players, Komatsu and Flaherty have the best chance to stick with their teams for the duration of the season.  Komatsu has had offensive success in the minors (albeit none higher than Double-A), and if he can play center defensively, even in a back-up role, he could make a nice 5th or perhaps even 4th outfielder this year.  Flaherty doesn't really have a defensive position, but his best option is probably third base, where the Orioles have a void.  He has also seen time at short, second, and corner outfield throughout the minors, and he's a left-handed stick with a little pop, so his versatility and pinch-hitting ability should enable him to stick, even if he can't win a regular job.

The pitchers fall into three categories:  hard-throwers who could stick or flame out (Cruz); potential LOOGYs (Luetge, Cabral, and Fish); and finesse rightys with good control (Doyle, Lorin, Meyers) who could stick an entire year the way Nathan Adcock did with the Royals last year, depending mostly on how roster shuffling plays out throughout the season.