The Traders Arena Blog

The WBC is well underway and the USA played their first game today against Team Canada. They barely won 6-5 with JJ Putz getting a close save. Russell Martin and Joey Votto hit bombs for the Canadians, and Adam Dunn hit a HR for the US team. Peavy started the game today a little shaky but settled in to pitch 3 innings. They got strong performances out of the pen from a variety of guys, using the entire pen except Brad Ziegler. Canada looked pretty good with a surprise start from Mike Johnson. Phillipe Aumont, Seattles #1 pitching prospect got an appearance working himself into bases loaded trouble and then got out of it striking out the top USAa hitters. He showed a 97 MPH fastball with a filthy power curve ball. 

Baseball America has published its Top 100 prospects list. This comes out every year and is very influential in the prospecting card world. When a player makes this list, and jumps to a higher spot, or gets a great ranking, a lot of times his card will go up. Here are some of the highlight rankings:

Here are some of the latest news in the Prospecting world: 

Here are some of the latest news in the MLB world:

Boy this set is a doozy. I am knocking it out pretty fast though! I have gotten (with some incoming) 77 of the 94 in the set (including the 2 redemptions which are now shipping Frazier and Detwiler). I may go for the Future Blues as well to have the whole 130 card set, but that is after. Here are seventeen I still need: BDPP5 Trevor PippinBDPP9 Ryan ZinkBDPP22 Matt WestBDPP34 Matt DominguezBDPP44 Jason KileyBDPP46 Josh HortonBDPP62 Danny PayneBDPP114 Beau Mills AUBDPP118 Peter Kozma AUBDPP119 Chris Withrow AUBDPP121 Nick Schmidt AUBDPP128 Todd Frazier AU (Redemption) - Now Need!BDPP131 Nick Noonan AUBDPP135 Clayton Mortenson AUBDPP137 Ed Easley AUBDPP138 Corey Brown AUBDPP140 Travis d’Arnaud AU. I have all the big guns in David Price, Matt LaPorta, Freddie Freeman, Jarrod Parker, Michael Burgess, Tim Alderson, Jason Heyward, Mike Moustakas, and Madison Bumgarner.Here are a few scans for your viewing pleasure.   

Here is Baseball America’s Top 10 Cardinals Prospects:

This system has some very nice top prospects in Rasmus and Wallace. Rasmus has been a top prospect since he was drafted and has a nice 2005 Bowman Chrome AU, which have fallen and are good pickups. The Cardinals are always trying to unload an extra OF in order to get this kid to play. Brett Wallace was drafted this year and is one of the best hitters in his class. He is a Razor exclusive, so his card to get is his Razor RC Auto /499. Chris Perez has some cards, but is possibly going to be their closer this year so I don’t see his cards moving much. Pete Kozma has some 2007 Elite Auto rookies, as well as Todd, while Mortenson is in 2007 Bowman Chrome.

Here is John Sickel’s Detroit Tigers Top 10 Prospects. 

1) Rick Porcello, RHP, Grade A-: Went back and forth on this one due to the K/IP issue, but ultimately decided to give him the benefit of the doubt due to his youth. More of a Webb/Zambrano type than a Beckett.

2) Ryan Perry, RHP, Grade B: Best of the power bullpen arms the Tigers drafted in 2009.

3) Brett Jacobson, RHP, Grade B-: Second-best of the power arms. Stuff not quite as good as Perry but better command.

4) Casey Crosby, LHP, Grade C+: I want to see some actual data beyond the GCL, but fall reports are promising. Much higher ceiling but concerned about command.

5) Jeff Larish, 1B, Grade C+: I don’t buy him as a third baseman, which makes him trade bait. I believe in the power, but won’t hit for average.

6) Cody Satterwhite, RHP, Grade C+: Another impressive power arm. The Tigers gathered a bunch of these for the future pen. Command an issue.

7) Wilkin Ramirez, OF, Grade C+: Put some of his tools together last year, but the high strikeout rate and problems with breaking balls remain serious concerns.

Scott Green, RHP, Grade C+ : Another lively high-ceiling power arm from the 2008 draft best-suited for relief work.

9) Casper Wells, OF, Grade C+: Added to 40-man roster after surprisingly good 2008 season, an under the radar guy who produced power and speed.

10) Alex Avila, C, Grade C+: Strong bat, I think more power will come, not sure about where he fits defensively.

This is one of the weakest systems in my opinion.  Rick Porcello is their only star in the making. He fell to them after an injury, but had he not been injured he would have been a top 5 pick. Porcello has only a Bowman chrome rookie base card, an Aflac Auto, and now about 20 Donruss Autos after having his market flooded. I think his Aflac is his best card, so I picked up 2 of them and can be had for under $100.00. The only sleeper I see in this group is Wilkin Ramirez. 

