Well, nobody has said that… except me. But, you heard it here first, folks!
Baseball America recently released their Top 100 Prospects and it was no surprise to me that the Dodgers had five prospects in the TOP 100. Only the Pirates and the D-Bags had more with six. Of course, the Pirates and Diamondbacks are the Poster Children of how not to run an organization as they have lately been professional tankers. Of course, seven other teams also had five TOP 100 Prospects… so there is that! Those teams are as follows:
- Giants
- Indians (I refuse to say Guardians)
- Mariners
- Marlins
- Orioles
- Rays
- Twins
The Dodgers Top 100 Prospects are as follows:
- #23 Diego Catraya – “If he can stay healthy, he has the talent to be a franchise catcher who hits in the middle of a lineup and contends for Gold Glove awards.
- #38 Bobby Miller – “Miller has the stuff to be a No. 2 or 3 starter but still has to prove his durability.”
- #40 Miguel Vargas – “Vargas draws comparisons to fellow countryman Yuli Gurriel as a hitter and has similar impact potential.”
- #76 Mike Busch – “Busch resembles Max Muncy as both a hitter and defender and projects to be a similar player.”
- #99 Ryan Pepiot – “Pepiot has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter if he can corral his delivery. If not, his fastball and changeup will play in late relief. He is in position to make his major league debut in 2022.”
Former Dodgers who were traded away on the list are as follows:
- #14 O’Neil Cruz
- #11 Kaybear!
Of course, the five Dodgers in the Top 100 MLB Prospects are 1-5 in the list of Dodgers Top 10 Prospects. The rest are:
#6 – Andy Pages
#7 – Landon Knack
#8 – Eddys Leonard
#9 – Andre Jackson
#10 – Wilman Diaz
The Top 10 Dodger Prospects are very solid and intriguing, but the depth between #11 and #30 is incredible. Other teams may be Top 10 in the #1 to #10 positions, but I do not believe any of them possess the depth of #11 to #30 that the Dodgers have. It is my opinion that the Los Angeles Dodgers again have a Top 10 Organization in the terms of Top Prospects. This is an incredible position to be in considering that they have won more games than anyone over the last 9 to 10 years. Keep winning… however, now is not the time to trade away prospects. It’s time to keep growing the farm.
The Dodgers mid-level prospects between #11 and #30 include players like Clayton Beeter, Maddux Bruns, Jose Ramos, Carson Taylor, Alex De Jesus, Gavin Stone, Jesus Galiz, Hyun-il Choi, Brandon Lewis, James Outman and many other intriguing prospects. They should be fun to watch in 2022 (if there is a season) and I predict Harold will come out of retirement. 😉
Could the Dodgers use another bat or arm? Sure… everyone could. But, don’t trade the farm. No dope-fiend moves. I am all for seeing what Gonsolin and Price can do before jumping into the free-agent pitching market. Andrew Heaney has the pedigree to turn his train-wreck of a 2021 season around. Of course, just because a prospect is in the Top 100 does not mean they will “Make it” at the MLB level. The Dodgers have five in the Top 100, but in all likelihood, they all will not make it. They may, but don’t hold your breath. The same is true with Heaney. The Dodger Development Machine will work with him and help put him in a better position to tap his talent, but it is up to him to execute.
Many people think Freddie Freeman is a done deal. I do not agree. The Dodgers will not sign Freeman. They don’t need to do that stuff and give up a pick for an aging player! Kris Bryant is more likely because there is no compensation involved. Kyle Schwarber is more likely than Freeman due to no QO. Carlos Rondon is a possibility due to no QO as well. Do not look for the Dodgers to sign a player that will cost them a pick. Full Disclosure: I do not think any of Schwarber, Bryant, or Freeman are coming to LA.
Many prospects have jumped from A or AA Ball to the Show. Vargas, Miller, Busch, and Pepiot could all see action with the Dodgers in 2022. Shoot… Cartaya is also a long shot in 2022, but I can see him arriving in 2023! Andy Pages could be a superstar or a flop. Who knows? Not me… He certainly is intriguing.
The Dodgers do not need to do much… right about now. They are odds-on-favorites to win the NL Pennant, but of course, that depends mostly on health. I am not a doctor…. I do think Clayton will retire and Kenley will re-sign. Just a “gut feeling.”
As quiet as it is kept, Landon Knack could be the next big thing. Stay tuned…
Discussion (15)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Comedian Louie Anderson passed away today also. Lost quite a few this month, Poitier, Saget, White, now these two.
Your right, there is no Guardian team. Hate to see people cave in over a name that has been around forever.
R.I.P. Meatloaf
The great singer Meat Loaf has passed away. RIP Marvin Lee Aday.
The MLBPA is going to present their proposals to the MLB on the 24th of January per MLBTR. Lets hope there is some progress this time.
In news that should makes more then a few people on this site happy, ESPN is reporting that Major League Baseball is expanding its automated strike zone experiment to Triple-A.
