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NFT: Yankees to spend big on Intl SS prospect Roderick Arias

bwitz : 1/14/2022 10:56 am
Quote:
The Yankees have $5,179,700 in international bonus pool money this time around.

Most of it will go to Arias, the 17-year-old switch-hitter whom the Yankees hope will be their shortstop of the future (which isn’t to discount the futures of Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza).

Link - ( New Window )
Supposedly, Hes The Top IFA Prospect  
LTIsTheGreatest : 1/14/2022 11:33 am : link
They sure are loading up on SS prospects
RE: Supposedly, Hes The Top IFA Prospect  
cokeduplt : 1/14/2022 11:41 am : link
In comment 15552816 LTIsTheGreatest said:
Quote:
They sure are loading up on SS prospects



SS are usually the best athletes so it makes sense.
One would think  
djm : 1/14/2022 11:43 am : link
One of these SS prospects will be traded at some point.

I guess it’s gonna be urshula at short to start the season? None of the kids appear ready although Volpe has been ascending rapidly.
RE: Supposedly, Hes The Top IFA Prospect  
Milton : 1/14/2022 11:44 am : link
In comment 15552816 LTIsTheGreatest said:
Quote:
They sure are loading up on SS prospects
Think of them as infielders, not shortstops, because you never know where they're gonna wind up, maybe even centerfield (e.g., Mantle, Murcer). When you're a kid, they always put the best player at shortstop. At least that's the way it was in my younger years.
He e we int be ready for 3-5 years.  
superspynyg : 1/14/2022 11:56 am : link
Would love to see a SS prospect traded in a deal for Olsen and Manea
What Milton said  
Greg from LI : 1/14/2022 12:00 pm : link
Robbie Cano, for example, signed with the Yankees as a SS. So did Mickey Mantle, for that matter.
Speaking of prospects,  
ManningLobsItBurressAlone : 1/14/2022 12:03 pm : link
Fangraphs released their Yankees top 38 prospects this morning.

As has been the recent trend, the Yankees list is a lot of high variance prospects that are further away from the bigs. Including Volpe (though he's on another level), 6 of the top 10 guys in the system according to FG haven't played above high A (Volpe, Jasson, Vargas, Gomez x2, Pereira). These guys have extremely high ceilings, but can also flame out as they move up.

From an NJ.com article:
Quote:
Where he fits: MLB Pipeline prospects guru Jonathan Mayo believes Arias will immediately slide in as the Yankees’ No. 5 overall prospect, behind Volpe, Dominguez, Peraza and starting pitcher Luis Gil.


Exciting stuff. As someone above mentioned, these guys are "infielders." Sweeney, who was our first rounder this year, and drafted as a SS, will more than likely move to 3B or 2B as he matures. These are just the best athletes, that can move around, much like the CF of the OF.


FG - ( New Window )
Yankees need to find a catching prospect...  
Milton : 1/14/2022 12:06 pm : link
...with the talent to stay at the position. Their current top prospects at the position, Wells and Breaux, have histories of elbow problems and neither is good at throwing out baserunners to begin with. The international market is a good place to hunt for catchers, but not this year. In general, I like the idea of blowing your whole pool on the top guy available, but there's also the thinking that it pays to go with quantity over quality when projecting the future of 17-year olds.
Wake me in 3 years  
HomerJones45 : 1/14/2022 12:30 pm : link
prospects are just that, prospects. Most never make it for one reason or another. No team hypes prospects like the Yankees. We heard all the hype about prospects and the minors and blah, blah, blah. Well, where are they? Where are the championships they were to bring?

From what I can see, the best use of prospects is to trade them to some small market team for that team's budding star who is already in the majors but the small market team doesn't want to pay.
RE: Yankees need to find a catching prospect...  
bwitz : 1/14/2022 1:19 pm : link
In comment 15552894 Milton said:
Quote:
...with the talent to stay at the position. Their current top prospects at the position, Wells and Breaux, have histories of elbow problems and neither is good at throwing out baserunners to begin with. The international market is a good place to hunt for catchers, but not this year. In general, I like the idea of blowing your whole pool on the top guy available, but there's also the thinking that it pays to go with quantity over quality when projecting the future of 17-year olds.


