Assessing The Totality of The St. Louis Cardinals' Moves in July, and Whether If They Made Enough Moves

The St. Louis Cardinals are currently in first place of the NL Central, but plenty have felt that they needed to do more this month, and their moves or lack thereof has been roundly criticized across the web.  In fact, they spent a good portion of this year in second or third place as they had hovered around .500 before experiencing a second-half surge that has helped them place atop of this division.

The question that lingers is: did the Cardinals make enough moves prior to or at the trade deadline this month?

What is a fact is that the Cardinals did not make any groundbreaking moves this month.

Right now, the Cardinals are 23rd in Team OPS with .725, but are 9th in all of the majors with a 4.12 ERA.  Speaking of ERAs in baseball is startlingly high this year, don't you think?  But a deeper dive has them tied for 16th with Miami in FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) at 4.47, and they rank in the middle of the pack in walks and strikeouts per 9.

One small, but significant move is that they demoted Harrison Bader to AAA, which will allow the other outfielders a chance to prove if they can play well when given extended opportunities in the big leagues.  Though Bader is a very good fielder, he had not been hitting well at all, as he has been sporting a paltry .195 batting average to go with a lackluster .648 OPS, so that may be a move that could help pay off for both the Cards and Bader.  Bader will need to fix his swing, and it could give the other outfielders more playing time.

More pitching looked to be the answer, as both the pitching staff and bullpen have at times struggled with their control and command.  Another solid hitter could help, but that was not obtained, and there was some fury over the Cards having dealt Jedd Gyorko today.

But there was one particularly interesting detail to note.  Baseball writer Jenifer Langosch posted this tweet, detailing Cardinals' acquisitions from 2016 to the present, and each time prior to this year, they have missed the playoffs.

This month, the Cardinals.....

Traded for left-handed reliever Zac Rosscup by giving cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Claimed left-handed reliever Adalberto Mejia off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.

Traded for left-handed reliever Tony Cingrani and righthanded minor league pitcher Jeffry Abreu by dealing Jedd Gyorko to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  I've reviewed the Jedd Gyorko for Tony Cingrani swap involving international bonus pool money in a separate article, but now this is an article that is about if the Cardinals did enough this month and made enough solid moves to ensure that this team is a legitimate contender.

Individually, these moves may seem reasonable, as they are looking for a lefty that can help the bullpen and strike hitters out.  But these are all rather, very small, ho-hum moves, and none of these moves are a game-changer.  None of the players they traded for or claimed are All-Stars or have that sort of potential, and the pitchers they acquired this month are probably competing for a situational left-handed spot in the Cards' bullpen.

President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak is a calculated businessman that tends to make rational moves and tends to not to make big risks, which has its positives and negatives.  The current team may be talented enough to make the playoffs, but without getting an upper-echelon piece in the trades this year, but it could be tough for them to go all the way, especially if Paul Goldschmidt ends up treading back to how he played in the first half of the season.

The other angle is that they did not want to make a bad move, as bad trades can cost top prospects, cap space, and draft picks, and bad trades can set teams back years.  The Cardinals did not make a big move this month, and the question if there was a big move that could have been made without hurting the Cards in the short or long term, the answer to that may be one we will never know.

But no matter how you spin it, the fact is the Cardinals traded for spare parts players, and to answer your question, as a whole, the answer is no.  The Cards did not do enough at the trade deadline, and will have to hope that the current roster, plus some additions of left-handed relievers and call-ups will be enough to get them the title this year.

Jedd Gyorko Traded For Tony Cingrani and Jeffrey Abreu: It Might Not Actually Be A Bad Trade?

Today, the St. Louis Cardinals traded away longtime veteran infielder and stalwart, Jedd Gyorko along with international bonus pool money, and cash consideration to the Los Angeles Dodgers for left-handed reliever Tony Cingrani and right-handed pitcher Jeffry Abreu, which has sparked something of a minor outrage amongst Cardinal fans in the Twitter comments section.

Now, here's my take on this (cue: unpopular opinion alert!)...

Jedd Gyorko will be missed as he was traded to the Dodgers, but injuries and a slow start to the season have made this year difficult for him.

Contrary to public opinion, this trade.....might not be all that bad?  I don't actually hate this move, unlike others in Cardinal nation, though I'm not exactly in love with this trade either.

Sure the Cardinals didn't get back top prospects, and Jedd Gyorko has once hit 30 homers in a season and nearly contended for an All-Star bid in the 2016-17 seasons, and he's been an above average player for the past three seasons prior to this year, but there are several things that should be mentioned.

