MVN - Most Valuable Network

Mid Season Prospect Ratings/ Trade Season

Sorry I haven’t wrote in a couple of months, but I just graduated college and I’m currently looking for a job. For those who have tried to get a government job you know what I’m going through. Anyways it has been a very disappointing season for the M’s, but many of their prospects are impressing. J.P. Schwartz at topprospectalert.com has put up his mid-season prospect page for the M’s. I don’t agree with his rankings, but it has always fascinated me how 10 people can rank the top ten prospect and no two lists are the same.

Here is his list:

1. Jeff Clement (C)

2. Wlad Balentien (OF)

3. Phillipe Aumont (RHP)

4. Michael Saunders (OF)

5. Greg Halman (CF)

6. Carlos Triunfel (SS)

7. Julio Morben

8. Dennis Raben (1B/OF)

9. Juan Ramirez (RHP)

10. Michael Pineda (RHP)

One thing that jumps out at me is Carlos Triunfel being at 6. I’m sorry, but he is the top prospect or in the top three at the very least- based on his upside. Another thing is that Julio Morben is in the top 10 without even playing in 2008. Outside of that the list looks good. I would take Clement off the list because I don’t consider him a prospect anymore. Here is my top ten without Clement:

1. Phillipe Aumont (RHP)

2. Carlos Triunfel (SS)

3. Wlad Balentien (OF)

4. Greg Halman (CF)

5. Michael Saunders (OF)

6. Juan Ramirez (RHP)

7. Matt Tuiasosopo (3B)

8. Michael Pineda (RHP)

9. Dennis Raben (1B/OF)

10. Adam Moore (C)

Adam Moore, Greg Halman, and Michael Saunders are all having breakout years that the M’s hoped for. Saunders is likely to get a September call up and is really only one year away from contributing. Halman has also impressed by continuing his hot hitting after his promotion up to Double A. He will probably repeat Double A next year with a late call up to Triple A Tacoma if all things go smoothly. And Mr. Moore is likely going to see some time in Tacoma and push Clement in 2010.

With some impact bats a year or less away the Mariners’ pitching prospects are several years away before making any kind of contribution. But their low minors are loading. Outside of the A’s the M’s could have the best young pitching prospects in all of baseball. Hopefully the M’s could have one or two of them workout.

Trade Season

There have been several trade rumors swirling around the Mariners this season mainly because of their lack of performance on the field and not so much for actual players open for trades. The new GM has said that all the M’s players are available, but in reality I think the Mariners as an organization over value many of their players and hence won’t be able to get many if any deals done. Not only that but their most valuable trade chips are hurt or making too much money to be realistically traded ( Beltre, J.J., Bedard, Vidro, Ichiro, etc.).

I do however see the M’s moving Washburn for some scraps like a C prospect or so, but no-one else. They really shouldn’t move Ibanez becuase they aren’t likely to get enough prospects to compensate for their two picks they will receive if he signs elsewhere next off season. I know it’s a risk becuase he might accept arbitration, but I think the M’s have to take a chance and it’s not the worst thing if he accepts.

This team is a mess and it will take a couple of years to get the ship pointed in the right direction, but the firing of Bavasi and a hiring of a new GM could speed up the process. I just hope they bring in a new type of GM. I’m not in favor of a purely old school type or sabermetric type, but one that uses both philosophies.

Next Up: Rosterbation for next year/this year and beyond and GM candidates.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 at 2:38 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.