Cub's Prospect Watch And Development Discussion Thread

[beckdawg]

So McKinney is kind of ridiculous. He's not going to put up the gaudy numbers that you see out of Bryant and others but since joining Daytona he has a 15.0%/12.5% walk/k rate while hitting .313/.425/.438. His walk rate is actually higher than his K rate..... as a 19 year old in A+..... where Almora is considered young at 20..... in the Florida State league which is considered pitching friendly. Its not over a shit load of plate appearances(40) but when you compare that to the 86 PAs Baez had in A+ where he hit .188/.244/.400 with 5.8%/24.4% walk/k rate it's a good sign. Alcantara wasn't in A+ until 20 where he hit .302/.339/.447 with a 5.3%/17.0% walk/k rate over about half a season. Bryant was 21 so I'm not going to compare him. Castro hit .302/.340/.391 with a 4.9%/10.6% bb/k rate as a 19 year old over a little more than half a season.

So, there's some recent cubs players and how they compare. I'm guessing he's more of a 20/10 hr/sb with possibly more power as he grows up. I've said this some but it really wouldn't surprise me to see him on the tail end of top 100 lists next season.

 

[Boobaby1]

That the thing.. looking at what epstein n hoyer has done the last couple years via draft / trade was load up with top hitting prospects. I think the plan is simply field a team with these kids and look via FA for Arms.

Theyve also loaded up the last couple drafts with arms in later rounds , that they could luck out with having one or two emerge from there or use those younger arms to deal for a veteran arm especially with deadline deals.

And that's what I said, however, they don't have a particularly good track record of landing anyone to this point, and the Cubs are not going to be the only team with money that covets pitching.

Chances are that the Yankees are going to replace Kuroda, and they may even look to get someone to replace Sabathia too. Not to mention that Boston and the Angels are not just going to simply lay down either just to name a few

And as far as waiting to see if a player is forced to move, then it is too late. A lot of the value of a farm player is simply potential. If they struggle at the parent level, what makes you think the value hasn't just plummeted? What kind of pitcher are you going to get if all of a sudden your hi-lite prospect becomes mediocre at best in the major leagues. Now you're stuck.

The reason Theo was able to land the package he did of Beckett, Lowell, and Mota, was because he had what was thought to be an untouchable prospect in Hanley Ramirez, and a pitcher named Anibal Sanchez. The Marlins rolled the dice, and in this case, it was kind of fortunate for both teams that it worked out.

 

[remixdjinx]

Volgelbach will be traded at some point. Schwarber is the exact same payer with a little more athleticism. Volgy would have to be a really incredible hitter for the cubs to keep him, but they arent going to trade him right now. He is the type of prospect that will gain more value as he goes on because he is a really good hitter just very limited on D.

Idk, Matt Stairs played RF....jokin of sorts.

 

[remixdjinx]

Would really be interesting if they move Bryant to the OF and Baez to 3B. I think if the Cubs are set on Baez playing 2B in the majors in makes a Castro trade almost inevitable. I think now though they are probably just trying to see if he looks comfortable at a few different positions

So, for now, Alcantara in CF? That is when Baez is called up to play 2nd. Maybe the Cubs are planning on keeping Bryant at 3b. Has anyone heard about Bryant taking practice or playing RF?...cuz all i see is 3b in box scores...unless I missed something?

 

[beckdawg]

So, for now, Alcantara in CF? That is when Baez is called up to play 2nd. Maybe the Cubs are planning on keeping Bryant at 3b. Has anyone heard about Bryant taking practice or playing RF?...cuz all i see is 3b in box scores...unless I missed something?

Not AFAIK but he has played it in college so it's not a total new position for him.

 

[chibears55]

The reason Theo was able to land the package he did of Beckett, Lowell, and Mota, was because he had what was thought to be an untouchable prospect in Hanley Ramirez, and a pitcher named Anibal Sanchez. The Marlins rolled the dice, and in this case, it was kind of fortunate for both teams that it worked out.

Get what your saying but Marlins were dumping salary and Theo made that move because he had a vet ready to win now team with most of his regulars in their prime , and also acquiring a 26 YO Beckett was a pretty good trade off at the time over a 21 YO kid and epstein was already going with the 22 YO lester in the rotation.

There a big difference in trading away top prospects when you have a team loaded with prime years vets that ready to win now for more vets to help you win..

Then in trading away top prospects when your rebuilding and you have a roster filled with bench players.

Like I said before they didn't load up on these top hitting prospects to trade off before they even sniff the big league. . They got these kids because they want them to be a part of their main pieces and their going to give them their opportunity soon.

 

[beckdawg]

Get what your saying but Marlins were dumping salary and Theo made that move because he had a vet ready to win now team with most of his regulars in their prime , and also acquiring a 26 YO Beckett was a pretty good trade off at the time over a 21 YO kid and epstein was already going with the 22 YO lester in the rotation.

There a big difference in trading away top prospects when you have a team loaded with prime years vets that ready to win now for more vets to help you win..

Then in trading away top prospects when your rebuilding and you have a roster filled with bench players.

Like I said before they didn't load up on these top hitting prospects to trade off before they even sniff the big league. . They got these kids because they want them to be a part of their main pieces and their going to give them their opportunity soon.

