Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Hot Stove Update: Giants Protect 4 From Rule 5 Draft

The Giants prepared for baseball's Rule 5 Draft, the exercise that annually makes the careers of 1 or 2 prospects and derails countless others, by adding 4 prospects to the 40 man MLB roster.  In compensatory moves, they designated utility man Orlando Calixte and OF/2B Micah Johnson for assignment and outrighted RHP Dan Slania to AAA Sacramento.  SS Engelb Vielma, who never appeared in a Giants affiliated uniform, was claimed off waivers by the Phillies.  The added prospects were RHP Tyler Beede, C Aramis Garcia, LHP DJ Snelton and RHP Tyler Herb.

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Beede was the Giants first round draft pick in 2014.  He has not rocketed through the organization as some expected given his pedigree, but has steadily climbed the ladder to AAA and the Arizona Fall League.  He started last season in AAA Sacramento.  Although he had his ups and downs over the season, most of his poor starts occurred in the ridiculously hitter-friendly environments of some of the home parks of the PCL they River Cats travel to.  In his final regular season start on July 19, he pitched 7 shutout innings before going on the DL with a leg strain.  To make up for lost time, the Giants assigned him to the Arizona Fall League where Giants fans went into a bit of a panic after he got shelled in his first start, but he then settled down to pitch really well in his next 3 starts.  Here are his 2017 pitching lines:

AAA:  6-7, 4.79, 109 IP, 39 BB, 83 K, GO/AO= 1.61.
AFL:  0-1, 4.50, 16 IP, 4 BB, 11 K, GO/AO= 1.13.

He allowed just 3 ER in 14 IP with 1 BB and 10 K's in his final 3 AFL starts to give him a great starting point for the 2018 season.

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Aramis Garcia was the Giants second round pick in the 2014 draft.  He missed a big part of the 2016 season with a facial injury suffered in a collision at 2B which put him back in San Jose to start the 2017 season.  He hit .272 with 17 HR's for San Jose then hit .282 after a late season promotion to AA Richmond.  He also went to the AFL and posted a .259 BA in 59 AB's.  He'll most likely start the 2018 season in Richmond with hope for a midseason promo to AAA with a September callup since he is now on the 40 man roster.

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DJ Snelton had a breakout season as a lefty reliever in 2017 dominating AA and continuing his success after a promotion to AAA with a stellar Arizona Fall League Campaign.  Snelton uses his 6'7" height to induce groundballs at a high rate by driving his 4-seam FB down in the strike zone.  Here are his 2017 pitching lines:

AA:  4-1, 1.66, 21.2 IP, 5 BB, 28 K, GO/AO= 3.63.
AAA:  4-0, 2.42, 52 IP, 18 BB, 43 K, GO/AO= 2.08.
AFL:  0-0, 2.25, 12 IP, 5 BB, 11 K, GO/AO= 2.29.

Snelton's addition to the 40 man roster should get him some early looks in spring training with an outside chance of making the 25 man Opening Day Roster.  More likely, he'll head back to AAA and be ready for a callup when needed.

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Tyler Herb was acquired from the Mariners organization midseason for cash, but he was really the PTBNL in the Chris Heston trade.  Herb is another strong groundball pitcher who put up interesting AA numbers both before and after the trade.

AA(Mariners):  6-4, 3.31, 98 IP, 30 BB, 88 K, GO/AO= 1.97.
AA(Giants):  2-3, 2.76, 65.1 IP, 18 BB, 48 K, GO/AO= 1.92.

Herb's ceiling is probably a backend MLB SP or a long reliever, but has a strong chance of reaching that.  I consider him a sleeper in the system.

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These 4 prospects now have 3 Option Years in which they can be sent down to the minors at any time without being exposed to waivers which extends their development time within the Giants organization.

16 comments:

  1. Incidental trivia geekery: players that are outrighted still count against the CBT; just an example of how you may have more than 40 players when calculating payroll for tax purposes.

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    1. If the Giants are seriously pursuing Giancarlo Stanton, I think we can stop worrying about the CBT.

