2013 Prospect Mega Thread

[rjortiz]

He is Will Middlebrooks in RF.

 

The question is, if the Sox retain Cecchini, Bogaerts, Bradley, Lavarnway, and also have Pedroia in the lineup, that's 5 of 9 guys who will OBP 375-.400+. So, do you give up a little OBP for some 25+ HR pop in Middlebrooks and Brentz?

 

I'd trade both of them in a deal for Mike Stanton.

[User Name]

It would probably take all of them.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Bogaerts went 2 for 4 with a 2B and 2 BBs.

 

5th two walk game in his last 10 games.

 

1.435 OPS in his last 10 and a 11/4 K/BB. .306/.400/.495/.895 on the season. Not too shabby for the youngest player in the Eastern League and a SS to boot.

[jacksonianmarch]

It would probably take all of them.

 

Exactly. Trading for Stanton now while he is still under control for a few yrs will decimate any system. You're talking Webster, Bogaerts, Ranaudo, Barnes, etc. It would be a 4 for 1

[rjortiz]

Usually why these deals never get made. I think Stanton will be around for two more years.

[Station 13]

The Salem Red Sox played a doubleheader on Monday night, during which third baseman Garin Cecchini stepped to the plate seven times. He reached base in all seven of them — collecting two singles and three walks, getting hit by a pitch and reaching on an error. In the process, he managed to push his absurd on-base percentage up from .469 to .481.

 

One can make a compelling case that Cecchini has been the foremost on-base machine in all of the minors this year. His .481 OBP ranks second in all of the minors, trailing only Dartmouth product Joe Sclanfani, who is benefiting from playing in the zero-gravity launching pad that is High-A Lancaster’s home in the California League — an offensive environment so distorted that the Red Sox felt compelled to buy a minor league affiliate in Salem in order to never have to play there again after spending the 2007-08 seasons there. Cecchini, meanwhile, is playing in a home park in Salem that typically rewards pitchers far more than hitters.

 

Cecchini’s standout season to date signals what could become a fascinating long-term issue. The Red Sox this offseason redoubled their commitment to building a lineup predicated on plate discipline, grinding at-bats, high walk rates … all of which are traits possessed by Cecchini. His standout season at third comes at a time when Will Middlebrooks has continued to exhibit considerable raw power but has endured a struggle to sustain a solid average or on-base percentage. It’s in Middlebrooks’ DNA to have an aggressive approach that results in significant power; it is in Cecchini’s to work counts, be patient, take walks.

 

“His power is going to come. We know that. We always tell Garin, don’t worry about your power. And you know, the Red Sox are telling him that,” explained Raissa Cecchini, Garin Cecchini’s mother and high school hitting coach. “But the deal is this — you’ve got to get on base. You’ve got to find a way to get on base and help your team win. That’s what we tell him. Get hit by the pitch, walk — because most of the time, if Garin walks or gets on base, he’s going to steal second and he’ll probably steal third. Find a way to help your team win.”

 

At some point this year — likely after the Carolina League All-Star break later this month — the Sox will promote Cecchini to Double-A Portland. Sometime this offseason, the Sox will add him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. And so while there is not an immediate crossroads, the time is coming closer when the Sox may have a choice to make between two very different types of offensive third basemen in Middlebrooks and Cecchini.

 

Of course, the team could work around an either/or with a position change for one or (if Xander Bogaerts ever ends up moving to third base) both. Cecchini is viewed as having the potential to move to the outfield, while Middlebrooks could certainly be moved across the diamond to first if the need arose. Still, given the contrast between the two players and the fact that there are no current plans to move either, the discussion is a fascinating one that gets to the heart of what the Red Sox value in terms of offensive approach.

