Farm System

[1060Ivy]

 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="1060Ivy" data-cid="269483" data-time="1455201596">
<div>
Didn't both teams re-stock their prospects by trading away veterans?

 

Looking at each team's Top 10 prospects according to Baseball Prospectus: Phillies picked up 5 of their top 10s and Brewers 2 of their top 10s.

 

Brewers picked up Phillips in Gomez trade with the Astros and Davies from O's for Parra.  Thought they had another deal with the Diamondbacks which provided prospects but can't recall it.

 

Phillies picked up Williams, Alfaro and Thompson in Hamels trade with Rangers and Appel in Giles trade with Astros and Lively in Byrd trade. 

 

Either the 2-3 players they got are incredible, or the entire system is pretty thin.  Because moving up 20 spots seems like a lot for 2 players. 

 

</div>
</blockquote>
 

Brewers picked up the Diamondback's #9 prospect in the trade but he didn't make their top 10.

 

Regarding Brewers according to Law - they've added prospects and the 2015 class is great / developed,

 

"They've gone from having the majors' worst farm system just two years ago to a top-five system resulting from a series of shrewd trades, starting with former GM Doug Melvin's work last summer to begin the rebuilding process, as well as one of the strongest draft classes in 2015."

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/insider/story/_/i...s-2016-mlb

[rok]

Wonder how Garza feels about this.

[bz]

Fuck Garza.

[VanSlawAndCottoCheese]

Baseball America's <a data-ipb="nomediaparse" href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/organization-talent-rankings-list/">not so high</a> on the Cubs farm:

 

<table class="table" style="width: 100%;" border="1px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Team</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2015</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2014</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2013</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1. Los Angeles Dodgers</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">19</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">23</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2. Houston Astros</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">17</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3. Atlanta Braves</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">29</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4. Boston Red Sox</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5. Washington Nationals</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">16</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6. Colorado Rockies</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">16</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7. Texas Rangers</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8. Philadelphia Phillies</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">22</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">22</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">23</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">27</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9. Milwaukee Brewers</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">29</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">22</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10. Minnesota Twins</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">19</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11. Pittsburgh Pirates</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12. Cincinnati Reds</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">16</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">16</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13. Tampa Bay Rays</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">17</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14. St. Louis Cardinals</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15. New York Mets</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">24</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16. Cleveland Indians</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">23</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">17</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">24</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">29</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17. New York Yankees</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18. Oakland Athletics</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">19</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">23</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19. San Francisco Giants</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">19</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">28</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20. Chicago Cubs</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21. Kansas City Royals</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22. Arizona Diamondbacks</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23. Chicago White Sox</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">24</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">29</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">30</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24. Toronto Blue Jays</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25. San Diego Padres</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26. Detroit Tigers</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">30</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">28</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">27</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">22</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27. Baltimore Orioles</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">28</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">17</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28. Seattle Mariners</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">24</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29. Miami Marlins</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">27</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">28</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30. Los Angeles Angels</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">27</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">30</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">16</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

[funkster]

Strange to me that they and Law could be so far apart in their rankings.

[VanSlawAndCottoCheese]

And, on the hand, BP has 6 Cubs on their Top 101 list:

 

41. Gleyber Torres

57. Willson Contreras

67. Ian Happ

74. Billy McKinney

83. Albert Almora

97. Eddy Julio Martinez

[rok]

The Red Sox rankings have sort of been all over the map as well. At least the White Sox are unloved by all, which is ironic given how bad they've been for so long now despite being "all-in" in perpetuity.

[funkster]

Speaking of, did you see USA Today had them taking the Central with 90 wins?  Uhhh...wut?

[rok]

Speaking of, did you see USA Today had them taking the Central with 90 wins?  Uhhh...wut?

Did that prediction by any chance come from that dingbat Bob Nightengale? He's hopeless.

[funkster]

Not sure.  Didn't think about that, but that would make a whole lot of sense.

[Runnys]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="funkster" data-cid="269672" data-time="1455591059">
Speaking of, did you see USA Today had them taking the Central with 90 wins?  Uhhh...wut?

Did that prediction by any chance come from that dingbat Bob Nightengale? He's hopeless.</blockquote>


They also had the Cubs and Cards with the two beat records in baseball. Cubs at 101 wins, cards at 97.