Hey Mark, I will pat myself on the back as well since I defended you when you boasted about the Dodgers being a top ten farm system.
I can see that DodgerRick is in doom and gloom mode, but there’s plenty of offseason left and an lot of information is being withheld from the public.
I found it quite curious that AF wasn’t very active on the Starting Pitching market during the pre-lockout fire sale. It made me think that he has some information that maybe we don’t have. Bauer has been working out, posting videos and hinting at a return to the Dodgers. If he’s available near the start of the season, the rotation is good enough to start the season. Maybe he knows that Clayton will return and I’m sure there’s a contingency plan if he doesn’t.
What surprised me the most was AF talking about adding a bat. Perhaps he knows there’s a couple of guys that are undervalued. He seems to always be looking out for an opportunistic buy, so I think that the Freddie rumor has legs. Hell, if Seager can jump ship and go to Texas, a place where he has no history or allegiance to. Certainly, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that Freeman can come home to where he was raised.
Right now, the team is doable and can compete in the division as is, in my opinion. We have enough pitching to piece together a rotation with Bueller, Urias, Heaney, Gonsolin and Price/White/Jackson/Grove if everyone is healthy in a worst case scenario. We have a good-great player at every position and even a DH if implemented. We have a very crowded pen with a closer and a couple of experience setup guys and an embarrassment of lefty options.
The only team in the NL that ranks better in the preseason power rankings is the Braves. Even if we end up adding fringe / depth pieces, we’re still in a great position to start the season with a very good farm to dip into or trade from if needed.
I still think that Andrew is in spending mode. I don’t think you go over the salary cap by a little, you might as well push some chips to the middle of the table if you’re going to be over. There are some possible upgrades available, so you might as well go get some when the climate is right for it and it will be once this lockout is over.
I differ from Mark as it relates to the farm. You keep the jewels and trade the rest. There’s no sense in losing players to the rule 5 every year. As it stands the Dodgers added Outman, Amaya, Leonard, Vivas and Grove to protect them from the rule 5 this year. Do you really think it’s feasible to have so many guys that aren’t that ready for the big club to be on the 40 man roster all year?
I’m curious. Has anyone got an update on Troy Perceval’s son, Cole, who pitched in Great Lakes last year? Just wondering since he is never mentioned amongst the top prospects. He was well thought of when picked up couple of years ago and his numbers aren’t bad. I know he was a hard thrower and he has the physical build to be a good bullpen arm like his dad. Has his prospect status taken a dive for some reason?
100% agree, I think Lux will be a 20-20 player in the future and with above average defense at 2B, he will be a great player, I believe 100% in him:
https://fantasy.fangraphs.com/2021-roster-review-los-angeles-dodgers/
HOT TAKE: Gavin Lux makes the leap and drops a 20-20 season.
The 24-year-old is already being dismissed by too many fantasy managers. He has just 532 PA spread across the last three seasons, yielding an 86 wRC+, 12 HR, and 7 SB, none of which are particularly appealing, but given the small sample and the fact that he’s still so young, I don’t understand the relative dislike for him in the market (ADP 219 since the New Year). He already feels like a post-hype sleeper despite his career barely getting off the ground just yet. Lux has shown above average power and speed at the big-league level and there is still a ton of upside here. It might not come together in 2022, but at his price, it’s easy to take the shot and hope it does.
1 – None of the baseball talent evaluators list the Dodgers as a top 10 farm system. We’ve had this discussion before. AC addressed the issue pretty comprehensively. My sense is that posters here value Dodger farmhands more because they are emotionally invested in them and because they have seen them more.
2 – The rotation is Buehler and Urias and then? No to Price, PLEASE. Gonsolin hasn’t proven he belongs in the rotation yet and Bauer is a huge question mark. This is not a rotation to compete for a championship with. I know that Friedman et al know that and that if the lockout ever ends, there will either be a trade or a free agent signing and the rotation will be bolstered. Maybe Carlos Rodon; maybe one of the Reds’ or A’s starters.
3 – It makes no sense to sign a 32 year old Freddie Freeman to a 6 year contract. 1B is maybe the easiest position on the field to fill. Muncy will be back eventually and they have other options.
4 – Kris Bryant is a bad defender at 5 positions. He was a negative .9 dWAR player according to Baseball Reference.com last year. He had a good but not great season last year (OPS .835) and hasn’t had a great year since 2019. I think he’s overrated. His OPS after the trade to SF last year (down the stretch) was below .800.
Dodger roster right now shows 22 pitchers, Bauer, Bruihl, Bickford, Buehler, Cleavinger, Ferguson, Gonsolin, Gonzalez, Graterol, Grove, Heaney, Hudson, Jackson, Kahnle, May, Nunez, Phillips, Price, Treinen, Urias, Vesia, White. Two catchers, Smith, Barnes. Eight infielders, Amaya, Leonard, Lux, Muncy, Rios, T, Turner, J. Turner, Vives. Eight outfielders, Beaty, Bellinger, Betts, McKinstry, Outman, Pollock, Raley, Taylor. Taylor, Beaty, Bellinger and McKinstry also play infield positions. Vives has never played higher than High A ball.
