Top Prospect Discussion: October 8th

Weekly Discussion, , , , , ,

This post is reserved for the discussion of the top prospects in the Phillies’ organization. You can tout the merits of your favorite prospects, instruct us on why your ranking is superior, talk about a prospect who intrigues/worries you, ask about prospects you haven’t seen and don’t know much about, or anything at all as long as it is about the top prospects.

Last week I started with MLB’s top four Phillies’ prospects – J.P. Crawford, Jake Thompson, Nick Williams, and Jorge Alfaro.  Rather than proceed numerically, but allowing me to talk about my favorite prospect, let’s talk about the outfielders among the Phillies’ top 30 prospects.

The state of the Phillies outfield has been of much concern for several years now.  Gone are the days when the Phillies could trot out Pat Burrell/Raul Ibanez, Shane Victrorino, and Jayson Werth on opening day (2008-2010).  They were replaced with the horrors of Ben Francisco in right (2011), John Mayberry Jr. in left (2012-13), Domonic Brown in right (2013), Tony Gwynn Jr. in left(2014), and finally Grady Sizemore in right (2015).

The Phillies finished the 2015 season with a group of outfielders that included prospect Aaron Altherr, Rule 5 pick Odubel Herrera, former infielder Cody Asche, AAAA journeyman Brian Bogusevic, MLB journeyman Jeff Francoeur, utilityman Darnell Sweeney, first baseman Darin Ruf, and injured Domonic Brown.  Minor leaguer Kelly Dugan rounds out the outfielders on the 40-man roster, but he didn’t get an invite to the show this past September.

Along with #3 prospect Nick Williams (MLB #55), the Phillies have another top 100 prospect in #5 Cornelius Randolph (#85).   Roman Quinn is ranked as the Phillies #6 prospect.  In addition to Sweeney (#10 ) and Dugan (#24) who cracked the Phillies top 30 list, there are #19 Cord Sandberg and #20 Carlos Tocci.

Cornelius Randolph, OF, Bats: Left, Throws: Right, 5’11, 205 lb., DOB 6/2/1997 (18)

  • Drafted: 2015, 1st (10) by the Phillies out of high school
  • MLB #85 prospect
  • Grades: Hit – 55, Power – 55, Run – 40, Arm – 55, Field – 40, Overall – 55
  • 2015; GCL Phillies (age 18, -1.4 AgeDif)
  • .302/.425/.442/.866 in 212 PA, 32 BB, 32 K
  • 41 G in LF; 63 CH, 61 PO, 2 A, 0 E – first season as an outfielder
  • “C” has an advanced approach at the plate.  From the moment he steps into the on deck circle, Randolph is all business.  He has a very good knowledge of the strike zone.  He is patient.  He makes noticeable adjustments during an at bat.  He has a powerful, opposite field swing that he shortens up when the count is not in his favor. I have found it hard to believe that he just graduated high school.  I believe that had he not been learning a new position, he would have made the jump to Williamsport or Lakewood this summer ala Crawford the year he was drafted.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he started in Lakewood with the intention of moving him to Williamsport when short-season ball started.  And when the time came, they decided to just leave him in Lakewood.

Nick Williams, OF, Bats: Left, Throws: Left, 6’3, 195 lb., DOB: 09/08/1993 (22)

  • Drafted: 2012, 2nd (93) by Texas out of high school
  • MLB #55 Prospect
  • Grades: Hit – 60, Power – 55, Run – 55, Arm – 50, Field – 55, Overall – 55
  • 2015; Frisco (age 21, -3.2) excelled – .299/.357/.479
  •              traded to Philadelphia as part of the Hamels deal (7/31/2015)
  •              assigned to Reading and posted .320/.340/.536 in 22 games (100 PA)
  • Career .296/.346/.489 in minors
  • Double-digit HRs the past 3 seasons
  • Generally 2.5-4.0 years younger than rest of league
  • Free swinger, career 5.4% BB, 24.4% K needs to improve
  • Looks like he’ll start in Lehigh Valley.  There’s not  much in his way at Lehigh or in Philadelphia.  He could certainly be up by the start of 2017.

