2019-2020 Offseason Discussion

[fish16]

J Sanchez, JJ Bleday, and M Harrison. Future Marlin OF or collective misfire?

It's impossible to definitively project the future, but when you flip off the rose-colored glasses, you have to be concerned.

J Sanchez was the sell-high prospect that the Rays were looking to move last season. He still enjoyed a high (though dated) prospect rating but showed some real vulnerability once he reached the higher levels of the minors. The Rays saw Josh Lowe as the brighter prospect with a more projectable five-tool set. As Marlin fans, we would be feeling much better if Lowe had been our man. I'm not feeling great (or even good) about Jesus.

Let's be totally honest regarding Bleday. Instead of flashing phenom ability last season, which a top three prospect should, he was Jhonny Santos without the speed. Santos (who is the same age as Bleday) is no longer even with the Marlins. While he won't fall completely off the top 100 chart for 2020, that's only because of the lingering high draft pick effect. I'm sure most feel differently, but I would trade him today if another team with a lingering imagination could be found. Let's make it real. If we had CJ Abrams, we would be absolutely aglow.

Monte, Monte, Monte. I had super high hopes. Lest we forget, it was the prodigous power potential that stood out with early Monte. Coupled with speed and the great arm, he had star written all over him (in my eyes). Then, to control an unacceptable whiff rate, he abandoned the leg kick and started hitting with the upper body only. The power disappeared and does not appear to be returning at this point. The whiffs are still there. I have read suggestions that he go back to the leg kick and at least recapture the power. By the end of his short stay in the Puerto Rican Winter league, Criollos de Cagua was batting him 8th. Not good. He's Keon Broxton, I fear.

What to do? Hope that the young starters pitch well enough to become excellent trade pieces so we can go find a future OF. I feel good enough about Cabrera, Sanchez, Mejia, Guzman, Rogers, Garrett and Neidert for 2021 that all of the current rotation could be moved for the right position players.

Looking forward to your outlook completely changing based on them having two good weeks to start the year and all of a sudden calling them the 3 best prospects the marlins have

[lou]

J Sanchez, JJ Bleday, and M Harrison. Future Marlin OF or collective misfire?

It's impossible to definitively project the future, but when you flip off the rose-colored glasses, you have to be concerned.

J Sanchez was the sell-high prospect that the Rays were looking to move last season. He still enjoyed a high (though dated) prospect rating but showed some real vulnerability once he reached the higher levels of the minors. The Rays saw Josh Lowe as the brighter prospect with a more projectable five-tool set. As Marlin fans, we would be feeling much better if Lowe had been our man. I'm not feeling great (or even good) about Jesus.

Let's be honest regarding Bleday. Instead of flashing phenom ability last season, which a top three prospect should, he was Jhonny Santos without the speed. Santos (who is the same age as Bleday) is no longer even with the Marlins. While he won't fall completely off the top 100 chart for 2020, that's only because of the lingering high draft pick effect. I'm sure most feel differently, but I would trade him today if another team with a lingering imagination could be found. Let's make it real. If we had CJ Abrams, we would be absolutely aglow.

Monte, Monte, Monte. I had super high hopes. Lest we forget, it was the prodigous power potential that stood out with early Monte. Coupled with speed and the great arm, he had star written all over him (in my eyes). Then, to combat an unacceptable whiff rate, he abandoned the leg kick and started hitting with the upper body only. The power disappeared and does not appear to be returning at this point. The whiffs are still there. I have read suggestions that he go back to the leg kick and at least recapture the power. By the end of his short stay in the Puerto Rican Winter league, Criollos de Cagua was batting him 8th. Not good. He's Keon Broxton, I fear.

What to do? Hope that the young starters pitch well enough to become excellent trade pieces so we can go find a future OF. I feel good enough about Cabrera, Sanchez, Mejia, Guzman, Rogers, Garrett and Neidert for 2021 that all of the current rotation could be moved for the right position players.

Yet, the Rays sold low for two relievers? Sanchez has a super high floor as the best defensive outfielder in the minors. The Rays moved him because they are contending now, Sanchez is going to need 2-3 years to tap into his potential, and they couldn't hold him on the 40 during that time.

JJ Bleday is doomed to failure after 150 PA in A+, skipping 2-3 levels of professional baseball, and playing the longest season of any player in college.

Monte is over 100 OPS points over league average in his winter league I read. I don't like him as a stud, but you can spare the drama and let's see what he does for the next 2 years. He is likely a plus defensive center fielder so if he is even a .725 OPS player, he's a solid starter.

What you do is easy - nothing. Let them all play and see what you have at the all star break. They took their swings with Sanchez, Jazz, and Lewin. There is no need to move anyone else with years of control until the deadline. Spend $20 million on a longterm right handed bat, and two super cheap veterans to round out the team. Buy out Anderson for 5 years to get a cheap FA year and likely 6th year option.

[fauowls44]

Bob Nightengale
@BNightengale
Outfielder Matt Kemp, a 3-time All-Star, has agreed to a minor league deal with the Miami #Marlins with an invitation to their big-league training camp. The Marlins are giving him every chance to crack opening day roster. He’s reunited with manager Don Mattingly.
9:54 AM · Dec 18, 2019·Twitter for iPhone

[emkayseven]

We signed Matt Kemp

[rmc523]

There's our big offseason move, guys!

