Last week I coated the American League half of the flurry of transactional exercise that occurred on account of the 40-man roster and non-tender deadlines. Is anyone transfer right here as impactful as signing a Yoshinobu Yamamoto or a Matt Chapman? No, however when your favourite staff experiences a rash of accidents in June, whether or not or not they’ve the depth to scrap and compete is commonly dictated by the folks and processes that encompass this present day. Below are my ideas on the National League, with some fast scouting snippets on a lot of the added gamers and ideas about roster development the place I had one thing to say.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks lone addition was lefty Blake Walston, a former $2.5 million highschool signee who, regardless of being younger for his class and bodily projectable as an beginner, has seen his fastball velocity plateau and barely decline since he signed. He’s had matches and begins the place he’s thrown tougher, however for essentially the most half, Walston’s fastball nonetheless sits 89-92 mph and his efficiency peripherals took a nosedive in 2023, although a part of that was probably due to the PCL hitting setting. The lanky 22-year-old continues to be a good long-term prospect due to his age and what one may moderately hope will nonetheless be late-arriving physicality, however for now, I’d contemplate him on the very again of Arizona’s 40-man beginning pitching depth chart.
Arizona did a positive job upgrading the righty-hitting contingent of their place participant group final offseason and on the commerce deadline. Emmanuel Rivera was their most suitable choice of this type in 2022 however turned a defensive alternative within the wake of the Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Evan Longoria, and Tommy Pham additions. They’ll want to do that another time as a result of Longoria, Gurriel and Pham are all free brokers, and the membership non-tendered Kyle Lewis (one other righty-hitting flier from the final 12 months). It’s believable that Jordan Lawlar’s arrival will facilitate a L/R Geraldo Perdomo/Rivera third base platoon, in addition to some conditions the place Ketel Marte comes off the sphere for defensive functions late in video games. That may make it is a passable combine for the D-backs if they’ll’t add a Jeimer Candelario or Matt Chapman on a regular basis third base-type in free company.
As has been the case for the final couple of years, the Diamondbacks have a number of redundant, smaller-framed, lefty-hitting outfielders stacked behind Corbin Carroll and Alek Thomas on their depth chart. Any of Jorge Barrosa (the perfect defender of this bunch, except for Thomas), Jake McCarthy, Dominic Fletcher, or Pavin Smith could possibly be moved in a commerce pushed by roster match. McCarthy and Smith have one choice left, the others have two. The free agent market is fairly flush with lefty-hitting outfielders who’re about nearly as good as this group or higher, so when you can go searching and see potential matches in locations like Queens, Pittsburgh, Miami, or Washington, it feels prefer it’s a purchaser’s marketplace for this place group proper now.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves non-tendered a ton of 40-man occupants on Friday and moved a number of others in a commerce for lefty reliever Aaron Bummer (which I coated in depth right here), leaving them with simply 31 gamers on their 40-man roster after they signed Reynaldo López yesterday. They want place participant depth, notably on the center infield positions. Orlando Arcia is at present the one shortstop on their roster.
It’s unimaginable that the Braves have one quarter of their roster to play with and now have a really steady, contender-quality depth chart. They have a terrific participant at nearly each place and plenty of pitching depth already in place. They have a really spacious roster however only some particular wants. They’re in place to make a Rule 5 Draft decide in the event that they wish to, and in what is going to probably be the lone little bit of Rule 5 hypothesis you’ll see on this website, I’ll provide that Suwanee native Nasim Nuñez has a talent set congruent with Atlanta’s wants.
At the GM conferences, I requested present Astros GM Dana Brown, who was Atlanta’s Vice President of Scouting for 4 years, how the professional scouting division in Atlanta was structured in comparison with the present group in Houston, and he stated, “Initially in Atlanta we had more scouts, but then after COVID we lost a bunch, and we went strictly to data, information, evaluation off the screen, and ran it that way.”
