If you were compiling a list of Phillies prospects, in what order would you place these three players;
Josh Outman, Drew Carpenter, Adrian Cardenas
Give your reasons (if you’d like) in the comments below.
13 thoughts on “Rank these three prospects”
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Phuture Phillies 
I’d place Cardenas a significant amount higher than the other two; though I know he’s in A as opposed to high A or AA, he’s still only 19, and his .822 OPS away from home is a greater indication of his true potential going forward.
It’s a tough call between Outman and Carpenter, but right now I’d have to give the edge to Outman. He gets points for being a lefty, and his numbers from A ball are even better than Carpenter’s. I know he’s a year further ahead in his development, but he’s shown some flashes at AA that he could be the real deal (I realize now what connotation that phrase has within the organization, but you know what I mean). He’s done a better job keeping the ball on the ground than Carpenter (until AA at least, but that could turn around as he gets more comfortable). As a control righty, Carpenter will have to be awfully good as he ascends the ladder.
Ultimately, who is better between Carpenter and Outman will be decided next year at AA: who will sink and who will swim? Hopefully both hold their own, because the big league club needs all the pitching help it can get.
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Agreed with PhillyFriar (although I’m really wondering about the source of that nom de plume) – Cardenas, Outman and Carpenter.
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I have to disagree. From all I’ve read it seems that Cardenas will be limited to second base and the Phillies are covered there for a number of years, unless they decide to trade Howard to an American League team where he could be a DH and then move Utley to first. I would list it as Outman, Cardenas and Carpenter. At this point it would seem Outman is a better left handed prospect than Happ.
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H Man: it comes from being a Philadelphia fan and a graduate of Providence College (go Friars). It’s nothing if not unique.
Dave: although it appears more likely the Phillies will be able to use Outman than Cardenas (given his position), do you really rate Josh over Adrian? All things being equal, who would you rather have in your system?
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Carpenter, by far. He throws strikes. I have no idea why they drafted Cardenas when there were some good college relievers on the board at that time. (Same thing with d’Arnald this year). Outman still can’t throw strikes and has little secondary stuff, if any.
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I agree with PhillyFriar, who presents very sound analysis.
Cardenas is young and a natural hitter. I am very glad we drafted him instead of a college reliever. He was the best HS hitter in the draft and he has done very well. I am not worried about him being blocked. He is 3 years away from Philadelphia and a lot happens in that time. After Marson, I think Cardenas is the highest ceiling position player in the Phillies system and the likeliest to reach or at least come close to his ceiling.
Outman over Carpenter. They pitched side by side at Clearwater and Outman did better there and ok at Reading. Yes, he walks quite a few too many. Carpenter also walks too many. Carpenter also gives up too many HR and doesn’t K enough hitters. Carpenter has polish, which is a trait that carries better at the lower levels. Outman has more potential. Carpenter seems a lot like Maloney. Gets results, consistent, throws a lot of innings, healthy, but not a huge upside. Outman needs better control, especially of his off-speed stuff, but is a lefty with a mid-90s fastball. Also, not a teensy-tiny lefty.
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I like Cardenas first, easily (as per Friar), but might take Carpenter ahead of Outman because of the command issues. Outman seems to throw too many walks.
Regarding the “who we coulda got” discussion. We realize that no one is a sure thing. But at the time the Phils drafted both Drabek and Cardenas, Joba Chamberlain was still on the board. Forget college relievers.
But, hindsight, y’know.
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Chamberlain’s medicals were reportedly really bad. He could very well blow out his arm next season, who knows. Drabek didn’t have the same imminent concerns, though he did have a heavy high school workload, and he blew out his arm. Hindsight really is a tricky thing.
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Foresight:
Cardenas is certainly our best position prospect. He SEEMS to be a very good hitter–adaptive, and all that rot.Q@uestion is what position hbe weill fill at the ML level. “08 could give us more info on that, but certainly before/during ’09 another position must be found for him so he can spend at least one/two seasons learning that “new” position. There seems to be no question about his “hands” for fielding. I’d be reluctant to see this guy be traded away! Imo, he is a younger version of Utley, but with no college ball behind him.
Outman could be a dominating lefty pitcher IF he gains the neceassry command. With betterv command he could move into a 2nd or 3rd spot in the rotation, in time. Carpenter doesn’t –IMO–have the potential of dominating, BUT could fit as a #3-4-5 in a rotation. He doesn’t have an overwhelmingly wonderful pitch to strikeout guys; rather he seems to be able to use a Moyer-type appreciation of the value of a variety of pitches located well…tho’ he certainly DOES have a lot more velocity than Moyer. MAYBE it has taken a couple seasons for Carpenter to have found his groove…and COULD get more effective as he moves up making him a good 3rd man in the rotation. I’d follow him closely in ’08 to see if that happens.
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Cardenas first because you have to worry about durability with the pitchers. Outman and then Carpenter because Outman’s stuff is a little better.
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Cardenas, because he represents the hope of the organization when it comes to hitting. Then Carpenter then Outman, although both guys look like back-end-of-the-rotation guys, and maybe even relieving (Outman especially).
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Cardenas, because even if his position is filled when he gets near the majors, he has more star power and can get us more in trade.
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Not to be boring, but: Cardenas, Outman, Carpenter.
But it’s a two-dimensional question (as I suspect James had in mind when he asked it). Carpenter probably has both the lowest ceiling and the highest likelihood of reaching that ceiling–though I struggle to see anything about Cardenas that doesn’t inspire optimism other than perhaps his position and the guys ahead of him. Based on everything I’ve read, his skill set, work ethic, and intelligence all portend very, very well.
He’s clearly #1 of these three, I think. The question between Outman and Carpenter is a lot muddier, though in the end I have to go with the strikeout rate.
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