Baseball America Prospects Chat

Ben Badler: Hmmmm ….. why are there so many Red Sox questions in here today?

a.j. (las vegas): with speculation of a mike trout trade what offer would you accept as Angels GM?
Ben Badler: None. Or at least none that I could imagine another team agreeing to do, because the price would be just about every good player in that organization. Trout’s not just the best player in the game, he’s one of the best young players in baseball history, and he’s several years away from free agency.

Ben (Miamisburg, OH): Will lack of starts above A ball keep Cody Reed in the minors this year, or if he keeps dominating like he has been will he be up on the Reds in July?
Ben Badler: As long as he’s healthy, I expect he’ll force his way to Cincinnati by midseason. (And thank you for clarifying which Cody Reed you meant!)

Dale (SF): Under Ron Washingtons tutelage Semiens defense has improved greatly. Not only have the errors dropped but he actually looks smooth out there. What type of individual attention do minor leaguers get?
Ben Badler: Quite a bit, but the type of instruction and the plan for what the organization wants a player to work on specifically varies. There are some positions where you can either play it or you can’t, no matter how much instruction you get—shortstop, center field and catcher, with obviously some exceptions—but we have seen a lot of players go from very shaky defenders at 3B or 2B in the minors with a lot of questions on whether they would move off the position end up transforming themselves into above-average defenders and even Gold Glovers in the big leagues.

Patrick (San Diego): Ben, you do such great work, thanks for all you do... I was relieved when Anthony Alford finally made it back onto the field after that weird knee injury but his 19 Ks in 32 ABs since isn't helping me rest easy. Do you have any insight there?
Ben Badler: It’s surprising, especially the degree of his strikeout rate, but I try to keep context in mind when a player is just getting back on the field. There’s so much timing that goes into hitting, it’s amazing how even the best hitters on the planet need time to get acclimated every spring at the start of the season. If it’s a month from now and he’s still striking out like crazy, yeah, I’ll be alarmed, but I’m inclined to cut him some slack here.

Walter (Plano, Texas): Had the great opportunity to visit with and watch Dansby Swanson last night in Jackson MS.(MLB photog) His ability to make in bat adjustments is just remarkable. Very intelligent and amazing work ethic. Gifted. I am not asking any specific questions but getting a nod of your head yes on the great package of a player he is. Diamondbacks absolutely nuts to let this talent go!
Ben Badler: I can’t disagree with any of this. That was a brilliant move by Atlanta.

JJ (Lancaster): Will the Red Sox receive a international death penalty?
Ben Badler: That seems extreme to me. I’m not even sure they will receive any penalties. But predicting what MLB will do when it comes to the international arena is always tricky.

Jake (Los Angeles): Do you think Dodgers fans should be worried about MLB investigating LA's package deals? As you wrote in your initial article about these deals, the Pablo Millán Fernández deal looks obviously shady.
Ben Badler: I think they made a huge overpay for Pablo Millan Fernandez, but I don’t necessarily know that it was shady. The only other Cuban player they signed at the time was Yadier Alvarez, and at $32 million for a pitcher who walked a batter per inning in an 18U league in Cuba the year before, that doesn’t seem like a discount to me. Maybe I’m naive. I think they may have just genuinely misevaluated him; it’s not like that would be the first time for them misjudging a Cuban player, or anyone misjudging a player for that matter. But Yusniel Diaz and Omar Estevez did come from the same program and signed at the same time. I’m not saying that should be investigated, but it’s just another example of a team signing multiple players from the same program, which happens all the time around the league.

Alex (Nc): Alvaro Seijas or Junior Fernandez, which do you think has the better chance of becoming a #2 or better starter?
Ben Badler: I’d take Fernandez over Seijas right now just because I’ll take my chances on his better present stuff, but Seijas might have a truer starter profile with more bat-missing potential because of his breaking ball. It’s just a higher risk factor on Seijas because he’s further away and you’re still waiting for the stuff to tick up.

Cody (Wi): Teherean/ Vizcaino for Benintendi/ Chavis/ Raudes who says no?
Ben Badler: I’d need a lot more than that to part with Benintendi if I were the Red Sox.

Eric (Los Angeles): Any thoughts on Edwin Diaz's apparently permanent move to the bullpen?
Ben Badler: Not a fan of that move, or of pushing any pitcher to the bullpen prematurely. He’s dominating Double-A as a starter right now and would have a lot more upside in that role.