 

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2013/06/04/red-sox-minor-league-roundup-for-garin-cecchini-a-question-of-approach-for-red-sox-long-term-brock-holt-squeezing-pedro-ciriaco-mookie-betts-all-star-jose-almontes-impressive-unveiling/

[Rdsxmbnt]

Exactly. Trading for Stanton now while he is still under control for a few yrs will decimate any system. You're talking Webster, Bogaerts, Ranaudo, Barnes, etc. It would be a 4 for 1

 

Pass. Doubt Marlins trade him till after next season anyway at which point they will probably get a similar package they got for Miguel Cabrera. I'd like to see his plate discipline and health improve a lot anyway so probably for the best that he's not on the block yet.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Exactly. Trading for Stanton now while he is still under control for a few yrs will decimate any system. You're talking Webster, Bogaerts, Ranaudo, Barnes, etc. It would be a 4 for 1

 

They wouldn't get all four of those.

 

But they would get Bogaerts/Bradley + Webster/Barnes + Cecchini/Vazquez/etc, and then another lower tiered guy.

 

Bogaerts + Webster + Cecchini + Brentz would be a massive haul.

[italstallianion]

Reminds me of how Seattle got pillaged in the Erik Bedard deal, or how the Braves got massacred in the Teixeira deal.

[User Name]

They wouldn't get all four of those.

 

But they would get Bogaerts/Bradley + Webster/Barnes + Cecchini/Vazquez/etc, and then another lower tiered guy.

 

Bogaerts + Webster + Cecchini + Brentz would be a massive haul.

 

And you know this how? If the Marlins sit back and wait they could easily get four top prospects for Stanton. That's why deals for players like him rarely get made.

[SoxFanForsyth]

And you know this how? If the Marlins sit back and wait they could easily get four top prospects for Stanton. That's why deals for players like him rarely get made.

 

Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Upton, just off the top of my head. Both were on pretty team friendly deals (Gonzo had 1 year left, Upton had more money left). Neither got the return of three top 50 prospects, which is what Bradley/Bogaerts/Webster are

[User Name]

Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Upton, just off the top of my head. Both were on pretty team friendly deals (Gonzo had 1 year left, Upton had more money left). Neither got the return of three top 50 prospects, which is what Bradley/Bogaerts/Webster are

 

Neither of them had two+ years of control left at a salary as low as Stanton's. And Upton's situation also lowered Arizona's leverage when negotiating a deal.

 

This is a different situation, because the Marlins don't have a specific desire to trade Stanton. They would have to be convinced to trade him. That would take a monster package.

[Standing Room]

Brandon Workman promoted to AAA.

 

24 year old righthander, drafted out of college in 2010. 5-1, 3.43 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 7.0 H/9, 2.3 BB/9, 10.1 K/9 in 65.2 innings this year at AA.

[Palodios]

We've seen top players with 1.5 - 2 years of control left generally command two top 100 prospects + 1. The plus one is usually a high-ceiling low-floor type like a Fuentes or Bryan Price.

 

But when it comes to young, potentially HOF bound players with 3-4 years of control is left, we almost never see those guys get traded -- the only example that comes to mind is when the Red Sox told Seattle to "pick any 5" for Felix. A Stanton trade would have to be similar to that.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Bogaerts went deep again today.

 

He's 20.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Brandon Workman promoted to AAA.

 

24 year old righthander, drafted out of college in 2010. 5-1, 3.43 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 7.0 H/9, 2.3 BB/9, 10.1 K/9 in 65.2 innings this year at AA.

 

I got savaged for calling him rotation depth

[User Name]

We've seen top players with 1.5 - 2 years of control left generally command two top 100 prospects + 1. The plus one is usually a high-ceiling low-floor type like a Fuentes or Bryan Price.

 

But when it comes to young, potentially HOF bound players with 3-4 years of control is left, we almost never see those guys get traded -- the only example that comes to mind is when the Red Sox told Seattle to "pick any 5" for Felix. A Stanton trade would have to be similar to that.

 

Stanton only has two full years plus what's left of this one of control though.

[Palodios]

Stanton only has two full years plus what's left of this one of control though.

 

Three more after this one.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/national-league/miami-marlins/

[User Name]

Three more after this one.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/national-league/miami-marlins/

 

Actually, you're right. That makes him even more expensive in terms of prospects.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Bogaerts now hitting .310 with a .914 OPS this year in AA.