Slowly, increasingly groups are working this manner, however they’re nonetheless within the minority. The Braves have been consumers for thus lengthy that it’d be attention-grabbing to see them decide within the prospect area and maybe be taught extra about how they make selections within the professional scouting realm generally.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs misplaced just a few gamers by way of waivers (Jared Young and Jeremiah Estrada) and non-tendered some relievers (Codi Heuer, Ethan Roberts, and conversion arm Brandon Hughes) who have been backfilled by inside choices Michael Arias, Bailey Horn, and Porter Hodge. Arias is himself a transformed shortstop with an impression mid-90s fastball that includes uphill angle and carry. He’s a work-in-progress in different sides and could also be a reliever in the long run, plus he hasn’t but reached Double-A, however I feel it was right to guard him, as any staff may have ‘penned him and made him a fastball-heavy reliever in the short-term. Horn and Hodge are pure relievers. Horn has profiled that way since entering pro ball, while Hodge slid to the bullpen halfway through the 2023 season. What Horn and Hodge provide that Roberts, Hughes and Heuer don’t is well being and/or roster flexibility. I contemplate each to be low-leverage center aid sorts.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds claimed Bubba Thompson from the Royals on the finish of October, then added Jacob Hurtubise and Rece Hinds to their roster from inside final week. Additionally, Jose Barrero is getting reps in middle discipline with Estrellas Orientales within the Dominican Winter League. Will Benson‘s 2023 xwOBA was much lower than his real-world production, and Jake Fraley’s foot restricted his mobility on the finish of the season, so I’d contemplate this group cloudy however encouragingly deep as we head towards Winter Meetings. It’s prone to be thinned out a bit but throughout the offseason (Barrero appears misplaced on the plate within the D.R.), and but nonetheless be deep and magmatic in February. Hinds has plus-plus energy and plus pace, however I’m scared he received’t hit in any respect. Hurtubise is quite a bit like TJ Friedl, with a talent set rooted in touch and plus-plus pace. He doesn’t fairly have Friedl’s elite delicate abilities, like baserunning and bunting, nevertheless.
Colorado Rockies
The wave of impression Latin American prospects has begun to swell in Colorado, with Adael Amador, Yanquiel Fernandez, Juan Mejia, and Angel Chivilli added to the roster. Fernandez had a monster begin to 2023, however he has a very good little bit of method and chase-driven threat as a prospect, and he fell flat on his face after his promotion to Hartford. I feel he’ll get to sufficient energy to be a very good nook platoon choice despite his flaws, however I hope readers can see why I used to be apprehensive about stuffing him on the highest 100 throughout the season. Amador is at present choosing up reps in Puerto Rico, the place he’s seeing numerous mid-to-upper-80s fastballs. Because he missed time with harm throughout the 12 months, it is smart for him to have performed fall/winter ball, however a league with higher pitching may need been extra applicable for his improvement. His statistics towards offspeed stuff and breaking balls weren’t good in 2023 per Synergy, however accidents restricted his pattern on this regard sufficient to contemplate it one thing to watch somewhat than one thing to be frightened about. I nonetheless really feel like he’s a high 15 or so prospect in baseball as I sit and sort this, however I’d have felt higher if I had gotten a six- or eight-week have a look at him towards higher pitching within the Arizona Fall League, or towards veterans in LIDOM.
Mejia and Chivilli are each pure relievers, however each have an opportunity to be excellent ones. Chivilli is simply 21 and may get an entire ‘nother 12 months of seasoning within the minors. He sits 94-97 with a plus changeup. I used to be criminally gentle on Mejia in my final Rockies write-up. His slider consistency is middling, however a few of them are actually nasty (together with just a few within the video beneath), and his physique and mechanical fluidity portend much more velocity as he ages into his mid-to-late 20; I feel he may ultimately sit 100. Both of those guys could possibly be high-leverage choices.
Los Angeles Dodgers
I feel each Nick Frasso‘s and Landon Knack’s mechanical consistency and really feel for location are a bit worse than their low stroll numbers may lead one to consider, however they’re each going to tear heaters previous huge league hitters because of their fastballs’ underlying traits. This is very true of the beanpole Frasso, whose misleading cross-bodied supply creates enormous extension and funky angle. Knack is a extra typical vertical fastball/slider attacker.
Oft-injured with Texas, Ricky Vanasco’s velocity was approach down as he returned from TJ and handled a knee concern early in 2023. After simply a few quick outings again in affiliated ball, the Rangers designated him for task and he was traded to the Dodgers, who shut him down and modified his supply (throwing solely from the stretch, what seems to be a extra closed stride route). By the top of the 12 months, he was working with a pared-down repertoire and touching 98 at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Vanasco turned a six-year minor league free agent after the season and the Dodgers signed him to an enormous league deal. He stands a very good probability to play a key position of their bullpen subsequent 12 months as a mid-90s/curveball man.
Twenty-six-year-old catcher Hunter Feduccia is a well-rounded defender who is very good at getting on high of excessive fastballs. He is unquestionably forward of Diego Cartaya on the catching depth chart at this very second, and Feduccia stands a reasonably good probability to supplant Austin Barnes because the backup in some unspecified time in the future in 2023, particularly if Cartaya rebounds and turns into a viable short-term choice because the third catcher. Cartaya continues to be a premium long-term prospect — catcher improvement is non-linear and I’m not sweating his tough 2023 in any respect.
