Before I begin,I'd like to say I wish that I could have delivered the promised podcast on each of the last two nights,but those were two of the craziest work nights that I have ever had and I came home pretty tired from the road office.
If possible,I'll be doing one before the weekend starts with a few special notes and lots of thoughts from baseball's winter meeting along with some thoughts on the final four in college football....
The rule 5 draft was this morning and none of the three teams we discuss here made a selection in the highest phase (Major),however,all three would select players in the AAA draft.
All three teams would lose a pitcher in the big league portion,so that's interesting.
Please keep in mind in the AAA and AA portions of the draft there are no regulations as in the major draft-In those two,the team writes the check and the player is theirs-no takebacks!
As I said,none of the three made selections in the first two draft portions,but the Indians did lose one as the San Diego Padres grabbed righthander Josh Martin off the Cleveland unprotected list.
The 6'5 Martin was dominant as an Akron Rubber Duck last season in 44 appearances (80 strikeouts in 67 innings with a 2.27 ERA),but at 26 by months end,good,but not great stuff and blocked by several similar prospects in the Cleveland system,this looks like a good move for Martin.
The Indians did select someone in the AAA portion in Brian Moran,a former North Carolina Tar Heel from the Mariners.
Moran was once a major league selection in the rule 5 draft,but was returned after an injury forced Tommy John surgery.
Moran returned last season with 30 innings at AA Jackson and appeared to be especially tough against lefthanders.
Cleveland should start him at AAA Columbus and see what he has to offer as the Indians do lack strength on the portside of the bullpen with Kyle Crockett being (for now) the only player that seems to be a lock.
The Pirates took one player in the AAA portion and lost one in the major draft.
The loss wasn't a huge one as former Hagerstown Suns pitcher Deolis Guerra was taken by the Angels.
Guerra recently re-signed with the Pirates as a minor league free agent and was looked at as most likely to be depth at AAA Indianapolis or a possible callup in case of injury.
Guerra was a huge prospect here when the Suns were affiliated with the Mets and was part of the Johan Santana trade with the Twins and Mets,but never seemed to fully grow into his body (6'5 plus) to develop the expected velocity.
The odd thing about this is that the Angels could have just signed Guerra as minor league free agent stock,but by taking him in the draft,they are forced to keep him in the majors all year or offer him back to Pittsburgh.
The Pirates tabbed a light hitting shortstop in 22 year old Alfredo Reyes from the Mets.
Reyes has been a pro for five years,but other than a brief cameo last season in high A,has never played higher than the New York/Penn league and didn't hit well there.
I look for Reyes to likely start at low A West Virginia and looks to be more of an organizational soldier than a true prospect....
The Giants lost Joe Biagini in the major portion to the Toronto Blue Jays and lost outfielder Devin Harris to the Diamondbacks in the AAA round.
Biagini looked to be an organizational soldier entering the 2015 season in his first test at AA with Richmond before a breakout season as a Squirrel with a 2.42 ERA.
Biagini looks to be more of a 5th starter/long reliever than a middle of the rotation guy because he just doesn't miss bats (5.8 strikeouts per nine innings).
I saw Biagini start four times last season (seemed like every time that I saw Richmond,he was starting) and he's a guy that uses his fastball and curve well,throws strikes (34 walks) and avoids the bad pitch.
His ceiling is a 4th or 5th starter,but he could be the type of player that can help out a major league team....
Devin Harris is basically a AA hired gun at this stage of his career as he turns 28 in June and has never played at the AAA level,
Harris likely fits in as organizational outfield depth for Arizona....
The Giants will likely use righthanded pitcher Wilson Santos as organizational depth as well,although Santos does have nice numbers last season at the Padres affiliate at short-season Tri-City before getting lit up at low A Fort Wayne.
At 24,I wouldn't see Santos as any more than low system fodder.
Two names jumped out at me from the AAA draft in Zack Cox and David Freitas.
A former first round pick and top prospect third baseman for the Cardinals before being traded to the Marlins,Zack Cox never seemed to hit his stride in AAA and has spent most of the 2015 season with AA Jacksonville.
Cox was taken by the Nationals and could be at either AA Harrisburg as a hired gun or AAA Syracuse depending on the Nationals needs.
I have plenty of cards of Cox that need to be signed,so I'm rooting for a Harrisburg assignment.
David Freitas has become one of those traveling catchers mitts that have value moving around the minors and he was selected by the Cubs,who must have a high A or AA need behind the plate.
The former Hagerstown Sun was looked at as a potential prospect by some (not me) after a solid 2011 in the Hub City (.288,13,73 ),but ever since has been a below average bat....
I plan on another minor points post soon where we discuss rumors on franchise moves and possibilities...
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