Scouting the Draft: Hi... (10/26)
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October 26, 2012 Young and on Their WayTop Prospect Trade CandidatesJarrod Parker, Yasmani Grandal, Yonder Alonso and Jesus Montero were among the high profile prospects who changed organizations last winter. Each of them made an impact with their new club—some certainly more than others—but such trades occur each offseason as contenders look for proven talent and specific needs. Based on conversations with some busy folks in baseball over the past few weeks, it's apparent there will be numerous negotiations that include top prospects again this year. Most clubs have had their organizational meetings already, when teams discuss strengths and weaknesses, offseason needs, trade targets, free agent possibilities, and which of their own players they might be willing to move in the right transaction. Based on dozens of e-mail, text and phone interactions with representatives of 11 different organizations, the following 10 prospects were the most mentioned as likely to be involved in a trade. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies In one manner it's selling low—the other 29 teams in baseball have seen the same player and certainly share similar concerns—but the third baseman did have a big month of August and won't turn 22 until April, suggesting there is value there. The Rockies need pitching and could package Arenado for some proven help on the mound and move on from the former second-round pick.
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Surprise Me!
Matt Adams would seem to be a real possibility to be traded with the Cards having Craig, Beltran, Holliday and Taveras to use at 1B and the OF corners.
I'd be surprised if the Red Sox traded Bogaerts yet, given the potential for a special bat, the possibility that he can stick at short for a while, and the potential for Middlebrooks to fail to live up to his rookie season, especially given his high strikeout low walk approach.
He was the first name that came to mind when I saw the premise of the article.
I had much the same reaction, but it may not make sense to dangle him as trade bait until he has recovered from surgery and shown he's the same player as he was for the first half of 2012. Some risk of selling low until he gets the rebound from that.
I understand the inclination to move Adams, but I've always been of the impression that's he's got higher upside than Craig and Carpenter (who are the real long-term blocks to Adams). There's an argument that spending a season as the first bat off the bench will be detrimental to his development, but otherwise, it seems likely he'd get 500+ ABs in 2014 and beyond, and you don't trade a stud if he's only "blocked" for a year.
I think the Cards would be delighted if Adams put up Allen Craig numbers. Hitting .300 with 25-30HR a year if he stays healthy is pretty solid. I've also not seen much that suggests Adams has upside beyond that sort of level. The injury is probably more of a reason not to trade him now.