Ranma wrote:Neddy wrote:I actually now think we are not drafting these guys to groom, at least not the SS position so far. we keep hearing this year is a thin year for SS, and most franchises, even those with a young stud SS on their major league roster, can use more defensively reliable SS prospects along with good catchers. I think we are drafting trade commodities. from that POV, grabbing three SSs out of top 32 drafted in the position, seems like a business stratagy to hoard precious commodities rather than planning to groom all of them. I say that #1 pick of ours may get packaged along with something else for a blockbuster trade come mid season this year or next?
The thing is if we're drafting trade assets to eventually be dealt, then it would make more sense to take Delvin Perez since he is seen as having more tools and upside and thus more value in the short-term. If we're putting together a package for Jose Fernandez, I would think Perez would appeal more to the Marlins than Gavin Lux despite the fact that he's Puerto Rican and not Cuban. Perez has gotten advice from Carlos Correa and I believe he's being mentored by Carlos Delgado. Of course, other teams could be higher on Lux and instructed us to take him instead to pave the way for future deals (like the A's for Sonny Gray?) but absent solid information, I'm assuming Perez holds the higher value as a trade asset at least in the short-term despite his tumble down the draft board.
The thing that bugs me is that the White Sox also took a gamble on the talented but struggling Alec Hansen in the 2nd round. Their developmental staff has been known to do wonders in working to correct the flaws of young pitchers who lost their way. I believe the Pirates have a similarly impressive reputation in that regard. How come the Dodgers are not in the mix? Hansen was someone I was targeting with 1 of our 1st-round picks in the 30's.
We've certainly messed up with the Esribel Arruebarrena signing and development, not to mention the Alex Guerrero signing, but we fired our international scouting staff and placed the reputable Ismael Cruz in a lead position. Rushing Puig to the big leagues is also seen as a bit of a failure in ingraining in him fundamentals but he's genuinely making efforts this season and there is no questioning his talent. Given all that, I would think applying what is learned from those previous experiences would aid in the future development of Delvin Perez had we drafted him.
On the other hand, I actually like that the organization places an importance on makeup and Lux certainly is head-and-shoulders ahead of Perez in that department. At the same time, I apparently underestimated his developing physical tools and ability to field the SS position. We'll see who turns out to be the better of the two shortstops: Perez or Lux?
The other two SS prospects, Errol Robinson and Kevin Lachance, are seen more as future utility players. Robinson was taken almost exactly in the spot that Baseball America ranked him on its list. I really like Lachance personally as he's a speedy guy who may also be able to handle CF. While both are seen as likely capable fielders at the SS position, neither represent attractive trade propositions. Of course, our development of them and other prospects plays a part in this as well, but generally speaking, reaching for prospects at a particular position in a draft class that is weak at that position isn't maximizing trade value.
Well, if Neddy is right, I see that blockbuster deal happening next season at the earliest.
My view of this front office is that they're fully implementing Stan Kasten's plan to build the pipeline to the majors ala what he created in Atlanta and what St. Louis has going. Pursuant to that, I view them as being content with a lot of the shifting they did in their first 365 days (Yasmani deal, Dee Gordon deal, Braves deal, international signings) and are ready for some what of a moratorium (SOME WHAT) on dealing players in order to let them develop, make the roster or shoot up top prospect charts. I just don't see why certain players would be dealt:
I can't see $16 million Yadier Alvarez being dealt this soon
Same with Yusniel Diaz.
Urias is here to stay.
Bellinger look like A-Gon's heir apparent, so that adds another layer to his value for us.
Buehler hasn't thrown a pitch yet in rookie ball
Barnes looks like he's our catcher for the immediate future....and he's at the major league level right now.
To me, we have a bunch of guys who are either untouchable or where it wouldn't make sense to deal them at this point in their development. After you go through those guys, what else is there to deal for a significant piece? DeLeon, Verdugo, Calhoun, Montas???
Looks like Gasparino likes Sheffield a lot. Looks like he took 2 toolsy high contact guys with the 1st 2 picks...which makes sense, Barnes is high contact as well...****'s AAA resume had him as a high contact guy (he Ks a lot now tho)....Yusniel Diaz as well. A lot of their own additions are high contact or have a history of it sans Trayce (who was more of a throw in anyway imo). It makes sense, the last 2 champs are high contact teams (going against the strikeouts dont matter theory) and we have a lot of swing and miss in our lineup.
Who knows? Friedman said no hard and fast rules.
I thought we'd be seeing crazy unbelievable trades throughout their entire tenure here and I was wrong. So they may just rev that engine up again and start dealing. For now, it seems like they might be taking guys who fit for their philosophy and what they want in a player.
“I’ve always felt that drafting is the life blood of any organization.” - Jerome Alan West.