Tommy Edman has been on the upswing, as he's played far better in the majors than anyone anticipated, and a spot needs to ensure that he will stay up for the duration of this season, as he'll be playing third base.  Kolten Wong is an excellent defensive player at second base, and Paul DeJong has been the team's most consistently productive player all year long at shortstop.  DeJong was the Cards' lone All-Star as he hit really well in the first half, and is third in homers on the team with 18.

Paul Goldschmidt started off slowly, but has been on a second half tear, and has really shined ever since that series against the Seattle Mariners, as he now leads the team with 25 homers, and his OPS is better, which is at a respectable .812.

Yairo Munoz has been the team's backup infielder, and Matt Carpenter is currently injured, has not produced nearly as well as last year, and is currently making roughly $14.5 million, and so teams might not have been exactly calling to trade for him.

Which leads us right back to Jedd Gyorko.  He's been a fairly good hitter but a subpar fielder for the Cardinals in the past three seasons, but this year, he's been injury prone, and has hit just for a .196 batting average and a .578 OPS.  He's also in his early 30s, already has below average speed and defensive ability for an infielder, and signs suggest that he may be on the decline, as he probably would've been languishing on the bench behind Edman this season, and it's unclear if he would've been a clear upgrade over Munoz, as Fangraphs WAR actually rates both Edman and Munoz better than Gyorko, as theirs is 0.6 and 0.1 to Gyorko's -0.3 WAR this year.

But you might say, but what if Tommy Edman is a flash in the pan, or more like a Bo Hart or Joe McEwing rather than the next Matt Carpenter?  And what if Jedd Gyorko suddenly starts mashing balls once again in Los Angeles and helps them?  Well, that's the risk the Cardinals are willing to take, and they are willing to keep giving Edman more at-bats for the time being.

Now for the second part, what about Tony Cingrani?

Tony Cingrani's 4.76 ERA may not look great, but he's a left-handed reliever that has posted high strikeout rates, which might be able to help the Cardinals' bullpen this year.

On one hand, he's a left-handed reliever that had just a 4.76 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers, which doesn't look great on paper, but his peripherals were actually quite good.

His hits/9 is 7.5, HR9 is 0.8, BB9 is 2.4, and K/9 is 14.3 last year, and Cingrani is a strikeout pitcher with experience as a both a starter and a closer.  Absolute best case scenario would be for him to be provide some versatility out of the bullpen, and his peripherals suggest that he's just been unlucky or has had a bad defense behind him in Los Angeles.  The worst-case scenario is that his command issues flare up again, and he ends up being another sketchy acquisition a la Greg Holland.  Hopefully that won't be the case, but Cingrani has had issues in the past with his control and in trying to keep balls in the ball park, but he's often played in hitters' ball parks in having played for Cincinnati, and the Cardinals have a pitchers park.  The Dodgers also have a pitchers' park, but with Cingrani having good peripherals this year, his somewhat high ERA may have been due to bad lack and bad defense on the Dodgers part.

Most likely, Cingrani will be a situational left-handed reliever out of the bullpen for the Cardinals.

The worst case scenario is that he falters though, but the same could be said for most bullpen pitchers or pitchers in general.  I mean, who could have predicted that both Chris Sale and Craig Kimbrel would not be pitching well?  But that could play into the other point, that pitchers can be fickle from year to year, so stockpiling as much talent would be crucial to boosting up the team's pitching.

Now for the other pitcher, righthanded pitcher Jeffrey Abreu, he's a 19-year old strikeout pitcher that is very far away from the Majors, as he is a spot starter that is still in rookie ball, so he's basically a throw-in in this trade.

The last part, the Cardinals traded away 2019-20 International Cap Space and cash considerations along with Jedd Gyorko, via Derrick Goold's Twitter account.  I think this was sort of a means to get Gyorko off their roster, but trading away International Cap Space would hurt the Cardinals' ability to sign International players in free agency a bit.  But the Cardinals have tended to be able to identify good players in both the draft and with their international bonus pool money, so hopefully that won't sting the Cardinals too much.

All in all, considering that this frees up Tommy Edman to continue to get at-bats, and that the Cardinals add another left-hander that might be able to help the Cardinals' bullpen, this could have been worse.  This trade looks bad on the Cardinals' end on the surface, but it might not actually turn out that bad for them.

Exactly how much Jedd Gyorko has left in the tank is left up to debate, but while it's not a good look trading him to a league rival in the Dodgers, if Gyorko continues to not hit well this year or over the years, then maybe this trade might not be as bad as people may think it to be.

