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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Sickels: Chicago White Sox Top 20 Prospects for 2012

“The horror. . .the horror.”

1) Nestor Molina, RHP, Grade B+: Acquired from the Blue Jays for Sergio Santos, and immediately became Chicago’s first or second-best prospect. I think he can remain a starter. Molina was a big topic of discussion earlier this month.

2) Addison Reed, RHP, Grade B+: The best closer prospect in baseball thanks to superior command of 93-97 MPH fastball and devastating slider. You can make a case to rank him ahead of Molina, if you think Molina will be a reliever.

3) Tyler Saladino, SS, Grade C+: 2010 seventh round pick out of Oral Roberts developed from draft sleeper into solid prospect. Good power for a middle infielder, and has some idea about the strike zone, scouts like his work ethic. Main issue now is if he can stick at shortstop, and I think he has a decent chance to do so.

4) Trayce Thompson, OF, Grade C+: Highest-ceiling bat in system, tapping into his power now and making good progress on defense. Kills lefties but has serious contact problems against right-handed pitching. Struck out 172 times while repeating Low-A. Has the tools to be a star slugger but also carries a high risk of failure.

5) Hector Santiago, LHP, Grade C+: Came out of nowhere to reach the majors (briefly) in 2011 thanks to development of a new screwball to go with 90-95 MPH fastball. Third pitch still needs work and it is unclear if he starts or relieves in the long run, although recent rumors indicate the Sox will continue to start him. Projects as number three/four starter if third pitch develops, or a power relief arm.

Repoz Posted: December 29, 2011 at 05:55 PM | 16 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: minor leagues, prospect reports, scouting, white sox

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1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 29, 2011 at 06:20 PM (#4025142)

LMFAO.

2. Guapo Posted: December 29, 2011 at 06:26 PM (#4025151)

I like how #19 was a minor league free agent. Is he the first one to ever make one of these lists?

3. asinwreck Posted: December 29, 2011 at 06:46 PM (#4025175)

I look forward to Molina and Reed getting dealt for an Alomar to be named later at midseason.

4. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 29, 2011 at 06:47 PM (#4025177)

I would really like to see Jared Mitchell make it. I was really high on him in the draft, and he got off to a great start, but his injury really derailed him. I can see him exploding back. Other than that, yech. Soptic played comm. college near me and from what I gather he has a big arm but can't find the strike zone. Axelrod was released not long ago. Jordan Danks wasn't protected from the Rule 5 - and did not get selected. Yuck.

5. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: December 29, 2011 at 07:08 PM (#4025195)

This has got to be the worst system in MLB by far. Even Houston had mostly B's in the top-10.

6. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: December 29, 2011 at 07:18 PM (#4025206)

Kenny Williams says that he is sure he has no more dead players on his list. Since he discovered Lockwood, the dead Vancouver man on the list, he has been over it very carefully.

7. Mark Edward Posted: December 29, 2011 at 07:53 PM (#4025245)

I won't argue that the Sox system isn't horrible. However, to be fair to the Sox organization, they've got some solid young talent on the MLB roster that technically won't make many prospect lists because of their service time. Chris Sale had a very good season in relief this year and he'll be moving to the starting rotation next season- he'll be 23 in March. Dayan Viciedo will start in right field next year- he hit well in AAA last year (.296/.364/.496) and he'll be 23 in March. Brent Morel, Gordon Beckham, & Tyler Flowers are all younger than 26 as well.

But yeah, it is a sad looking farm system. While overall, Kenny's drafts haven't been horrible, he does tend to pick underwhelming first rounders. I don't have high hopes for Jared Mitchell, and guys like Kyle McCulloch & Lance Broadway have turned out to be busts.

My only quibble with Sickels is that I'd bump Saladino up to a B- (most folks say he can stick at SS, so I think that's a huge plus for him).

8. Walt Davis Posted: December 29, 2011 at 09:52 PM (#4025371)

LOL!! (And I am not a man who LOLs lightly!)

I assumed "the horror ... the horror" was just Repoz.

That's an actual quote from Sickels.

9. SouthSideRyan Posted: December 29, 2011 at 10:40 PM (#4025405)

Mark,

Any idea if the anemic budget spent on the draft and IFA is a product of Reinsdorf setting it, or is it a case of Williams having an overall budget and feeling it's best to put nearly all of it towards the major league roster?

