Marlins Select Silverio, Lara in Rule 5 Draft

[Miamarlin21]

Miami takes outfielder Alfredo Silverio.
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Silverio, 25, missed all of 2012 after he was badly injured in a car accident.
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More than a year after sustaining serious injuries in an off-season car accident, former top outfield prospect Alfredo Silverio will be back in spring training with the Dodgers.

Silverio, who was sidelined for all of 2012, was re-signed to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to major league camp.

Silverio, 25, played in the Futures Games in 2011, when he had a breakout season with double-A Chattanooga. That year, he batted .306 with 16 home runs and 85 runs batted in in the Southern League.

But in January, Silverio was involved in a major automobile accident in his native Dominican Republic. He missed spring training and underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in May. Even though he was unable to play, he earned a major league call-up in September, as part of the Dodgers’ efforts to manipulate their roster. By calling up Silverio and moving him to the 60-day disabled list, the Dodgers were able to create a roster spot for John Ely.

Silverio was outrighted this month, meaning he was dropped from the 40-man roster.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodger...,0,33907.story

So he already has 20~ days of big league time.
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They took a second player, lefty Braulio Lara, from Tampa Bay. 40-man now at 39.

[Big Z]

We got Braulio Lara as well

[emkayseven]

The name I hear most from clubs in regards to today's Rule 5 Draft is TB southpaw Braulio Lara, whose FB hovers in the mid-90's. Lara/DWL.

Dan Evans via twitter
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Ben Badler @BenBadler

Marlins take LHP Braulio Lara from the Rays. Control is raw but throws hard. Really like what the Marlins did today.

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apparently many people thought he'd be the top pick

Marc Topkin @TBTimes_Rays

Lots of lobby talk #Rays LHP Braulio Lara will be a top pick in Rule 5 draft. They'd likely get him back tho as he's not ready 4 majors

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This young lefty hasn't put up the best numbers in his two years of full-season ball, but there's still a lot of upside to like. His fastball has been clocked up to 98 mph with a lot of life to it. He's been tough on lefties in the past, though he wasn't as successful in that regard in 2012. His secondary stuff isn't as good, but his slurvy breaking ball should be Major League average. He has struggled with his command, but in a bullpen role, that might not be as large of a problem. Pitching out of the bullpen in the Dominican Winter League, Lara had thrown well this offseason, perhaps raising his Rule 5 profile.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/wat...12/#list=rule5

[Miamarlin21]

Ben Badler of BA was happy with the pick. Dunno if he will stick though with Jennings, Dunn and LeBlanc already in the pen.

[Big Z]

Silverio looks like Raul Mondesi

[Miamarlin21]

There is a chance Silverio may not be ready for opening day. The Marlins may just stash him on the disabled list as long as they can.

[Big Z]

I am assuming Lara will be returned to TB. No way he's ready for the majors, he hasn't thrown a pitch above high A ball.

[lou]

Ben Badler of BA was happy with the pick. Dunno if he will stick though with Jennings, Dunn and LeBlanc already in the pen.

They can make LeBlanc the initial 5, and put Jennings (and Hand) in AAA.

There is room if he can throw.

[Miamarlin21]

From Baseball America's 2012 Prospect Handbook:

Silverio was ranked the 4th best prospect prior to his injury:

Silverio has made incremental progress since signing for $50,000 as a 16-year-old. He didn't rise above Class A until 2011, his eighth pro season, but he proved he could handle advanced pitching. He lead the Double-A Southern League. in total bases (.289) and the minors in triples (18) while finishing fifth in the SL batting race (.306.) He earned a trip to the Futures Game and a spot on the 40-man roster. Silverio could end up with five average or better tools. Heh as a quick, powerful swing, generating line drives from gap to gap and average home run power, mostly to his pull side. The biggest difference-maker for him in 20122 was how much he tightened his strike zone, putting together quality at-bats and forcing pitchers to execute pitches to get him out. He never has walked much and still has an aggressive mentality at the plate, but he has shown he can make adjustments. Silverio played all three outfield spots in 2011, seeing the most action in center field. He's a tick above average runner who fits best on a corner. His solid arm strength and throwing accuracy play well in right field. In line to move up to Triple-A Albuquerque in 2012, Silverio can be a solid everyday major league outfielder. He offers an in-house option if Andre Ethier departs via free agency after 2012.

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Lara was ranked 21st for Tampa by Baseball America prior to the 2012 season:

The 2011 season served as a leraning experience for Lara. After leading his Rookie-level Dominican Summer League team in strikeouts in 2008 and 2009 and ranking second in the Appalachian League in ERA in 2010, he discovered that hitters at higher levels have better knowledge of the strike zone and will take advantage of mistakes. He recorded just give quality starts in 25 outings while battling his control and command, tough he did throw more strikes in the final two months. Lara's best pitch is a 92-95 mph four-seam fastball that has above-average movement and appears to jup on hitters. He also throws a two-seamer to jam lefthanders, who only hit .212 against him last year (compared to .283 for righties). While he lacks consistent feel for his curveball and changeup, he earned credit for working diligently on them in 2011. Lara has a smooth and easy delivery when he throws fastballs but has difficulty maintaining the same fluidity with his secondary pitches. How he improves in that regard will determine whether he remains a starter or moves to the bullpen. He'll stay in the rotation when he climes to high Class A in 2012.