The Trade:

St. Louis Cardinals Get:
LHP Tony Cingrani
2018 (MLB): 1-2, 4.76 ERA, 22.2 IP, 7.5H9, 0.8 HR9, 2.4 BB9, 14.3 K9, 2.32 FIP, 0.5 WAR
2017 (MLB): 0-0, 4.22 ERA, 42.2 IP, 8.4 H9, 2.1 HR9, 2.5 BB9, 11.0 K9, 0.0 WAR

RHP Jeffry Abreu
2019 (Rk): 2-0, 4.66 ERA, 19.1 IP, 8.8 H9, 0.9 HR9, 2.8 BB9, 11.2 K9


Los Angeles Dodgers Get:

IF Jedd Gyorko
2019 (MLB): .196 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 SB, 62 PA, .274 OBP, .304 SLG, .578 OPS, -0.3 WAR
2018 (MLB): .262 AVG, 11 HR, 47 RBI, 402 PA, .346 OBP, .416 SLG, .762 OPS, 1.4 WAR

2019-20 International Cap Space
Cash Considerations

Current St. Louis Cardinals' Trade Haul Grade: C
Current Los Angeles Dodgers' Trade Haul Grade: C


For anyone wondering, the WAR listed in this article is the Fangraphs WAR. Update: Both Jedd Gyorko and Tony Cingrani are on the 60-day injured list, and Cingrani has not actually pitched this season.  So this trade now is basically one of no importance.


 Anyways, this has been my write-up on this trade, and thanks for reading.

Update on the 2019 St. Louis Cardinals’ Top 30 Prospects in the Organization

 After looking up information on MLB Pipeline, Baseball-Reference, and Fangraphs,  and here’s who I rated as the top 30 best prospects for the Cardinals right now, just before the trade deadline.  It was a tough and thorough process, and after taking a couple of days to compile this, I have completed finishing this list.

In terms of grading players, it’s a combination of analyzing their 2019 season performance, overall ability, and upside.  In evaluating the prospects’ potential, unlike earlier posts, this scale is used in evaluating prospects compared to other prospects, though this is still on a 0.5 to 5 star grading scale.  Without further ado, here are my rankings of prospects in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization as of today.

Nolan Gorman could be primed for a breakout season in 2020.

1.     3B Nolan Gorman – B+

2019 (A+): .259 AVG, 3 HR, 15 RBI, .295 OBP, .431 SLG, .726 OPS

2019 (A): .241 AVG, 10 HR, 41 RBI, .344 OBP, .448 SLG, .792 OPS

Nolan Gorman is still definitely the prospect to watch in this organization, as he is a power hitting third baseman that may have All-Star potential.  Gorman hasn’t exactly dominated either league this year like some thought he would, but he is still holding his own, as he is proving to be a capable hitter in A+ ball at such a young age.  He’s still just 19 years old and was invited to the Futures’ game, and so he could still develop into being a solid MLB starter one day.

2020 Expectations: Age ~20 season: Good A+ ball player
Future career path: Solid everyday starter in the majors, potential All-Star

Current Player Rating: 3.5-star potential

Dylan Carlson has been having a tremendous season in AA, and he and Gorman represented the Cards in this year's Futures Game.

2.     OF Dylan Carlson – B+

2019 (AA): .289 AVG, 17 HR, 53 RBI, 13 SB, .369 OBP, .522 SLG, .892 OPS

Initially expected to spend most of the year at lower levels, Carlson has surpassed all expectations as he’s having a monster season in AA, and has been looking to be the best prospect in the organization this year.  He’s known for being a patient hitter, but he is now hitting with more consistency, and has been producing far beyond anyone’s imagination.  He was in this year’s Futures’ game, and Carlson could end up being a star in the majors sooner than later.

2020 Expectations – Age 21 season: Good AAA starter, September call-up

Future career path: Solid everyday starter in the majors

Current Player Rating: 3.5-star potential

3.     C Andrew Knizner – B

2019 (MLB): .167 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .219 OBP, .333 SLG, .552 OPS, -0.2 WAR, 100% CS

2019 (AAA): .277 AVG, 7 HR, 24 RBI, .360 OBP, .421 SLG, .780 OPS, 46% CS

Andrew Knizner is getting a chance to prove his worth in the big leagues with Yadi still out, but so far he’s been struggling in the majors.  He’s hit well in the minors, and he’s been able to throw runners out consistently, but hasn’t quite adjusted yet, and his pitch framing has said to not be very good. There’s still a chance that he could come around, as he could be on a similar development path to current Diamondbacks’ catcher, Carson Kelly.

2020 Expectations: Backup catcher in the majors

Future career path: ~Age 25 season: Fringe starter/Backup catcher in the majors

Current Player Rating: 3-star potential

4. P Zack Thompson - B

2019 (A+): 0-0, 9.64 ERA, 4.2 IP, 15.4 H9, 0.0 HR9, 3.9 BB9, 11.6 K9

2019 (Rk): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 IP, 13.5 H9, 0.0 HR9, 0.0 BB9, 18 K9

2019 (NCAA): 6-1, 2.40 ERA, 90 IP, 5.9 H9, 0.3 HR9, 3.4 BB9, 13.0 K9

Zack Thompson is a left-handed pitcher that throws hard and can strike numerous batters out, but he will need to work on his control and command to succeed at higher levels.  He boasts having a solid four-pitch mix in having a plus-fastball, slider, and curveball in addition to having a changeup, but improving his command could be the key for him to reach his full potential as a prospect for the majors.

