MadThinker88

I was looking for something else on the MLB website & located the following regarding the farm systems & found the results interesting: Youth movements The average age of the players on each team's Top 30 list could be an indicator of which farm systems will be next to ascend into the Top 10. Here's a list of the teams with the youngest average age on their Top 30 lists, which suggests that both New York teams, as well as the Padres, could have very good systems for a very long time, the Pirates, Rangers and Indians could rise to the top of the Top 10 list and that we should all keep an eye on the Red Sox and Blue Jays. 1) Angels, 6/15/1999 2) Yankees, 12/29/1998 3) Rangers, 12/23/1998 4) Mets, 10/24/1998 5) Pirates, 8/14/1998 6) Padres, 8/7/1998 7) Brewers, 8/7/1998 8) Indians, 8/2/1998 9) Red Sox, 7/25/1998 10) Blue Jays, 6/23/1998 https://www.mlb.com/news/pipeline-top-30-prospects-lists-breakdown

All tourneys (boys & girls) for basketball/ hockey/ wrestling have been postponed in Ohio (OHSAA).. IE completely not played. Word came out in the last hour.

Great news if it gets across the finish line. Bleacher Report & MLB Trade Rumors are still saying "nearing" so lets hold off on over-celebrating until it is done...

Among the free content items, the MiLB website has started posted is combined organization rankings. https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-farm-system-rankings-overall-30-21-312914490 Unlike other farm ranking sources, this group (Sam Dykstra & Co.) will also show breakdown of system strength relative to pitching prospects & position prospects. Unfortunately in their opinion, the Brewers have a long way to go on each side as well as overall.

What not to do - Houston Astros, part 2 & MLB Commisioner's office part 1. Houston's muck up of the locker room situation last post-season (regarding the then-Asst GM, Robert Osuna & the female reporter) would be Houston Astros, part 1 of What NOT to do..

Looks like 2 separate deals now. DODGERS-TWINS TRADE Dodgers get: RHP Brusdar Graterol, Minor Leaguer, 67th pick in 2020 Draft Twins get: RHP Kenta Maeda, Minor Leaguer, cash RED SOX-DODGERS TRADE Red Sox get: OF Alex Verdugo, SS Jeter Downs, C Connor Wong Dodgers get: OF Mookie Betts, LHP David Price, cash LAD getting Graterol & the Twins Comp B pick in next draft is very interesting. IF LAD comes asking about Hader again, Graterol should be a target for the return package..

Unsure if tru but passing along the news.. Domingo Santana signing with Cleveland... https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1225151398591025154 Could Salad Bar errr Danny Salazar be signing with MKE soon???

More likely 5 or less teams will be bidding for him. Many will want him, few will fork out $350+ mil for any player. In addition, many high payroll teams don’t exactly have super flexible contracts. Let this thought simmer for a few minutes: - Mookie wants to test free agency but his targeted cost should limit the number of suitors. - Being that LAD acquired him now, they would be able to extend a QO to Betts after the season. - Common reasoning is Mookie declines it and tests the market starting November 2020. What if Mookie accepts the QO (like Ryu did after 2018)?? - Yes it limits his earnings for 2021 but the current CBA expires after the 2021 season. The entire free agent landscape could look different after a new CBA is agreed to & he might have more suitors/ flexibility. One downside is other players (like Lindor/ Kris Bryant) are also set to be free agents after the 2021 season. Should Mookie be in a rush to sign a long-term extension or free agent deal?? IMHO its not cut & dried due to the CBA aspect. It will be interesting to watch & see how it plays out..

Twins are giving up pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol to the Red Sox as part of the deal. Twins are getting Kenta Maeda from LAD to help their rotation (a good get that is cost controlled for multiple years)..

Based on all his previous interviews I think Betts will be testing free agency. That said, LAD has a chance to make him comfortable and interested in staying. Either way, I see LAD extending a QO to Betts after the season.. Time will tell..

