Final week I lined the American League half of the flurry of transactional exercise that occurred on account of the 40-man roster and non-tender deadlines. Is anybody transfer right here as impactful as signing a Yoshinobu Yamamoto or a Matt Chapman? No, however when your favourite group 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 today. Under are my ideas on the Nationwide League, with some fast scouting snippets on many 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 novice, 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 doubtless due to the PCL hitting surroundings. The lanky 22-year-old remains 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 nice 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 kind in 2022 however grew to become a defensive substitute within the wake of the Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Evan Longoria, and Tommy Pham additions. They’ll want to do that yet again 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 yr). 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 sector for defensive functions late in video games. Which may make it is a passable combine for the D-backs if they will’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 most effective defender of this bunch, other than Thomas), Jake McCarthy, Dominic Fletcher, or Pavin Smith might 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 whilst 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 lined 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 presently the one shortstop on their roster.
It’s unbelievable that the Braves have one quarter of their roster to play with and now have a really secure, contender-quality depth chart. They’ve an awesome participant at just about each place and plenty of pitching depth already in place. They’ve a really spacious roster however only some particular wants. They’re in place to make a Rule 5 Draft choose in the event that they wish to, and in what is going to doubtless be the lone little bit of Rule 5 hypothesis you’ll see on this web site, I’ll provide that Suwanee native Nasim Nuñez has a talent set congruent with Atlanta’s wants.
On 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 mentioned, “Initially in Atlanta we had extra scouts, however then after COVID we misplaced a bunch, and we went strictly to knowledge, info, analysis off the display screen, and ran it that manner.”
Slowly, an increasing number of groups are working this fashion, however they’re nonetheless within the minority. The Braves have been patrons for therefore lengthy that it’d be fascinating to see them decide within the prospect house and maybe study extra about how they make choices within the professional scouting realm on the whole.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs misplaced a number of gamers by way of waivers (Jared Younger and Jeremiah Estrada) and non-tendered some relievers (Codi Heuer, Ethan Roberts, and conversion arm Brandon Hughes) who had been backfilled by inner 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 aspects 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 group may have ‘penned him and made him a fastball-heavy reliever within the short-term. Horn and Hodge are pure relievers. Horn has profiled that manner since coming into professional ball, whereas Hodge slid to the bullpen midway via the 2023 season. What Horn and Hodge present that Roberts, Hughes and Heuer don’t is well being and/or roster flexibility. I contemplate each to be low-leverage center reduction varieties.
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. Moreover, Jose Barrero is getting reps in heart discipline with Estrellas Orientales within the Dominican Winter League. Will Benson‘s 2023 xwOBA was a lot decrease than his real-world manufacturing, 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 Conferences. It’s prone to be thinned out a bit but through the offseason (Barrero seems to be 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 loads like TJ Friedl, with a talent set rooted in touch and plus-plus pace. He doesn’t fairly have Friedl’s elite smooth abilities, like baserunning and bunting, nonetheless.
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 strategy and chase-driven danger 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 regardless of his flaws, however I hope readers can see why I used to be apprehensive about stuffing him on the highest 100 through the season. Amador is presently selecting up reps in Puerto Rico, the place he’s seeing quite a lot of mid-to-upper-80s fastballs. As a result of he missed time with harm through the yr, it is smart for him to have performed fall/winter ball, however a league with higher pitching might need been extra acceptable for his growth. His statistics in opposition to offspeed stuff and breaking balls weren’t good in 2023 per Synergy, however accidents restricted his pattern on this regard sufficient to think about it one thing to observe slightly than one thing to be fearful about. I nonetheless really feel like he’s a high 15 or so prospect in baseball as I sit and kind this, however I’d have felt higher if I had gotten a six- or eight-week take a look at him in opposition to higher pitching within the Arizona Fall League, or in opposition to veterans in LIDOM.