This roster nonetheless feels somewhat outdated and unathletic on the place participant aspect. We don’t really know whether or not or not Gavin Lux can play shortstop. Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor are each sufficiently old for us to marvel how for much longer both of them can be satisfactory there. Max Muncy, Michael Busch and Miguel Vargas are below-average defenders, and Jorbit Vivas is landlocked at second base. There have gotten to be exterior additions that add center infield depth and/or defensive versatility right here, or the Dodgers will once more be weak and shallow at premium positions.
Miami Marlins
Peter Bendix’s first commerce in his new President position was to commerce for outdated friends Vidal Bruján and Calvin Faucher, who will hopefully present role-playing upgrades to a Marlins staff presumably nonetheless trying to compete for one of many final couple playoff spots in 2024. Bruján has been saved off of Tampa’s huge league roster by the depth forward of him for the final three years; now he’ll get an extended runway to show he can play a brilliant utility position on a very good staff. He has expertise at each non-1B/C place and has been enjoying second base and all three outfield positions for Estrellas Orientales within the Dominican this winter. Faucher is a mid-90s/high-spin breaking ball reliever who’s coming off of two straight years with an xERA of close to 6.00, with the second season coming after Faucher developed a brand new cutter. He has one choice 12 months remaining and I count on will probably be used.
To purchase these two, the Marlins despatched 17-year-old DSL infielder Erick Lara and righty Andrew Lindsey, a current draft decide, all the best way up Route 75 to Tampa. Lara is a really thrilling lefty-hitting infield prospect with a stunning swing and pretty projectable body. He’s an explosive rotator and has pure, power-inducing loft in his reduce. The final time the Rays made a seemingly innocuous, long-shot commerce for a deep projection DSL bat, it turned out to be fairly consequential for each orgs. Lara hit .305/.416/.445 within the DSL and struck out at a 25% clip, which is excessive for that league.
Lindsey had a nomadic beginner profession that included a 12 months away from baseball earlier than he went to Tennessee. He was throwing very exhausting early in 2023 (usually peaking within the 97-98 mph vary), however by the top of the season, he was extra regularly residing within the 92-94 vary with a tough slider. He’s a good aid prospect.
Victor Mesa Jr. is a good-gloved middle fielder (be aware that my mid-year look was far more favorable than the late-year movie examine I did for this piece) who hit 18 homers at Double-A in 2023. He’s extra of a fourth outfield prospect than a participant I’d venture to be an everyday. I don’t assume the ability element is for actual, as Mesa appears extra like a man who slugs underneath .400 if given an prolonged huge league alternative, at the least along with his present physicality. Anthony Maldonado had a really profitable three-year run as a starter at Bethune-Cookman. His professional profession started on a little bit of a delay due to the pandemic and an harm that price him a big chunk of 2021. He reached the higher ranges of the minors in a aid position in a short time, and he’s been dominant from a bat-missing and strike-throwing standpoint for the final three campaigns, thanks largely to a plus-plus mid-80s slider that has enormous vertical end.
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee has been very energetic on the perimeter of their roster since late August once they acquired Chris Roller from Cleveland. They additionally scooped up Vinny Capra on waivers. Most considerably, there are numerous current trades to speak by means of right here, so let me get the inner additions out of the best way. Jeferson Quero is a lock to be added to the Top 100 prospect listing this offseason. His receiving across the fringe of the zone has improved significantly, and now his framing (to the attention, anyway) and arm power are each actually glorious. He’s nonetheless not a very good ball-blocker, however Quero’s different core catching abilities are so good for a 21-year-old that I feel it’s positive to start out projecting him as an impression defender. On offense, his excessive, pull-heavy method might ultimately want some quantity of adjustment as huge league arms execute sliders away from him, however Quero is fairly clearly an impression all-around prospect now. Bradley Blalock (acquired from Boston on the deadline) has a contemporary starter’s combine with a vertically-oriented fastball and two good breaking balls that pair properly with the heater and with each other. He returned from TJ in 2023 and should be on a conservative innings rely in 2024, however I count on he’ll set up himself as a rotation piece by 2025.