Roman Quinn, OF, Bats: Swicth, Throws: Right, 5’10, 170 lb., DOB 5/14/1993 (22)

  • Drafted: 2011, 2nd (66) by out of high school
  • Grades: Hit – 45, Power – 30, Run – 80, Arm – 55, Field – 55, Overall – 55
  • 2015; Reading (age 22, -2.4) 58 games before suffering a season-ending injury
  • .306/.356/.435/.791 in 257 PA, 29 SB in 39 Attempts
  • Quinn was having a great season when he was injured.  Excellent speed at the top of the order.  Better than Revere power.  Could be in Lehigh Valley this spring.

Darnell Sweeney was assigned to the Phillies after the trade that brought him to the organization.  He was drafted in 2012 in the 13th round by the Dodgers.  He played primarily SS in 2012-13 and mostly second base in 2014.

  • Grades: Hit – 55, Power – 40, Run – 55, Arm – 50, Field – 50, Overall – 50
  • 50 grades out to an average regular.  Whether he makes it as an outfielder, a second baseman, or a utility man remains to be seen.

Cord Sandberg was drafted in the third round (89) of the 2013 draft.  He played his first year of full season ball at Lakewood.  He showed some improvement posting .255/.303/.345 slash.  He also had 13 outfield assists.

  • Grades: Hit – 45, Power – 50, Run – 50, Arm – 50, Field – 50, Overall – 45
  • 45 grades out to a platoon/utility for a position player.  Still time, he has shown improvement each year so far.

Carlos Tocci as a 16-year old out of Venezuela.  He has progressed slowly through the organization against older competition.  He started the season at Lakewood for the third year and was still 2.5 years younger than the mean.  He slashed well and was promoted to Clearwater where he peaked at .313/.362/.372 on July 29th before settling in at .258/.296/.313.

  • Grades: Hit – 50, Power – 30, Run – 55, Arm – 50, Field – 55, Overall – 45
  • 45 grades out to a platoon/utility for a position player.  Still young with potential.  I was impressed with how he handled himself in Clearwater.  His lack of power is glaring, though.

Kelly Dugan was drafted in the second round (75) of the 2009 draft.  He split time between Reading and Lehigh in 2015.   He put up a combined .274/.349/.358 in 310 AB.  His diminished power is a continuing concern.

  • Grades: Hit – 45, Power – 50, Run – 45, Arm – 55, Field – 50, Overall – 45
  • 45 grades out to a platoon/utility for a position player.  The clock may have run out for Dugan.  A corner outfielder without power is a AAAA player at best.

 

121 thoughts on “Top Prospect Discussion: October 8th”

  1. Is Kelly Dugan a top prospect? A 7 season minor Leaguer, with a handful of Triple A at-bats. A corner OF with no speed and no power. I think it’s 50-50 at best, they keep him on the 40 man roster.

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      1. Dugan just played his age 24 season and yet he only has 300 more minor league at bats than the 19 year old Carlos Tocci.

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    2. Dugan suffers from lack of power for a corner OF who isn’t a burner. I am not a Dugan booster, but I think this review SERIOUSLY understates some of his tools. Anybody who has ever watched Dugan play will tell you that his hit tool is above average, not below. His speed is at least average. Not mentioned is the biggest ding on Dugan: he just can’t stay on the field. For a guy with his age/years of experience, he is on the low end for AB.

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      1. Unfortunately Dugan and some may say, Biddle, have acquired an injury rep.
        Hoping Quinn stays healthy the full 2016 to avoid that label.

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  2. Wow its his 7 th year. I remember listening to his dad, Wip interview him the day after the draft. His father is a director I believe,

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    1. And actor – if you’ve ever seen Happy Gimore, Dennis Dugan is the director of the movie and played the PGA Tour Commissioner in the movie too.

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  3. Not listed, but Cozens and J Ortiz are probably the 4th and 5th best OF prospects in the Organization, though either could ultimately wind up at 1B. Cord Sandberg shouldn’t make the top 30.

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    1. Agreed on Cozens. He is a legit prospect and a better prospect than Tocci IMO.

      Ortiz is a really interesting question because he got a big bonus, so he must have some awesome tools. But so hard to project him without any data at all.

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      1. Cozens ceiling may be higher than Tocci, but he is not a better prospect right now. Tocci could play in the bigs based on his defense right now.