I believe this is all in reference to my suggestion of trading Baez similar to how they did with Hanley. If you look at who I mentioned in that possibility it was Mat Latos who will only be 27 next year. I don't see them going after someone like Price via trade because as you mention you're talking about the difference between winning with a vet team and a young one. If they trade for anyone I would expect it to be someone in the 25-27 range. Not to say that they wont go after Price when FA hits just that I don't see them dealing for someone who's already 29.

At 25-27, you're basically talking about someone who's done enough to prove themselves in the majors often. If you look at someone like Hendricks, he's 24 and just peaking into the majors. When you talk about a prospect like Aaron Sanchez, he's 21 now and likely will be 22-23 before he hits the majors. That's why I could see them targeting that type of pitcher. There's not a ton of guys that fit into the mold of a 4 WAR pitcher who's sub-27. You're talking about guys like Matt Harvey, Chris Sale, Darvish, Latos, Kershaw, Strasburg, and Jose Fernandez. So there's not a ton of names out there that fit quite the same as the Beckett trade. Latos may be priced out of cincy because of other recent contracts for Bailey and Votto especially with Cueto also up. I don't see Strasburg, Kershaw and Darvish moving. I'd be surprised if Sale was traded though you can never underestimate Kenny and trades. Harvey, given the Mets need is a possibility though coming off tommy john is a worry. Similarly, I'm never going to underestimate the Marlins selling off but Fernandez too had TJ.

So anyways, when I talk about trading Baez those are the names I'm talking about. You can argue the point that why would these teams trade those pitchers? And that's a perfectly valid question. Many probably wouldn't but if you headline a package with Baez and have the depth the cubs do, they can easily land one of those pitcher should a team decide they need to deal a pitcher for whatever reason.

 

[CSF77]

I still see it Baez at 2B and Alcantara in CF come Aug.

You can slam him on his SO rate that is fine. Nothing says that he will not get better.

Not to mention I would rather see Baez/Alcantara vs Barney/Sweeney

Anyone who would rather see option 2 in Aug needs to give up their cubs badge.

You can turn it in on the way out

 

[chibears55]

@TheCCO: MT @RandyWehofer @IowaCubs 7/18 @ RR: SzczurRF, JacksonLF, Baez2B, Bryant3B, ValaikaDH, KalishCF, LopezC, Anderson1B, WatkinsSS, WadaP #Cubs


Wada starting tonight for Iowa, which should tell you beeler and hendricks will pitch games 1 and 2 in SD

 

[chibears55]

@CSNMooney: Kyle Hendricks will get his shot in Cubs rotation and make start vs. Padres on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.


@CarrieMuskat: #Cubs Renteria on Hendricks: "The thought is to allow him to slot into that spot and see how he does"

 

[CSF77]

@TheCCO: MT @RandyWehofer @IowaCubs 7/18 @ RR: SzczurRF, JacksonLF, Baez2B, Bryant3B, ValaikaDH, KalishCF, LopezC, Anderson1B, WatkinsSS, WadaP #Cubs


Wada starting tonight for Iowa, which should tell you beeler and hendricks will pitch games 1 and 2 in SD

Looks like they are going full swing with Baez at 2B.

Little disapointed with Wada not getting the mote but with a day off on Monday they could just add Hendricks and let Jackson work game 2 than Wood game 3. Arrieta then starts the series with the Cards then Hendricks game 3.

So if they wanted to they could hold off on the 2nd starter until the 26th.

 

[chibears55]

@BleacherNation: ICYMI, the Cubs signed a righty out of Venezuela today: http://www.bleachernation.com/2014/...er-international-signing-rhp-emilio-ferrebus/

 

[chibears55]

@TheCCO: Kris Bryant just hit a 2-run HR to left in the 3rd inning. Baez on board. No. 11 for Iowa and No. 33 on the year for Bryant #Cubs @IowaCubs

This kid continues to rake, going to be hard to justify leaving him down much longer

 

[chibears55]

@TheCCO: Javier Baez just went yard. A solo shot in the 5th inning out to LF. Baez's 16th homer of the year #Cubs @IowaCubs

Here they go again.... they gotta bring these 2 up soon

 

[SilenceS]

Baez is about to get extremely hot. The walks have been there and the K's have lessened. He is about to go on a power surge even though he has like 6 in the past 12 games or so.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Not to change the subject but can someone tell me what the deal is with Watkins? How is he doing? He played 3b and now he is at SS. Could he be a nice util if/when Valbuena gets traded? Next season?

 

[chibears55]

@daytonacubs: Kyle Schwarber hits his 1st home run as a member of the Daytona Cubs. 9 HR's in 31 total games now for @kschwarb12. #Cubs now trail 7-6, B8

 

[SilenceS]

Not to change the subject but can someone tell me what the deal is with Watkins? How is he doing? He played 3b and now he is at SS. Could he be a nice util if/when Valbuena gets traded? Next season?

He is almost just like Barney with less glove.

 

[chibears55]

Soler cant homer tonight cause Smokies rained out, so others will hit 1 in his place for Tonight Prospects Homer Party

@TheCCO: Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber, Jeimer Candelario, Cael Brockmeyer have hit HR in the #Cubs system tonight

 

[Mr. Cub]

Almost every night, there is good updates in this thread about one or six of our top guys a night. Love it! BRING THE FUTURE NOW!