Mejia and Chivilli are each pure relievers, however each have an opportunity to be excellent ones. Chivilli is barely 21 and would possibly get a complete ‘nother yr 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 a number of within the video under), and his physique and mechanical fluidity portend much more velocity as he ages into his mid-to-late 20; I feel he may finally sit 100. Each of those guys might 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 slightly worse than their low stroll numbers would possibly lead one to imagine, however they’re each going to tear heaters previous massive league hitters because of their fastballs’ underlying traits. That is very true of the beanpole Frasso, whose misleading cross-bodied supply creates big extension and funky angle. Knack is a extra typical vertical fastball/slider attacker.
Oft-injured with Texas, Ricky Vanasco’s velocity was manner down as he returned from TJ and handled a knee problem early in 2023. After simply a few brief 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 course). By the tip of the yr, he was working with a pared-down repertoire and touching 98 at Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis. Vanasco grew to become a six-year minor league free agent after the season and the Dodgers signed him to a giant league deal. He stands a very good likelihood to play a key function of their bullpen subsequent yr 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’s undoubtedly forward of Diego Cartaya on the catching depth chart at this very second, and Feduccia stands a fairly good likelihood to supplant Austin Barnes because the backup sooner or later in 2023, particularly if Cartaya rebounds and turns into a viable short-term choice because the third catcher. Cartaya remains to be a premium long-term prospect — catcher growth is non-linear and I’m not sweating his tough 2023 in any respect.
This roster nonetheless feels slightly previous and unathletic on the place participant facet. We don’t actually 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 shall 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 function was to commerce for previous friends Vidal Bruján and Calvin Faucher, who will hopefully present role-playing upgrades to a Marlins group presumably nonetheless seeking to compete for one of many final couple playoff spots in 2024. Bruján has been saved off of Tampa’s massive 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 function on a very good group. 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 yr remaining and I anticipate will probably be used.
To accumulate these two, the Marlins despatched 17-year-old DSL infielder Erick Lara and righty Andrew Lindsey, a latest draft choose, 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 minimize. 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 novice profession that included a yr away from baseball earlier than he went to Tennessee. He was throwing very exhausting early in 2023 (typically peaking within the 97-98 mph vary), however by the tip of the season, he was extra ceaselessly residing within the 92-94 vary with a tough slider. He’s a good reduction prospect.
Victor Mesa Jr. is a good-gloved heart fielder (observe that my mid-year look was far more favorable than the late-year movie research 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 undertaking to be a daily. I don’t suppose the ability part is for actual, as Mesa seems to be extra like a man who slugs underneath .400 if given an prolonged massive 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 value him a big chunk of 2021. He reached the higher ranges of the minors in a reduction function 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 big vertical end.
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee has been very energetic on the perimeter of their roster since late August after they acquired Chris Curler from Cleveland. In addition they scooped up Vinny Capra on waivers. Most importantly, there are quite a lot of latest trades to speak via right here, so let me get the interior additions out of the best way. Jeferson Quero is a lock to be added to the Prime 100 prospect record this offseason. His receiving across the fringe of the zone has improved significantly, and now his framing (to the attention, anyway) and arm energy 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 nice to start out projecting him as an impression defender. On offense, his excessive, pull-heavy strategy could finally want some quantity of adjustment as massive 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 nicely with the heater and with each other. He returned from TJ in 2023 and should be on a conservative innings depend in 2024, however I anticipate he’ll set up himself as a rotation piece by 2025.
Now on to the trades. Michael Baumann lined 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 need to be on the 40-man for an additional yr.
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 dimension (5-foot-11, 180 kilos) however fairly important 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 charge all look fairly good. He’s a longer-bodied, projectable teenager and would possibly develop into extra energy. He’ll most likely must as a result of he’s a below-average runner, athlete, and defender who would possibly 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 yr on the 40-man making an attempt to develop higher plate self-discipline within the higher minors; he would possibly nicely spend the higher a part of the following two seasons doing that. The Mets solely have 28 gamers on their 40-man as I’m penning this, and clearly want pitching (each depth and a high-end man or two).