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        1. Tocci could NOT play in the bigs right now. His bat would completely negate any defensive value over a replacement level defensive player. His WAR would be massively negative.

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          1. It’s all hypothetical at this point. I think his defense is enough to negate all offensive deficiencies. Do you see how much Altherr’s defense meant for him?

            Sidenote – Have you seen Tocci play in person? Just wondering if you have first hand knowledge. I do not.

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            1. I have seen Tocci play in person about 8 times over 2 years when he was in Lakewood (including this past year). He is still very skinny. I never saw him hit the ball hard. he got a lot of “minor league hits”, meaning bleaders or poor defense hits. stuff that doesn’t project to mlb play.

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    2. 1. Williams
      2. Randolph
      3. Quinn
      4. Tocci
      5. Cozens
      6. Pujols
      7. Brown
      8. Ortiz *
      9. Sandberg
      10. Luis

      Ortiz is almost a lock to end up at 1B as I understand it (and a righthanded one). Though I have read that he moves well for a guy his size. I’m also not really sure where to put Luis. Apparently the Phillies like him and he’s intriguing. He might be a fast riser next year.

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      1. What about Herlis Rodriguez? He had a very good season this year and appears to be better than Sandberg– at the least.

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        1. You could certainly make a case for Herlis, but I left him off because he was never really noted for his tools. His numbers across the board last year were solid but nothing jumps out at you. He’s older than Sandberg too.

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    3. Yes, Cozens had a very nice season at CLW and carried it forward at Reading. SSS, but good AA stats. I think Ortiz left off the review because he has yet to play.

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    4. Cord Sandberg was just awarded a gold glove for his play this season. While he is inconsistent with the bat he is an underrated corner outfielder. Give him more time to develop.

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  4. A new ‘grading’ system.
    First there was the ‘thumbs up/thumbs down’ a few years ago.
    Then there was the ‘like’/ dislike’ recently.
    And now the ‘star’ grading system.

    May I make a suggestion….as some other sites do that seems to please most people….a.thumbs up or like, requires no response or reply, while a thumbs down or dislike requires a reply for the vote to register.

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    1. I love that you are innovating and trying new things. My personal opinion on the star rating is it is a little confusing. Makes me think too much. A simple thumbs up or down works for me.

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      1. Agree wholeheartedly. Respect that you’re trying something new. But think it turns something easy–I like/i dislike–into something more complicated. In any event, I am appreciative of all your hard work on this site. I know the site, and its community, just “don’t happen.” It takes a lot of effort. Thank you.

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  5. I’m rotting hard for Tocci to make the leap this season. I hope he’s put on a decent program in the offseason to add muscle mass. His defense is his calling card and if he can hit a little better, he is an above average player. Of course his body type needs to adapt and adjust so let’s hope he can do that over the course of the next season.

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    2. Everyone is rooting for Tocci. The question is in your critical opinion, whether he will be a quality MLB player.

      I have a hard time seeing a 50 hit tool on him, but even with that, he projects as a utility player. I just don’t see a comp of a player like him that is productive in the majors. He reminds me of Doug Glanville, who, despite being a Philly boy and a fun story, was not a productive MLB player.

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      1. I hope he can be a quality MLB player. The defense is above average but the physical profile needs work obviously. I haven’t seen him in person yet and that’s my fault for not getting there when he was at Lakewood.

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        1. The first time I saw him in Lakewood, I was shocked at how skinny he was…defensively, he makes everything look so easy. His first open step is so quick and easy and off he goes running down balls. He has the hips of a really good defensive back. Like everyone here, I hope he puts on some more real weight on and gets stronger. He is still young for the level he’s at.

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      2. You keep saying you don’t see a MLB comp for the player, but someone gave you an All-star comp complete with comparable minor league stats, height and weight, just a month ago. Which you acknowledged. The player was Devon White. It has only been a month. You couldn’t have forgotten that fast.
        Also, even if you compare him to Glanville, that’s a player who played 9 yeara in the league and had 4 WAR season and two more 2 WAR seasons to his credit.

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        1. I don’t agree with the Devon White comp. White had elite base stealing stats.

          And I don’t think Glanville was a very good player. His 4 WAR year was an outlier. most of his career was as a 4th OF.

