NationalsProspects.com

Catching Up On Transactions


It’s been almost 10 days since our last transaction-oriented post and I was expecting to see more releases than this, even if I had been told that extended spring (XST) is quite sizable this year.

I’m no draft expert — longtime readers know that I don’t focus much on it because it’s not my area of enjoyment, much less expertise — but the theory that I’ve referenced in the comments is that XST is much larger this year because the draft is 40 rounds instead of 50. Therefore, I think we’re looking at a situation where guys that might have been released in previous years are being kept on for further evaluation and to ensure they have enough bodies to fill the rosters of Auburn and the GCL. Again, this is just a theory.

Anyway, here’s a breakdown of the moves reported by Baseball America this morning, appended with any reported on MiLB.com:

RELEASED
• RHP Luis Chirinos
• RHP Chad Durbin
• RHP Scott Williams

PLACED ON THE DL
• RHP Adam Carr
• RHP Jeff Fulchino
• RHP Waldis Joaquin
• RHP Taylor Jordan
• RHP Mike Schultz
• RHP Dean Weaver
• LHP Sammy Solis
• C Devin Ivany

Please give our volunteer time to update the Big Board. As for questions on specific players, the working assumption has to be that if you don’t see them above, here or here, they’re in XST. Otherwise, I’ll be periodically checking the transaction pages for each league, and making posts like this on at least a weekly basis.

12 Commments

  1. Thanks for the update…seems like there must be a ton of guys in extended. Your theory sounds like a good reason why.
    Sort of off topic, but saw that the Yankees purchased the Major League contract for Brad Meyers and stashed him on the DL. Pretty consistent with your prediction a while back.

    1. I wonder if the Nats have considered picking up a second A minor league affiliate? Seems like they could use one if they want to evaluate players longer?

  3. MiLB has Harper in right again. There were a couple of triples hit his way in CF the first two games. It will be interesting to follow his progress. I am not cancelling my Bourn #21 Nats jersey order just yet.

  4. Lannan got shelled and Arneson bailed him out.

    Perez and Kobernus appear to be tearing it up in Harrisburg … at this pace they could be in Syracuse for the second half … the MI in Syracuse this season isn’t much unless or until Lombo gets optioned.

    Skole and Goodwin the same in Hagerstown … think they might make Potomac at the half way point?

    I know its early; but the hitting trend definitely seems to look better than it did in last year’s minor league season when pitching dominated the scene.

    1. I hope they’re aggressive with Matt Skole. He’s already nearly 23. I think in general the Nats are a little too conservative with some players. They don’t have to be the Mets under Minaya in their aggressiveness in promoting prospects, but Skole was a 5th round pick. By assigning him to Auburn (then not promoting him while putting up good numbers) his development has been delayed an entire year. Surely, he should be given a shot to see what he can do against A+ or AA pitching given that he’ll be 23 in July.

      The same for Goodwin and Meyer. The average age of the Sally League is about 21 (which is in line with their ages), but given their pedigrees the Nats should be a little more aggressive with them. The better prospects should be pushed harder. I’m hoping they’ll get a quick promotion after a month or so in Hagerstown. There’s no one in Potomac’s rotation that will block Meyer, but it will be interesting to see how they manage to handle Goodwin with Taylor at CF. Taylor should not be hindrance to Goodwin’s development.

      1. Goodwin has already hit 2 home runs. From the lead off spot. Unexpected power … apparently a five tool type. Taylor doesn’t hit like that … and he doesn’t bat left so it seems doubtful that anyone will block Goodwin. Perez certainly wouldn’t. The only two that would might be Brown and Harper.

        1. From the FWIW Dept, Goodwin’s splits vs LHP/RHP = .375, .500, 1.125 / .333, .556, .500. Ridiculously small sample size I know (8 AB/6 AB), but both of his HR’s are against lefties. BA vs lefties is 40 pts higher and his slugging is an impressive 625 pts higher when batting against lefties!!! A leftie with some pop in his bat who can hit (better) against lefties. Mmmmm

      2. Don’t hold your breath. This website was pretty much started the offseason after Rizzo was named GM and the name of his game has been conservative, a level a year below AA.

        Ultimately, I think Skole might be better off playing 1B or LF — Quick, name the only full-season 1B prospect under the age of 23 in the system right now — but the Rendon injury is a good counterargument to making position changes too soon.

        Answer: Steve Souza, who turns 23 two weeks from tomorrow.

        1. It’s very disappointing. If Skole continues on his current development path, he’ll be 26-27 when he finally gets a chance to play in the big leagues.

          Rizzo has been good about promoting the “sure-things” like Harper and Strasburg, but just about everyone else has been handled with kid gloves.

          If a guy can’t compete at a big league level at 24-25, then I’m not sure he ever will. But with Rizzo’s development plan, most guys aren’t even able to reach AAA until at least age 25.

          1. I think that might be a fair accusation if/when someone at Hagerstown or Potomac hits .400 in a month or two or has an ERA under 1.00 and doesn’t get promoted, but neither of those things have happened yet. In 2010 and 2011, Espinosa, Lombardozzi and Brad Peacock started the season in AA and finished as September call-ups. All were 23 or younger. Last season, Marrero and Milone began the season at AAA at ages 22 and 24 respectively and both were called up late in the season.

            The problem that Washington has is that it has been so college-centric in the past three drafts that the system has a logjam of 22-24 y.o.’s. Right now, the only source of teenage talent has been the D.R. Some folks are concerned that the new CBA will make this even worse, though I think that’s overblown; colleges haven’t increased the number of scholarships, so I’m not sure how ALL the HS talent is going to end up there.

            Ultimately, I think it’s WAY TOO EARLY to start complaining about guys being held down.

Comments are closed.