[HUGG]

Assuming he can fully recover from his injuries, Silverio is a great pick.

[Miamarlin21]

That's a big assumption. He's been out for a year. I would hope he's moved on to baseball-related activities. He must be close for a team to take him, no?
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So we can have all the information we'd ever want on these two who likely won't be with the team past March:

by Joe Capozzi
The Marlins acquired outfielder Alfredo Silverio from the Los Angeles Dodgers and left-hander Braulio Lara from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft this morning.
Rule 5 players, obtained for $50,000 each, must open the season on a team’s 25-man roster or be returned to their original club. But Miami hopes both players can stick and produce.
Silvero, whom the Marlins said has attended Florida International University, will likely open the season on the disabled list as he recovers from injuries sustained last year in a bad car accident.

But at some point in 2013, the Marlins plan to give him a look in center field. Barring any more major moves, that could mean that Justin Ruggiano opens the season in center field.
Silverio, 25, had a break-out season in 2011 for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Class AA Chattanooga, batting .306 with with 90 runs scored, 42 doubles, 18 triples, 16 home runs and 85 RBI in 132 games.
But on Jan. 23 of this year, he was involved in a one-car accident in the Dominican Republic. He suffered injuries to his back, shoulder, elbow, and neck. He reportedly was suffering concussion symptoms nearly six weeks after the accident.
“The Dodgers just showed me pictures of the car. He’s lucky he’s alive,’’ said Marty Scott, the Marlins’ vice president for player development.
Silverio missed the entire 2012 season recovering Tommy John surgery to repair an injury from the car accident. Scott recently saw him taking swings in a batting cage in the Dominican Republic but he hass not been cleared to throw yet.
“If we get him healthy as quickly as we can, not rush him, he’s a possible DL guy to start the year,” Scott said.
“He’s a project and you bring him in but tool-wise and the grades we had on him and the fact that he has recovered from the concussions and the Tommy John, it’s very promising.’’
Silverio was signed by the Dodgers in 2003 as a non-drafted free agent and has compiled a career average of .287 with 372 runs scored, 147 doubles, 45 triples, 65 home runs and 358 RBI in 654 games.
As for Lara, the Marlins felt fortunate to get him with the overall 36th pick since he was expected to be taken much higher.
He’s a hard thrower with a 98-mph fastball. Miami hopes he can pitch situationally out of the bullpen but he needs to work on his control.
And if he makes the roster, it would be quite a leap since he has never pitched above Class A.
Lara, 23, was 6-10 with a 5.71 ERA (112.0 IP/71 ER) in 25 games, including 21 starts, with Class A Charlotte. In 93 career minor league games, the Bani, Dominican Republic native has gone 24-30 with a 4.41 ERA (387.2/190).
Meanwhile, the Marlins leave the winter meetings still looking for a third baseman. They don’t seem too enthusiastic about Brandon Inge or Placido Polanco because of health concerns with both players.

[Mainge]

I am assuming Lara will be returned to TB. No way he's ready for the majors, he hasn't thrown a pitch above high A ball.

If he has some upside, I hope they just stash his ass on the roster all year. It's not like we're going to need that roster spot to be competitive

[Erick]

Lara had a 3.35 FIP against left-handers last year. Better K rate, much better GB rate than against righties.

I hope he's stashed. You don't find lefties who throw that hard very often and to lose him for...Wade Leblanc? Dan Jennings? Who cares? I mean, if they really like Dan Jennings, they can just carry 3 lefties next year since there are about four bullpen spots available. Leblanc could be the 5th starter since we currently don't have one of those, anyway.

[Mainge]

That's a big assumption. He's been out for a year. I would hope he's moved on to baseball-related activities. He must be close for a team to take him, no?

It sounds like he missed so much time because he had TJ. If so, that's not a seriously debilitating injury to recover from. Especially for a position player.

I like what they did today
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Lara had a 3.35 FIP against left-handers last year. Better K rate, much better GB rate than against righties.

I hope he's stashed. You don't find lefties who throw that hard very often and to lose him for...Wade Leblanc? Dan Jennings? Who cares? I mean, if they really like Dan Jennings, they can just carry 3 lefties next year since there are about four bullpen spots available. Leblanc could be the 5th starter since we currently don't have one of those, anyway.

Exactly. These next few seasons should be all about acquiring and hoarding talent. If they're not ready yet, fuck it. Keep them anyway

[Miamarlin21]

Oh I like it too, I'm just doing a thing.