by David Reiffer on January 28, 2012
Ripple Effect | The Prince Fielder Signing
Aside from those living under a rock for the past week, everyone in the sports world has undoubtedly heard about the Detroit Tigers signing of former Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder for 214 million dollars over nine seasons. With the recent ACL injury to DH Victor Martinez, the Tigers swooped into the negotiations for the top slugger and, motivated by owner Mike Illitch’s desire to win, things happened quickly.
Well, every big trade or, in this case, acquisition creates a ripple effect throughout an organization where opportunities for other players disappear, defensive positions are shifted, or other trades may be the result. So here we are to sort this all out.
Recently, Tiger manager Jim Leyland confirmed that Prince Fielder’s arrival in Detroit immediately does two things: Fielder gets installed as starting first baseman and the former starting first baseman Miguel Cabrera is shifted back to third base, his original defensive position. While some doubt Cabrera will last at 3B for the long-term, the move needs to be taken seriously due to the long-term commitment made to Fielder. However, for the 2012 season, both sluggers will likely see some time in the DH spot in the hitting line-up, but in 2013, or even by the end of 2012, Victor Martinez could be back to claim the DH for himself again. So barring more injuries, this situation doesn’t leave much room in Detroit for 1B prospects like: [click to continue…]
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by David Reiffer on January 26, 2012
Addison Reed, RHP, Chicago White Sox
DOB: 12/27/1988
Height: 6’4″ Weight: 215
Addison had no trouble staying under the radar as a 3rd round selection out of San Diego State University from 2010. Being a teammate of Stephen Strasburg will do that to you. In 2011, however, his sleeper status evaporated as he rolled through four minor league levels, starting in Single A Kannapolis through Triple A Charlotte in 2011, eventually landing in the majors. Reed struck out 111 batters in 78.1 innings pitched while walking only 14 over those four levels. During 2011′s whirlwind tour through the minor leagues, Reed’s ERA never scored higher than 1.59. Though with a pitifully low amount of data, his 7 major league innings saw his ERA jump to 3.38 while striking out 12 and walking just one with a painfully low ground ball rate at 20% and a sky-high .474 BABIP. So Reed does have to prove that he’s ready for primetime yet.
After that banner season for the 23-year-old, it’s no surprise that he also found his way into our 2012 Baseball Instinct 360°. Here’s what we said:
123°. Addison Reed, RHP, White Sox, 12/27/1988 – Chris Sale part deux? It sure seems that way. Clearly, with the White Sox dealing Santos and pushing Sale to the rotation they feel that they have the real deal in Reed. You fantasy baseball types out there may want to remember this come auction/draft day or make a push for trading for him in those keeper leagues with farm systems. ETA 2012. [click to continue…]
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by David Reiffer on January 17, 2012
Alex Santana, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers
DOB: 8/21/1993
Height: 6’4″ Weight: 200
Taken in the second round (73rd overall) in the 2011 first year amateur draft as a prep shortstop, the 17-year-old slugger with big league blood lines hit pay dirt in the form of the $500,000 signing bonus provided by the Los Angeles Dodgers for his services now rendered at the hot corner. To start his career, Santana landed in the Arizona Rookie League where he carried a .238 batting average with 45 hits, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 1 homerun, and totaled 66 strikeouts against 10 walks in 50 games/189 at bats. So right away you know the strikeouts are ugly. 31.2% type ugly. And the walks? A stingy 4.9%.
Santana narrowly squeaked into the Baseball Instinct 360° this season at #359. Here’s what we said about him:
359°. Alex Santana, 3B Dodgers 8/21/1993 – Big kid, son of Rafael Santana (NYM). Profiles as a very different player than his father. Drafted as a SS, will move to 3B and has the stuff to make it there defensively. Size projects more power but has a long growth path to becoming a professional hitter. Will need to develop zone control with power to be a CI. ETA 2015.
Rafael Santana’s major league career lasted seven seasons (1983-1990) and he played shortstop for the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets along with stints with the Yankees, Cardinals, and Cleveland. Currently, Rafael serves as head of scouting and player development for the Chicago White Sox in the Dominican Republic. Asked about his son’s major league potential, the elder Santana responded, ”I’ll put my fatherhood aside, and I think he has some pretty good talent — the talent to be a five-tool player. He’s 17 years old, so he has to work still on every aspect of his game. But he has the advantage of having worked with me. He’s been there, and the talent is there.” [click to continue…]
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by David Reiffer on January 11, 2012
Simon Castro, RHP, Chicago White Sox
DOB: 1/09/1988
Height: 6″5″ Weight: 210
After 5 years of professional baseball, Simon Castro will leave the San Diego Padres organization that originally signed him in 2007 out of San Jose de los Llanos, Dominican Republic and join the Chicago White Sox along with LHP Pedro Hernandez, both pitchers swapped for OF Carlos Quentin a couple weeks ago. Castro joins a club that may need his services in 2012.
The big right-hander is set to work with pitching coach Don Cooper on some command issues, but Castro, a 2010 Futures Game pitcher, is close to being a finished product, even though he developmentally lost his way in 2011, scoring a 4.33 ERA on 95 hits and 43 earned runs in 89.1 innings pitched in Double A San Antonio and fared worse in his second promotion to Triple A Portland. He was clearly the prize of this trade and, not to mention, he’s also a nice bookend to the busy Chicago White Sox’s other farm acquisition of Nestor Molina from Toronto this off season.
The first three years of his career he took the minors by storm, striking out over 22% of hitters and walking 12% in this first season but cutting that rate down to 6.4% in Low A Fort Wayne while keeping a eye-popping 27.4% K/PA in 2009 as a 21-year-old. The 2010 season saw the organization skip him past High A level and land him in Double A San Antonio where he duplicated his walk percentage but let the K rate slip to a still nice 20.2%. That performance earned him a brief trip to Triple A Portland where he was hit hard.
Here’s what we said about him in our Texas League Touch’em All in October:
Simon Castro, RHP Padres 4/9/1988 – Before getting promoted to the PCL where the wheels fell of the cart, Castro had a quiet but successful 16 starts. He went 5-6 with a 4.33 ERA which was a touch above his 3.80 FIP. He struck out 19.5% of batters with an elite 4.3% walk rate. I still think he’s better suited for the bullpen and if the Padres decide the same we’ll see him in San Diego in 2012. [click to continue…]
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