Blue Jays Discussion: Roy Halladay elected to 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame class

phillipmike

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Oct 27, 2009
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MLB's Top 10 second-base prospects for 2019

The Top 10 (ETA)
1. Keston Hiura, Brewers (2019)
2. Luis Urias, Padres (2019)
3. Nick Madrigal, White Sox (2020)
4. Vidal Brujan, Rays (2020)
5. Garrett Hampson, Rockies (2019)
6. Jeter Downs, Dodgers (2021)
7. Brandon Lowe, Rays (2019)
8. Cavan Biggio, Blue Jays (2019)
9. Jahmai Jones, Angels (2020)
10. Isan Diaz, Marlins (2019)
Complete list »

8. Cavan Biggio, Blue Jays (2019)

Scouting grades:
Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
The son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio turned down the Phillies as a 29th-round pick out of high school to honor his commitment to Notre Dame. After improving in three straight seasons with the Fighting Irish, he received a $300,000 signing bonus as the Blue Jays' fifth-round pick in 2016. Biggio would establish himself as a legitimate prospect two years later, garnering both Rookie of the Year and MVP Award honors in the Double-A Eastern League after he led the circuit in home runs (26), slugging (.499) and OPS (.887) and ranked second in RBIs (99). He also stole 20 bases, making him one of six Minor Leaguers to total at least 20 homers and 20 steals in 2018.

Biggio's offensive game is built around his plus plate discipline and approach, as he's long showed a knack for drawing walks -- his 100 walks ranked third in the Minors -- and getting on base at a high clip. In 2018, however, he lowered his hands and began to hit the ball in the air more consistently, enabling him to tap into his above-average raw power, albeit at the expense of a higher strikeout rate and a more pull-heavy approach. He is a fringy runner who is smart on the basepaths and picks his spots to steal.

That Biggio's primary position is second base adds even more value to his offensive profile. He's a solid if unspectacular defender there, making up for modest range with sure-handedness, sound footwork and good instincts. The Blue Jays have steadily increased Biggio's versatility, offering him reps at both infield corners to go along with his usual work at the keystone, and he added the outfield to his resume in the Arizona Fall League. At the least, Biggio appears bound for a utility role in the big leagues
 

BlueForever75

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Oct 4, 2017
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Its only a matter of time that everyone on that list makes us competitive again. Every single one of them.
 

phillipmike

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Oct 27, 2009
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7 top 100 prospects is good, right?

Rays have 10
Braves have 8
Padres and Twins, have 7
Astros, and A's have 6

So yeah pretty good. Alford, Perez, Paulino, Zeuch, McGuire, Thornton, and others are expected to see MLB time.
 
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Garlando

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Sonny Gray trade to the Reds is final. Will sign an extension with the Reds too.
For those that have been looking for the Jays to spend money and make notable moves over the off-season, the Reds are an example of what the Jays could have conceivably done. I would argue that the Reds had a lot more in place than the Blue Jays entering the off-season and so it makes more sense for them to have done what they did but for example, this is where they are at now:

SS Jose Peraza
2B Scooter Gennett
1B Joey Votto
3B Eugenio Suarez
LF Matt Kemp / Jesse Winker
CF Scott Schebler
RF Yasiel Puig
C Tucker Barnhart

SP Sonny Gray
SP Alex Wood
SP Luis Castillo
SP Tanner Roark
SP Anthony DeScalfani

SU Jared Hughes
SU David Hernandez
CL Rasiel Iglesias

It's cost them prospects Shed Long, Jeter Downs, Josiah Gray, Tanner Rainey. Worth it? Even in a highly talented NL Central division?
 

phillipmike

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Oct 27, 2009
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Definitely can't complain about 7 guys in top 100...but where's Nate?

It is strictly a fantasy list so proximity to the majors is a big factor.

im a Fantasy writer, so this a Fantasy-inspired list, which basically means a greater emphasis on offensive potential and proximity to the majors. This emphasis is most noticeable in the final 10 names, which probably won't appear in any other top 100 list but are too close to contributing for Fantasy owners to ignore.
 
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phillipmike

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Oct 27, 2009
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For those that have been looking for the Jays to spend money and make notable moves over the off-season, the Reds are an example of what the Jays could have conceivably done. I would argue that the Reds had a lot more in place than the Blue Jays entering the off-season and so it makes more sense for them to have done what they did but for example, this is where they are at now:

SS Jose Peraza
2B Scooter Gennett
1B Joey Votto
3B Eugenio Suarez
LF Matt Kemp / Jesse Winker
CF Scott Schebler
RF Yasiel Puig
C Tucker Barnhart

SP Sonny Gray
SP Alex Wood
SP Luis Castillo
SP Tanner Roark
SP Anthony DeScalfani

SU Jared Hughes
SU David Hernandez
CL Rasiel Iglesias

It's cost them prospects Shed Long, Jeter Downs, Josiah Gray, Tanner Rainey. Worth it? Even in a highly talented NL Central division?