1. Jordan Zimmerman
2. Ross Detwiler
3. Chris Marrero
4. Michael Burgess
5. Jack McGeary
6. Derek Norris
7. Destin Hood
8. Adrian Nieto
9. J.P. Ramirez
10. Esmailyn Ramirez 

The Nationals have some nice players waiting in the wings. Many peopel are very high on Chris Marrero, Jordan Zimmerman, Michael Burgess, and Destin Hood. Chris Marrero’s cards had a spike after the Beckett Rookie Rolodex compared him to Albert Pujols. His cards have fallen since then, but many think he can pick it back up. Michael Burgess has a ton of rookie cards from 2007, including Bowman Chrome and Sterling. His cards are relatively cheap. Destin Hood, a lot of people I know are picking up his Razor autos. He is Razor exclusive so his only rookies are in Razor for 3 years.   

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.

Here is John Sickel’s Top 11 Prospects for the St. Louis Cardinals: 

1) Colby Rasmus, OF, Grade A-: I’m going to cut him some slack due to youth. Power, speed, walks, defense are all still here. Not going to hit for a great average right away.

2) Brett Wallace, 3B, Grade A-: Monster bat should be ready within a year. Glove at third should be adequate in the short run.

3) Chris Perez, RHP, Grade B+: Outstanding closer-quality stuff, just needs to throw strikes.

4) Daryl Jones, OF, Grade B: I buy into the improvement being real. Has always had the tools and skills improved rapidly this year. This is an aggressive grade but I’m comfortable with it.

5) Jess Todd, RHP, Grade B-: Strike-throwing inning-eater type if used as a starter, could be more dominant in shorter stretches if used in pen.

6) Jon Jay, OF, Grade B-: I like him more than a lot of people, but I think he can play center and put up solid numbers. Another aggressive grade, but both Jay and Jones have impressed me and I think both tend to be underrated..

7) Jason Motte, RHP, Grade C+: Gotta love the strikeouts, but questionable secondary stuff precludes higher grade. Should be fine short reliever.

Bryan Anderson, C, Grade C+: This ranking may surprise some, but I’m starting to wonder if we could be looking at a Sean Burroughs situation here, where the line drive bat just kind of stalls at an early age. Am I overreacting?

9) Mitchell Boggs, RHP, Grade C+: Live arm, still trying to put everything together, another guy who could be a decent starter or dominate more in the pen.

10) Jaime Garcia, LHP, Grade C+: Hard to rank due to Tommy John. A grade B+/B if healthy.

11) Pete Kozma, SS, Grade C+: I rather like him and I think he might end up being a better hitter than people think.

I am rather surprised that Wallace or Rasmus did not get an A rating. They are 2 top prospects in the entire MLB, with Rasmus being a top 10 talent even after disappointing years. Rasmus’ cards have gone way down from peaks and his Bowman Chrome Auto’s are very affordable. If he can pick it back up, and maybe get lucky and the Cardinals trade an extra OF for a closer, he can get the call up. Brett Wallace key cards are only in Upper Deck USA and Razor (Exclusive). His Razor Autos are very affordable and is the card to have as that’s his only card for 3 years. Chris Perez is being touted as the possible closer this year for theCards.  

1) Jordan Walden, RHP, Grade B+: I love the strikeout/ground ball combination.
2) Trevor Reckling, LHP, Grade B: A very promising and underrated lefty who deserves much more attention than he’s received.

3) Hank Conger, C, Grade B: I love the bat, though I would like to see more walks. Injuries and positional questions prevent a higher grade.

4) Nick Adenhart, RHP, Grade B-: I know it was the PCL, but at some point the numbers have to start matching the scouting reports.

5) Will Smith, LHP, Grade B-: Very interesting and projectable lefty with excellent command of solid stuff. Need to see at higher levels, but promising.

6) Peter Bourjos, OF, Grade C+: Tons of speed, toolsy, some pop, but lack of patience will be a big issue when he faces Double-A pitching.

7) Kevin Jepsen, RHP, Grade C+: Looks like a solid bullpen asset to me, but will need sharper command to close.

Mark Trumbo, 1B, Grade C+: Impressive power potential, but plate discipline and defense preclude higher grade.

9) Anthony Ortega, RHP, Grade C+: Looks like a solid arm as a possible 4/5 starter, though overall upside is limited.

10) Clay Fuller, OF, Grade C+: His season at Cedar Rapids is a lot better than it looks on the surface once context is considered. Good tools. Strikeouts a worry but at least he’ll take a walk.

11) Sean O’Sullivan, RHP, Grade C+: Stuff has leveled off, and Double-A transition may not be easy.

12) Tyler Chatwood, RHP, Grade C+: Good arm, strong K/IP ratio in rookie ball, but too many walks. Good potential but will need time.

13) Manuarys Correa, RHP, Grade C+: Better command than Chatwood, but perhaps more hittable. Very projectable and could take step forward in ’09.

14) Alexander Torres, LHP, Grade C+: Overlooked lefty, solid strikeout/grounder combination in the California League.

15) Ryan Chaffee, RHP, Grade C+: Ankle injury prevented pro debut, but junior college product is supposed to have three strong pitches.

Although no players ranking A, they have a nice nucleus of players in the form of Nick Adenhart, Hank Conger, Mark Trumbo, and Jordan Walden. All of these guys have many rookie cards widely available in sets like Bowman Chrome, Bowman Sterling, Donruss Elite Extra, and others. Some of the lower ranked guys are Razor exclusives and their only card will be in Razor.