10. madvillain Posted: December 29, 2011 at 11:02 PM (#4025421)

Any idea if the anemic budget spent on the draft and IFA is a product of Reinsdorf setting it, or is it a case of Williams having an overall budget and feeling it's best to put nearly all of it towards the major league roster?

The Sox had a policy of never paying over-slot, which has hurt them. I belive this is a JR edict. The Wilder scandal in Latin America hurt them quite badly as well. They are just now setting up their Latin America system again and it will take years for it to produce any sort of fruit.

_______________

I'm high on Viciedo, his contact skills and bat speed are off the charts, and while he'll never take many walks, I think a 300/340/500 line will be standard for him over the next decade, assuming he doesn't get hurt. His arm in RF is a plus, and his range and glove seem about average. I think he'll settle in as a consistent 4-5 WAR player and they got him on a nice team friendly contract.

Sale is another 4-5 WAR type and his development of his slider has been nothing sort of amazing. Don Cooper is a certified pitching coach genius.

As for Beckham, guy has serious holes in his swing and a mental block as well. Defensively he's great, but he was one of MLB's worst hitting regulars in 2011. Maybe he rediscovers his rookie line, but I am skeptical.

_______________

All in all, it's not a great time to be a Sox fan. The team gambled and lost big time on Rios and Dunn and Peavy and we just Mark Buehrle because of it. It sucks.

11. Mark Edward Posted: December 29, 2011 at 11:06 PM (#4025424)

Any idea if the anemic budget spent on the draft and IFA is a product of Reinsdorf setting it, or is it a case of Williams having an overall budget and feeling it's best to put nearly all of it towards the major league roster?

I get the feeling that Reinsdorf puts a lot of faith in Kenny, and since Williams seemingly always wants his teams to be (marginal) contenders, the money will go towards the major league roster. Even the top international free agents the Sox signed have been ready to contribute to the big league club quickly (Ramirez, Viciedo).

On the other hand, if Kenny walked into Jerry's office tomorrow and said "I want to re-build," I wouldn't see Reinsdorf saying no to that and putting some big bucks into scouting/drafting.

Also, for what it's worth, the Sox appear to be one of the teams very interested in signing Yoennis Cespedes. I'm not sure they can give him the top dollar amount, they might be banking on the fact that Dayan & Cespedes played on the same team in Cuba (if I recall correctly).

12. madvillain Posted: December 29, 2011 at 11:09 PM (#4025425)

Also, for what it's worth, the Sox appear to be one of the teams very interested in signing Yoennis Cespedes. I'm not sure they can give him the top dollar amount, they might be banking on the fact that Dayan & Cespedes played on the same team in Cuba (if I recall correctly).

The Sox are a Cuban friendly team, with Alexei and Dayan. Alexei's agent has always praised the club.

I don't really think they need another toolsly outfielder however, unless they trade Quentin, which they sure as hell should be doing. Just blow the thing up. Committing to Danks was smart, but Quentin's numbers are inflated from playing in the Cell and the guy has spent his physical prime, from 23-28, being constantly injured, what's going to happen as he ages? Hopefully he'll be gone by the deadline.

13. ...and Toronto selects: Troy Tulowitzki Posted: December 29, 2011 at 11:49 PM (#4025441)

The team gambled and lost big time on Rios and Dunn and Peavy and we just Mark Buehrle because of it. It sucks.

Thanks, again.

14. Crispix Attacks Posted: December 30, 2011 at 12:06 AM (#4025448)

There are some good names on that list. I don't know about the players' skills, but they have good names.

If they can combine "Addison Reed" and "Dylan Axelrod" into one pitcher named "Addison Axelrod", then they'll really have something.

15. Walt Davis Posted: December 30, 2011 at 01:02 AM (#4025489)

Quentin's numbers are inflated from playing in the Cell and the guy has spent his physical prime, from 23-28, being constantly injured, what's going to happen as he ages?

You had me at hello!

16. Joe Kehoskie Posted: December 30, 2011 at 01:43 AM (#4025499)

I'm not sure they can give him the top dollar amount, they might be banking on the fact that Dayan & Cespedes played on the same team in Cuba (if I recall correctly).

They probably know each other, but Viciedo played for Villa Clara (central Cuba) while Cespedes played for Granma (far east, near Gitmo).

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Sickels: Chicago White Sox Top 20 Prospects for 2012

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