If you check out that FanGraphs article that was linked, Antonio Gomez seems to be doing well and projects as an everyday catcher.
RE: Yankees need to find a catching prospect...  
ManningLobsItBurressAlone : 1/14/2022 1:19 pm : link
In comment 15552894 Milton said:
Quote:
...with the talent to stay at the position. Their current top prospects at the position, Wells and Breaux, have histories of elbow problems and neither is good at throwing out baserunners to begin with. The international market is a good place to hunt for catchers, but not this year. In general, I like the idea of blowing your whole pool on the top guy available, but there's also the thinking that it pays to go with quantity over quality when projecting the future of 17-year olds.


From the FG rankings, their #9 prospect (Antonio Gomez) is just that. He's another one of those high variance prospects, especially with lower ball catchers, but it looks like if anything, his arm will keep him in the conversation as a catcher:
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Gomez stood out as a young amateur because of his one truly freakish ability: he has a stone-cold 80 arm (clocked in the mid-80s with a radar gun) and a quick release that allows him to regularly post pop times below 1.80 in games.


Quote:
Instead of timed speed or visible strength, he displayed quick-twitch movement, first-step quickness, lateral agility while ball-blocking, and hitting explosion through strength in his forearms, wrists, and hands. A virtual lock to catch, Gomez has soft hands and is mobile behind the plate, and he has impact arm strength.


Quote:
He’s tracking a lot like Austin Hedges was at the same age, although Gomez has better plate discipline. Here we have the ceiling of an everyday catcher, likely one with one-dimensional offense and a golden glove and arm.


This is a big year for him, as we need to decide if we're going to put him on the 40 man after this season to protect him from the Rule 5. Catchers are higher volatility than other positions, but the Padres took a young exposed catcher from us years ago (Luis Torrens), and he put together a solid 1 WAR season last year, with 15 HRs in 108 games.

FG is pretty down on Breaux, as they have him as our #38 prospect, behind even Anthony Seigler.
There is a video of Antonio Gomez throwing near 100mph  
Jim in Hoboken : 1/14/2022 1:26 pm : link
while playing catch.

Interesting Dominguez was dropped to 4th already.

I am hoping Oswald Cabrera turns into a legit 3B prospect. Voted best defensive 3B in a minor league poll, switch hits, and an epic bat flip.
RE: There is a video of Antonio Gomez throwing near 100mph  
Beer Man : 1/14/2022 1:40 pm : link
In comment 15553075 Jim in Hoboken said:
Quote:
while playing catch.

Interesting Dominguez was dropped to 4th already.

I am hoping Oswald Cabrera turns into a legit 3B prospect. Voted best defensive 3B in a minor league poll, switch hits, and an epic bat flip.
MLB has Dominguez at 2nd in the org. behind Volpe. Also interesting, is that there are many that compare Dominguez and Arias as being equal; which if true, Yankee fans should be excited about the future.
MLB: Yankee Prospects - ( New Window )
ManBan is back  
davek3698 : 1/14/2022 1:41 pm : link
too
Manny Banuelos - ( New Window )
RE: RE: There is a video of Antonio Gomez throwing near 100mph  
MattyKid : 1/14/2022 1:52 pm : link
In comment 15553099 Beer Man said:
Quote:
In comment 15553075 Jim in Hoboken said:


Quote:


while playing catch.

Interesting Dominguez was dropped to 4th already.

I am hoping Oswald Cabrera turns into a legit 3B prospect. Voted best defensive 3B in a minor league poll, switch hits, and an epic bat flip.

MLB has Dominguez at 2nd in the org. behind Volpe. Also interesting, is that there are many that compare Dominguez and Arias as being equal; which if true, Yankee fans should be excited about the future. MLB: Yankee Prospects - ( New Window )


Here's the video
Link - ( New Window )
RE: Yankees need to find a catching prospect...  
Strahan91 : 1/14/2022 1:54 pm : link
In comment 15552894 Milton said:
Quote:
...with the talent to stay at the position. Their current top prospects at the position, Wells and Breaux, have histories of elbow problems and neither is good at throwing out baserunners to begin with. The international market is a good place to hunt for catchers, but not this year. In general, I like the idea of blowing your whole pool on the top guy available, but there's also the thinking that it pays to go with quantity over quality when projecting the future of 17-year olds.

They've been aggressive in blowing their whole pool on one player ever since they got screwed out of Wander Franco.
I think its the right approach  
RasputinPrime : 1/14/2022 3:47 pm : link
and yes, missing out on Wander is going to sting for a long long time.

