2019 Minor Leagues/Prospect Discussion Thread

[I_Like_Dirt]

In honour of Danny Jansen's debut, I'm highlighting the unusual catcher depth the Jays have at Bluefield, where three catchers - Danner, Moreno and Kirk - are all hitting over .300. Of course, that doesn't tell much about their ability behind the plate, but certainly the offence is nice. To keep at least two of them active on any given day, Bluefield is using one - often Danner - as a DH.

The Jays are loaded with quality prospects at C and SS - two of the most important defensive positions in the game, along with CF. Eventually a lot of these guys are going to move away from those positions, but that bodes well for their abilities to be plus defenders at any other position and their bats mostly seem good enough to play at other positions, too. The organization seems to have an eye for finding and signing talent at those spots.

[vaff87]

Two HR and a double for Rowdy Tellez tonight.

[Tanner]

McKinney with a HR tonight. Was looking at his profile, and it’s pretty encouraging. Since going to the Yankees, nearly 70% of everything he hits is a LD or FB. Not sure how hard he’s hitting those balls but that’s a good profile. Probably would have fit in well in Yankee stadium. If he can keep that up and maintain a bb% around 10%, then there might be something there. I wouldn’t be against trading Pillar and rolling with McKinney in the outfield next year. Might as well use the transition year to see what you got.

[Lateral Quicks]

McKinney with a HR tonight. Was looking at his profile, and it’s pretty encouraging. Since going to the Yankees, nearly 70% of everything he hits is a LD or FB. Not sure how hard he’s hitting those balls but that’s a good profile. Probably would have fit in well in Yankee stadium. If he can keep that up and maintain a bb% around 10%, then there might be something there. I wouldn’t be against trading Pillar and rolling with McKinney in the outfield next year. Might as well use the transition year to see what you got.

I'm beginning to think Pillar is the Jose Calderon of the Blue Jays - he's here forever.

I agree, it's well past time to move Pillar and see what we have next year. It's a rebuilding year, and it makes little sense to keep a tradable veteran like Pillar around. And it's not like a player like Pillar is keeping the gate receipts flooding in. Trade him while he's still an above average defensive player.

[dagger]

McKinney with a HR tonight. Was looking at his profile, and it’s pretty encouraging. Since going to the Yankees, nearly 70% of everything he hits is a LD or FB. Not sure how hard he’s hitting those balls but that’s a good profile. Probably would have fit in well in Yankee stadium. If he can keep that up and maintain a bb% around 10%, then there might be something there. I wouldn’t be against trading Pillar and rolling with McKinney in the outfield next year. Might as well use the transition year to see what you got.

I'm beginning to think Pillar is the Jose Calderon of the Blue Jays - he's here forever.

I agree, it's well past time to move Pillar and see what we have next year. It's a rebuilding year, and it makes little sense to keep a tradable veteran like Pillar around. And it's not like a player like Pillar is keeping the gate receipts flooding in. Trade him while he's still an above average defensive player.

I'm certainly open to trading him, although I believe any outfielder on the roster now or in Buffalo would be transitional. We have better outfield prospects at lower levels, and so we would be biding time with McKinney. The only virtue of keeping Pillar is that he plays hard no matter what, which is a good virtue for teaching younger player to learn. That said, if he can return a good prospect in a trade, I'd be okay with it.

[bluerap23]

Too Bad Alford has stalled so badly.

Will be interesting to see what they do with Tellez. He has had a pretty decent second half. Last 2 months have been very productive.

[manjusaka]

Too Bad Alford has stalled so badly.

That is the problem, We don't have a viable replacement for Pillar in house currently. With his overall performance, he is not likely to receive a high pay raise in the arbitration, and under control until 2020. By that time, Chavez Young should be closed to major league. Unless Alford, Pompey or anyone else made a turnaround/breakout in the Buffalo next year right out of the gate, Pillar is very likely be with us thru 2020.

[Schad]

Too Bad Alford has stalled so badly.

That is the problem, We don't have a viable replacement for Pillar in house currently. With his overall performance, he is not likely to receive a high pay raise in the arbitration, and under control until 2020. By that time, Chavez Young should be closed to major league. Unless Alford, Pompey or anyone else made a turnaround/breakout in the Buffalo next year right out of the gate, Pillar is very likely be with us thru 2020.

Just play Grichuk in CF for the time being, which would have the secondary effect of enhancing his value. We really don't have any particular need for Pillar.

[manjusaka]

Too Bad Alford has stalled so badly.

That is the problem, We don't have a viable replacement for Pillar in house currently. With his overall performance, he is not likely to receive a high pay raise in the arbitration, and under control until 2020. By that time, Chavez Young should be closed to major league. Unless Alford, Pompey or anyone else made a turnaround/breakout in the Buffalo next year right out of the gate, Pillar is very likely be with us thru 2020.

Just play Grichuk in CF for the time being, which would have the secondary effect of enhancing his value. We really don't have any particular need for Pillar.

Well, yes Grichuk can play CF. In that case we will need a replacement at RF. Hernandez has the arm, but there is a reason why he isn't playing RF recently. Anthony Alford, Jonathan Davis, Roemon Fields, Billy McKinney, Dalton Pompey, Dwight Smith Jr., they are all better off as LF-CF than RF-CF. We don't need Pillar, but we don't have a replacement in house yet.

[bluerap23]

Too Bad Alford has stalled so badly.

