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2017 Minor League Thread

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I have our OF of the future pegged right now as Naquin in LF, Allen in CF, Zimmer in RF...

We do have a 1B lined up for next season IMO, but that hinges on this season.

But again, talking 3 or 4 years from now...not soon...

I am actually on board with having Diaz, Naquin, Zimmer OF in 2018, with Guyer as the 4th. Chisenhall would be dealt so Zimmer can play RF platooning with Guyer and having Almonte/Someone else be platooning with him depending on how he does this season.

It all really depends on Brantley though too, if he is full health and back to normal, he's playing in LF, if not his team option will be declined and we will have to decide quickly what to do

I mean we do have EE at 1st, but he is a DH in my mind going forward. Bradley is a few seasons away, Nellie could get it if he has improved enough, so the defensive, everyday 1B in 2018 is a question mark since Santana won't be back unless he takes a pay cut.
 
I am actually on board with having Diaz, Naquin, Zimmer OF in 2018, with Guyer as the 4th. Chisenhall would be dealt so Zimmer can play RF platooning with Guyer and having Almonte/Someone else be platooning with him depending on how he does this season.

It all really depends on Brantley though too, if he is full health and back to normal, he's playing in LF, if not his team option will be declined and we will have to decide quickly what to do

I mean we do have EE at 1st, but he is a DH in my mind going forward. Bradley is a few seasons away, Nellie could get it if he has improved enough, so the defensive, everyday 1B in 2018 is a question mark since Santana won't be back unless he takes a pay cut.

None of those guys are who I'm talking about at 1B next season in that last paragraph.

Diaz is not an OF...he's a UTIL for the foreseeable future like Ramirez was his first few years at the MLB level...he won't be getting everyday looks out there IMO, and judging by what is being said about some of his routes tracking flyballs, that's a good thing.

You are thinking way too short-sighted (time frame) compared to what I am talking to you about...
 
None of those guys are who I'm talking about at 1B next season in that last paragraph.

Diaz is not an OF...he's a UTIL for the foreseeable future like Ramirez was his first few years at the MLB level...he won't be getting everyday looks out there IMO, and judging by what is being said about some of his routes tracking flyballs, that's a good thing.

You are thinking way too short-sighted (time frame) compared to what I am talking to you about...

I am looking at 18 to be honest and which guy do you think should be at 1st next season?

Honestly position player wise everyone but Santana is signed for 18, team option year on Brantley for 18, and Chisenhall is a free agent in 19, everyone else position wise is signed. We have to add Diaz, Zimmer, Allen, Nellie (if he has a good year) to the 40 man roster more than likely. They may end up adding Ronny Rodriguez to depending on how this spring and year goes as well (so far not that impressed from spring training with him). If Zimmer makes better contact/cuts down his strikeouts, we have no reason to keep him at AAA so platooning him with Guyer is something I am okay with.

Though Diaz to me at the moment is not an utility guy either. He would have to work on playing more positions this season. He only has experience at 3B, then some LF/RF last season and 2B in Cuba from what I can find on him.
 
I am looking at 18 to be honest and which guy do you think should be at 1st next season?

Honestly position player wise everyone but Santana is signed for 18, team option year on Brantley for 18, and Chisenhall is a free agent in 19, everyone else position wise is signed. We have to add Diaz, Zimmer, Allen, Nellie (if he has a good year) to the 40 man roster more than likely. They may end up adding Ronny Rodriguez to depending on how this spring and year goes as well (so far not that impressed from spring training with him). If Zimmer makes better contact/cuts down his strikeouts, we have no reason to keep him at AAA so platooning him with Guyer is something I am okay with.

Though Diaz to me at the moment is not an utility guy either. He would have to work on playing more positions this season. He only has experience at 3B, then some LF/RF last season and 2B in Cuba from what I can find on him.

Yes...he is.

Jose had only played 2B and SS before he came up...he was a pretty decent UTIL guy playing LF, 3B, 2B, and SS when he came up though, because we asked him to do it. There's a difference between what a guy can do and what a guy is being asked to do.

Diaz has already played 2B, 3B, LF, and RF (and even some CF in his teens in Cuba), and he hasn't even been brought up yet. And I'm willing to bet he could play some 1B if needed...if that's not a utility guy, or the makings of a utility guy, I don't know what is.

Brantley, if healthy this season, platoons at 1B with EE next season IMO.

And that's a little too much movement in one calendar year (for the 40 man) for an average MLB team...especially one that is in line to have only 2 free agents next winter.

I think Zimmer is on the 40 man for sure this year at some point...not sure on Allen, Nellie, or Ronny Rodriguez though...those last 2 aren't factors for the 40 man at all IMO.
 
Yes...he is.

Jose had only played 2B and SS before he came up...he was a pretty decent UTIL guy playing LF, 3B, 2B, and SS when he came up though, because we asked him to do it. There's a difference between what a guy can do and what a guy is being asked to do.

Diaz has already played 2B, 3B, LF, and RF (and even some CF in his teens in Cuba), and he hasn't even been brought up yet. And I'm willing to bet he could play some 1B if needed...if that's not a utility guy, or the makings of a utility guy, I don't know what is.

Brantley, if healthy this season, platoons at 1B with EE next season IMO.

And that's a little too much movement in one calendar year (for the 40 man) for an average MLB team...especially one that is in line to have only 2 free agents next winter.