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          1. The link you posted shows Devon White hit one (1) HR in his age 19 season. Carlos Tocci hit four (4) in his age 19 (the past year’s) season.

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            1. Yeah. And then jumps to 13. I don’t see that but let’s see next year. I just don’t think Devon White is a great comp. I don’t see Tocci as an elite MLB base stealer.

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      3. So if Tocci put in a few seasons of 2plus WAR and a season over 4 you wouldn’t consider that productive? Doug Glanville was absolutely productive, maybe for a short period but was still a decent player. He’ll one year in Philly he hit .325/.376/.457 w 30 plus SB a ton of RBI (for where he hit in the line up) also he racked up over 200 hits and over 100 runs. He also played a great CF and was a good clubhouse guy. He was a regular for 6 years and put up at least average numbers across the board . . He wasn’t an all star but he sure wasn’t hurting your team. Maybe the fact that he was the 11th (or 12th, I forget) overall pick in his draft year, maybe that skews it for you.

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  6. I love this thread. Great discussion on some really quality prospects.

    I think the hit tool grade on C is light. I think it is a 70 hit tool, and I know how rare that is. And I don’t think that I have ever said that about a prospect.

    Knowing that it is really hard to project an 18 yo in rookie ball, here is my rationale:
    – Scouts LOVE his hit tool. I follow Chris King, who goes to only GCL games for BA and he saw the GCL Phils a lot this year. He raves about C’s hit tool over and over. You would think that he was a Phillies fan on how positive he is.
    – He hits to all fields
    – His walk rate is insanely high and his k rate is insanely low
    – Everything is a line drive. No weak hits
    – He has enough power to develop into a 20 homer hitter with a lot of doubles
    – Despite being big, he is not very slow
    – His bat control, from everything that I have heard and see in the stats is off the charts.

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    1. I agree with this. His ceiling as an offensive player brings to mind Bobby Abreu, which is to say a fabulous offensive player.

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        1. Not until he develops some power and speed. Abreu never got nearly enough credit for his offense — he was the prototypical 3-hole hitter: not just the outstanding OBP, but quite a lot of power and quite a lot of speed. Even if C duplicates Abreu’s OBP, which is a huge and almost certainly unfullfillable burden of expectation to place on the kid, we know he won’t have Abreu’s speed and the odds are he also won’t have Abreu’s power. I guess I just see Abreu as a very bad comp.

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          1. I could see him developing Abreu’s power. It’s not like Abreu was ever a slugger; he was usually good for 20-25 home runs and two years he got to 30. I don’t think that part is far fetched, but you’re right about the speed. Randolph is never going to steal 40 bases, but I could see him having an Abreu-like ceiling at the plate.

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            1. I would also add that Abreu had some of the PED cloud swirling around at the time he was hitting those 30.. Doesn’t appear Randolph will have the same speed but the power potential is there.

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          1. Other than Ron Gant being a middle infielder his entire minor league career, being a very fast runner and being Right handed, I guess he’s a carbon copy of Cornelius Randolph…

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            1. No, I’m talking about the Ron Gant who was shifted to L from the infieldF. Look it up. I like your tone.

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            2. I know who you’re talking about. Other than both being 5’11 there is nothing about Gant that’s similar to Randolph. Sorry for the tone.

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        3. Not trying to disagree with everything but Abreu? Really? How can you even comp someone after one short season? ESP to Abreu who was easily the most underrated offensive players of the past 25 years (don’t believe that? Look at his numbers). Abreu routinely hit .300 plus, had an OBP over .400, hit 20plus HRs a year with 25plus SB a year (believe he topped out somewhere around 40 one year), also someone who would get close to 100 RBI, 100 plus runs, 100 walks and always over 170 hits. He did just about EVERYTHING at the plate. It’s really not fair to comp C to Abreu. I feel like if he even hits his ceiling it won’t be Abreu numbers. I hope it does turn out that way but again Abreu was SO MUCH BETTER then he ever got credit for.

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          1. Nobody is saying he’s Abreu. The hope is that, if he develops, he evolves into that type of ball player. Great hit tool, great plate discipline and well above average power over time. That’s the style of player we can vaguely envision him becoming if all goes according to plan. Nothing more.