Fito (Wisconsin): What are your thoughts on Tyler O'Neill? Off to an impressive start for a 20 year old in AA
Ben Badler: He has crazy raw power. I also have huge reservations about his pitch recognition and swing-and-miss tendencies, but he’s at least showing signs of progress with that early this year. Still skeptical on the hitting ability and approach at higher levels, but encouraging signs on that so far.

Tyler (San Diego): Do the Padres end the year with a to 10 farm system after several picks in the first two rounds of the draft, the expectation that they will spend big on July 2 players, and any additions that might come from unloading guys at the trade deadline?
Ben Badler: Yes, I could see that happening. Normally a big international spending spree isn’t going to move the needle too much in our farm system rankings because we’re talking about 16-year-old kids, but adding more advanced players like Adrian Morejon, Jorge Ona and possibly others like Lazaro Armenteros, etc. in addition to any trades and all their draft picks would make a bigger transformation on their system.

John (Washington): Does Joe Jimenez have the stuff to be a major league closer one day? What is his ETA with the Tigers?
Ben Badler: Yes. Mid-to-upper 90s fastball that plays even better than the pure velocity because of his deception, a slider that misses bats and he’s a consistent strike thrower. That plays well in a closer role. For whatever reason, the Tigers have played it somewhat conservatively with him, but he could race through the system if the Tigers wanted to push him.

CJ (NH): What are your thoughts on Travis Demeritte? Has he made significant improvements or is it mostly a result of the environment?
Ben Badler: As Matt Eddy wrote the other day, High Desert (and the Cal League in general) is a hitter’s paradise. Once he gets to a league where gravity exists and starts facing better pitching, I think all that swing and miss is going to catch up to him.

Cody Reed (Cincinnati): Okay, what are the main differences between the two Cody Reeds? Both are dominating the minors. Will the Reds have two Cody Reeds at the front of their rotation in a few years?
Ben Badler: Better pure stuff and better prospect overall with the Reds’ Cody Reed. Bigger fastball, better slider and obviously more advanced as a pitcher right now. Not that D-Backs’ Cody Reed is just a smoke-and-mirrors guy with no stuff, he’s just relying more on solid stuff to go with more deception that’s going to especially throw off Low-A hitters.

George (Texas): Who ends up the better hitter: Dom Smith or AJ Reed?
Ben Badler: AJ Reed.

James (Pittsburgh): Have you seen/heard much about Jameson Taillon's comeback? The numbers are obviously impressive, and he's seemingly quit walking people.
Ben Badler: It’s been great to see him back on the mound this year after all the time he’s missed. The fastball doesn’t have quite the same zip, but it’s still low-to-mid 90s, the curveball is still a true 12-6 hook to put away hitters and he’s pounding the strike zone. How high the Pirates want to get with his workload is a legitimate question after the last two years, but he could help their rotation very soon.

Hogie (DC): The Nats seem to have done well with the lower-priced, under-the-radar international FAs. With them pegged to be big spenders this year, does this signal that they have full faith in the operations abroad under DiPuglia and will be more active going forward, or is this a one-off with a crop of players they particularly like?
Ben Badler: They promoted his title and are giving him and his staff a big bundle of money to throw at international free agents this July 2, so yes, they definitely have a lot of confidence in him and his international scouts, which is a big deal for that ownership group after their trepidation with the international market the last several years. They’re going to be active again in future years, but obviously by going over their pool on July 2, they’re going to be under the penalty for the following two years, so they’re going to have their hands tied in how aggressive they can be for the top players.

Frank (LA): Yusniel Diaz is destroying A+. Is he the real deal? What do you think is his ceiling and eta?
Ben Badler: Very good athlete, plus runner, good hitter with excellent hand-eye coordination, so yeah, he’s real in that regard, someone I could see being in the mix for our Top 100 list if he keeps it up. The early power is more of a mirage—he’s more of a line-drive type guy who hit all his homers in Lancaster—but a center fielder who can hit is valuable. The Dodgers are pushing their minor league players aggressively, but he’s probably at least a couple years away from MLB still.

Steve (Denver): Rank these three on future potential. Benintendi, Brinson, Dahl.
Ben Badler: That’s the order I’d put them in.

Jackson (Taiwan): How is Lewis Brinson developing as a center fielder? Is that his likely position when he makes it to the bigs? Thanks!
Ben Badler: He’s a lockdown defender in CF. Speed, arm, instincts—they’re all there. I’ve seen him make some great catches this year. Between the defense and the raw power, he just has to be a serviceable hitter to be a valuable player because of everything else he brings to the table.

