Offseason Update: Sept. 29, 2020
As noted in the penultimate “Offseason Update,” there’s no wrapup on the 2020 season or the State of the Nats Farm to be had this year. There are just too many unknowns, like:
- How many affiliates will there be in 2021?
- Where will they play?
- How many rounds will the 2021 Draft have?
- What will the order of the 2021 Draft be?
- Who’s retired?
- Who’s gotten sick?
- Who’s gotten injured?
- Who’s had surgery?
And none of that even addresses what will happen with the big club, which has already drawn comparisons to the ’98 Marlins. That may be unfair, but it’s not untrue.
But we’re not here to discuss the big club. That’s not our place. Unfortunately, while we saw an inordinate number of players make their MLB debut – or at least in the modern era, where the cries of “play the kids” are muted by the admonishment of “don’t start the arbitration clock soon!” – few of them did much to disabuse the notion that their best quality was their DOB.
Yeah, I know that’s harsh. And yes, I’m quite well aware that the sample sizes are only slightly larger than the taxes paid by a certain president.
As some of you pointed out in the comments, even the surprise of Luis Garcia has a couple of rather large “yeah, but” markers – five walks and six errors in 40 games. He also ended the season on a 3-for-27 skid, with two of those hits coming on the last game of the season.
Both Kieboom and Garcia have graduated from the prospect ranks. The latest Top 30 looks a lot like when this site began: a whole of lot pitchers, a handful of position players, and almost no one at AA at higher who’s age-appropriate-to-the-level.
The PBA between MLB and MiLB expires tomorrow. Perhaps we’ll get some news, but I fear we won’t. MLB has already shown that its “good” news tends to get buried.
The White Sox and A’s should fly Mike Rizzo to their opening playoff game, Lucas Giolito versus Jesus Luzardo. It was worth the 2019 WS title run, but man, it would be nice to have that starting rotation depth and youth.
Other former Nationals pitching prospects on playoff teams:
Dane Dunning, White Sox
Jimmy Cordero, White Sox
Tanner Roark, Athletics
AJ Cole, Blue Jays
Robbie Ray, Blue Jays
Tyler Clippard, Twins
Blake Treinen, Dodgers
There’s probably more I’m forgetting.
I guess it’s all worth it since we won the WS, but these next few years are going to be painful seeing so many of these arms blossom into great players, while the Nats bullpen remain perpetually a problem.
I’d say we got a pretty good pitcher back for Roark, and the return for Treinen and Luzardo was what we needed it to be.
The first shoe dropped today. The Appalachian League has officially become a summer college league. For the record, the Appalachian League has been around since 1911.
Next up will be the New York/Penn League for dismantlement.
While I doubt that it will get much, if any, game coverage, 65 Nats prospects have reported to West Palm for the 2020 Instructional League (which sounds like it may be a bigger deal with year, because of no minor league season and no AZ Fall League). Games start next Wednesday October 6. 12 game season ending October 24.
Here is a link to the 65 man roster and related details: https://www.masnsports.com/byron-kerr/2020/09/2020-nationals-fall-instructional-league-roster-and-schedule.html
This is par for the course (no coverage, just a release of rosters). Prior to last year, the instrux roster was released in mid-to-late September and would generate a little bit of discussion but then starting last year, the AFL and instrux ran in parallel. Given MLB’s obsession with “cost control,” my guess is that the AFL will never restart.
Looking at the 35 pitchers there, I’m thinking the names I don’t recognize are the very young ones.
Of course, with no GCL or short season A we may never know anything about them.
Have the bookies started taking bets on where the Nats Low A team will be yet. Certainly won’t be in Hagerstown.