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    2. “C” is the favorite prospect I alluded to above. He is almost everything you state above. The only point I question is,”He hits to all fields”. I have seen him hit a home run over the right field fence and double to the RCF gap, but almost everything else I’ve seen has been away from his “pull-side”. I’m not saying he can’t hit to all fields, I just haven’t seen it enough to support such a statement.

      Other than that, I concur with everything else you state.

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        1. So, of course, Randolph jerks a ball off the base of the right field wall today. Line drive over the right fielder’s head. This kid can flat out hit.

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            1. I can see him starting in Lakewood after spring training so he can play in games until short season ball starts in Williamsport. And it wouldn’t surprise me if he hits well enough to stay in Lakewood. His hit tool is too advanced to waste time in XST unless they decide he needs more time in the outfield before pushing him up the org.

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    3. A lot of internet fan pundits gave the phillies grief for taking C at 10. Now they are all willing to call him a top 100 guy lol.

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      1. That’s because people saw SS after his name and said “LOLPhillies! Your top prospect is a SS! Why would you draft another?!?! Stupid Amaro!”

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  7. Randolph, Sandberg, and Tocci are a couple of years away. Once they get to Clearwater/Reading then we will have a better idea of where they are headed. Randolph looks like a good hitter flat out. The holes in Tocci and Sandberg’s game may prove to be a non-issue or something that will keep them from being a ML player. Dugan at this point should stay on 40 man for the time being, but could lose his spot once the Phils need a spot to protect a player (Quinn) or someone is being promoted and not on 40 man.

    Williams looks like a can’t miss with Quinn closely behind him. If injury issues are past Quinn then he will be in Philly sometime next year. Sweeney looks like he has great potential but also looks a bit over matched in the majors and may need more time in AAA. I would not be surprised to see a AAA outfield of Williams, Quinn, and Sweeney. And all 3 could be worthy of promotion post All-Star break 2016.

    I have a question: Which minor league players need to be added to 40 man roster or risk losing them? I know Roman Quinn falls into this category, but who else?

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      1. I could be wrong but I think Gabriel Lino, Jimmy Cordero, Angelo Mora, and Brock Stassi would be a few

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        1. Of that group, I’m sure they will protect Gabriel Lino and Jimmy Cordero. Not sure theyll protect Angelo Mora, but he’ll get selected if they don’t. I’ll bet a ‘sawbuck’ they don’t protect Brock Stassi and nobody selects him.

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    2. Carlos Tocci signed in 2011, but I don’t think he has to be added due to signing a 2012 contract. But I could be wrong on that.

      Others that have to be protected:

      Alberto Tirado
      Yacksel Rios
      Jesen Dygestile-Thierrien
      Logan Moore
      Cam Perkins
      Hoby Milner

      Except Tirado, not really a great group, though I could see them leaving Logan Moore unprotected and someone selecting him as a backup catcher.

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      1. You are correct, Tocci has to be protected Nov 2016, not this year.
        Once Billingsley and Lee come off 60-day DL they may go, along with Frenchy, Aaron Harang and Jerome Williams….Phillies, I could be wrong, will be below 30 probably for the first time since the 40 was established, well until Nov20th.

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        1. The Phillies still have 40 guys on the 40 man roster. They were able to be 7 over due to so many guys being on the 60 day disabled list. They won’t get under 30, but they can easily get to 33, once they remove Lee, Billingsley, Harang, Williams, Bogusevic, Frenchy and Andres Blanco(he’s arbitration eligible and due a huge raise). They could also release any of Hollands, Dugan or Joseph.

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    3. Oh, and Sweeney needs to be protected. He would have probably been one of the top 3 players selected in the Rule 5 if the Dodgers hadn’t traded him. Part of the reason the Phillies got him was he had to be protected.

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      1. Blanco is cheap, $850,000 this year I think and will be getting a raise, but not a huge one and should be kept. He won’t be booted off of the 40 man because he’s arb eligble

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  8. Dropping Harang, Williams, Billingsley, Hollands and Lee opens up 5 spots. (Bring Hollands back as a ST invite. I don’t see him getting picked Rule 5. Same goes for Pettibone.) Moving one of either Bogusevic or Brown and one of either Severino and Joely opens up 2 more spots.