[Kid]

Law named his top 10 prospects by position (top 20 for SPs).

 

Contreras - #1 C

Happ - #2 2B

Edwards - #5 RP

Torres - #6 SS

Candelario - #9 3B

[Kid]

Also, this is Law's full write-up from Tuesday on the Cubs' system:

 

Organization ranking: 4
 

I've ranked every farm system, as well as the top 100 MLB prospects of 2016. Below, I've ranked at least the top 10 Cubs prospects, plus an overview of the system and any other names of note. I also discuss any prospects who might help the big league club in 2016, prospects whose stock has taken a big hit in the past year and a sleeper prospect (or two) I think can jump into the main top 100 list for 2017.

 

A few quick notes: (1) Just as in my other prospect files, I use the 20 to 80 grading scale when scouting these prospects; and (2) if the prospect is in my top 100, clicking on his ranking will take you to the page his scouting profile is on.

 

Top 10 prospects (Top 100 rank in parentheses)

 

1. Gleyber Torres, SS (15)

2. Willson Contreras, C (27)

3. Ian Happ, 2B/CF (47)

4. Billy McKinney, OF (69)

5. Albert Almora, OF (88)

6. Dylan Cease, RHP (91)

7. Eddy Julio Martinez, OF (Just missed)

8. Duane Underwood, RHP

9. Eloy Jimenez, OF

10. Jeimer Candelario, 3B

 

Overview

 

The Cubs promoted four stud prospects and it's still a good system. Duane Underwood was hurt for part of the year with elbow soreness, and although he has a fastball that clocks in at up to 94 mph and good spin on his curveball, his off-speed stuff is not consistent start to start so he just hasn't missed bats like he should. His changeup is pretty limited and there's some sense among scouts that he might be a bullpen arm, especially since he has a hard time getting all his pitches together in any one outing.

 

Eloy Jimenez was their top bonus guy in the same July 2 class that landed them Torres. Jimenez had an impressive year as an 18-year-old in the Northwest League, hitting a quarter of Eugene's home runs for the entire season with a powerful swing but showing enough plate discipline to avoid chasing stuff out of the zone. He's a corner guy, but the hit and power potential here would profile anywhere on the field, as long as he can maintain this selectivity when he moves to full-season ball. Jeimer Candelario had a breakout year at the plate, including a 46-game run in Double-A where he walked more than he struck out, but his defense remains a real problem at third base despite some hard work on his end, and it seems like he'll end up moving to a position where his bat will really have to play up to profile as a regular.

 

Right-hander Oscar de la Cruz (11) signed for under $100,000 but has turned out to be a steal, a physical starter standing 6-foot-4 who throws 92-95 mph and repeats his arm swing very well, allowing him to pitch with his fastball and throw strikes with it. He has feel to spin a curveball but overall needs to tighten up his offspeed stuff. Lefty Justin Steele (12), signed in the same class that brought in Dylan Cease and lefty Carson Sands (18), is a very athletic two-pitch starter right now, throwing up to 94 mph but sitting down around average, while working on getting better bite on his curveball. He was pretty raw when signed out of Mississippi but has the physical tools to develop into a fourth starter.

 

Pierce Johnson (15) and Carl Edwards (13) are both clearly bullpen arms at this point, with Edwards ready to help the Cubs right away. Corey Black has quality reliever stuff, but performed much worse when the Cubs moved him to their Double-A bullpen this summer.

 

D.J. Wilson (14) was the Cubs’ big over-slot signing in 2015. He’s a plus-plus runner who's only 5-foot-9 but makes hard contact, even winning the Cubs' instructional league home run derby. He projects to stay in center with above-average defense but less game power than he shows in batting practice. Right-hander Jen-Ho Tseng (16) has great control and an above-average curveball but no plane on his low-90s fastball. His changeup was worse in 2015 than 2014 but if he can restore it to its previous quality he has a chance to be a back-end starter. Brad Markey (17) is an undersized right-hander but throws in the 91-96 mph range as a starter with a hard slurve and a compact delivery. He's probably a reliever in the end, but with his fastball command I'd let him start in Double-A in 2016 and see how it rolls. Bryan Hudson (18) is a 6-foot-7 lefty from southern Illinois with a good arm and a hammer curveball, sitting in the low 90s with his fastball already but with projection left, but he has no changeup right now and fastball command is still in the future. I could see Mark Zagunis surfacing as a 25th man because of his bat, though he's limited defensively, or Donnie Dewees making it as an extra outfielder due to his speed and ability to put the ball in play. Dewees's ceiling is capped by his lack of power and 20-grade arm.