That is the problem, We don't have a viable replacement for Pillar in house currently. With his overall performance, he is not likely to receive a high pay raise in the arbitration, and under control until 2020. By that time, Chavez Young should be closed to major league. Unless Alford, Pompey or anyone else made a turnaround/breakout in the Buffalo next year right out of the gate, Pillar is very likely be with us thru 2020.

Just play Grichuk in CF for the time being, which would have the secondary effect of enhancing his value. We really don't have any particular need for Pillar.

Who plays in the corners? Hernandez and Smith?

[Schad]

We have no shortage of middling corner OF prospects, and 2019 doesn't matter a whit, so why not give them a chance? Pillar is going to decline sharply as a CF, and soon, and won't be around when winning actually matters again.

[manjusaka]

In the ear of flyball, outfield defense matters. A flyout can became double or triple with poor outfield defense. 2019 season will be a wash for overall standings, but not the development of young pitchers like SRF and Borucki.

[Schad]

In the ear of flyball, outfield defense matters. A flyout can became double or triple with poor outfield defense. 2019 season will be a wash for overall standings, but not the development of young pitchers like SRF and Borucki.

Pillar isn't a very good defensive center fielder anymore, and he's only going to get worse from here.

[S.W.A.N]

Trade Pillar. I love the dude but his value is only going to decrease, and we aren't winning any time soon. Use that roster spot on our borderline prospects and see who can stick.

[dagger]

In the Athletic, Bowden lists his top 5 prospects ready for the majors now. Naturally Vlad Jr is listed as #1, and Bowden calls him the best prospect since Mike Trout. He also agrees that the Jays have no choice in a lost season but to keep him out for service time reasons. What is surprising, perhaps is that there is a second Jay on the list, and it's not Bo Bichette. Anyone want to hazard a guess who it is (without looking at the article?) Once someone guesses, I'll post what Bowden has to say about that player.

[Schad]

In the Athletic, Bowden lists his top 5 prospects ready for the majors now. Naturally Vlad Jr is listed as #1, and Bowden calls him the best prospect since Mike Trout. He also agrees that the Jays have no choice in a lost season but to keep him out for service time reasons. What is surprising, perhaps is that there is a second Jay on the list, and it's not Bo Bichette. Anyone want to hazard a guess who it is (without looking at the article?) Once someone guesses, I'll post what Bowden has to say about that player.

Top 5 major league ready? Be surprised if it isn't Jansen.

[phillipmike]

In the Athletic, Bowden lists his top 5 prospects ready for the majors now. Naturally Vlad Jr is listed as #1, and Bowden calls him the best prospect since Mike Trout. He also agrees that the Jays have no choice in a lost season but to keep him out for service time reasons. What is surprising, perhaps is that there is a second Jay on the list, and it's not Bo Bichette. Anyone want to hazard a guess who it is (without looking at the article?) Once someone guesses, I'll post what Bowden has to say about that player.

I assume its someone outside of the box considering how you phrased this. If the article was written recently then Jansen, SRF, and Gurriel make no sense.

My guesses are Biggio for position player and Romano for pitcher.

Biggio leads all Jays minor players in HR, RBIs, and is 2nd walks and games played. Romano because he has good numbers in AAA and has an easy path to the majors via the pen.

[dagger]

Cavan Biggio, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays
STATS at AA:
.258/400/.523, 466 PA, 17 2B, 24 HR, 85 RBI, 15 SB
How the son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio has been able to slip under the radar in terms of top-prospect buzz is beyond me. Cavan, 23, has so much of the competitiveness, makeup, character, instincts and passion of his dad, it’s amazing that more people don’t talk about him. Playing in the shadow of top prospects like Guerrero and Bo Bichette is probably the reason. Biggio is a solid defender at second base, and has a major-league approach with plate discipline that has led to a .400 on-base percentage and .923 OPS this year. Despite some swing-and-miss issues, he is profiling out as a potential 30-homer second baseman. He also hit more home runs, drove in more runs and stole more bases than Guerrero did while they were both playing together this year at AA New Hampshire.
I think Biggio would benefit from a September call-up and the opportunity to face major league pitching for a month. He’s an overachiever, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he succeeded immediately. He also should be given every chance to compete for the Jays’ second-base job out of spring training.

[Ado05]

I'd much rather trot Pompey, Mckinney or someone else out there and see what they are than continue with Pillar.

[Schad]

Cavan Biggio, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays
STATS at AA:
.258/400/.523, 466 PA, 17 2B, 24 HR, 85 RBI, 15 SB
How the son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio has been able to slip under the radar in terms of top-prospect buzz is beyond me. Cavan, 23, has so much of the competitiveness, makeup, character, instincts and passion of his dad, it’s amazing that more people don’t talk about him. Playing in the shadow of top prospects like Guerrero and Bo Bichette is probably the reason. Biggio is a solid defender at second base, and has a major-league approach with plate discipline that has led to a .400 on-base percentage and .923 OPS this year. Despite some swing-and-miss issues, he is profiling out as a potential 30-homer second baseman. He also hit more home runs, drove in more runs and stole more bases than Guerrero did while they were both playing together this year at AA New Hampshire.
I think Biggio would benefit from a September call-up and the opportunity to face major league pitching for a month. He’s an overachiever, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he succeeded immediately. He also should be given every chance to compete for the Jays’ second-base job out of spring training.

I really have to disagree on that one. Biggio has made great strides, but I wouldn't be calling him up without some serious seasoning in Buffalo. A 26% K rate in AA really doesn't translate well to the majors.