I think Matt Duffy is still a FA. I could see them adding him for no money as 3B/2B insurance. Forsythe and Dozier make some sense too. All those guys might not even require major league deals. Holt and Scooter probably can find teams with a little more clear path to playing time I’d think. FYI - Matt Duffy has signed with Texas...

FYI about Danny Salazar - he only wants to start (& keep a set routine). He was refusing to be a bullpen option over the last few years. 3+ years ago I (& many other fans) felt Salazar might have been a good weapon out of the pen. Then word got out his feelings about starting. When Salazar finally gets a chance to start for Cleveland during 2019, he hides a groin issue from everyone until AFTER he got pummeled by Houston. IIRC he couldn't pitch over 91 MPH in that outing. He tried to rehab again & got shelled in AA Akron. He then asked to go home & try to rehab in Tampa. Tribe approved. Feel free to call this sour grapes but I believe there are many burnt bridges between Salazar & Tribe FO/ Tribe coaches/ Tribe fans. Pursue him at your own risk & do so with eyes wide open...

You might want to watch what you eat and where you catch up on the trade news... Senzel is exactly the type of player the Tribe is looking for as part of a return package for Lindor.. Am I pushing for a Tribe trade of Lindor to Cinci? No. Do I think it would take more than Senzel to get Lindor? Oh Yes. The fact Cleveland & Cinci have a history of deals between them (see Sean Casey (in 1998), Brandon Phillips (in 2006) Trevor Bauer (last year)) helps the possibility of a Lindor deal. If the Indians are looking for Senzel-plus as a return for Lindor, then they want to keep Lindor in an Indian's uniform. IMO, Senzel has more surplus value than Lindor and the TradeValue site agrees with that. Senzel hasn't played since having his torn labrum surgically repaired. His return to top form is not a guarantee. While Baseball Trade Values is a nice site/ resource, I do not believe it has updated the values in a while (or at least Senzel's value in a while).. As BTV continues to tweak and update its methods, I look forward to its use as a discussion point..

You might want to watch what you eat and where you catch up on the trade news... Senzel is exactly the type of player the Tribe is looking for as part of a return package for Lindor.. Am I pushing for a Tribe trade of Lindor to Cinci? No. Do I think it would take more than Senzel to get Lindor? Oh Yes. The fact Cleveland & Cinci have a history of deals between them (see Sean Casey (in 1998), Brandon Phillips (in 2006) Trevor Bauer (last year)) helps the possibility of a Lindor deal.

I believe you want to double check the QO rules. ChiCubs could not offer Nick the QO because he was acquired mid-season 2019. IF Nick stays with Cinci all 2020 & opts out for free agency after the season, YES the Reds could offer the QO. yes, I was getting my dates confused. You appear to be correct. That could potentially hurt his bargaining power next year, unless there is some sort of wink-nod agreement in place that they won't make the qualifying offer. No problem. 1 other item of note from the current CBA: teams/ players are unable to make pre-arranged agreements to withhold placing of a QO or agreeing to decline the QO (unlike the previous arbitration-offering system). IIRC penalties include agent suspension, loss of draft pick & signing pool money as well as a player punishment (unsure of it)..

Castellanos was traded mid-way through last season, so he can't get a qualifying offer after 2020. I'm not sure what would happen if he opted out after 2021, but I don't think they could offer it then either. Could be wrong. I believe you want to double check the QO rules. ChiCubs could not offer Nick the QO because he was acquired mid-season 2019. IF Nick stays with Cinci all 2020 & opts out for free agency after the season, YES the Reds could offer the QO.