    With those 7 spots, protect:
    1. Roman Quinn
    2. Edubray Ramos
    3. Gabriel Lino
    4. Alberto Tirado
    5. Jimmy Cordero
    6. One of Yacksel Rios or Jesen Dygestile-Therrien

    Plus:
    7. Rule 5 Pick

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    1. I agree with your list of protected players, but I believe they will remove Blanco and may replace him with Mora.

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      1. Wow, remove Blanco after the season he’s had? I see his impact on the Phils as way too important to part with.

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            1. Oh, well that’s good news. I was just going off of someone’s post above that said he needs to be protected.

              Well, there you go VOR. There’s a spot left Mora without dropping Andrew White!

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        2. We’ve wandered way off topic here, but Blanco’s great season is exactly why he won’t be retained. Due to his service time and level of play, Blanco is due approximately $5mill in arbitration. Galvis is also arbitration eligible and will get 3.5 million. They’re not going to pay both of those guys to be that kind of money to be Utility infielders. So either Blanco goes or Galvis goes.

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          1. Check out MLBTR.com for arbitration projections. They have Galvis at $1.9 M and Blanco at $1 M. I think these are better projections than yours. They have Matt Harvey at $4.7 M.

            Cordero was signed in January 2012 so I don’t think he needs to be protected.

            I think they’ll add Quinn, Reinier Roibal, Edubray Ramos, Brock Stassi, and Gabriel Lino,

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            1. 1. You’re probably be right on the Arb amounts, but they would still be retaining two Utility Infielders (one 30 years old) with, JP on the way.

              2. Jimm Cordero was over 20 in 2012, so he is like a college draftee. He has to be protected.

              3. I’ll eat my hat if they use a 40 man spot on Brock Stassi.

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          2. 5 million??? Where did you get that figure from, even if it’s off topic? He’s not going from $850,000 to 5 million.

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          1. VOR…I think your hat will be safe. I agree with you, I can’t see them spending a 40 man spot on Stassi. He had a nice year. Hopefully he’ll be at Lehigh next year and continues moving forward.

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        1. At the bottom of a 38-player (allowing for Rule 5 pick-ups) protect list, Stassi competes against players like Nefi Ogando, Joely Rodriguez, Yaksel Rios, Logan Moore and Cameron Perkins. I could seem him protected or not — not a big surprise if any of these is left unprotected. De Fratus was the surprise as far as I’m concerned since he was in the running with this bunch as well. I still think a healthy De Fratus is a cut above all of these.

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          1. I don’t think Stassi competes against any of those guys, except possibly Perkins and only if he can play a solid corner OF. That seems unlikely since he’s spent almost all of his time at 1B. I think Stassi is really competing more with Harold Martinez types than those other guys.

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            1. Exactly. Stassi doesn’t compete against any of those guys. Teams dont waste Rule 5 picks on back-up 1st basemen.

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      1. Once he is in the program for a period of time he should advance and hit tool could improve.
        Though he does not look as large in weight, as was reported in June prior to his signing. He must have been on a training program to firm up.

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      2. I Cant tell much, except on second video. he looked fooled and was out in front on that pitch. but its really hard to tell much

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        1. … and I have noticed and reported here that Ortiz shows a patient approach at the plate. He has seen 3-4 pitches every at bat. He takes pitches when behind 0-2 and 1-2. He is NOT the first-pitch swinger that I would have expected from a 16-year old. As a comparison, I saw Encarnacion’s first 24 Instructs at bats the autumn he signed. He swung at the first pitch in every AB.

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            1. And he’s not exactly slow for his size. I’d say he’s close to average once he starts moving. He doesn’t even run out the pop up but the GB he was moving well for his size.

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  10. John Sickels Chat 8 October-on Phillies Prospects:
    AA for Pinto, A+ for Kilome….I think Kilome will follow the same path as Pinto this year. Start the year in Low A then get the bump to A+ after the break. Unless Pinto blows the doors off AA, he’s likely there for all of next year. The thing with Pinto is he’s a pitch to contact guy that throws strikes. He works a low 90’s heater with a change that has made big strides this year. The K numbers will likely stay low in the 6-7 K/9 range, but he’s also likely to post a K/BB consistently above 2.5.

    Knapp……………..He’s not a gold glove but I think he can stay behind the plate. Moving him is not a foregone conclusion by any means. I think the Reading stuff is over his head but ultimately I can see him as a .270 hitter with solid OBP and more power than many catchers.

