Initial 2022 Player Reports Completed
Unlike years past, this post comes after the prospect book(s) is(are) in hand and perused. I’ve yet to go back over what I’ve written and adjust to what new info is now available. I suspect the edits will be minimal, mostly to the second-tier players that BA has ignored but others have not.
Yesterday, MLB announced that it will extend the DH to both leagues and join the 20th century. This quill-dropping news also comes with the elimination of the draft-pick compensation, which may actually help thaw the FA market, if you’re inclined to believe that the loss of a draft pick was more of a factor than, say, collusion.
Either way, it appears that MLB-MLBPA talks will resume this weekend, though it’s doubtful that MLB will do what’s within its own power: End the lockout while negotiations continue. It’s not unprecedented: the two sides negotiated for nearly two years before signing a CBA in 1997.
Enjoy your weekend. Anything good on TV?
Longtime farmland Raudy Read signed with the White Sox. His value went up big time with the addition of the DH in the NL. His OPS in AAA was .901, so he can hit, just didn’t have a position.
Very SSS, but Read always looked overmatched in his few MLB plate appearances. He didn’t show much confidence at all. He’s also out of options now. Good for him for managing to stay employed, though. I do miss Luke’s descriptions of Read’s defensive “talents,” mostly involving picking up the ball at the backstop.
Yeah, that was a play on the old Bob Uecker line about catching. Still funny!
There is now 15 more spots for Read to compete for.
This summer are we going to evaluate Mr Watsons efforts in seeding the farm compared to his removed predecessor ?
1b should be interesting to follow whether it’s Pal Joey and Mike Ford ( again ) @ ROCH buying time for Drew Mendoza to get to AA out of Deleware . Harrison could use some help in the Sens lineup middle .
On paper that is …will Strohs stroke ever get out of low A ??
Safe to say Taylor Gushue should see more Split PT with PalJoey ( sing it , Frankie !!)
@ 1b and places other than catcher .
Keith Law at The Athletic published his Nats prospect list. Always a pedant, he’s taken the narrow view of prospects, so the list doesn’t include the likes of Keibert Ruiz, Mason Thompson, or Riley Adams.
On the surprising side, he’s rated Brady House as our #1 ahead of Cade Cavalli. Altogether, though, it’s a pretty good list: https://theathletic.com/3123827/2022/02/14/nationals-top-20-prospects-for-2022-keith-law-ranks-washingtons-farm-system/
He’s down on Antuna and de la Rosa, high on Roismar Quintana and Gerardo Carrillo.
Logan Verrett may have a tad more AAA success than Tyler Eppler had .