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  2. Doc, any thoughts on the names--Panik, Shaw and Beede? I guess getting Dee for Panik plugs that hole, but we'd be wedded to Belt for a while (unless you think we have anyone else). Of course, an outfield of Stanton plus Reynolds, Duggar and Slater would be great. If we trade Shaw, who you got comin up as the next guy at 1b?

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    1. Miguel Gómez also showed that he looks solid @ 2b if Panik is indeed shipped. Also, Arroyo is a natural 2B who can also play 3B so our infield wouldn't suffer much

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    2. It does look like the Marlins have managed to already start a bidding war for Stanton without even trying. The conventional wisdom has been that they could either unload most or all of his contract or they could get prospects back by picking up a significant amount of the contract. Well, it's looking more and more like they can both unload the contract AND get a haul of prospects in return!

      Ask yourself this, if the Giants have already made the decision that they can afford Stanton's contract, what players or combination of players currently in the organization would you let stand in the way of getting the trade done? MadBum? Posey? Maaaaybe Ramos? I'm pretty sure the list ends right about there.

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    3. Yeah, I don't think that I would trade Ramos, the Marlins will just have to get someone else. If they want someone with a connection to the area, both Arroyo and Andrew Suarez came from the area. Not that I know Ramos is good, just that we haven't had great picks in recent years and he was exciting. Maybe if it was just Stanton, but if we have to take Gordon in the deal too, then they don't get Ramos.

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    4. I agree that Ramos is symbolic of something very valuable, but I believe your own research shows there is no rational reason for passing on a chance to get Giancarlo Stanton just to hang onto Ramos.

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    5. Since predictions are difficult especially about the future, Yogi would say if you stick your neck out try to cover your backside for the next couple years.
      3 years is an eternity, so anyone you need in '18 and '19 you hang onto, 2020 might not even get here if you blow the next two years. At least for you.

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    6. Kinda like Yogi (or Nostradamus) said, prediction is difficult, especially about the future, or, anything beyond 2019 is not in anyone's control.
      Other than Pence (adios), everyone is under control for the next 2 years, although some (e.g. Span) may not be wanted.
      Trying to win in '18 or '19 is not the same as trying to win in '20 and beyond. You can try to pick both (and miss on both) or you can roll the dice for the things that are most certain.
      The Giants in 2018 need more power, more speed, more defense. And a closer.
      The Giants in 2020 need more pitching and replacement of a lot of guys getting old.
      Maybe the answers are in the system, maybe not, but I'd bet on fixing 2018.

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  3. This is a list of the best FA SP's (or an approximation, sorry if I left out anyone's favorite, and the age of each by the end of next regular season):

    Yu Darvish 32
    Jake Arrieta 32
    Lance Lynn 31
    Alex Cobb 30
    Tyler Chatwood 28
    Jhoulys Chacin 30
    Jaime Garcia 32
    C.C. Sabathia 38
    Michael Pineda 29
    Jeremy Hellickson 31
    Jason Vargas 35

    Where would Cueto (32) fit in your (anyone) estimation? My estimate for what's it worth (0!), closely behind Arriata.

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    1. $84 M for Cueto doesn't look terrible when you consider what Darvish and Arrieta are likely to get in free agency.

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    2. It doesn't look terrible, plus it don't look like he would have gotten much more than what the Giants were already on the hook for, so the risk/reward was more on the risk than the reward.

      Given that he would get similar money, then the only reason left for opting out would be if he didn't like it here anymore. Apparently he does.

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    3. Not sure what you just said there, ogc, but OK.

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    4. I think you're saying that he IS tradeable should the Giants want to unload his contract for CBT reasons.
      Cubs really need another starter and he's less than Arrieta. Would they give up Happ or Almora?

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    5. I think he's saying Cueto didn't opt out because he wasn't likely to get that much of a better deal but did have down-side risk of a poorer contract.

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    6. Giants may have done well by Cueto not opting out because he was to receive a $5 mil buyout if he exercised his opt-out but only a $500K assignment bonus if he’s traded -- AND they might get something for him, like a CFer.
      This could neutralize the CBT on Stanton if they get the Marlins to pay for the one year plus buyout for Span.
      Interesting that Gordon is in the discussion: a speed AND power package.
      Something like that might leave enough to buy one of those SP guys from Chatworth or Chacin down on the list above.

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