    Aaron Altherr…………Altherr is one of those guys, you see him walking on the field and the athleticism, tools are just “holy crap”, anyone can see them. It seem clear he made real progress this year. Can he sustain it? My instinct says yes, but then I thought that about Dom Brown too and that didn’t work out too hot. I think if AA played regularly you’d see the speed and power production and defense would continue but his batting average and OBP would move up and down radically. Imagine a mixture of Drew Stubbs and Justin Maxwell.

    Nick Williams……I’d go B+ with Nick Williams. Still enough concern about impatience to hold off on an A- right now.

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  11. Cubs sign Eddy Julio Martinez for $3M.
    ‘The Cubs, like the Giants had previously committed to spending well past their overall pool allocation, meaning that they were already set to face a two-year ban on $300K+ signings. Adding Martinez did nothing to impact that, though the club will pay a 100% overage tax on his bonus’
    …what a farce the MLB has for regulating equitable and talent acquisition. Perhaps if they penalize teams by taking Rule 4 draft choice from them for exceeding pool allocations….starting at a team’s number one rounder, their enforcement policies may may be adhered to. Large money market teams can easily pay an overage/ luxury tax…proven already with Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs, Giants, and Rangers.
    The Phillies may be the last large market team to not incur the penalty….they are being good boys.
    The new commish should either push harder for an international draft or change the penalties.

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    1. The Philllies are being “good boys” now so they can spend freely in a buyer’s market next year. You continually beat the drum to spend now when it makes little to no sense to do so right now.

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      1. Sure did help the Sox, Cubbies, Yankees and Rangers in their farm systems revivals.
        But, if you like to think in the box like former GM Ruben….go for it.

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        1. Do you really think there will be no young talent to go all-in on starting July 2 2016? One, more talented than any Cuban available now, would be worth it alone.

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            1. Stop making so much sense. Jorge Ona just sitting there, with the Dodgers, Angels, Yankees, Red Sox and Cubs unable to make an offer. The Phillies should just torpedo that situation…

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        2. Every in the box GM just cringed for getting compared to Ruben…they all thought Ruben was so bad he was out of the box…

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  13. Consider Tocci at 190 lbs…That would, IMO, tell us more about his value. Can it happen? Last off-season was when he gained 10 lbs from his skeleton-like 160. There should be a way to thrust weight-gain into this off-season’s necessaries. Keep him in Florida and feed, feed, feed him. His weight will determine his success or failure: up to 195 (?) needs to be the aim…and nutritionist involvement. It’s time.

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    1. Tocci is off to a hot start in the VenWinter league….3 for 6 the other night.
      Not sure how much weight he will be able to gain playing in the winter league.

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  14. I don’t understand those of you who criticize any criticism of the Phils spending habits for overseas or amateur talent. Their record has been terrible, yet throughout the league, there are players who are contributing a good deal to their teams. Yet, you believe that somehow that is going to stop, and the Phils are going to magically be major players. Based on what? Ona is the new guy that we are supposed to dream about, yet not get? When it changes, I will be the first to acknowledge it, but until then, they have to prove it to me first. They lost Cespedes to that big market powerhouse, the Oakland A’s!

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  15. Matt when you speak the truth so many on here will act like. The Phillies can do know wrong. They have to prove it to us is so right I like to give a thousand stars.

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    1. rocco……..many posters have posted about their lack of spending in the international scene, more so between 2002 and 2011. Though they have opened their pocket-books a lot lately and maybe Middleton will be more receptive to even more spending. But they do have some advantages with some large market teams being penalized, as long as MLB enforces it. Those particular teams under the penalty are Angels, Diamondbacks, Rays, Red Sox and Yankees all exceeded their 2014-15 pools by more than 15 percent, so they won’t be able to sign any pool-eligible players for more than $300,000 during the current 2015-16 period and the 2016-17 period. All the teams going over their pool this year, including the Dodgers, Cubs, Giants, Royals and Blue Jays, among possible others, will also be subject to the $300,000 limit during the 2016-17 signing period.
      So lets hope they open their pocketbooks up. The Cubans Jorge Ona and/or OFer Diaz may be had….hopefully after July 2nd, 2016.