Personally I think next offseason is the time to make such moves for the Jays. Jays don’t want to block any pathways as they need to give the playing time to their younger guys to see if they are players they can count on moving forward.

Unless we sell a few more pieces I don’t see the Jays making any more moves other than a few minor league and major league signings to reinforce the pen and potentially signing a middle infielder to back up Travis and Gurriel if they don’t want Urena sitting on the bench.

Have MLB talent at every position in the upper minors, I would want to keep that pathway open.
 
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phillipmike

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Oct 27, 2009
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I think MLB Pipeline has their top ten SS out tomorrow. Should see Bichette and likely Smith. Doubt we will see the other SS prospects just because they are at the lower levels.

Bo will be there for sure and should be #1, or at worst #2.

Smith would be a surprise for me but it would be deserved. I have him and Groshan outside the top 10 for SS prospects.
 

The Nemesis

Semper Tyrannus
Apr 11, 2005
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It's looking like Larry Walker isn't getting into the HOF this year. And he's tracking to get less voting share than all the "controversial" choices like Clemens and Bonds.

He's clearly not a HOFer in the eyes of some. Not like the great Harold Baines.

Go to hell, BBWAA.
 

canucksfan

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I think MLB Pipeline has their top ten SS out tomorrow. Should see Bichette and likely Smith. Doubt we will see the other SS prospects just because they are at the lower levels.

My bad it is Wednesday. Today was for 3B. Of course Vlad was the best. Key point on highest floor He's as sure a bet to hit in the Majors as any prospect to come through a farm system.
 
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phillipmike

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Oct 27, 2009
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Looks like it came out early;

MLB's Top 10 third base prospects for 2019

Vlad was deemed/had;

Best hitter
Best power
Best arm
Highest ceiling
Highest floor
ROY candidate

6 of the 12 categories.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Team: Buffalo Bisons (AAA) ETA: 2019 Position: 3BAge: 19 DOB: 03/16/1999 Bats: R Throws: RHeight: 6' 1" Weight: 200 lb. Signed: July 2, 2015 - TOR
Watch

Scouting grades: Hit: 80 | Power: 70 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 70

The Blue Jays knew they were getting a special talent when they signed Vlad Jr. -- the son of 2004 AL MVP and Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero -- for $3.9 million in July 2015, after he had ranked as the top international prospect in his class. In the three-plus years since, he's cemented himself as the best hitter in the Minor Leagues by consistently torching advanced pitching as a younger player at every level. That was especially true last season, when Guerrero batted .402 and .336 at Double- and Triple-A, respectively, to finish his age-19 campaign with an MiLB-best .381 average. He also led the Minors in slugging (.636) and OPS (1.073), finishing the season on the cusp on the Majors before a turn in the Arizona Fall League.

Guerrero is an elite, generational-type hitter who stands out as much for his physical tools at the plate as his approach and capacity for making adjustments. His swing is both explosive and efficient, a combination of electric bat speed, physical strength and off-the-charts barrel control, and it makes him adept at crushing both heaters and secondary pitches to all parts of the field. He has 80-grade raw power and hit a career-high 20 home runs in 2018, but it's widely agreed that Guerrero is merely scraping the surface of his power ceiling. His pitch recognition and feel for the strike zone belie his age and experience, as he absolutely punishes mistakes, seldom expands his zone and rarely strikes out.

Whether Guerrero can stick as a third baseman is still a burning question. The Blue Jays were pleased with the gains he made there in 2018, noting that he improved his athleticism and overall footwork at the position and showed more arm strength than he did in previous years. It makes him a passable defender at the hot corner for now, but his below-average speed, thick build and modest range portend a move to first base in the future. Regardless of where he ends up on the field, Guerrero is set to become one of baseball's premier hitters, with the ceiling of a perennial MVP candidate.
 
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canucksfan

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Mar 16, 2002
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Looks like it came out early;

MLB's Top 10 third base prospects for 2019

Vlad was deemed/had;

Best hitter
Best power
Best arm
Highest ceiling
Highest floor
ROY candidate

6 of the 12 categories.

And three of the categories; keep an eye on, highest riser and humblest beginnings he had no chance on. Only two he didn't get that matters is best defender and fastest runner.
 

Discoverer

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Apr 11, 2012
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Honestly, if those superlatives included every prospect at every position, Vlad still wins Best Hitter, Best Power, Highest Floor, Highest Ceiling, and ROY Candidate.
 

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