Now on to the trades. Michael Baumann coated the Mark Canha commerce right here, whereas I wrote about Milwaukee’s commerce for Oliver Dunn right here. The Brewers traded a Meg Rowley favourite, Abraham Toro, to Oakland for righty Chad Patrick, who the A’s received from Arizona on the deadline for Jace Peterson. Patrick sits 91-94 and has remarkably constant really feel for a low-80s slider/cutter. His stuff is gentle sufficient that I’ve extra of a spot starter grade on him than I do future rotation projection. He doesn’t must be on the 40-man for one more 12 months.
Milwaukee additionally acquired Jake Bauers from the Yankees for 2 outfield prospects. One is Jace Avina, a now-20-year-old former Nevada highschool draftee with spectacular energy for a hitter his measurement (5-foot-11, 180 kilos) however fairly vital points swinging beneath excessive fastballs. Brian Sanchez presents a well-rounded look on paper as his management of the zone, bat-to-ball really feel, and barrel fee all look fairly good. He’s a longer-bodied, projectable teenager and may develop into extra energy. He’ll most likely have to as a result of he’s a below-average runner, athlete, and defender who may want to maneuver to first base. Bauers’ 2023 contact high quality was higher than his noticed outcomes, however he hasn’t been an above-replacement participant since 2018.
New York Mets
Not a ton occurred right here by way of the 40-man deadline, although there have been a bunch on non-tenders final week. I’d guess that toolsy, free-swinging outfield prospect Alex Ramírez will spend his complete first 12 months on the 40-man attempting to develop higher plate self-discipline within the higher minors; he may properly spend the higher a part of the subsequent two seasons doing that. The Mets solely have 28 gamers on their 40-man as I’m scripting this, and clearly want pitching (each depth and a high-end man or two).
Philadelphia Phillies
I wrote in regards to the commerce of Oliver Dunn for Hendry Mendez and Robert Moore right here. Per week prior, the Phillies acquired Michael Mercado from the Rays for Double-A swingman Adam Leverett. Mercado throws exhausting (93-96, touched 98 late within the 12 months with Durham) and extra lately started incorporating a cutter, which has grow to be his greatest secondary pitch, into his repertoire. The angle of his fastball makes it extra hittable than the speed may lead you to consider. This commerce continued the Phillies’ Dombrowski-era development of buying hard-throwing relievers with fastballs that play down a bit. Perhaps we will contemplate Mick Abel to be upper-level rotation depth at this level though he hasn’t needed to be placed on the 40-man but, however the Phils nonetheless have to discover a couple extra guys to buttress their gifted huge league rotation. Their bullpen and lineup are each stacked, and Philly’s reserve group (Garrett Stubbs, Cristian Pache, Edmundo Sosa, whichever of Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas doesn’t begin) is far more settled and explicitly helpful than most different contenders can tout proper now.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates’ time could possibly be nigh. They nonetheless want a mashing nook outfield improve to the incumbent Connor Joe/Joshua Palacios platoon (it’d in the end be Oneil Cruz, relying on how cell he’s coming back from harm), however in any other case the gamers at present on their roster are younger guys who’ve principally been evaluated fairly strongly right here at FanGraphs, and now it’s time for them to sink or swim on the huge league stage as a gaggle. Adding Braxton Ashcraft (sitting 95-97 with two respectable breaking balls late within the 12 months) provides to what was already a ton of homegrown depth and suppleness on their pitching employees, and that’s earlier than contemplating that Paul Skenes, Thomas Harrington, Jared Jones and different non-40 man occupants could possibly be swiftly on their approach. I feel Pittsburgh goes to be within the thick of a really entertaining four- or five-team NL Central race subsequent 12 months, however whether or not they grow to be precise contenders throughout the subsequent two or three years will rely upon what number of of those children grow to be high-end impression gamers just like the Braves and Phillies have up and down their lineups.
Light-hitting Taiwanese infielder Tsung-Che Cheng has plus really feel for contact and might play shortstop, however at 5-foot-7, his offensive forecast is proscribed by a scarcity of physicality. He might be a utilityman in the long term and at present behind Alika Williams and Nick Gonzales on the depth chart.
San Diego Padres
The Padres rotation nonetheless wants confirmed assist from outdoors the org. Jairo Iriarte is a doubtlessly vital long-term a part of San Diego’s employees however could also be too crude to be a 2024 contributor. The ultra-loose 21-year-old righty has a nasty rise-and-run fastball and plus slider, however his velo was down a bit bit late within the 12 months and he’s nonetheless somewhat wild. He’s going to be a Top 100 prospect this offseason by advantage of his stuff, bodily fluidity, bodily projection, and relative proximity to the massive leagues, and if/when issues click on for him, he’s going to be a key a part of San Diego’s rotation. It’d be perfect for San Diego to have confirmed starters forward of him on the depth chart when camp begins in case it takes some time for that to occur.
