Fantasy Baseball Top Prospects on the Move: Trade Deadline Sends Young Players Packing
Pomeranz has a +fastball that sits in the low to mid 90’s and a devastating curveball that he uses as his strikeout pitch. Early signs point to this kid being an ace with All-Star potential and the ability to be a 200+ innings workhorse for his team. I think Pomeranz is at least a year away although he should at least be given the opportunity to make the team out of spring training 2012.
Zack Wheeler – (Traded to Mets in Carlos Beltran deal) Wheeler was the 6th overall pick in the 2009 draft and was drafted straight out of high school. Many scouts, and I myself viewed Wheeler as the Giants best pitching prospect and Baseball America listed Wheeler as the 35th top prospect in their midseason rankings.
He's a 6'3 right hander who throws a low to mid 90's fastball that can touch the high 90's at times, an above average curveball which some describe as a slurve and a change-up rounds out his arsenal.
His first pro season was marred by injuries which limited him to only 58.2IP while going 3-3 in the process to go with a 3.99 ERA and 70 strikeouts. While pitching for the Class A Giants this season, Wheeler went 7-5, with a 3.99 ERA, 98 strikeouts in 88 IP and limited batters to a .224 avg.
Wheeler could probably start for the Mets now and be just as productive as Chris Capuano, but more seasoning in the minors is definitely in his future. With his potential I can see Wheeler being an ace or very high end #2 pitcher in the majors. He could get a possible September call-up in 2012 and battle for a rotation spot come spring 2013.
Trayvon Robinson – (Traded to Mariners in Bedard deal, 3 team deal) Robinson who was drafted in the 10th round of the 2005 draft has been in the minors for 7 seasons. To some he might have seemed like an afterthought, but at the young age of 23, he has been enjoying a career year for AAA Albuquerque.
Baseball prospectus listed Robinson as their 99th best prospect in baseball preseason, but I think now that value has gone up tremendously.
While coming into this season only hitting 38 HR in 6 minor league seasons, Robinson currently sports a .293 Avg, 70 runs, 26 HR, 71 RBI, and 8 SB. While I think the new found power is real, he has sacrificed his stolen base potential for the power. Combining his 2009-2010 minor league seasons, Robinson had 26 HR compared to 85 steals.
It was very shocking to me that the Dodgers traded one of their elite prospects at the deadline. If the power is real, Robinson could prove to be a real threat in the Mariners lineup and could be a 5-category all around fantasy baseball contributor.
I believe Robinson is ready to contribute at the MLB level right now and could be a late season call-up, only because the Mariners are set in the OF right now with Gutierrez, Suzuki and the newly acquired Casper Wells. If either should get injured or Wells should falter, Robinson should get the call. He should battle for a starting OF job in 2012 spring training.
Jonathon Singleton – (Traded to the Astros in Pence deal) Singleton was an 8th round draft choice by the Phillies in the 2009 drafted right out of high school. The 19-yr-old Singleton was recently ranked by Baseball America in their midseason rankings as the 41st best MLB prospect and was also the Phillies highest ranked position prospect.
Singleton is playing in the Class A Advanced Florida State league where he is hitting .287 with 48 runs, 9 HR, 47 RBI and a .389 OBP. He seems to be holding his own in the FSL and one must remember he is only 19-yrs-old.
Earlier this season, the Phillies moved him from 1B to LF to try and help his value with Ryan Howard locked in as the 1B of the future for the Phillies. The experiment didn't last long and he was moved back to 1B prior to his trade to the Astros. I assume the Astros will keep him at 1B as it seems that's where his defense suits him best. This also helps Singleton in the fact that only Brett Wallace will be blocking him at the major league level.
I believe Singleton has the power to be an MLB First Baseman and has the potential to be a .285-.290 hitter, with the power to hit 25-30 HR if he reaches his full potential. Due to the fact he is only in Class A ball, I think Singleton is at least 2 yrs away and should push for a starting job in 2013 spring training with a possible 2012 September call-up.