2020 Expectations – Age 22 season: A+ starter, maybe even reach AA

Future career path: Back-end rotation starter in the majors, at best a middle of the rotation pitcher

Current Player Rating: 3 star potential

Tommy Edman has been playing very well for the St. Louis Cardinals this season.

5. 3B/2B Tommy Edman – B-

2019 (MLB): .255 AVG, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 4 SB, .295 OBP, .443 SLG, .738 OPS, 0.4 WAR

2019 (AAA): .305 AVG, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 9 SB, .356 OBP, .513 SLG, .869 OPS

Edman has been a pleasant surprise on this year’s St. Louis Cardinals’ team, as has shown solid pop in his bat and a solid glove, and he has hit fairly well in the majors.  It’s uncertain if he’ll get any rookie of the year votes, but his strong play in the big leagues may have made people forget that former All-Star Matt Carpenter is still on his team.  While he will need to be more selective in his approach at the plate, definitely Edman is a vastly underrated prospect that has certainly helped the Cards this season.

2020 Expectations – Age ~25 season: Spot-starter in the majors

Future career path: Spot-starter in the majors

Current Player Rating: 2.5-star potential

           

6. C Ivan Herrera – B-

2019 (A): .286 AVG, 8 HR, 42 RBI, .381 OBP, .423 SLG, .805 OPS, 30% CS

He is a 19-year old catcher that has been hitting very well in A-ball.  Herrera has been a rising up-and-comer that has shown off prodigious hitting, and he could develop into a solid starting catcher if he is able to reach his full potential as a prospect for the big leagues.

2020 Expectations – Age ~20 season: A+ starter

Future career path: Decent starter/backup catcher in the majors

Current Player Rating: 2.5-star potential

7.     3B/1B Elehuris Montero – B-

2019 (AA): .219 AVG, 4 HR, 13 RBI, .265 OBP, .417 SLG, .681 OPS

After having a terrific season in A-ball last year as a 19-year old, Montero has cooled off, but he’s shown flashes of his potential in AA.  While he’s struggled to hit the ball consistently, he has shown that he can be a power hitter at higher levels.  If he can be a more consistent hitter, that could go a long way for him in the future.

2020 Expectations – Age 21 season: AA starter

Future career path: Decent starter/backup corner infielder in the majors

Current Player Rating: 2.5-star potential

8. P Angel Rondon – B-

2019 (AA): 4-3, 2.99 ERA, 75.1 IP, 7.9 H9, 0.7 HR9, 3.5 BB9, 9.1 K9

2019 (A+): 5-1, 2.20 ERA, 45 IP, 5.2 H9, 0.6 HR9, 3.4 BB9, 9.4 K9

Angel Rondon has had a solid season this year, as he boasts having a plus-fastball and a slider, as well as a decent changeup pitch.  He consistently throws in the low 90s, but can throw upwards of the mid-90s.  He’ll still need to work on his control, but there’s a lot to like about Rondon, as he could be one of the Cardinals’ best pitching prospects in the organization.

2020 Expectations – Age  22 season: AAA starter and September call-up

Future career path: Multi-inning reliever in the majors, or back-end starter in the big leagues

Current Player Rating: 2.5 star potential

 

Lane Thomas is a solid hitter that could be a reliable contributor in the Majors.

9. OF Lane Thomas – B-

2019 (AAA): .263 AVG, 7 HR, 40 RBI, 11 SB, .345 OBP, .425 SLG, .769 OPS

2019 (MLB): .308 AVG, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .357 OBP, .538 SLG, .896 OPS, 0.2 WAR

He hasn’t spent a whole lot of time up in the majors, but he hit well when he was up here.  He’s had a fairly good season in AAA, and Lane Thomas is a player who just knows how to hit the baseball.

2020 Expectations – Age ~24 season: Very good AAA starter/backup outfielder in the majors

Future career path: 3^rd or 4^th outfielder, decent starter/backup outfielder in the majors
Current Player Rating: 2.5 star potential

Randy Arozarena's sterling .367 batting average in AAA for Memphis could land him a call-up to the big leagues in September this year.