 

2016 impact

 

After incorporating Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber into their lineup last year, the Cubs don't seem to have any room for rookies in 2016, unless someone like Edwards can win a spot in the tight bullpen fight this March.

 

The fallen

 

The Cubs took right-hander Jake Stinnett in the second round in 2014 as a senior out of the University of Maryland, but even in the Low-A Midwest League he was awful, fighting his delivery all season and posting a 4.48 ERA at a level he should have dominated.

 

Sleeper

 

De la Cruz should go to South Bend this year. Given his command and ability to pitch with his fastball, he could end the year as the system's second-best pitching prospect after Cease.

[rok]

Detailed BP Top 10 Prospects List out today.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/articl...leid=28626

The State of the System: This is now more of a quantity than quality system, but the player development department is playing with house money now, anyway.

The Top Ten


1. SS Gleyber Torres

2. C Willson Contreras

3. OF/2B Ian Happ

4. OF Billy McKinney

5. OF Eddy Julio Martinez

6. RHP Dylan Cease

7. OF Albert Almora

8. RHP Duane Underwood

9. OF Eloy Jimenez

10. RHP Carl Edwards, Jr.

1. Gleyber Torres, SS

DOB: 12/13/1996

Height/Weight: 61 175 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Acquired: Signed July 2013 by Chicago out of Venezuela for $1.7 million

Previous Ranking(s): #8 (Org.)

2015 Stats: .287/.346/.370, 3 HR, 22 SB in 538 PA at Low-A South Bend and High-A Myrtle Beach

Future Tools: 60 hit, 60 glove, 60 arm, 55 speed

Role: 60First-division regular at shortstop


When you graduate as many quality prospects as the Cubs did, sometimes your no. 1 prospect is just someone by default. Thats not the case here. Torres feel for hitting is exceptional and gets better every year, and his ability to make consistent, hard contact to every part of the field with an easily repeatable swing gives him a plus hit tool. Hes shown hes not allergic to taking pitches, but he can get aggressive. Thatll lead to more swing-and-miss than youd like from a hitter with fringe-average power. But he has enough strength to put the ball into gaps, and his above-average speed allows him to take extra baseswhether by stretching hits or stealing bags.


There was once debate about whether Torres would stay at shortstop. That debate is over. Torres has excellent hands, top-notch instincts and an easy plus arm. Is he Francisco Lindor with the glove? Nope, but hes only a notch below. Hes really good, and when you add in his ability to get on base and swipe bags, you get a really valuable player.


Bret Sayre's Fantasy Take: After an eye-opening 15 or so years from the 1990s through the 2000s, were back to no longer expecting big power from our fantasy shortstops. Which is a good thing for Torres, since he can be a strong contributor everywhere else. A potential .290 hitter with 25-plus steals and non-zero power is safe bet for many top-10 finishes.


Major League ETA: 2018

2. Willson Contreras, C

DOB: 05/13/1992

Height/Weight: 61 175 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Acquired: Signed December 2009 out of Venezuela for $850,000

Previous Ranking(s): Unranked

2015 Stats: .333/.413/.478, 8 HR, 4 SB in 454 PA at Double-A Tennessee

Future Tools: 60 hit, 70 arm,

Role: 60First-division catcher


Contreras went from a fringy backup-catching prospect to arguably the best catching prospect in baseball in the span of a season. Thats fun. He is the rare player who added bat speed at his age, and he also cleaned up the swing path, allowing him to make more consistent hard contact. His hand-eye coordination is in the upper echelon, so theres minimal swing-and-miss. Hes never going to be among the league leaders in homers because the swing path doesnt have a ton of loft, but hes naturally strong, and 10-15 home run seasons arent impossible.


Behind the plate, Contreras is still a work in progress, but he has shown progress in that work. He has a cannon, which will keep runners at bay even without a quick release or tidy mechanics. Receiving is the big focus point right now, as hes still learning how to frame pitches and call games.


