For a while, I've been thinking about how the top prospects in the Red Sox outfield fit into the team's future plans, and I have been unable to come to anything that really satisfied me, so if it's okay with you, I'd like your guys' opinion on this. So, back to the question, then; how exactly are we going to fit Jacoby Ellsbury, David Murphy, Luis Soto, Brandon Moss, and Jason Place into the outfield in the future with Wily Mo Pena at just 24 years old?
Jacoby Ellsbury is 22, and a Johnny Damon-type lefty leadoff guy according to SoxProspects.com, and he's a pretty solid three tool prospect (hit for average, run, and field) who I like the most out of the guys listed. He's projected to get to the majors in mid-2008.
David Murphy is 24, and another lefty bat in the lineup. He's compared to Ryan Langerhans on SoxProspects, and he's another former first-round pick (along with Ellsbury and Place) who should fit into either left or center. He's a production guy instead of a tools guy projected to reach the majors in mid-2007.
Luis Soto is 20 and a switch htiter, which is a big plus, but he, like Ellsbury and Murphy, is also primarily a center fielder. Sounds like he's a four tool prospect (missing hitting for power), but his arm is only described as "above average", and he wasn't drafted. Anyone have an idea why? Juan Encarnacion is his comparison, and he's projected to hit in 2009.
Brandon Moss is 22 and a former Baseball America top 100 prospect who struggled in recent seasons, but should still reach in 2008 as a lefty batter (that makes three lefties so far and one switch hitter.) He's a right fielder who's a one or two tool guy (has "raw power" and a "good arm.")
Finally, Jason Place is just 18 years old and was our first round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, as you probably already know. He's a five-tool (according to SoxProspects, but some places say three or four), Jeff Francouer-type with low plate discipline and some injury problems. A righty projected to hit in 2010.
I don't think Manny, Wily Mo, or Coco Crisp will be around in 2010 as starters for the Sox (Coco is looking like a one-tool speed guy with average defense, an average arm, low power, and just average contact, Wily Mo has no discipline and isn't a good average hitter or fielder who only hits lefties well, and Manny would just be really, really old), so how do you guys figure they can all fit in? This is the best I've been able to do:
2006: LF - Manny Ramirez, CF - Coco Crisp, RF - Wily Mo Pena
Pretty much nothing changes here, except for that Wily Mo Pena takes over full-time for Trot Nixon in right.
2007: LF - Manny Ramirez, CF - Coco Crisp, RF - Wily Mo Pena (L)/David Murphy ®
David Murphy breaks into the lineup as a right fielder against righty batters, while the usual lineup remains mostly intact, with Wily Mo facing lefties.
2008: LF - Manny Ramirez, CF - Jacoby Ellsbury, RF - Wily Mo Pena (L)/David Murphy ®
Ellsbury takes over for Coco Crisp in center, and everything else remains the same.
2009: LF - David Murphy (Manny Ramirez DH?), CF - Jacoby Ellsbury, RF - Brandon Moss
Manny is now 37 or so, so he won't get the same amount of playing time. Wily Mo Pena has probably left, and Brandon Moss, who had 14 assists last year in right, takes over there.
2010: LF - David Murphy, CF - Jacoby Ellsbury, RF - Jason Place
Murphy has more experience than Moss and I believe he will take over in left. Place comes in and relegates Soto and Moss to backup roles.
That's just my opinion, but you guys might know more about when contracts expire and such, as I was just going off of their predicted time into the lineup. But, like I said before, I'd really appreciate it if you guys could help out and just give me (and the rest of the users here) some insight.