10. OF Randy Arozarena – B-

2019 (AAA): .367 AVG, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 4 SB, .439 OBP, .576 SLG, 1.015 OPS

2019 (AA): .309 AVG, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 8 SB, .422 OBP, .515 SLG, .938 OPS

It was surprising that Arozarena started the year off in AA, given that he had hit so well there last year.  But he eventually got a promotion to AAA, where he should have been playing all season.  He’s been hitting very well in AAA so far, and if he stays healthy, there will be a good chance that he will get called up to the majors in September.  Hopefully, he can keep up the hot hitting in the big leagues, as he has the potential to develop into an everyday starter in the majors if things break his way.

2020 Expectations – Age 25 season: Bench player in the majors

Future career path: 3^rd or 4^th outfielder, decent starter/backup outfielder in the majors

Current Player Rating: 2.5-star potential

11. P Junior Fernandez – B-

2019 (AAA): 1-0, 0.59 ERA, 15.1 IP, 4.1 H9, 0.0 HR9, 2.9 BB9, 10.6 K9

2019 (AA): 1-1, 1.55 ERA, 29 IP, 5.6 IP, 0.0 HR9, 3.4 BB9, 13.0 K9

Junior Fernandez has been pitching very well out of the bullpen in both AA and AAA.  He struggled a bit with his location in A+ ball, but he has adjusted very well to hitters at higher levels.  There is a good likelihood that he could get called up to the majors, and he could help the big league squad in September.

2020 Expectations – Age 23 season: Bullpen arm in the majors
Future career path: Good bullpen arm in the majors
Current Player Rating: 2.5-star potential

12. P Johan Oviedo – B-

2019 (AA): 5-4, 5.27 ERA, 83.2 IP, 9.6 H9, 1.0 HR9, 4.6 BB9, 9.7 K9
2019 (A+): 5-0, 1.60 ERA, 33.2 IP, 7.8 H9, 0.3 HR9, 3.2 BB9, 9.4 K9

Oviedo pitched very well in A+ ball, and he was able to receive a promotion to AA.  He’s struggled with his command in AA ball, but it’s encouraging that he’s still striking batters out at a high rate.  He’ll need to improve his control, but he has three solid pitch offerings, and he could develop into a solid bullpen pitcher in the majors over time.

2020 Expectations – Age 22 season: AA starter, maybe get called up to AAA

Future career path: Multi-inning bullpen arm in the majors, or back-end starter

Current Player Rating: 2.5-star potential

Edmundo Sosa has received a call-up to the big leagues this year, and he could be back with the Cards in September.

 13. SS/2B/3B Edmundo Sosa – B-

2019 (AAA): .257 AVG, 10 HR, 37 RBI, 2 SB, .306 OBP, .421 SLG, .727 OPS

2019 (MLB): .333 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .333 OBP, .333 SLG, .667 OPS, 0.0 WAR

Edmundo Sosa is a toolsy middle infielder that has some pop in his bat, and he shows promise as a player for the majors.  He’ll need to be a more patient hitter, but his ability to field combined with his hitting potential could make him a solid role player in the big leagues.

2020 Expectations – Age 24 season: AAA starter/backup infielder in the majors
Future career path: Decent starter/backup infielder in the majors
Current Player Rating: 2.5-star potential

14. P Andre Pallante – B-

2019 (A-): 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 20 IP, 5.9 H9, 0.9 HR9, 2.7 BB9, 8.6 K9

A smart pitcher that locates his pitches well and has good command, he boasts having a solid four pitch mix in his arsenal.  Pallante has a plus-fastball and slider, and he can throw in the high-90s on occasion, and he also has a curveball and a changeup.  It’s early to project how good he could be, but there’s a chance he could develop into a Major League starter in the future if he continues to pitch well.

2020 Expectations – Age  21 season: A-ball starter, then get promoted to A+ ball

Future career path: Multi-inning reliever in the majors, or back-end starter

Current Player Rating: 2.5 star potential

15. OF Jhon Torres – B-

2019 (A): .167 AVG, 0 HR, 8 RBI, .240 OBP, .212 SLG, .452 OPS

2019 (Rk): .274 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI, .392 OBP, .548 SLG, .940 OPS

Jhon Torres has shown that he can hit in rookie ball, and he has shown some solid tools at that level, but has yet to show that he can hit at higher levels.  His struggles at Peoria in A-ball seem quite familiar, as another prospect struggled there at that age: Magneuris Sierra.  Torres is said to have more pop in his bat, but he will need to be able to adjust when he gets promoted.  He’s so far away from the majors right now, but if he can adjust, he could end up being a versatile role player in the majors.

2020 Expectations – Age 20 season: A-ball starter
Future career path: Backup outfielder in the majors
Current Player Rating: 2.5-star potential

16. C Julio Rodriguez – C+

2019 (A+): .268 AVG, 7 HR, 31 RBI, .314 OBP, .402 SLG, .717 OPS, 29% CS

He is a defensive minded catcher that fields well and has been known for throwing runners out, though he’s only thrown out 29% of base-stealers so far this year.  Rodriguez has some pop in his bat, but he will need to be a more patient hitter.  If things pan out for him, he could end up being a serviceable role player in the majors.