Outside of spelling his name incorrectly, theres an awful lot to like about Contreras, and it shouldnt surprise anyone if hes the starting catcher at some point in 2017.


Bret Sayre's Fantasy Take: This is the universe reminding us that the last Cubs catcher of the future was missing an L in his name. Contreras doesn't have the type of pop that Welington Castillo had (or the pop that faux-catcher Kyle Schwarber now has); hes more on the Yadier-Molina-without-the-power-surge fantasy track, and that's okay. That's quite a valuable track in this age of ugly fantasy catchers.


Major League ETA: 2017

3. Ian Happ, OF/2B

DOB: 08/12/1994

Height/Weight: 60 205 lbs.

Bats/Throws: S/R

Drafted/Acquired: Drafted ninth overall by Chicago in the 2015 MLB Draft, University of Cincinnati (OH); signed for $3 million

Previous Ranking(s): No. 6 on Top 125 MLB Draft prospects

2015 Stats: .259/.356/.466, 9 HR, 10 SB in 251 PA at short-season Eugene and Low-A South Bend

Future Tools: 60 hit, 55 speed, 55 arm, 50+ power

Role: 60First-division corner outfielder


Yes, Cub fans, we all know you wanted a pitcher in last Junes draft. Instead of reaching for one, they took one of my favorite hitters in the class. The swing is slightly better from the left side, but hes going to be able to hit for average from both sides of the plate, and he sprays line drives all over the field. Hes comfortable hitting with two strikes and is more than willing to work counts, but that also means there are going to be more strikeouts than you typically see from a plus hit tool. He has excellent balance in his lower half and a swing that contains some loft, so above-average power is well within reach. Hes also an above-average runner who gets excellent jumps on the bases, so you could be looking at a 20/20 guy.


If that happens, it wont matter where Happ plays, which is good, because there are still questions in that regard. Theres no question he can handle an outfield corner, but the Cubs will give him a chance to play a premium position. Center field is the dream, but the most likely landing spot is second base (where the Cubs have worked him out exclusively since the offseason), and thats a place where his above-average arm and adequate hands will make him passable. He has a chance to hit at the top of the order anywhere, but if he can stay up the middle? That increases his value substantially.


Bret Sayre's Fantasy Take: Happ can do everything you want in a fantasy hitter, let alone someone who might have middle infield eligibility. He can threaten .300 while pushing both 20 homers and steals if everything breaks rightso that means he can also be a plenty valuable player if either the eligibility or the the power doesnt max out. Hes an easy top half of the first round selection in dynasty drafts this year.


Major League ETA: 2018

4. Billy McKinney, OF

DOB: 08/23/1994

Height/Weight: 61 195 lbs.

Bats/Throws: L/L

Drafted/Acquired: Drafted 24th overall by Oakland in the 2013 MLB Draft, Plano West HS (Plano, TX), signed for $1.8 million; traded by Oakland to Chicago in five-player deal

Previous Ranking(s): #6 (Org.) #81 (Top 101)

2015 Stats: .300/.371/.454, 7 HR, 0 SB in 433 PA at High-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee

Future Tools: 65 hit

Role: 55Above-average regular in left


Billy McKinney can flat-out hit. That could be the end of the report, but you probably want to know why, and thats understandable. You just dont see 22-year-olds repeat a swing this well. His fluid, quick movements give him as close to a plus-plus hit tool as any hitter outside of that Seager guy. Hes not completely devoid of power, but because he doesnt generate much leverage or loft, asking for much more than 15 homers a year is asking too much. Hes also not fleet of foot (more on that in a second), and hes not going to provide much value when hes on base.


In the field, McKinney isnt Glenallen Hill, but hes not going to remind you of Starling Marte, either. His arm is below average, his jumps are only okay, and the lack of speed means there are occasionally some adventures out there. That puts an awful lot of pressure on his bat, but a potential .300/.400/.450 hitter makes those defensive deficiencies easier to deal with.


So what makes McKinney a better prospect than the two bats below him? Simple: probability.


Yes, Martinez and Almora have bigger ceilings than McKinney (as their tools reflect), thanks to their ability to play center, and play it well. But the unknowns (Martinez) and limited offensive potential (Almora) place their realistic outcomes somewhere in the fourth-outfielder orsecond-division starter range. McKinney has a borderline plus-plus hit to go with three other average tools that say hell be an everyday guy.


