Let's looks at Sickels' rankings.
In the Fister deal we pulled the pre-2011 ranked #10 (Wells) #11 (Martinez) and #17 (Furbush) prospects from the Tigers, as well as (rumored) the #7 (Ruffin) or #9 (Smyly).
Then in the Bedard trade we snagged the #3 prospect (Trayvon) from the Dodgers. Chiang wasn't on any pre-season top-whatever lists but IMO he'd definitely be one some for 2012 based on this season. Consider him a "teens" prospect as well.
Furbush is under-rated IMO as a "soft-tosser" when he's not, really. Living at 91-92 as a lefty is Bedard territory, and I wouldn't call Bedard a softy. As a starter he'd have even more value, assuming he can keep the hits down.
Ruffin would be a great reliever who is ready now, and Smyly is another MOR+ level guy who cruised through A+ and is getting his feet wet in AA (on the level of a healthy Maurer, a bit below Taijuan Walker).
Martinez...I'm not a believer, but it's 3B. He doesn't have to do a lot to be better than what we've been running out there the last two years, and he gives us another trade chip.
Trayvon is a top 50 prospect.
Jack was very, very serious about restocking the farm. Just slot em based on what you've seen this year or know about em, and our top 20 (in no particular order) will likely include:
Hultzen with his #2 draftpick status and world of possibilities, Paxton and his 12K/4.5 BB self, Taijuan's 10.5K/3.5BB younger self, Campos demolishing short-season with a mid-to-high 90s FB that he can throw into a teacup, let's say Smyly and his low-90s sinker with great control, Maurer somewhere lower thanks to injury concerns but with good stuff and results, Shipers even with his control issues, Landazuri striking out 9 per in Everett, Angel Raga after we let him out of the pen to maim lineups from the rotation, and in relief Bischoff, Burgoon, and Pryor now that he's found his control...
And those are just the arms...and not even ALL the arms. John Taylor, South Carolina's closer, is an interesting submarining relief arm that could move fast. Andy Carraway, Tony Vasquez and Erasmo Ramirez are all going to be easy to pass over for higher-velocity arms even though those soft-ish tossers have all succeeded at AA, the killing fields for soft-tossers who can't cut it in the bigs. Ambioris Hidalgo is another interesting rookie-baller even though I can't say his first name. Cam Hobson is having fun making hitters look stupid while we limit his innings in Everett. Moran had a bad year, but isn't done as a bullpen arm. Gillheeney is a HR-allowing machine in High Desert, but who isn't? His numbers are great otherwise.
What about the bats? Franklin, Trayvon, Catricala, Martinez, Liddi, Pimentel, both Pegueros, Castillo, and potentially Brad Miller and/or Kevin Cron from this year's draft are all trying to get spaces in that top 20.
A top 20 that DOESN'T include Ackley, Carp, Lueke, Furbush, Wells, Beavan and some other graduates, or someone like Ji-Man Choi (lost season due to a broken vertebrae).
I would say now is the time to trade some assets...but for what position? We just plugged up the OF with about 10 options for 3 spots. Seager, Liddi and Martinez can duel for the right to replace Figgins at 3B.
First base and second base we're good at for a while. Shortstop has Ryan now and Franklin or Miller later.
Trade some pitching for a long-term catcher (the Reds REALLY want to give us Grandal, I know they do...), arrange for a real hitter at DH, and I think we go to war.
The only question is how fast can the kids learn? Howard and Chuck finally got a GM who can run this club the way they want, without ever getting crazy with free agent years or dollars, and letting players go who want to much once they hit free agency.
If we keep losing a hundred games a year it's not gonna be a lot of fun...but with the talent resources we're piling up toward filling a 25 man roster with capable players, we can't lose like that forever.
Right?
~G
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