Dave (DC): With Ronald Acuna's wide range of tools already showing regularly in game action in A ball, is he a top 100 prospect for you now? Seems like he would be among the early risers with this start as an 18 yo in full season ball
Ben Badler: Not quite, but ask me again in August and I might have a different answer. I’ve been a big fan of Acuna after what he did last summer with his hitting ability and a wide range of average to plus tools. He’s certainly putting himself in that Top 100 discussion.

Dave (Brooklyn): When is JaCoby Jones allowed to play in minor league games based on his suspension for non-PEDS usage in late 2015? How big a setback is this for him as a prospect?
Ben Badler: He can play again next week. We already knew he was suspended, so that’s already accounted for in our rankings, but it didn’t really move the needle one way or the other for me with regards to his stock, other than possibly slowing his ETA slightly.

Ben (Atlanya): When does July 2 coverage begin here at BA? Looking forward to it.
Ben Badler: Some of it’s already up, but we will have more rolling out very soon. The international market has so much more going on that makes it trickier to cover than the draft, so I try adhere to as much of a disciplined process as possible in talking to scouts and putting together the reports before we publish anything to make sure we have the best info and the most up to date info on players who obviously can change quite a bit at 15 and 16 years old.

Whitey (St. Louis): Thoughts on Bader in AA in Stl? Chance to start in of in 17?
Ben Badler: One of the most impressive starts this season. Skipping a level and not skipping a beat. There was some thought that his power numbers might suffer at higher levels, but obviously that was wrong. There’s no 70 tool that jumps out and wows you, but he does a lot of things well, doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses and he just keeps hitting. He’s made me a big fan, and not just because every time I see his name I keep thinking it says Badler instead of Bader, which I guess makes me a narcissist.

Tyler (San Diego): What are your thoughts on Dinelson Lamet? He had another great start last night. What's his ceiling and when might he arrive in the majors?
Ben Badler: Great start from a somewhat under-the-radar prospect. The fastball and slider are legit weapons and he throws strikes well for someone with limited pitching experience for his age. He’s exhibit #1,592 that you don’t need to sign 16-year-old pitchers to find good arms in Latin America. I think he can be a back-end starter who could be up at some point next season.

JOhn B (Stamford, CT): ANy idea when the Gourriel brothers will be eligible to sign?
Ben Badler: Based on MLB’s previous recent history in clearing Cuban players to sign, I would bet on August or so. But Lourdes Jr. won’t sign until he turns 23 in October and becomes exempt from the bonus pools, and see previous answer re: caveats on predicting actions of the commissioner’s office when it comes to international matters.

Adam (Atlanta): Chances the Braves could wind up signing Vladimir Gutierrez?
Ben Badler: It’s possible. The smart bet is on him signing with a team that’s either over its current 2015-16 bonus pool or is planning to go over already on July 2 (I wouldn’t go over my pool JUST to sign him) like Atlanta, and the Braves were definitely there scouting him at his final showcase. Normally when there’s a big Cuban showcase, everyone shows up, but Gutierrez’s showcase was a little different, so the teams and the personnel there were a little more telling with regards to interest and where he might land.

Jay (Georgia): Touki Toussaint has thrown back to back solid games for Rome. What are your thoughts on him?
Ben Badler: When he’s throwing strikes with his fastball, he looks like a frontline type starter. When he’s not, he gets lit up. He has a ridiculous curveball, but too often the count is 1-0 or 3-1 and you can’t throw a putaway curveball in those counts, so his strikeout rate doesn’t reflect his pure stuff. I love the upside, it’s just a lot of risk that comes with the ceiling.

Ben (Miamisburg, OH): You've speculated previously that Kevin Maitan is linked to the Braves for about $4 million. What's stopping another team coming in and offering $8 million for the perceived top international free agent?
Ben Badler: Nothing, officially. Not speaking specifically to Maitan or any other player, but whether you’re a team or a trainer, it’s generally wise to keep your word when you have an agreement in place and work in an arena where relationships and people trusting you are important for your future livelihood. But every year, there are “agreements” in place that fall apart and players end up signing with a different team.

Jason (St Louis): What's your personal take on Aledmys Diaz?
Ben Badler: I’m stunned how well he’s hitting. This is the same player who hit .264/.324/.421 over nearly a full season in Double-A last year as a 24-year-old and any team could have picked up on the cheap. Not that he came out of nowhere, but that’s pretty cool to see.

Ben Badler: Thanks for all the questions. Been a busy week here obviously, so I’ve got to get back to it. We’ve got an avalanche of good stuff coming for BA subscribers between our prospect, draft and July 2 coverage the next couple months, so I’m pretty excited for what’s ahead.