Verlander to the Mets?!?! Trea to the Phils?!!? Guess we can take this is the unofficial official start to the Winter Meetings. A couple events coming up in the next 48 hrs that we should be keeping an eye on —
Draft Lottery (Dec.6, 8:30pm)
Rule 5 Draft (Dec.7, 8:30pm)
There’s cooking on the Hot Stove with more to come no doubt. Can’t wait to see what’s up next. Murphy trade? Judge signing? Reynolds dealt? Lot’s of stories to be told soon.
New York Yankees (99-63, 1st in Al East, Lost ALCS v Houston 4-0)
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 83-67, 1st in International League East
Double-A Somerset Patriots, 83-53, 1st in Eastern League Northeast
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades, 71-59, 2nd in South Atlantic League North
Single-A Tampa Tarpons, 61-67, 5th in Florida State League West
Top 5 Prospects (per Baseball America 12.05.22)
Anthony Volpe, SS, .802 OPS, BB% 10.9, K% 19.8 across AA & AAA
Oswald Peraza, SS, MLB Debut 09.02.2022
Jasson Dominguez, OF, .838 OPS, BB% 14.1, K% 23.9 across A, High-A & AA
Everson Pereira, OF, .819 OPS, BB% 9.6 , K% 27.7 across High-A & AA
Austin Wells, C, .897 OPS, BB% 13.9, K% 22.4 across A, High-A & AA
Personal Prospect Pick
Juuuuuust outside of the BA Top 5 is who I’m looking forward to watching in 2023. The former Vanderbilt Commodore was drafted by the Bombers with the 25th pick overall in 2022, adding yet another imposing frame in pinstripes. Spencer Jones stands in at 6ft7 and as you might imagine, produces some big time exit velocities and plus power. He has good speed and can stick in CF while possessing average to above-average defense and arm. Jones is absolutely a prospect to watch in 2023.
Canadian Content 🍁 = NONE
Oakland Athletics (60-102, 46 GB, 5th in AL West)
I went to Spotrac (2023 Oakland Payroll) and I’ll just leave this picture here to digest a moment on this 5th day of December —-
That’s….I mean…..that’s a tough look. Let’s move it along to more fun things -
Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, 71-79, 3rd in PCL West
Double-A Midland RockHounds, 66-71, 4th in Texas League South
High-A Lansing Lugnuts, 54-77, 5th in Midwest League East
Single-A Stockton Ports, 45-87, 4th in California League North
Top 5 Prospects (per Prospects Live 12.05.2022)
Tyler Soderstrom, C, .825 OPS, BB% 7.2, K% 26.1 between High-A, AA & AAA
Ken Waldichuk, LHP, 129.2 IP, 3.40 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, MLB Debut 09.01.2022
Daniel Susac, C, .758 OPS, BB% 6.2, K% 22.1 across ACL & A
Jordan Diaz, 1B, .858 OPS, BB% 5.2, K% 14.4 in AA & AAA
Zack Gelof, 2B, .806 OPS, BB% 11.5, K% 26.6 IN AA & AAA
Personal Prospect Pick
My pick will also be seen below as another hoser makes an appearance as a personal selection. This is also a name to those that have followed along with me the past couple of years will recognize. The bloodlines here are impressive. His mother was a Canadian Olympic heptathlete. His uncle played football for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL. Their cousin participated in the 4x100 at the 2012 Olympics. To top it off, his cousins are the Naylor’s. You can say athleticism oozes from Denzel Clarke. Listed at 6ft5 and 220lbs, you can confuse Denzel with a NFL WR. Plus Power. Plus Arm. Plus Run. Legitimately can be considered the best athlete in all of MILB. The tool box is full. Be that as it may, we want to see an improved hit tool as the swing and miss is real with a K% of 33.1. Exciting athlete and prospect to watch in 2023.
Canadian Content 🍁
OF Denzel Clarke, Toronto ON, Lansing
INF T.J. Schofield-Sam, Mississauga, ON, Stockton
Time to catch up with what’s going on this evening out at the Winter Meetings. Thanks for checking in and I will be talking with y’all in a while. Until then, you know what to do……Keep It 80 Grade.