I agree.. Uber props for JospehC trying to put together a 3 team deal for discussion. That said I can confirm for you the Tribe has no interest in Seager as a return. Otherwise Lindor would already be in Dodger Blue. If the Dodgers aren't giving up Lux in the deal they are giving up multiple other top end prospects (2 of Verdugo, Ruiz, May). If neither of that happens, Lindor doesn't head to LA for at least a couple more seasons (he could always head west as a free agent, that is beyond the Tribe's control). That has been the stumbling block in a deal being made so far. Now this proposal includes Brad Hand. That would increase the needed return to CLE. Going over the proposed CLE return: C Seager - already spoken too, PASS J Peterson - interesting (like half a season of Puig at the trade deadline last season) but being a pure platoon guy is redundant to guys like Naquin/ Daniel Johnson/ etc. Maybe he remains in a revised package but I think the Tribe would be looking toward other options Edwin Rios - Much more interesting than Peterson. I could see him as part of Tribe return package. Eduardo Garcia - Bear with me on this: I don't believe the Tribe would see him as a significant add. Yes he is young & putting up good numbers in the DOSL. I am giving credit where it is due. But the Tribe has minor league depth in 2 areas - young middle infielders and pitching. Besides Tyler Freeman (on par with B Turang), they also have high upside talents in Brayan Rocchio, Aaron Bracho, Raynel Delgado, Richard Palacios along with MANY others. I'm not putting E Garcia behind all those players (he likely falls behind some and ahead of others), but it does lead to a question - where does everyone get to play as the continue to develop? The Tribe has focused in the International market on MIF talent so E Garcia is likely more attractive (& bring a greater return) used in a deal with another organization. Especially at the trade deadline for MKE if they are still contending/ in the thick of the race.. J Kendall - Seems redundant to others already in Cleveland (or the higher levels of the CLE minors).. S Alexander - Hard Pass. No interest. Since the name came up via nate82- no interest in Corey Ray. Perhaps last off season (before other moves were made). Again CLE has multiple options of a similar skill set. The only difference is Ray was a high 1st round draft pick.

AUDIO - Don't need a subscription Thanks for adding the link... I listen to the podcasts on my smart phone but connect to & respond to this board via my laptop...

FYI: Baseball America had Tom H on its podcast on Thursday 1/9/20 discussing the Brewers top 10 prospects & the overall farm system. Podcast ran almost 30 minutes..

FYI: Baseball America had Tom H on its podcast on Thursday 1/9/20 discussing the Brewers top 10 prospects & the overall farm system. Podcast ran almost 30 minutes..

FYI: Baseball America had Tom H on its podcast on Thursday 1/9/20 discussing the Brewers top 10 prospects & the overall farm system. Podcast ran almost 30 minutes..

FYI: Baseball America had Tom H on its podcast on Thursday 1/9/20 discussing the Brewers top 10 prospects & the overall farm system. Podcast ran almost 30 minutes..

Thought I heard something that this coming draft has some better talent deeper & less top end talent. Consider the impact of moving up 30 spots in THIS draft & the extra signing bonus money for TB.. Additionally perhaps TB also has some concerns about Liberatore & they desired to bail on him while they still could...

Thought I saw a report that its 3 assets for 3 assets. Both competitive balance picks are involved (moves up TB while Cards move back 30 or so spots)...

Well apparently Bleacher Report still feels the same about the Brewer system. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2869433-updated-farm-system-rankings-for-every-mlb-team-at-the-start-of-2020 At the end of the 2019 MiLB season the Brewers were 29th as well. There were a few changes: Washington had been 27th & Boston was 30th. Now Washington is 30th & Boston 28th. This is all free content. Here is who they (Bleacher Report/ Joel Reuter) have as the Brewer top 15 guys (10+ next 5). Name Age Tier 1. SS Brice Turang 20 2 2. LHP Ethan Small 22 2 3. C Mario Feliciano 21 2 4. LHP Aaron Ashby 21 2 5. OF Tristen Lutz 21 3 6. RHP Drew Rasmussen 24 3 7. SS Eduardo Garcia 17 3 8. RHP Zack Brown 25 3 9. LHP Antoine Kelly 20 3 10. RHP Devin Williams 19 3 Next 5: OF Micah Bello, OF Corey Ray, OF Carlos Rodriguez, RHP Trey Supak, RHP Braden Webb To Be Clear: I am not saying B/R is dead on accurate in their assessment. They have an opinion (at times well informed). I take their viewpoint and add it to the observations/ opinions of other places (Baseball America/ Baseball Prospectus/ Keith Law/ others) to get a more developed understanding.