I think Zimmer is on the 40 man for sure this year at some point...not sure on Allen, Nellie, or Ronny Rodriguez though...those last 2 aren't factors for the 40 man at all IMO.

Well Francona seems like like Ronny Rodriguez, so it could be the future Michael Martinez kind of deal lol Nellie is borderline since we need another 1st Baseman, but if he has a strong year at AAA then we will likely add him next season/before he is rule 5 eligible.

For 2018 the 40 man roster will change more on the pitching side of things, I wouldnt even be surprised if we replace Santana trading extra pitching that we have for a 1st baseman with a few seasons of control left. (That would work perfectly with the timeline for Bradley) next year we are not going to have so many pitchers on the 40 man since we have to protect guys like Allen, Zimmer, Diaz. None of us expected your guy to be Rule 5 drafted, so we both agree those three are future guys on this ball club. So no chances can be taken with them.

I actually do not think Brantley will be moved to 1B. I thought about moving Chisenhall in as well since I am sure he could play first just fine, but something tells me on contract years they probably do not want to move positions. I am sure if asked they would, but something tells me it isn't going to happen unless we see Brantley play first some this season he is in the OF next season to.
 
Well Francona seems like like Ronny Rodriguez, so it could be the future Michael Martinez kind of deal lol Nellie is borderline since we need another 1st Baseman, but if he has a strong year at AAA then we will likely add him next season/before he is rule 5 eligible.

For 2018 the 40 man roster will change more on the pitching side of things, I wouldnt even be surprised if we replace Santana trading extra pitching that we have for a 1st baseman with a few seasons of control left. (That would work perfectly with the timeline for Bradley) next year we are not going to have so many pitchers on the 40 man since we have to protect guys like Allen, Zimmer, Diaz. None of us expected your guy to be Rule 5 drafted, so we both agree those three are future guys on this ball club. So no chances can be taken with them.

I actually do not think Brantley will be moved to 1B. I thought about moving Chisenhall in as well since I am sure he could play first just fine, but something tells me on contract years they probably do not want to move positions. I am sure if asked they would, but something tells me it isn't going to happen unless we see Brantley play first some this season he is in the OF next season to.

Ronny Rodriguez and Michael Martinez can both fuck right off...haha. Ronny Rodriguez can't even field a ground ball cleanly right now. There are like 5 guys I'd rather have than him as a future utility guy.

Allen doesn't have enough seasons to be rule 5 eligible, so there is no reason to move him to the 40 man until he is called up, which I think will be middle of the 2018 season.

Nellie was Rule 5 eligible and wasn't touched this winter. No one is going to spend a 25 man spot all season on a RH hitting 1B only who is a 3 true outcome hitter. And I thought Santander would get plucked...there's a reason I mentioned I was not happy about him being left unprotected while Michael fucking Martinez occupied a 40 man spot when the 40 man cutoff date for the rule 5 came and went...

Brantley moving to 1B makes way too much sense too...you don't play him, a negative in the outfield with injury concerns moving forward, over the plus plus OF defenders we have moving up the farm right now in line to be on roster next season...
 
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Oh Anthony...

rick-james-gimme.gif
 
Think Mathias' year just ended. Looked like he tangled his arm up bad diving for a grounder.
 

Quotes from Carter Hawkins:
"It was certainly an exciting time," said Carter Hawkins, who oversaw the system as Cleveland's farm director before being promoted to assistant GM in November. "It has a lot to do with the scouting process, bringing the right guys in, signing the right guys out of Latin America. The staff did a great job of helping guys fulfill their potential.

"The most rewarding part of it was seeing the scouting and player development staff come in for the League Championship Series and the World Series, and seeing the look on their faces when they saw the players out on the field."

...

"There are clearly names in Triple-A, Double-A and down through the system that we'll be talking about in the near future," Hawkins said. "The cool part is we've realized we can help guys develop who weren't on the radar. Jose Ramirez, nobody thought he'd have Michael Brantley production last year.

...

"Yandy Diaz wasn't known two years ago, and now he's winning a batting title [in the Triple-A International League] and on the verge of helping the big league team. Mike Clevinger was in a very small trade for Vinnie Pestano and now he's ready to contribute to the big league staff."

...

"Mejia is a 90 runner," Hawkins said of the Indians' No. 20 prospect. "For him, it's just a matter of continuing to refine his approach. He's figuring out how to have consistent at-bats, how to make smart decisions on the basepaths, how to do the little things. The key for him is finding that consistency to his game."

...

"Matt Esparza was really under the radar last year but we look at him as one of most valuable pitchers in our system," Hawkins said. "He throws a breaking ball, a changeup and a fastball in the low 90s. He really understands how to pitch and knows where to put his pitches."
 
Would be awesome if both Mejia brothers end up on this team in the future. I see at least one being traded during the contention window, though. Also, when did Bradley Zimmer get a thumb for a neck and head? Did I just not notice this before or has he really bulked up?
 
Saw that. Figured that would happen. Hasn't played in a game in a few weeks now.

Hopefully its not the 60 day...

Seems like the Orioles are trying all they can to keep your guy. Well we shall see if they can keep him the whole season or not since it's likely the Indians will want him back
 
I fail to see how this helps the player. The guy needs to be facing live pitching not sitting on the DL. And if he is legit hurt, well, I'm not worried about his loss- 2nd shoulder surgery in 3 1/2 years. Gigantic red flag.
 

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