Jarred Cosart – (Traded to Astros is Pence deal) Cosart was a late 38th round pick by the Phillies in 2008. The 21-yr-old right-hander was having a mediocre season at Class A Advanced Clearwater posting a 9-8 record with a 3.92 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 108 innings. Although his strikeouts are bit down, he did have 102 strikeouts in 95 2/3 innings the past two seasons combined and has an electric fastball that hits the mid to upper 90's regularly.
Cosart has definite strikeout potential and showed flashes of his potential including going 7 innings giving up only 1 hit and striking out 8 during a May 15th start. He has been named to 2 Futures games (2010, 2011) although he didn't attend the 2010 game due to injury. I believe Cosart has the potential, if he stays healthy to be a very solid #2 pitcher and possibly an ace if he reaches his ceiling.
I think Cosart’s best case scenrio is that he moves up the ladder in the minors in 2012 and possibly gets a September call-up. Otherwise, I can see him pitching for a spot in the rotation in 2013 spring training.
Robbie Erlin – (Traded to Padres in Adams deal) Erlin was the 3rd round choice of the Texas Rangers in the 2009 draft. He's a 20-yr-old lefty who has a fastball that runs in the high 80's to lower 90's, and a curveball and changeup that are viewed as above average. Baseball America ranks him the 34th best prospect in their midseason rankings.
Between Class A Advanced and AA this season, Erlin posted a 8-4 record with a 3.34 ERA and striking out 123 in 121 1/3 innings. He dominated A ball by going 3-2 with an impressive 2.14 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings while holding batters to a paltry .132 average. After his promotion to AA, Erlin went 5-2 but his ERA ballooned to 4.32 while having 61 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings.
Erlin is a fly ball pitcher as evidenced by the 16 HR he has already given up this season. But he also shows great command, as he has only walked 12 batters in the 121 innings he has pitched this season. Walking less batters then the home runs you have given up is a stat you rarely see. The command is no fluke as in 2010 he pitched 114 innings and only walked 17 batters while striking out 125.
I believe Erlin has the potential to be a solid #3 pitcher with the potential to be a #2 in the Majors, especially with the move to San Diego, pitching in Petco Park. Only reason I don’t have him projected higher is because I’m not sure his high 80’s/low 90’s fastball and other pitches have what it takes to get Major League hitters out on a constant basis just yet. If he continues to pitch well at AA, I could see the the Padres giving him a September call-up this year if not sooner to give him a taste of the bigs. If not, I can see him trying to make the team out of spring training.
Joe Wieland– (Traded to Padres in Adams deal) Wieland is a 21-yr-old right hander who was drafted in the 4th round of the 2008 draft. Wieland throws a high 80's/low 90's fastball as well as a curveball, slider and changeup. The curveball and slider have been rated as average to above average, while his changeup needs to be worked on.
After finishing 2010 with a 11-7 record and a 4.07 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 148 innings between the Class A and Class A Advanced, Wieland caught the attention of some scouts. Wieland has taken off and not looked back this season posting a 10-3 record with a ridiculous 1.80 ERA while striking out 132 batters in 129 2/3 innings. In fact, Wieland just pitched a no-hitter on July 29th for AA Frisco, striking out 7 in the game. Wieland has great command, walking only 15 this season in 129 2/3 innings and only 25 last year in 148 innings.
As in the case of Erlin, I can see Wieland being a high end #3 or low end #2 pitcher in the majors, and I’m only rating them this low once again because I am worried that the lack of a quality overpowering fastball will be exposed at the major league level leading to him trying to be perfect with location and leading to mistakes. I can see Wieland in the big leagues sometime in 2012 with the lastest being early 2013.
(July 9, 2011 – Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America)
Written by Michael P. exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. You can follow him on Twitter @prospect_101
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