Here’s the latest from the AL West…
- The Astros’ acquisition of Oliver Perez may have filled the club’s last remaining need, The Houston Chronicle’s Evan Drellich reports. “There’s a lot of activity on the trade waiver wire and we’re monitoring it, but I think we’ve addressed the main areas that we wanted to address going into this trade season,” GM Jeff Luhnow said. “Obviously we’re going to be opportunistic if somebody pops up.”
- Astros righty Brad Peacock underwent back surgery last week and will officially miss the rest of the season, MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reports. The procedure involved the removal of two bone spurs that were pinching a nerve near Peacock’s spine, which should hopefully solve the health problems that have plagued Peacock all season. He made only one start for Houston back in April before a lengthy DL stint with what was thought to be a right intercostal strain.
- The Mariners’ problems stem from an inability to develop highly-touted young players, Grantland’s Jonah Keri writes. This includes both many of their own draft picks as well as prospects acquired in trades, like Justin Smoak or Jesus Montero. GM Jack Zduriencik had a strong track record of player development as the Brewers’ scouting director, yet his inability to duplicate this success with the M’s may cost him his job in the wake of Seattle’s poor season.
- CSNBayArea.com’s Joe Stiglich takes a look at some of the Athletics’ top prospects, several of whom were just recently acquired in midseason trades to bolster Oakland’s farm system.
If the reports are true that Jack Z talked his scouts out of taking Trout #2 behind Strasburg…and taking Ackley instead….that would pretty much summarize his Seattle tenure. I’ll be fair, though, and say that Ackley was an excellent college selection and worthy of a high pick at the time… He looked very similar to Robin Ventura coming out of school
I don’t know if Trout would have been taken #2.. NJ is not known as an area where scouts tend to focus.. I could see one scout touting him highly and being rejected by Jack Z but I don’t see him rejecting all of his scouts all saying the same thing.. I bet Trout had a scout in every org that was pushing for him. Its one of those things where everyone says they liked him after they all passed on him.. If Strasburg had not been in that draft Ackley would have gone #1 overall regardless of the team picking.. Had he been available at #25 the Angels would have surely taken him over Trout.. I am not sold on him being a bust either.. I think he has a very solid chance of being a late bloomer and turning into something special for the Yankees.. Z will regret giving him away for a couple of AAAA players..