 

Overall line in AA as a 19/20 year old: .315 avg, .927 OPS, 11 HR in 292 PA.

 

He's ready for AAA. And, if he continues to impress, he may make Drew expendable in July.

[Standing Room]

Baseball America recently named Bogaerts the hottest prospect in baseball and had this write up on him.

 

The Scoop: Every year, the expectations grow for Bogaerts. And every year, he only seems to surpass them. First the Red Sox signed him for $410,000 out of Aruba in 2009 as a 16-year-old. He delivered with a stellar debut the following season in the Dominican Summer League. Buzz began to grow after he ranked among the Top 20 DSL prospects, and despite an aggressive promotion to low Class A Greenville in 2011, Bogaerts flourished. After tearing through high Class A Salem with a strong finish in Double-A in 2012, Bogaerts became the No. 8 prospect in baseball.

 

After what Bogaerts is doing in Double-A, he’s putting himself in the discussion for the No. 1 spot at the end of the year. His bat speed is superb, his swing is loose, he manages his plate appearances well and his extra-base sock continues to improve and should be at least plus down the road. Not only is Bogaerts one of the most dangerous hitters in the minors, but his defense has improved to the point where he could spend the early part of his career at shortstop rather than having to move to third base immediately, although as he fills out his 6-foot-3 frame it might not be long before he outgrows the position. Wherever he plays, his bat has the potential to make him a star.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-june-6-xander-bogaerts-big-bat-leads-the-list/

[SoxFanForsyth]

Henry Owens id throwing the hell out of the ball in A+ right now. 61 IP, 2.95 ERA, 10.8 K/9, 3.7 BB/9.

 

His control is developing (4.2 BB/9 last year), and will likely continue to develop. He's only 20, so if they take him slow (one level/year), he could potentially be in Boston by his age 23 season.

 

Drake Britton has had a good bit of success in AA as well, posting a 3.25 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 3.1 BB/9.

 

My guess is that by July or August, there will be some promotions for guys like Owens and Britton, which will likely be about the time that the Sox see RDLR getting close to his innings cap and move him up to the Sox pen.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Xander Bogaerts has been promoted to AAA today. Extremely exciting.

[Standing Room]

Xander Bogaerts has been promoted to AAA today. Extremely exciting.

 

Congratulations! He's certainly earned it.

[a700hitter]

EyeOnBaseballRed Sox promote top prospect Xander Bogaerts to AAA

By Mike Axisa | Baseball WriterJune 13, 2013 1:28 pm ET

 

The Red Sox have promoted top prospect Xander Bogaerts to Triple-A Pawtucket. He will be the youngest position player in Pawtucket franchise history, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.

 

Bogaerts, 20, hit .311/.407/.502 with six home runs and five stolen bases in 259 Double-A plate appearances before the promotion. Between this year and he last, he hit .315/.392/.531 with 11 homers in 79 games at the Double-A level despite being the youngest player in the league.

 

Baseball America ranked Bogaerts as the eighth-best prospect in the game before the season. "Bogaerts has the offensive potential to be an all-star at any position. ... Along with his considerable tools, he draws praise for his intelligence and work ethic," the publication noted in its 2013 Prospect Handbook.

 

Bogaerts plays shortstop, but there has been speculation he might wind up at third base down the line. Boston has those positions covered at the big-league level with Stephen Drew, Jose Iglesias and Will Middlebrooks, and the latter two are considered building blocks. If Bogaerts develops as expected, the Red Sox will have no choice but to make room for him.

[SoxFanForsyth]

 

I bet Axisa was fuming when he had to write a positive article about the Red Sox.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Can't wait! He's the youngest player in AAA

[Thunder]

Can't wait! He's the youngest player in AAA

 

Are you sure? He's 20.

[mvp 78]

Are you sure? He's 20.

 

Yes. He'll also be the youngest positional player Pawtucket has ever had.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Are you sure? He's 20.

 

Here's the Pacific League and the International league, sort by age:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=3219ab1a

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=0032a9b6

 

only a couple 21 and even 22 year olds. 20 is just ridiculous