There’s only one semi-interesting rumor floating around in the ether today, which we’ll get to in a bit. So thankfully, Baseball America went and ranked its top ten prospects for the Cubs. First, Jim Callis gives us a rundown on the big moves in the Cubs organization in 2012.
The Cubs spent the No. 6 overall pick in the draft and $3.9 million in bonus money on center fielder Albert Almora, one of the most polished high school position players in recent memory. To restock an organization seriously bereft of pitching, they spent their next seven choices on arms, starting with Missouri State righthander Pierce Johnson.
A week after the draft, Chicago landed Cuban slugger Jorge Soler with the biggest deal for an amateur in franchise history.
(snip)
At the trade deadline, the Cubs picked up righthander Arodys Vizcaino from the Braves in a deal for reliable veterans Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm.
Lest we forget, the Cubs signed a few international free agent pitchers, too.
The Cubs spent heavily on three international pitchers, with $1.5 million Dominican righthander Juan Carlos Paniagua generating positive reviews and $6 million Cuban lefthander Gerardo Concepcion getting shelled in low Class A and removed from the 40-man roster in December. They imported Hanshin Tigers closer Kyuji Fujikawa from Japan in December for a two-year deal worth $9.5 million.
Concepcion could end up being the biggest waste of $6 dollars since Lee Majors. Rankings after the jump…
1. Javier Baez, ss 2. Albert Almora, of 3. Jorge Soler, of 4. Arodys Vizcaino, rhp 5. Brett Jackson, of 6. Pierce Johnson, rhp 7. Dan Vogelbach, 1b 8. Jeimer Candelario, 3b 9. Kyuji Fujikawa, rhp 10. Arismendy Alcantara, ss
The biggest surprise on the list is probably, Fujikawa, the 32-year-old Japanese reliever. But he’ll technically be a rookie, so I guess he counts as a prospect. The top 7 are all in Baseball Prospectus’ top 7 (in a slightly different order), so you figure those to be the elite talent in the organization. And, because we love lists, we’ll look at their projected lineup for 2016.
Catcher Welington Castillo First Base Anthony Rizzo Second Base Starlin Castro Third Base Jeimer Candelario Shortstop Javier Baez Left Field Brett Jackson Center Field Albert Almora Right Field Jorge Soler No. 1 Starter Jeff Samardzija No. 2 Starter Matt Garza No. 3 Starter Arodys Vizcaino No. 4 Starter Edwin Jackson No. 5 Starter Pierce Johnson Closer Juan Carlos Paniagua
We can wish in one hand and do something in the other, and see which fills up first, but at least the front office has things moving in the right direction. Now, to the rumor I teased at the top of this post. Carrie Muskat, take it away.
The Cubs are believed to be one of the teams expressing interest in Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz. Diaz, who turns 23 on Tuesday, is a free agent, and a team can sign him without that money counting against the cap for international bonuses.
A right-handed hitting infielder, Diaz defected from the Cuban National team during a tournament in the Netherlands and has been training in Mexico City. A showcase for him was not expected until the end of January.
The Cubs early success rate on Cuban signings is 50%, so I don’t know how to feel about this one.
“Concepcion could end up being the biggest waste of $6 dollars since Lee Majors.”
BAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
That’s great!
One of the top ten things ever written on this site, for sure.
Agreed
I’m not sure if this say good things about the added depth of the Cubs farm system or if it says that Brett Jackson sucks…but Jackson was rated as the Cubs #1 prospect last year. Now he’s #5.
Good things, I’m really excited about the prospects we have coming. If we can draft a T.O.R. Pitcher along with some more good arms, this system is gonna start paying dividends big time.
I don’t want a TOR pitcher…just isn’t worth it. I’d rather the Cubs develop depth as far as pitching is concerned, and really work at developing the talent. I’d prefer them to take the best position player available for the #2 pick.
Mark Appel is almost certainly going to the Astros this year (though they passed on him last year)…
The draft is a long way off yet, but right now I think this is who I’d like to see the Cubs draft:
http://www.minorleagueball.com/mlb-bonus-baby/2012/10/5/3450976/2013-draft-profile-austin-wilson-of-stanford
Whichever way they go with the pick, its probably gonna turn out to be one of the most important decisions this front office makes IMO.
Catching is super deep in this draft too, as of matter of fact they have a kid from my home town here in OK that is projected to go late 1st rd. He’s def the real deal from the limited number of times I’ve watched him.
I don’t like his swing. It looks forced.
I say take a pass on Diaz, as his agent no doubt has $$ in his eyes, and will want a giant bonus in case he does wash out…
I was really surprised that Diaz would not be restricted by the new MLB International FA rules because of his age and the number of years he’s already played in professional ball (not much different than signing a Japanese player).
You are probably right that his cost will be sky high. I haven’t really seen any scouting reports on the kid, but considering the continued low payroll for the Cubs, I’d make a significant offer to the kid if his skills map out nicely.
From what I take away personally after reading the limited reports on this kid, is that he’s pretty much ready to play in the majors. After that the reports on this kid become spewed IMO…some say he don’t have enough bat. Some say he might be a servicable 3B, others say utility type guy.
Hell we have the money, if the FO thinks he’s good enough I say do it just because.
I’d be prefectly happy with a serviceable 3B considering all the current third basemen in this organization are rather serviceless.
MASN report that the Cubs are still after Porcello. Working on a 3-team deal with the Tigers and Orioles?
http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2013/01/sifting-through-more-rumors.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+masnroch+%28School+of+Roch%29
This is where this deal doesn’t work:
“…the Cubs would have to send pitching to the Orioles as part of a three-way deal.”
The only decent pitchers the Cubs will likely be willing to part with are Garza and Marmol, and Porcello is not the player they’d want in return for either of them.
I dunno, the Orioles have never balked at taking terrible Cubs players in the past . . maybe our luck will hold?
They haven’t do so over the last few years, though, and they actually became good at the same time. I don’t think they are being that reckless anymore.
But we can hope.
Now if we can convince the Marlins to get involved in this trade, I could see them taking Soriano and Stewart and a couple of our other crappy players.
Yeah no way that deal happens unless someone is taking Soriano or Marmol’s salary. Cubs don’t win in that deal if not. From all reports O’s aren’t giving up any top prospects and they love Hardy. I can see a Marmol plus $$ for Porcello being a basis to a deal though.
I see the temperatures are rising a bit this week.
I think baseball should start now.
I read elsewhere there’s a rumor floating around that the Cubs are offering Travis Wood and Junior Lake for Porcello.
Porcello is kinda a odd man out and hasn’t lived up to billing as of yet. Wood still has options I believe and Lake would give them a young cost controlled SS that could turn into something.
Deal makes alot of sense to me for both sides.
That was the rumor about a month ago but I don’t think Detroit would want that deal…
And I think Baltimore would want a better pitcher in return for JJ Hardy if it was a three way deal, but things can get quite creative in three way deals, so who knows.
No comments on the ‘Fightless Irish’?
*sigh*
ROFLMAO.
I know I enjoyed it.
Thanks to everyone who sent me the video of the Giant Squid today! Lord knows I love me some giant squid.
We were in the science museum last year and they had a giant squid in a case, and I took a picture to send to you but I had no signal. Then I forgot to send it later. Now I can’t find it. Guess I’ll have to go back.
The things I do for you.