Bret Sayre's Fantasy Take: Usually players who have an offensive-heavy LF-only profile are more attractive in fantasy leagues; however, McKinney just doesnt do enough outside of hitting for average to be on the forefront of dynasty owners minds. Sure, he has a very good chance to hit .300 (at least as far as prospects go), but if he cant even get to 15 homers or steals, theres a ceiling on just how valuable he can be.


Major League ETA: 2017

5. Eddy Julio Martinez, OF

DOB: 01/18/1995

Height/Weight: 61 195 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Acquired: Signed October 2015 by Chicago out of Cuba for $3 million

Previous Ranking(s): Unranked

2015 Stats: Did not play

Future Tools: 60 speed, 60 arm, 60 glove, 50+ hit

Role: 50+Above-average regular in center field


This is an aggressive ranking for a player with this little experience and limited viewing (my report is based on video and international scouts), but the upside is higher than that of any hitter in the systemeven Torres. Hes an exceptional athlete, and you can see that athleticism come through in a swing that has plus-plus bat speed. He needs to do a better job of refining it, however, and itd be surprising if there isnt a boatload of swing-and-miss in this profile. He shows plus raw power from his strong wrists and the aforementioned bat speed, but hes going to have to show more patience at the plate if hes going to tap into it. Hes an easy plus runner, and he should be a significant nuisance if and when he gets on base.


Fortunately for Martinez, hes much more advanced with the glove, and he should be a lock to stick in center field. If he was to move to a corner hed be just fine there, and his plus arm would make him a nice asset in right field.


Theres a ton of volatility here, but if you squint really hard and dream even harder, you could see him becoming a poor mans Andruw Jones. Its just as likely hes a fourth outfielder, but the ceiling is just too high to not land in the top five in this system.


Bret Sayre's Fantasy Take: If youre into risk, Martinez is a great grab in the late first/early second round of dynasty drafts. The tools are there for him to be a five-category contributor, but were so far away from knowing anything substantial about his in-game abilities that its just throwing darts at this point. Maybe hes an OF2. Maybe hes a spare outfielder.


Major League ETA: 2018

6. Dylan Cease, RHP

DOB: 12/28/1995

Height/Weight: 61 175 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Acquired: Drafted in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB Draft, Milton HS (Milton, GA); signed for $1.5 million

Previous Ranking(s): Unranked

2015 Stats: 2.63 ERA, 24 IP, 12 H, 16 BB, 25 K at complex level AZL

Future Tools: 70 fastball, 55 curveball

Role: 50+Mid-rotation starter/High-leverage reliever


Cease was not your typical sixth-round pick, as he was a potential day-one guy before it was revealed in March that hed eventually need Tommy John surgery. Still, kudos to the Cubs for taking a chance on him and getting this type of talent into the system. This could be an 80 fastball when alls said and done, as he touched triple digits and sat in the mid-90s at times in his return to the mound last summer. The curveball doesnt have that potential, but its at least an above-average offering with hard, power spin, and he showed the ability to throw it for strikes in the AZL, too. He relies heavily on those two pitches, but hes shown an average changeup with late tumble at times, though theres a noticeable difference in arm speed.


The stuff says Cease can pitch at the top of a rotation. The command says you sure about that? Hes athletic and there isnt a ton of effort in the delivery, but hes often wild in the strike zone, and he can beat himself with walks. Because of that and the injury, theres at least a chance he ends up in the bullpen, but if everything clicks hes a potential no. 3 startermaybe more.


Bret Sayre's Fantasy Take: Even in rookie ball, you can spot the players who have WHIP risk written all over them, and Cease is certainly one. However, when youre betting on these distant arms, go stuff first, go stuff second, and everything else third when youre trying to assess future fantasy value.


Major League ETA: 2018

7. Albert Almora, OF

DOB: 04/16/1994

Height/Weight: 62 180 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Acquired: Drafted sixth overall in the 2012 MLB Draft, Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens, FL); signed for $3.9 million

Previous Ranking(s): #4 (Org.), #38 (Top 101)

2015 Stats: .272/.327/.408, 8 HR, 8 SB in 454 PA at Double-A Tennessee

Future Tools: 70 glove, 60 arm, 50+ hit

Role: 50+Solid-average regular in center field


Almoras stock took a significant hit in 2014, and while hes no longer a top-30 prospect, he did do his best to reestablish his value this summer. Hes always made a lot of contact, but the big difference in 2015 was that there was far less weak contact, as he showed more strength in his swing and put balls into the gap. He still swings too often to ever hit at the top of a lineup, and double-digit power is probably just out of his reach.