2020 Expectations – Age ~23 season: AA starter

Future career path: Backup catcher in the majors

Current Player Rating: 2 star potential

17. P Jake Woodford – C+

2019 (AAA): 6-6, 4.11 ERA, 116 IP, 7.4 H9, 1.2 HR9, 4.8 BB9, 7.6 K9

He’s been steady as a solid, middle of the rotation starter in AAA at Memphis.  Woodford has not been spectacular, but he’s provided them with quality innings, and has shown an improved ability to strike hitters out.  He hasn’t allowed many hits, but has struggled with his command at times.  Still, the fact that he has been holding his own as a starter at the level suggests that he could end up in the majors sooner than later, and he could be a potential September call-up this year.

2020 Expectations – Age 23 season: AAA starter/Bullpen arm in the majors

Future career path: Spot-starter/multi-inning bullpen arm in the majors
Current Player Rating: 2-star potential

18. P Tommy Parsons – C+

2019 (A+): 3-2, 2.13 ERA, 42.1 IP, 8.7 H9, 0.2 HR9, 1.5 BB9, 8.3 K9

2019 (A): 4-0, 0.26 ERA, 35 IP, 3.6 H9, 0.3 HR9, 1.3 BB9, 6.7 K9

A tall righty, he is a starting pitcher that has great control of his pitches, and he has a low 90s fastball as well as a decent curveball pitch.  He could project well into a back-end rotation starter or as a reliever in the majors.

2020 Expectations – Age 24 season: AAA starter

Future career path: Multi-inning reliever in the majors

Current Player Rating: 2 star potential

19. P Ryan Helsley – C+

2019 (AAA): 2-3, 4.98 ERA, 34.1 IP, 7.6 H9, 0.8 HR9, 5.2 BB9, 9.7 K9

2019 (MLB): 0-0, 2.92 ERA< 12.1 IP, 4.4 H9, 1.5 HR9, 4.4 BB9, 9.5 K9, 0.0 WAR

Ryan Helsley throws very hard, and he’s been doing a good job of striking hitters out and missing bats, but he has struggled with his command.  But he’s pitched fairly well in the majors, and he could be a welcome addition to the big league squad in September.

2020 Expectations – Age 25 season: AAA spot-starter

Future career path: Bullpen arm in the majors
Current Player Rating: 2-star potential

20. P Genesis Cabrera – C+

2019 (AAA): 3-4, 6.42 ERA, 61,2 IP, 10.5 H/9, 2.0 HR/9, 4.1 BB/9 8.6 K/9

2019 (MLB): 0-2, 6.17 ERA, 11.2 IP, 11.6 H/9, 1.5 HR/9, 5.4 BB/9, 7.7 K/9, -0.1 WAR

Genesis Cabrera surprisingly received a call-up in the middle of the season, but he hasn’t played too well since.  He’s currently struggling as a starter in AAA, and there’s a chance he may have to be demoted to AA to find his groove again. 

2020 Expectations – Age 23 season: AAA spot-starter

Future career path: Bullpen arm in the majors

Current Player Rating: 2-star potential

21. 3B Malcom Nunez – C+

2019 (A): .183 AVG, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .247 OBP, .197 SLG, .444 OPS

2019 (Rk): .318 AVG, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .333 OBP, .477 SLG, .811 OPS

A masher who hit extremely well in FRk-ball last year, he has been hitting fairly well in Rookie ball, but has looked to be overmatched in A-ball.  He’ll still need to learn the finer points of hitting to be able to move up higher levels, but he could be a prospect to watch in the future.  But right now, he’s so far away from being able to reach the majors for the time being.

2020 Expectations – Age 19 season: A-ball starter

Future career path: Backup in the majors

Current Player Rating: 2 star potential

22. OF Trejyn Fletcher – C+

2019 (Rk): .250 AVG, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 4 SB, .303 OBP, .409 SLG, .712 OPS

He’s a toolsy outfielder that will need to learn better plate discipline to ascend higher levels to reach his full potential as a prospect for the big leagues.

2020 Expectations – Age 19 season: Rookie-ball starter, then get called up to A-ball

Future career path:  Backup outfielder in the majors

Current Player Rating: 2 star potential

23. P Tony Locey – C+

2019 (A): 1-1, 2.25 ERA, 8 IP, 3.4 H9, 0 HR9, 10.1 BB9, 20.3 K9

2019 (Rk): 0-0 0.00 ERA, 2IP, 4.5 H9, 0 HR9, 9 BB9, 13.5 K9

He projects to be a reliever that has a solid fastball and a plus slider, and he throws very hard as he has the potential to hit triple digits on the radar gun, but he really needs to improve his ability to locate pitches.