Philadelphia Phillies
I wrote concerning the commerce of Oliver Dunn for Hendry Mendez and Robert Moore right here. Every 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 yr with Durham) and extra not too long ago started incorporating a cutter, which has turn out to be his finest secondary pitch, into his repertoire. The angle of his fastball makes it extra hittable than the speed would possibly lead you to imagine. This commerce continued the Phillies’ Dombrowski-era pattern of buying hard-throwing relievers with fastballs that play down a bit. Maybe we are able to contemplate Mick Abel to be upper-level rotation depth at this level despite the fact that he hasn’t needed to be placed on the 40-man but, however the Phils nonetheless must discover a couple extra guys to buttress their proficient massive 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 might be nigh. They nonetheless want a mashing nook outfield improve to the incumbent Connor Joe/Joshua Palacios platoon (it would finally be Oneil Cruz, relying on how cell he’s getting back from harm), however in any other case the gamers presently 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 massive league degree as a gaggle. Including Braxton Ashcraft (sitting 95-97 with two first rate breaking balls late within the yr) 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 might be swiftly on their manner. I feel Pittsburgh goes to be within the thick of a really entertaining four- or five-team NL Central race subsequent yr, however whether or not they turn out to be precise contenders throughout the following two or three years will depend upon what number of of those children turn out to be high-end impression gamers just like the Braves and Phillies have up and down their lineups.
Gentle-hitting Taiwanese infielder Tsung-Che Cheng has plus really feel for contact and may play shortstop, however at 5-foot-7, his offensive forecast is restricted by a scarcity of physicality. He’s most likely a utilityman in the long term and presently behind Alika Williams and Nick Gonzales on the depth chart.
San Diego Padres
The Padres rotation nonetheless wants confirmed assist from exterior the org. Jairo Iriarte is a probably important 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 slightly bit late within the yr and he’s nonetheless slightly wild. He’s going to be a Prime 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 group management for an additional 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 house to handle their bench. The NRI additions of Robert Perez Jr. (plus energy) and Cal Mitchell (pretty 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 viewpoint, particularly if Jake Cronenworth retains struggling.
San Francisco Giants
Trevor McDonald was dominant in 2023 after getting back from AC joint and hamstring points. For these of you obsessive about launch peak, that is your man. McDonald has an excessive drop-and-drive supply with an open stride. It isn’t attractive to take a look at, nevertheless it does create a very robust 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 slightly shocked the Giants added the walk-prone duo of Kai-Wei Teng and Erik Miller to their roster. Teng (13% stroll charge 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 wager each can be too wild in a spring coaching audition to stay on their new roster.
On the GM Conferences, I requested Farhan Zaidi his ideas on whether or not the Giants’ platoon-heavy strategy to lineup constructing restricted their ceiling, contemplating that many of the World Collection 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 these days. Zaidi pushed again on the premise a bit and advised me, “I’d counter that slightly and say you see groups enjoying match-ups extra within the playoffs than you do through the common season. You see guys being pinch-hit for, for my part, in conditions the place they wouldn’t be hit for through the common season. I do know there was that sport within the ALCS the place the Rangers began Robbie Grossman as a substitute of Evan Carter, then put Carter within the sport as soon as Framber Valdez was out. I nonetheless suppose you see quite a lot of these match-ups. I feel everyone in baseball would slightly have an on a regular basis man than a platoon participant. It’s stabilizing, you get a extra constant defensive look to your group. Normally when you might have a platoon set-up, it’s to attempt to obtain a degree of manufacturing that you just wouldn’t get for those who simply ran a type of gamers on the market on a regular basis.”
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 Younger in) and, as is typical throughout baseball, with the underside of their pitching employees. You’ll find 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’ purpose of a fast franchise rebound, right here. Twenty-eight-year-old righty Riley O’Brien was acquired from Seattle for money. The previous 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 through the season and his final a number of outings got here in reduction. I feel it’s truthful to undertaking 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 few 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 an awesome curveball and below-average management. DJ Herz is a cross-firing lefty with below-average velocity and a plus changeup.