What Almora lacks in offensive upside, he makes up for in defensive value. His instincts are stupid good, and even though hes not more than an average runner, he still gets to everything and anything. He also has a plus arm, so hes basically that rare plus-plus center fielder who doesnt have blazing speed.


Hes no longer the best outfield prospect in the system, but Almora is still a valuable prospect, and be it as a fourth outfielder or regular, he provides a ton of value with the glove, and just enough with the bat.


Bret Sayre's Fantasy Take: Unless your league counts FRAA, excitement has properly waned around the fantasy value of Almora. As an everyday player, dynasty owners shouldnt be expecting more than about a .260 average with the ability to barely sniff double-digits in home runs and steals. Thats an OF5 for those of you scoring at home.


Major League ETA: 2017

8. Duane Underwood, RHP

DOB: 07/20/1994

Height/Weight: 62 215 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Acquired: Drafted 67th overall by Chicago in the 2012 MLB Draft, Pope HS (Marietta, GA); signed for $1.05 million

Previous Ranking(s): Unranked

2015 Stats: 2.41 ERA, 78.1 IP, 55 H, 24 BB, 54 K at High-A Myrtle Beach

Future Tools: 60 fastball, 55 curveball, 50+ change

Role: 50No. 4 starter/High-leverage reliever


If you see Underwood on the right day, youll wonder why hes not in the top five of the system. He consistently touches the mid-90s with his fastball, sitting 91-94 mph with just enough movement to call it a plus offering. He can really spin his curveball, and when he doesnt get underneath it, its an above-average pitch with 11-5 break. Hell also show feel for a change, and it has some late tumbling action that makes it potentially above average as well.


Unfortunately, his stuff doesnt just vary from start to start, but from inning to inning. Theres zero consistency, and part of that comes from his inability to stay on top of the delivery or repeat his arm slot. That makes him a candidate for the bullpen, but hes still young, with enough upside to maybe, just maybe, pitch in the middle of a rotation someday.


Bret Sayre's Fantasy Take: If Im taking a single Cubs pitcher on a dynasty team its Underwood, as he has the best combination of floor and upside on this list. Of course, without large projected strikeout totals, that upside gets capped at a good SP4..


Major League ETA: 2017

9. Eloy Jimenez, OF

DOB: 11/27/1996

Height/Weight: 64 205 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Acquired: Signed August 2013 out of the Dominican Republic by Chicago for $2.8 million

Previous Ranking(s): Unranked

2015 Stats: .284/.328/.418, 7 HR, 3 SB in 250 PA at short-season Eugene

Future Tools: 60 arm, 55 power

Role: 50Average regular in right


The Cubs have taken things slowly with Jimenez, but if you had a chance to see him play in beautiful Eugene, you would have seen why many rated him as the top international prospect of the 2013-14 international class. The calling card is plus power, generated from above-average bat speed and exceptionally strong wrists that allow him to take the ball out to any part of the ballpark. Unfortunately,the length of his swing makes his in-game power more likely to be above average than plus. The swing path also makes his hit tool closer to 40 than 50 at this point, and pitch recognition does not appear to be a strength.


Jimenez played some center field last year, but it almost assuredly wont be his landing spot at the big-league level. He should be solid in right field, however, as his plus arm and average speed will allow him to be just fine in that cozy corner. The upside is a 30-homer hitter who will get on base enough to justify playing everyday, with a realistic and defensible floor of lefty-masher off the bench.


Bret Sayre's Fantasy Take: The power makes Jimenez worth rostering in dynasty leagues with 200 prospects owned. In fact, hed likely be close to making a top 150, if such a thing existed. With 25-plus home runs a possibility in time, Jimenez can flash OF3 potential even if the hit tool doesnt allow him to contribute positively at all in batting average.

