The Traders Arena Blog

1) Kyle Blanks, 1B, Grade B+: I don’t know where he fits except as trade bait, but I’m convinced that the bat is real. Considered Grade B, but that’s what I gave him last year and he improved in ’08.2) Jaff Decker, OF, Grade B: Need to see at higher levels, could be a cross between Brian Giles and Matt Stairs.3) Mat Latos, RHP, Grade B: I believe in his ceiling, and while the intercostal injury is annoying, he pitched very well when on the mound.4) Kellen Kulbacki, OF, Grade B: The Winner of the 2009 Josh Willingham Award, given to a guy who can really hit, but who doesn’t get as much respect as he deserves due to lack of tools.5) Cedric Hunter, OF, Grade B-: Improved slightly compared to ’07. Young, hits liners, Double-A will tell us a lot.6) James Darnell, 3B-OF, Grade B-: Although drafted behind Allan Dykstra, his balance of tools and skills is likely more valuable in the long run.7) Allan Dykstra, 1B, Grade B-: Will hit homers and draw walks, but where does he play? Will Inman, RHP, Grade B-: Continues to defy the scouts. Needs to lower the walk rate but K/IP continues to stand out. Considering downgrade to C+.9) Wade LeBlanc, LHP, Grade C+: Hammered in the majors, but will get more chances. Finesse lefty with thin margin of error.10) Matt Antonelli, 2B, Grade C+: A very difficult grade and ranking. Despite horrible season, he continued to control the strike zone very well. Hard to know what to think here.11) Eric Sogard, 2B, Grade C+: Excellent secondary skills. Needs to repeat this in Double-A.I am surprised to see Cedric Hunter fall so low to #5 after being the BA #1 Prospect last year. His Bowman Chrome Auto have fallen a bit. The problem is though, San Diego is a rathole for prospects. I don’t suugest investing in any Padres guys, except for possibly Kyle Blanks, due to there being a nice chance that he may be traded. Blanks does have a nice future ahead of him, as well as Mat Latos and Will Inman. Inman has some 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft cards and seems to have a large group of collectors. LeBlanc was once a nice prospect before being called up, but he still can show some promise if he gets some more chances and experience.

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