2020 Expectations ~ Age  21 season: A-ball reliever

Future career path: Bullpen pitcher in the majors

Current Player Rating: 2 star potential

24. P Steven Gingery – C+

2019:  N/A

He’s a mystery man who has not pitched in the minors yet.  Scouts seem to love his stuff, especially his changeup and ability to locate his pitches.  He also throws left-handed and tends to throw in the low 90s.

2020 Expectations – Age 22 season: ?

Future career path: Bullpen arm in the majors

Current Player Rating: 2.0-star potential

25. INF Ramon Urias - C

2019 (AAA): .232 AVG, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 3 SB, .363 OBP, .348 SLG, .711 OPS

He has shown great patience at the plate, but has struggled to hit in AAA this year, and hasn’t shown much physical tools at this level.  He does project to be a capable infielder that can play multiple positions, which helps his case.

2020 Expectations – Age  26 season: AAA starter, maybe get called up in September

Future career path: Fringe backup infielder in the majors

Current Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

26. 2B Max Schrock - C

2019 (AAA): .269 AVG, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 10 SB, .363 OBP, .371 SLG, .735 OPS

Still not yet on the 40-man roster, Schrock is a patient hitter that can draw a lot of walks, and he also can steal some bases, but questions about his hitting ability combined with a lack of pop in his bat this year could keep him in AAA this year.  Still, he may be good enough to make the majors if he can get his chance to be called up.

2020 Expectations – Age  25 season: AAA starter

Future career path: Career minor leaguer, or fringe backup in the majors

Current Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

27. OF Conner Capel - C

2019 (AAA): .433 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .452 OBP, .800 SLG, 1.252 OPS

2019 (AA): .230 AVG, 8 HR, 33 RBI, 6 SB, .290 OBP, .385 SLG, .675 OPS

So far, the results have been mixed for Capel this season.  He’s played very well in limited duty in AAA, but has struggled to get hits in AA.  He needs to play like how he’s been doing in AAA to be able to reach and maximize his full potential as a player in this sport.

2020 Expectations – Age 23 season: Good AA starter or AAA platoon player

Future career path: Fringe backup outfielder in the majors

2020 Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

28. P Alvaro Seijas - C

2019 (A+): 1-1, 3.86 ERA, 25.2 IP, 10.9 H9, 0.7 HR9, 3.5 BB9, 9.1 K9

2019 (A): 4-5, 2.93 ERA, 80 IP, 8.2 H9, 0.7 HR9, 3.2 BB9, 8.0 K9

Seijas pitched very well in A-ball, and while he needs to improve his command, he has shown that he can hold his own in A+ ball.   If he ends up in the majors, most likely he might end up in the bullpen.

2020 Expectations – Age  21 season: A+ starter, then get called up to AA

Future career path: Career minor leaguer, or fringe backup in the majors

Current Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

29. OF Justin Williams - C

2019 (AAA): .500 AVG, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .556 OBP, 1.250 SLG, 1.806 OPS
2019 (AA): .193 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB, .246 OBP, .263 SLG, .509 OPS

He injured his hand, which caused him to miss a lot of playing time to start the season, and when healthy, he’s been inconsistent at best.  He’s played well sparingly in AAA, but he’s struggled mightiliy in AA.  For a player that was one of the key pieces of a trade that involved Tommy Pham, Williams hasn’t played like the phenom he was hyped up to be.  If Williams can consistently hit well and find his way back to the majors, that would be really good for him.

2020 Expectations – Age 24 season: AAA starter, maybe get called up in September

Future career path: Fringe backup outfielder in the majors

Current Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

30. P Griffin Roberts - C

2019 (A+): 0-6, 5.95 ERA, 42.1 IP, 10.6 H9, 0.0 HR9, 4.5 BB9, 4.7 K9

After having a very good collegiate career and a promising 2018 season, Griffin Roberts was suspended to start the season, and has since struggled in A+ ball.  He’s struggling with his location and has not been striking hitters out nearly at the rate that was anticipated of him.  Right now, he needs to get his game back on track to be a serious prospect again.

2020 Expectations – Age ~24 season: A+ spot-starter/AA bullpen arm

Future career path: Career minor leaguer or fringe bullpen arm in the majors

Current Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

Honorable Mention: P Seth Elledge, OF Jose Adolis Garcia, P Austin Warner, 3B Rangel Ravelo, 1B Luken Baker

No Longer Rookies:

Dakota Hudson has earned 10 wins as a major league starter for the Cardinals, and he has had a fairly solid rookie season in the majors this year.