The Enyel De Los Santos for Scott Barlow commerce was a slight downgrade for the Padres by way of stuff/expertise, however De Los Santos is underneath staff management for one more three seasons whereas Barlow is a free agent after 2024.
Oft-injured Palm Desert native Jeremiah Estrada was claimed off waivers from the Cubs. He’s a fastball-heavy mid-90s reliever whose changeup has regressed since his early prospect days. With simply 31 gamers on their 40-man roster proper now, the Padres have the area to deal with their bench. The NRI additions of Robert Perez Jr. (plus energy) and Cal Mitchell (beautiful swing) are a few early offseason dart throws. San Diego’s penchant for pushing prospects shortly places Jackson Merrill and Graham Pauley of their mid-season DH/1B combine from my standpoint, particularly if Jake Cronenworth retains struggling.
San Francisco Giants
Trevor McDonald was dominant in 2023 after coming back from AC joint and hamstring points. For these of you obsessive about launch top, that is your man. McDonald has an excessive drop-and-drive supply with an open stride. It isn’t horny to take a look at, nevertheless it does create a very powerful line on his fastball, and McDonald has proven a capability to govern fastball form and create bat-missing motion on his slider and changeup from this slot. He’s a very good long-term prospect who will hopefully keep wholesome and maintain his stuff throughout a full season workload in 2024. I used to be a bit shocked the Giants added the walk-prone duo of Kai-Wei Teng and Erik Miller to their roster. Teng (13% stroll fee every of the previous three years) has a plus slider and Miller (over seven walks per 9 IP in 2023) is able to lacking bats with three pitches, however I’d have guess each can be too wild in a spring coaching audition to stay on their new roster.
At the GM Meetings, I requested Farhan Zaidi his ideas on whether or not the Giants’ platoon-heavy method to lineup constructing restricted their ceiling, contemplating that a lot of the World Series groups from the previous few years (just like the Phillies, Rangers, Astros, Dodgers, Braves, and even the D-backs) have principally had plug-and-play, omni-situational place gamers up and down their lineups. I don’t have an anti-platoon predisposition, fairly the alternative, which is a part of why I’ve been reflecting on it currently. Zaidi pushed again on the premise a bit and instructed me, “I would counter that a little and say you see teams playing match-ups more in the playoffs than you do during the regular season. You see guys being pinch-hit for, in my opinion, in situations where they wouldn’t be hit for during the regular season. I know there was that game in the ALCS where the Rangers started Robbie Grossman instead of Evan Carter, then put Carter in the game once Framber Valdez was out. I still think you see a lot of those match-ups. I think everybody in baseball would rather have an everyday guy than a platoon player. It’s stabilizing, you get a more consistent defensive look to your team. Usually when you have a platoon set-up, it’s to try to achieve a level of production that you wouldn’t get if you just ran one of those players out there all the time.”
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have had turnover at their third catcher spot (Andrew Knizner out, glove-oriented backup Pedro Pagés in), amongst their nook bat reserves (Juan Yepez out, Buddy Kennedy and Jared Young in) and, as is typical throughout baseball, with the underside of their pitching employees. You can discover scouting experiences on Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein from my write up of the Jordan Montgomery and Jordan Hicks offers, which incorporates my ideas on St. Louis’ aim of a fast franchise rebound, right here. Twenty-eight-year-old righty Riley O’Brien was acquired from Seattle for money. The former starter had a velo spike when he moved to the bullpen, and he now has a mid-90s sinker and plus curveball.
Washington Nationals
Washington added a number of thrilling younger relievers to their roster. The workload of oft-injured Cole Henry tapered off late throughout the season and his final a number of outings got here in aid. I feel it’s honest to venture him as a pure reliever going ahead. Zach Brzykcy (pronounced “brick-see”) was an influence reliever at Virginia Tech and have become one of many first 2020 undrafted free brokers to emerge as an actual prospect. He shortly went from sitting 94-95 mph out of the Hokies bullpen in his first 2020 look to sitting 96-98 and touching 99 in his previous couple of simply earlier than the COVID shutdown. He didn’t pitch in 2023 as a result of he was recovering from Tommy John. Mitchell Parker is a vertical slot lefty with a terrific curveball and below-average management. DJ Herz is a cross-firing lefty with below-average velocity and a plus changeup.
Content Source: blogs.fangraphs.com