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  16. Dugan has a 55 hit tool, not a 45. I understand the injury concerns, but they have not effected his hit tool. When he plays, he rakes.

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    1. He didn’t rake in AAA. Admittedly, he didn’t have a lot of time there and could still adjust to the level. But without rediscovering his power, a 55 hit tool isn’t going to do him any good.

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    2. MLB has Dugan at a 45 hit tool. And he hasn’t “raked” wherever he’s played. If he had, he’d be in the Major Leagues by now.

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  17. I don’t know who’s been following this, but Kim NG was interviewed for the Phillies’ GM post. I haven’t heard her name for a few years, but she’s really impressive. And she’s not just a token woman candidate – she’s earned her way to the top of the GM candidate pack and then went to MLB when she hit a glass ceiling. She’s supposed to be the whole package in terms of being a top baseball executive (smarts, analytic savvy, values traditional methods too – on top of everything). If she had been a man she would have had her shot as a GM 10 years ago. Here’s hoping that, if she’s the most qualified candidate (very, very possible), she gets the job. Honestly, I think both Middleton and MacPhail are bright enough and open-minded enough to consider it. It’s time for the Phillies to be out front – I’d love to see her hired.

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    1. You will not be disappointed if one of either Klentak or Piccolo get the GM position?
      They are both qualified, though neither , I believed, ever worked at the MLB corporate level in NY, like Ng, who also worked with the Dodgers and Yanks at one time.
      Klentak and Piccolo worked in the ‘trenches’ with ball clubs.

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    2. I’m curious, but unsure whether the timing is right. Just like the past three drafts, not to mention the next one, the margin for error with this organization is somewhat small. I’d love to see her get a position where it was expected to take a few years to turn things around. The turn around for the Phillies begins in 2017, not 2018, not 2020. Any unproven GM is likely to have little room for error and I think they’ll wind up with someone with more experience. Still, if its Ng, I would hardly be upset

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      1. I don’t think the margin for error is small at all – I think the runway here is as broad as it gets. Money coming off the books, large TV revenues, a stadium that can be filled if the team is good, patient ownership, patient senior management and low expectations. It’s exactly the opposite of a no margin for error situation.

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        1. And a very good farm system and the number one pick in sight. It literally is one of the best situations for a potential GM that I can ever remember. Good candidates should be salivating over this job. It’s the one that could easily make a good candidate a generational GM.

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          1. Catch – they absolutely are salivating. No doubt. If it ends up being Ng I’d have no cpmplaints

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            1. Red flag for me….why didn’t the Dodger’s owners Walter/Kasten rehire her, but instead went with Friedman and Zaidi. She was AGM to Colletti for awhile, then went corporate, then when Colletti was moved, she interviewed with the same owners but they decided with Rays guy and Zaidi. Also interviewed with Mariners(Z) and Padres (Preller) and Angels (Dipoto)..now 2 of those 3 are gone.
              I think now she may want to stay and live in Manhattan and work corporate.
              But Macphail has to follow current interview protocols.

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          2. I don’t know if you read Jerry Crasnick’s article on ESPN.com 6 weeks ago. I’ve attached it. It is full of optimism on the Phillies’ future. Any candidate would give their right arm for a chance to be the next GM. My favorite line from the piece … “That organization is a gold mine,” said one competing executive. “Look at the ballpark. Look at the spring training facility. Look at the television deal. This is a goose that’s going to lay a golden egg. No wonder Andy MacPhail came out of retirement.”

            http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13517750/philadelphia-phillies-future-looks-bright-lead-them

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        2. I probably should have elaborated better. The margin for error I speak of refers to the organization itself. It is small (the margin) in my opinion. That is, they need to make a winning selection with respect to the new GM. Can that winner be Ng? Absolutely. But I suspect the Phillies end up making a safer pick

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          1. IMO, she is more inclined to climb the corporate ladder with MLB…..she could be doing a ‘good soldiers’ deed by fulfilling the congressional mandate for minority hiring protocols, keeping Congress off their backs. In turn, she will be rewarded down the road by Commish Manfred. This will be her 4th or 5th interview in the last 5 years. Just a guess on my part. Her goal may be higher up…maybe as a the first female commish, who knows But she has already paid her dues by being AGM with Cashman and Colletti.

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