Baseball America’s Nationals Top 10 Due Out Today
Yes, things have slowed to a crawl in the minor-league front. Hence, a post about an upcoming post to keep the site fresh.
As the headline says, Baseball America is expected to release its Top 10 list for 2013. Mark Zuckerman remarks that it’s been roughly a year since the Nats had their on-paper #1 ranking, which vanished with the trade of Tommy Milone, Brad Peacock, A.J. Cole, and Derek Norris for Gio Gonzalez and Rob Gilliam.
We won’t know where the Nats will rank relative to the rest of major-league baseball for another few weeks, but it’s likely going to be a wee bit lower than #1. Probably around 25, if I had to guess. Speaking of which… I’ll take a swag at what that Top 10 list will be while we await the official release:
1. Anthony Rendon
2. Lucas Giolito
3. Brian Goodwin
4. Matt Purke
5. Eury Perez
6. Brett Mooneyham
7. Tony Renda
8. Matt Skole
9. Nathan Karns
10. Sammy Solis
As I’ve written in the comments, there’s likely to be some angst in the general Natmosphere about the drop from 1 to 20-something. Thing is, that’s how the system is supposed to work: also-rans get first crack at the top amateur talent to improve the parent club, contenders have to work harder to keep the younger talent coming, which is what we hope the farm is transitioning towards: a model of developing major-league players on a regular basis, some of which will play in D.C. while others will not.
If the Nats re-sing LaRoche, do you think the Mariners would give up a prospect for Michael Morse which could crack that top 10?
+1/2St.
If we use the Span-for-Meyer trade as a yardstick, I suppose the answer is yes.
Your point is absolutely correct, Luke; the goal of a farm system is to make the major league team as strong as possible. So before the rankings are out the farm system is already a success.
Which is good, because I expect the system to plummet to the bottom 10, perhaps the bottom five. Any system that trades Tom Milone, Alex Meyer, Derek Norris, A.J. Cole, Brad Peacock and Dave Frietas while “graduating” Bryce Harper, Tyler Moore and Steve Lombardozzi is going to take a leap back, not just a step back. Add the injuries to Solis, Purke and Giolito, and the leap becomes a plummet.
But that’s OK. With the major league team not just strong but young and (in most key aspects) under team control for several seasons the system will have time to rebuild. If two of the three injured prospects come back, that will be one heck of a start.
I had nine of the ten you mentioned, Luke, although not in the same order. My other pick was Garcia, assuming he is eligible. And agree that the overall system will have dropped into the twenties which is totally understandable. Positively Half St., I think the Mariners would give up one of their pitching prospects. I don’t think Paxton would be that much of a pipe dream.
Morse seems to be underrated by a number of people. If one projected his number at bats in 2011, to LaRoche’s in 2012, he would be suprior to LaRoche in, I believe, every single category. And 2012 was LaRoche’s best year ever. For two of the six months last year, LaRoche was dreadful, batting well under the Medoza line. As well, I believe Morse is not that poor defensively at first. Bottom line ‘the Beast’ would be a good player to hang onto, or a valuable piece to trade.
Looks like:
1. Anthony Rendon, 3b
2. Lucas Giolito, rhp
3. Brian Goodwin, of
4. Matt Skole, 3b
5. Nate Karns, rhp
6. Christian Garcia, rhp
7. Eury Perez, of
8. Sammy Solis, lhp
9. Matt Purke, lhp
10. Zach Walters, ss