10. Carl Edwards, Jr.

DOB: 09/03/1991

Height/Weight: 63 170 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Acquired: Drafted in the 48th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Mid-Carolina HS (Prosperity, SC); signed for $50,000

Previous Ranking(s): Unranked

2015 Stats: 2.77 ERA, 55.1 IP, 26 H, 41 BB, 75 K at Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa; 3.86 ERA, 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K at the major league level

Future Tools: 70 fastball, 60 curveball

Role: 50High-leverage reliever


If it seems like Carl Edwards, Jr. has been with the Cubs since 2004, its because he has. (Ignore the obviously false information I have entered above.) The dream of him becoming a mid-rotation starter is over, but the new dream of him being a set-up man or more is a pretty nice dream, too. His fastball has plenty of movement, and itll get up to 97 mph in short spurts, making it an easy plus-plus pitch. He complements that heater with a hammer curveball, one that is rarely a strike but doesnt need to be. Hes also thrown a change, but its not a pitch that he shows very often in relief. The only thing that keeps him from being a lock for the ninth inning is his control, as he beats himself far too often to trust in high-leverage situations at present. If he can show even fringe-average control, hes going to be a dominant reliever. If he cant, the two out pitches should allow him to stay on a roster, but well always be left wondering what if he could throw strikes?


Bret Sayre's Fantasy Take: After 300 of these writeups together, we end on yet another reliever and Ive run out of different ways to tell you not to waste your time with relief prospects. See you next year!


Major League ETA: Debuted in 2015


Five who are just interesting:

Dan Vogelbach, 1B If there was ever a time to emphasize that this is not a ranking of 11-15, this is the time. Im not a fan of Vogelbachs skill set, but I do find him pretty darn interesting. Its not a question of his offensive upside; he controls the zone well, and he shows plus raw power from the left side. The problem is when youre a 20 runner and defender, you need to be more than a 55-55 offensive guy to contribute at the big-league level. Is it impossible that he becomes a regular? Nope. Is it a massively uphill battle? You bet your bottom dollar.

Oscar De La Cruz, RHP Not only was De La Cruz a serious candidate for the top 10, there were some who believed he was the most talented pitcher in the entire system. He sits 92-95 mph with a fastball that has touched the high 90s, and hell also show you an above-average power curveball. He pounds the strike zone with those two pitches, but the command is well behind the control and the change needs substantial work. Hes at least three years away from seeing the big leagues, but the upside is substantial.

Bryan Hudson, LHP Hudson was the Cubs third-round selection last June, and he just might be the best left-handed pitching prospect in the system. He shows two plus pitches, led by an 88-92 mph fastball that touches 94. At 6-foot-8, he gets easy downhill plane with sink. His curveball is his best current pitch, showing serious break and quality depth to boot. The changeup is a pretty big step behind those two pitches, and as you might guess from his height, repeating his delivery is a problem. As with Cruz, you wont see him in the bigs for a while, but theres mid-rotation upside in his left arm.

Donnie Dewees, OF Dewees is a great story. He went undrafted out of high school and missed almost all of his sophomore year at North Florida after breaking his wrist. To go from that to a legit day-one talent and second-round pick is pretty commendable. His short, compact swing allows him to shoot the ball all over the park, and he generates enough rotation to give him fringe-average power, to boot. Hes also a plus runner who can go get it in center field, though his arm strength leaves a lot to be desired. The upside here is starting center fielder; the floor is super useful fourth outfielder.

Justin Steele, LHP If Hudson isnt the best southpaw in the Cubs system, its Steele. He doesnt offer the same kind of projection, but he does have a plus fastball that can get up to 95 mph, and theres some solid sink. When he stays on top of the curveball its an above-average offering, and he has shown flashes of having a competent change with solid-average command as well. Consistency isnt his friend, but hes 20, so it doesnt have to be just yet.

[rok]

From Basebsll America:

MINOR LEAGUE TRANSACTIONS: MARCH 19-24

Chicago Cubs
Released: RHP Matt Brazis, RHP Yomar Morel, RHP Santiago Rodriguez, RHP Austyn Willis, LHP Heath Dwyer, LHP Nick Greenwood, LHP Sam Wilson, C Jordan Hankins, 1B Matt Clark, OF Donnie Cimino
Traded: LHP Edgar Olmos to Orioles for a player to be named
Voluntarily retired: SS Jonathan Mota