P Dakota Hudson

2019 (MLB): 10-4, 3.61 ERA, 109.2 IP, 9.4 H9, 1.3 HR9, 4.1 BB9, 6.6 K9, 0.4 WAR

Dakota Hudson has filled in quite nicely as a starter in the majors.  He’s a smart pitcher that knows how to get outs.  While he has struggled with his command at times, he’s shown that he can fill a role as a backend starter in the big leagues.

2020 Expectations ~ Age 25 season: Back-end starter in the majors

Future career path: Back-end starter in the majors
Current Player Rating: 2.0 stars (3 star potential)

P Giovanny Gallegos

2019 (MLB): 2-1, 2.23 ERA, 48.1 IP, 5.2 H9, 0.9 HR, 1.5 BB9, 13.0 K9, 1.3 WAR

He has pitched really well, and he has been a solid addition to the Cardinals’ bullpen this year.

2020 Expectations ~ Age 28 season: Good bullpen pitcher in the majors

Future career path: Good bullpen pitcher in the majors
Current Player Rating: 2.5 stars

P Alex Reyes

2019 (AAA): 1-3, 7.39 ERA, 28 IP, 8.7 IP, 1.6 HR9, 7.7 BB9, 12.2 K9
2019 (MLB): 0-1, 15.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 6.0 H9, 3.0 HR9, 18.0 BB9, 3.0 K9, -0.3 WAR

2019 (A+): 0-1, 1.93 ERA, 9.1 IP, 8.7 H9, 0 HR9, 2.9 BB9, 10.6 K9

Once a prized pitching prospect, Reyes has battled injuries and a lengthy suspension in a previous year that have hindered his development, and he’s also struggling with his command and injuries this season.  Time’s running out on whether or not if he can reach his full potential, and now it’s looking more like he may be closer to a mid-tier prospect for the majors rather than an elite one all along.

2020 Expectations ~ Age 25 season: AAA starter, or fringe reliever in the majors

Future career path: Multi-inning reliever in the majors
Current Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2.5 star potential)

P Daniel Ponce de Leon

2019 (MLB): 1-1, 3.76 ERA, 40.2 IP, 6.4 H9, 1.1 HR9, 4.6 BB9, 9.7 K9, 0.5 WAR

Ponce de Leon still will need to work on his control, but he’s been solid as a versatile pitcher that can start or come out of the bullpen for the Cards in the majors.

2020 Expectations ~ Age 28 season: Spot starter/Bullpen pitcher in the majors

Future career path: Spot starter/Bullpen pitcher in the majors
Current Player Rating: 2.0 stars

           

No longer in the organization:

3B Patrick Wisdom

2019 (AAA): .220 AVG, 18 HR, 44 RBI, 5 SB, .362 OBP, .520 SLG, .882 OPS

2019 (MLB): .154 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .185 OBP, .192 SLG, .377 OPS, -0.3 WAR

- In the Texas Rangers’ organization

2020 Expectations – Age  25 season: AAA starter

Future career path: Career minor leaguer, or fringe backup in the majors

Current Player Rating: 1 star (1.5-star potential)

P Connor Greene

2019 (AA): 3-9, 5.44 ERA, 9.4 H9, 1.0 HR9, 3.5 BB9, 7.7 K9

-In the Kansas City Royals’ organization

2020 Expectations – Age  25 season: AA starter/AAA bullpen

Future career path: Career minor leaguer, or fringe reliever in the majors

Current Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

Just in case if you were wondering, I listed the Fangraphs WAR as the metric listed for prospects that have played in the majors this year.  Anyways, that is the list for now, and thanks for reading.

Eating Experience at In N' Out and Shake Shack

Over the past couple of days, I have had the honor of eating at both In N' Out and Shake Shack, two of the best burger restaurants in the country and world.

Yesterday at lunch, I went to In N' Out.  I had a double-double, animal style, with chopped chilis.  It is important to remember that there is a secret menu that can really enhance your order, and what you end up eating.  On another note, it was quite crowded, but it was worth the wait.

In all, what I had was very delicious.  Add in that you can get the burger around 5 dollars, and it makes this an absolute bargain.  It was delicious, delectable, and super tasty, and my metabolism was great long afterwards.  The zest of the banana peppers did catch me off guard a little, but this was a really good meal.

I also ate at Shake Shack for lunch today.  I have been to both places before, but never to do a food review on them yet.  I decided to order the new burger, The Slapshot.  It too was delicious.

The meat was tender and it had a lot of cheese and some onions.  I did have to make a stop at the restroom afterwards, but still, it was a solid meal.

Yesterday's grade for In N' Out: A
Grade for Shake Shack today: A-

It's not really a final grade for me as I'll be keeping a running tally.  Both were great in taste, but In N' Out for now gets the edge for its absolute bargain of a price point.