I note that the league is pushing for an international FA draft which leaves the clock ticking on buying talent overseas.
RE: I think its the right approach  
ManningLobsItBurressAlone : 1/14/2022 4:28 pm : link
In comment 15553295 RasputinPrime said:
Quote:
and yes, missing out on Wander is going to sting for a long long time.

I note that the league is pushing for an international FA draft which leaves the clock ticking on buying talent overseas.


We supposedly have an agreement in place with the top IFA prospect for the 2023 period (Cuban CF Brandon Mayea), and this is one that could fall by the wayside due to a draft implementation. Hoping we can nab him with the draft falling after the fact.
Here is a good listen on the farm, even if the two guys can be a  
Jim in Hoboken : 1/14/2022 10:31 pm : link
little annoying....

Pereira will never justify the Yanks pulling out of the Franco sweepstake, but it'd be nice to have someone from that crop of OF prospects turn into something.
Lonk - ( New Window )
I read this as the international space station  
santacruzom : 1/14/2022 11:35 pm : link
It would be awesome if the ISS produced baseball prospects.
RE: I read this as the international space station  
Milton : 1/15/2022 2:20 am : link
In comment 15553634 santacruzom said:
Quote:
It would be awesome if the ISS produced baseball prospects.
Jasson "the Martian" Dominguez!
Just some thoughts  
rich in DC : 1/15/2022 10:03 am : link
While Arias is the best prospect this year, I don’t expect much from him in 2022. I think this mid-January signing date does a real disservice to the players- they get a VERY limited period of work in a team’s program or off-season training.

In turn, that forces the player to rely on what they already know- which isn’t enough to succeed against other equally talented players or quality off-speed pitches, which many hitters are seeing for the first time.

I liken this to how many college and HS players struggle after the draft and usually show significant improvement in years 2 and 3. it allows the player to get the instruction and skills training to succeed- work that usually takes months of repetition and time.

Look at last year’s group- mainly the two (unrelated) Monteros. Both are skilled, but the lack of contact and weak numbers are likely the result of having only a month or two of off-season work-ups and then right into extended spring training- which means scrimmages and other time that doesn’t involve as much one-on-one or long days spent crafting skills on one’s own.

I expect that we will see much improvement from the Monteros and others this year after having a full off-season and development plans in hand for an extended period.

While these are imperfect examples because the 2020 season didn’t happen, we could look at Volpe, Waldichuk and Wesnewski to compare. None of the 3 had particularly strong or even good debuts post draft- again, short period of indoctrination into the system and lack of long-term development plans. Granted- they really had about a year and a half to work on those plans- much more than normal- but the larger point is that once they returned to competitive action, they had significantly improved over the lackluster early performance.

I’m NOT saying we should expect HUGE jumps like the above players had- after all, with International signings, we are talking about 17-18 year olds as compared to early 20 something’s. However, I think that so long as the January signing period is in place, we should temper expectations in the first year for IFAs
RE: There is a video of Antonio Gomez throwing near 100mph  
TheMick7 : 1/15/2022 11:09 am : link
In comment 15553075 Jim in Hoboken said:
Quote:
while playing catch.

Interesting Dominguez was dropped to 4th already.

I am hoping Oswald Cabrera turns into a legit 3B prospect. Voted best defensive 3B in a minor league poll, switch hits, and an epic bat flip.


I watched the majority of Cabrera's games with the Patriots & the few he had with SWB. Kid turned into a stud this year,playing 2B,SS(might have been the regular there if not for Peraza)& 3B. Was the league's MVP. I would not be surprised if he becomes our backup INF,replacing Wade. Finished with 29 HRs,89 RBIs,21 SBs,31 2Bs,2 3Bs. With all the talk of Volpe & Peraza this past season,Cabrera was somewhat under the radar. Could be a good one!
RE: What Milton said  
Gatorade Dunk : 1/15/2022 3:36 pm : link
In comment 15552877 Greg from LI said:
Quote:
Robbie Cano, for example, signed with the Yankees as a SS. So did Mickey Mantle, for that matter.

Didn't Mariano Rivera, also?
Cashman  
adamg : 1/15/2022 3:57 pm : link
more like strapped-for-cash-man!

Amirite?

Fire the whole FO!
Juan Soto didn't hit below .350 in the minors. Franco hit .351 and  
Jim in Hoboken : 1/15/2022 8:21 pm : link
.327 before making the majors. But those two are generational talent, no shame admitting that.