Quite a list. Some talented kids down there. I just hope they stop this nonsense and get a deal done. MLBPA is preparing a counter offer that should be ready in the next few days. It is less than a month before pitchers and catchers are supposed to report. Yeah Blue, the Lakers are a total train wreck and it all started when they signed LeBron. Yeah, they won the same year the Dodgers did, but I just have never connected with these guys. Now they are talking about trading Horton, the one really talented, but erratic young guy on the team. Westbrook has been brutal and the defense terrible. Vogel is not the whole problem, but it starts there. Kings had a Dodger night a little bit ago and Jamie Jarrin dropped the puck. Cool. The thing about Freeman is that the Braves are balking at a 6 year deal. And Muncy’s injury, according to him, is not healing as quickly as he might want. I have little problem with Max at second, it is a position he plays well. Third would be a disaster for him. He is good at first, but Freeman would be great. Of course they are both close to the same age. Muncy has a couple years left on his contract, but what if it is July before he can answer the bell???? Then you have to weaken your outfield defense by bringing Bellinger in to play first. Yes, it gives them time to see if Lux cuts the mustard, but it also gives them time to fall way behind in the standings. Especially if they do not address the pitching shortage. Quite a problem for the new GM to face. If Max is able to hit, he is a perfect DH guy in symphony with Turner, who will see some time at third and some at DH.
Good report Mark. The cupboard is far from bare for the Dodgers down the road, at least on paper. It will be interesting to see which prospects make that jump to the Bigs in the next few years.
The starting pitching right now is a dilemma for AF. My guess is another mid-rotation acquisition for a year of 2 as we wait in the youngsters. I would prefer that while we possibly push a couple of the youngsters to the show sooner than later. I know all the chatter against that but plenty of young pitchers have been given the opportunity and have risen to the role.
Like you, I’m completely opposed to trading away prospects for expensive starters unless an unimaginable deal falls in our lap. I’m not holding my breath on that one.
I see the urgency for starting pitching. I think Price is a waste of time and has no future left. I hope Catman recovers but I still think it’s unproven if he is a solid rotation-guy. Bauer? Who knows? So we’re thin.
It would be nice to have a spring training so we could see which youngster might be tested in the rotation. Pepiot might be closest but there a lot of names.
Don’t laugh but I might consider a 6 man rotation. That sounds stupid since we a thin but it would allow some kids to get MLB innings without the wear and tear. At least until the all-star break. On paper, the bullpen is loaded with arms which allows us to see some youngsters in the rotation. That’s my alternative to spending dope-fiend money and prospects on obtaining more veteran starters.
A prospect not listed in the top 100, is Jacob Amaya, who I really like.
Heres’s what I read before seeing him: “has good feel to hit but doesn’t show impact on either side of the ball, which could make him an emergency regular for someone or a utility infielder for just about any team. The Dodgers love his makeup and the way he plays. With some teams especially valuing contact skills, he may have more worth to the team in trade”.
I saw him in Fall Ball 2021 and I saw more at the plate, my thoughts:
Jacob Amaya – SS. Listed at 6’0”, 180. Looks smaller. highest level AA. Nice actions at SS. Great feet. Plenty of arm from 6 hole. Very good pivot around 2nd. Amaya can play shortstop and has the tools defensively to stay there. He hit well in Fall Ball and if he can generate contact, with his speed, he could hit in the Show.
Maybe? That will be the question going forward for Jacob. But I just love how the kid plays shortstop and the energy he brings to the yard.
Thanks again Mark.
I agree that we won’t sign Freeman, nor do I think we should if Max is healthy. Any move that costs a minimum of 30 mil per year over six years for a 32 year old and results in Muncy becoming the second baseman is not wise in my opinion. Wouldn’t mind Bryant or Schwarber but I think other teams would outbid us. Suzuki would be very interesting because I think AJ opts out after this year.
Don’t agree that we should wait to see what we get from Price and Catman before going out to get more starters. By that time the Reds and A’s will have moved the guys they intend to get rid of and no decent free agents will be left. If both Bauer and Kersh are available and healthy for opening day I would go along with your strategy, Mark, but I don’t think that will happen. I’d go after Bassitt from the A’s. He only has one year of control remaining so we probably wouldn’t have to give up one of our best prospects to get him.
The next two or three years will be really interesting as we watch our lower level prospects mature. I’ll leave it to AF to decide which ones are absolute keepers and which could be included in trades.
It is quite impressive, and we don’t get enough credit, to have a Top 10-15 farm while also being in the playoffs 9 straight years.
I also don’t think we sign Freeman, but I’d be very happy with Kris Bryant. I think he could fit right in at many positions for the next 5-6 years of his prime. His right handed bat can replace JT and/or Pollock over the next few years.
In other news, the Lakers are horrible. I may need to burn my season tickets.