Farm System

[hansman]

I don't think they were hell bent on Bryant at 3B.  I think they came into the year hoping that Olt could make a case for being a long-term answer at 3B that would have moved Bryant to the OF.  Obviously, that hasn't happened.

 

I think Baez at 2B is inevitable because they've said Castro is staying at SS, but if they were hell bent on having Baez at 2B, they'd have already moved him in the minors.

 

Baez sticking at SS is in the unlikely event they trade him or Castro or Castro goes down with a serious injury.  Keeping Baez at SS is about maintaining the flexibility to use him as a SS regardless of what that means.  I do believe they were counting on either Olt or Villanueva to make a push to grab the 3B slot in the majors but organizations rarely move a guy off the toughest defensive position a game before they are forced to.

 

I believe that come May 1, 2015, we will see Rizzo, Baez, Castro, Bryant across the IF, Alcantara in CF and some decent FA corner guys.  Lake will be the 4th OF and Soler may make a July 1 push for a corner slot, either due to ineffectiveness/injury or trade of the FA OF or Alcantara.