[fauowls44]

Kemp is not the former Dodgers OF I’m waiting for...

Also, can’t see any way he makes this team.

[fish16]

I don’t mind that. Give me puig as well for a 1+1 deal and sign a starter and another bullpen arm or two and I’d be fine

- - - - - - - - - -

I’m guessing that’s the mystery guy mish was referring to. Probably 100% due to the Mattingly connection

[Nick]

J Sanchez, JJ Bleday, and M Harrison. Future Marlin OF or collective misfire?

It's impossible to definitively project the future, but when you flip off the rose-colored glasses, you have to be concerned.

J Sanchez was the sell-high prospect that the Rays were looking to move last season. He still enjoyed a high (though dated) prospect rating but showed some real vulnerability once he reached the higher levels of the minors. The Rays saw Josh Lowe as the brighter prospect with a more projectable five-tool set. As Marlin fans, we would be feeling much better if Lowe had been our man. I'm not feeling great (or even good) about Jesus.

Let's be honest regarding Bleday. Instead of flashing phenom ability last season, which a top three prospect should, he was Jhonny Santos without the speed. Santos (who is the same age as Bleday) is no longer even with the Marlins. While he won't fall completely off the top 100 chart for 2020, that's only because of the lingering high draft pick effect. I'm sure most feel differently, but I would trade him today if another team with a lingering imagination could be found. Let's make it real. If we had CJ Abrams, we would be absolutely aglow.

Monte, Monte, Monte. I had super high hopes. Lest we forget, it was the prodigous power potential that stood out with early Monte. Coupled with speed and the great arm, he had star written all over him (in my eyes). Then, to combat an unacceptable whiff rate, he abandoned the leg kick and started hitting with the upper body only. The power disappeared and does not appear to be returning at this point. The whiffs are still there. I have read suggestions that he go back to the leg kick and at least recapture the power. By the end of his short stay in the Puerto Rican Winter league, Criollos de Cagua was batting him 8th. Not good. He's Keon Broxton, I fear.

What to do? Hope that the young starters pitch well enough to become excellent trade pieces so we can go find a future OF. I feel good enough about Cabrera, Sanchez, Mejia, Guzman, Rogers, Garrett and Neidert for 2021 that all of the current rotation could be moved for the right position players.

I have similar concerns about Monte, but your takes on Sanchez and Bleday are idiotic. Let's give up on Bleday after 140 ABs in a league where he was aggressively promoted. (The only college hitter to go straight to high-A last year) and a league that is notoriously pitcher-friendly. He even raised his average 30 points in his last 12 games, so he was coming around. I guess every college hitter drafted last year was a bust according to Lee if Bleday is already a bust.

Jesus Sanchez held his own as a 21-year old in AAA last year, there's no way to look at what he did last year in any other way other than positive.

[fish16]

Jesus Sanchez is going to be a great pure hitting outfielder who’s going to hit around .300, play good defense, and hit 20-25 hrs. He will be fine. He is underrated prospect wise by this fan base

[fauowls44]

I don’t mind that. Give me puig as well for a 1+1 deal and sign a starter and another bullpen arm or two and I’d be fine

- - - - - - - - - -

I’m guessing that’s the mystery guy mish was referring to. Probably 100% due to the Mattingly connection

There’s no chance Kemp is the mystery OF. He played 20 games last year. He’s just a guy they are taking a flier on.

[rmc523]

There’s no chance Kemp is the mystery OF. He played 20 games last year. He’s just a guy they are taking a flier on.

Eh, it's the Marlins, I wouldn't put it past them.

Until another guy is signed, that's what it looks like.

[Lee Stone]

(The only college hitter to go straight to high-A last year)

Bleday went straight to high A for one reason only: the Marlins chose to send him there. Would any other major league team have done the same? I doubt it. Teams have all kinds of reasons for placing prospects at various levels. Merit is highly subjective.

In that regard, you could say that J Sanchez "made it all the way to AAA" as a 21-year-old. A closer look reveals that he did nothing at AA to "earn" such a promotion. The Rays had their own reasons.

[fish16]

(The only college hitter to go straight to high-A last year)

Bleday went straight to high A for one reason only: the Marlins chose to send him there. Would any other major league team have done the same? I doubt it. Teams have all kinds of reasons for placing prospects at various levels. Merit is highly subjective.

In that regard, you could say that J Sanchez "made it all the way to AAA" as a 21-year-old. A closer look reveals that he did nothing at AA to "earn" such a promotion. The Rays had their own reasons.

You’ve been here two years and you still can’t help yourself looking stupid by refusing to finally learn or acknowledge age relative to minor league level. How many times do you have to overvalue older guys relative to their level only to see them inevitably eventually fizzle out before you realize the way you evaluate prospects is idiotic?

[fauowls44]

Eh, it's the Marlins, I wouldn't put it past them.

Until another guy is signed, that's what it looks like.

I asked Mish on Twitter if Kemp was the mystery OF and he respond he’s definitely not. So we will see what else they do...

[fish16]

Honesty just looking at his numbers aside from 60 abs last year he can probably give you a high .700 ops for a few hundred at bats and a nice veteran presence. He’s probably got more in the tank than granderson did