Just have to face it, the truly special ones overcome circumstances. We knew the Martian's hit tool wasn't nearly the equal of the other 2, but it's a little discouraging that his athleticism also isn't quite as advertised.

I do have high hopes for Arias.

As for Cabrera, maybe he's another Cano. Cano was never a top 5 prospect, we heard about his arm mostly and that he could hit a little, and we all know what happened....well, steroids aside haha
RE: Juan Soto didn't hit below .350 in the minors. Franco hit .351 and  
Dunedin81 : 1/15/2022 10:22 pm : link
In comment 15554681 Jim in Hoboken said:
Quote:
.327 before making the majors. But those two are generational talent, no shame admitting that.

Just have to face it, the truly special ones overcome circumstances. We knew the Martian's hit tool wasn't nearly the equal of the other 2, but it's a little discouraging that his athleticism also isn't quite as advertised.

I do have high hopes for Arias.

As for Cabrera, maybe he's another Cano. Cano was never a top 5 prospect, we heard about his arm mostly and that he could hit a little, and we all know what happened....well, steroids aside haha


Tatis was .020 or so higher on OPS in his debut season. Acuña was okay. Machado struggled in half a season at High A in his second minor league year. Development is not linear, not everyone progresses on the same path, and having a year of near-layoff didn’t help. Don’t forget, he’s a switch hitter and his lefty swing is way ahead of his righty swing. He OPSed .803 as a LHH. Jasson is still tooled up, even if the speed may have taken a step back. He’s still got crazy power. He needs to make more consistent contact this year, especially as a RHH, but I wouldn’t give up on his star just yet.
Oh believe me, I'd already penciled in the Martian in CF in 2023, just  
Jim in Hoboken : 1/16/2022 6:11 pm : link
so Cashman doesn't roll Hicks out there in a full body cast.

I've lived through the Jackson Melians and Wily Mo Penas, but I'm always hopeful. It's just unbelievable how they haven't really stumbled upon one of these teenage wunderkinds despite their money and connection.
This is a very nice move. Glad they are shoring up things at SS  
chick310 : 1/17/2022 10:43 am : link
Said when the season ended that the Yanks have to get so much stronger right through the middle - C, SS, CF.

Highest priorities in my view along with another arm in the pen.
While we’re talking about SS  
rich in DC : 1/17/2022 12:18 pm : link
My guess is that the Yanks sit out the FA market this year and go a different direction.

If I had my dithers, I think I would pivot and make Freeman an offer he can’t refuse. Yes, it would cost a draft pick and a big chunk of IFA money, but that gives the Yanks a GREAT lefty bat in the middle of the lineup, a strong defensive 1B and a leader.

Then, I would bet on the future and make a roster revising trade. I would send Hicks, Gallo, Urshela, Voit and German, plus a high end prospect or two (likely in the Medina/Gil/Wells level) to the Phillies for Didi and Nola.

Then, make DJLM the 3B, Didi the SS, Torres the 2B and Freeman at 1B. The DH is Stanton. Sanchez will be the C (he’s likely untradeable anyway). Judge is the RF- then fill in LF and CF in lesser trades or FA.

You go after Nola because he’s not an ace, but he is a legit #2/#3 SP- which would give them a playoff worthy rotation with Cole, Severino and Nola.

The Phillies need a defensive and offensive upgrade at 3B and LF. Done. With the DH a near-certainty, that allows them to use Voit and Hoskins as a 1B/DH rotation. They view Didi as a sunk cost- so one for another in Hicks- though Hicks can at least play a plausible CF when healthy.

Why Didi? He’s in his decline stage- and 2021 was TERRIBLE. With that said, the reports are that the Phillies misdiagnosed his elbow injury, which turned out to be pseudo-gout. Like Hicks, assuming he’s healthy, he’s at least a passable stop-gap SS. If it doesn’t work out, then he buys time until Peraza can be ready- which might be as soon as half a season. If it does, they can let him walk at the end without any issues.

It’s a crazy idea, and the Phillies may balk- as that might not be enough to get them to give up Nola- but Harper wants to win and the Phillies have nothing around him.
Adding 2 32 year olds to an aged lineup is a bold strategy…  
Dunedin81 : 1/17/2022 12:44 pm : link
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