Julio Rodriguez is on the verge of a massive contract extension. Who will be the next prospect to ink a mega-deal? Today’s Big Hype Prospects won’t answer that question, but it’s possible we’ll discuss them all the same.
Five Big Hype Prospects
Francisco Alvarez, 20, C, NYM (AAA)
141 PA, 6 HR, .180/.340/.378
Despite the triumphant return of Jacob deGrom, the Mets divisional aspirations are endangered. Their once dominant lead over the Braves has dwindled to just two games. The club has received exactly 0.0 WAR from their catchers. Alvarez, whose combination of discipline and rare raw power can lead to some irresponsible comps (like former Met Mike Piazza), has held his own at Triple-A. The low batting average is the result of an unfortunate .209 BABIP. Low BABIPs in the minors can be symptomatic of a flaw. Sometimes, they’re just bad luck over a small sample. Alvarez had similar issues in High-A last season (.260 BABIP) so it’s possible his plodding speed and pull-heavy approach might yield an all-or-nothing slugger, especially early in his career. Defensive reviews are mixed and can sometimes leave a Gary Sanchez-like taste on the tongue. He has the capacity and work ethic to stick at the position, but maybe his bat is too potent to subject to the rigors of battery work?
Alvarez would certainly upgrade the Mets lineup over the likes of James McCann and Tomas Nido. However, they’re both talented defenders who have experience with the Mets pitching staff. If New York wants to experiment with Alvarez ahead of the postseason, now is the time to do it.
Brett Baty, 22, 3B, NYM (MLB)
35 PA, 1 HR, .161/.235/.258
Baty’s first exposure to Major League pitching hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. He had only 26 successful plate appearances at Triple-A before he was called upon. Much of his season was spent in Double-A where he hit .312/.406/.544 in 394 plate appearances. Baty is a disciplined hitter who makes hard, low-angle contact. With 91-mph average and 113-mph max exit velocities, he’s already demonstrated his power in just 24 batted ball events. His tendency to keep the ball on the ground could yield a contact profile something like a less-extreme Yandy Diaz. Whereas Diaz is nigh immune to strikeouts, Baty has a bit of swing-and-miss in his game.
Eduardo Escobar is nearing a return which could spell the end of the Baty experiment – at least for 2022. It’s also worth noting that his struggles have occurred over just nine games. He wouldn’t be the first player to need a couple beats before catching his stride.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, 20, OF, CHC (A+)
235 PA, 9 HR, 16 SB, .286/.332/.521
Known to many prospect-watchers by his initials “PCA,” Crow-Armstrong was acquired from the Mets as part of the Javier Baez trade in 2021. The Cubs instigated a mechanical change to his swing which has led to above average pull-side power this season. Including a thorough stomping of Low-A pitchers, PCA has 16 home runs and 29 stolen bases across 418 total plate appearances. He’s a gifted center fielder who was originally expected to fit in the Majors as a defensive savant. The addition of power to his profile could unlock a star-level ceiling. There remain issues with his bat including elevated strikeout and swinging strike rates. He’s young for his level and showed better plate discipline in the past. Consider him a volatile work-in-progress who now appears likely to have a role as a future regular.
Shea Langeliers, 24, C, OAK (MLB)
36 PA, 2 HR, .294/.306/.647
A key component of the Matt Olson trade, Langeliers has made an impactful debut. He’s already popped two home runs, four doubles, and a triple in just nine games. That’s par for the course with Langeliers. He has middling plate discipline, plus power, and a below average feel for contact. When he does connect, it tends to be loud. His best trait is defense where he’s expected to be a comfortably positive contributor. The presence of Sean Murphy is only a temporary impediment – it’s widely assumed the veteran Athletic will be traded over the winter.
Brayan Bello, 23, SP, BOS (MLB)
22 IP, 9.00 K/9, 4.91 BB/9, 7.36 ERA
Recently returned from the injured list, Bello had his best big league outing against the division rival Blue Jays. He tossed five innings of two-run ball while compiling seven strikeouts. Bello has a four-pitch repertoire led by a bowling ball 96.5-mph sinker. He also has a slightly harder fastball he can locate up in the zone. A slider and frequently-used changeup round out his pitch mix. In 18 minor league appearances he posted 12.10 K/9, 3.40 BB/9, and a 2.34 ERA. His carrying trait is an over-60 percent ground ball rate which, if maintained, would rank second among qualified starters between southpaw Framber Valdez (67.5%) and right-hander Logan Webb (58.4%). Like many sinker specialists making their debuts, Bello has struggled with free passes. He got away with iffy command in the minors because his stuff played even when thrown down the pike. He’s liable to need an adjustment period in the Majors.
Five More
Mark Vientos, NYM (22): A possible alternative to Baty and Escobar, Vientos is red hot for the month of August. He’s batting .403/.448/.661 with four home runs in 67 plate appearances. He draws negative reviews for his third base defense and is in the process of switching over to first base. The bat appears as if it should play in the Majors at either position, though he might be a tad ordinary at the cold corner. He’s just shy of a 30 percent strikeout rate for a second consecutive season in the upper-minors.
Grayson Rodriguez, BAL (22): Rodriguez has been sidelined for nearly three months with a lat strain. He is due to face hitters in a simulated game later this week. It’s possible he could make his debut in late-September.
Gunnar Henderson, BAL (21): Rumors abound of an impending callup for Henderson. Club officials are supposedly pondering the implications on his development. Henderson hasn’t exactly knocked down doors in August, batting .259/.364/.435 with 12.1 percent walk and 31.3 percent strikeout rates.
Robert Hassell III, WSH (21): One of the prizes acquired for Juan Soto, the Nationals aggressively promoted Hassell to Double-A where he’s hit .147/.237/.206 through his first eight games. Like Baty above, it’s not uncommon for young players to scuffle when first presented with a new challenge. And even Mike Trout has eight-game slumps. Strikeouts have been an issue for Hassell since joining the Nats org.
Curtis Mead, TB, (21): Recently recovered from a month-long injury to his elbow, Mead has five hits and two walks over 14 plate appearances. The right-handed slugger could make a useful platoonmate with David Peralta, especially once rosters expand in a few days. He’s Rule 5 eligible this winter so getting a jump on his service clock should be seen as acceptable – assuming the Rays can find a 40-man spot. He’s hitting .299/.391/.536 on the year, mostly at Double-A.
Remember the names Painter & Abel in the Phillies system. Painter will be a top 10 prospect next update
Yes a 1 era in 22 minor league starts might get him ranked pretty high.
He should be top 10 right now.
Painter was covered last week, FWIW (mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/big-hype-prospects-gris…).
We know. Phillies fans can’t get over themselves though.
And it’s insult to painter to mention Abel in the same sentence as him
Phillies fan here.. I’m hopeful but we should temper our enthusiasm for minor league pitching prospects Remember Sixto Sanchez. And I forget the names of the Baby Aces who were supposed to follow Hamels, Lee, and Doc..
That Javier Baez trade is not looking so good now for the Mets
We got Trevor Williams in the deal as well, and he’s been more than fantastic.
Not top 25 prospect and rising fantastic.
It didn’t look good then, despite his ensuing hot streak
eh, PCA is somewhat undersized. Looks like there’s weaknesses and holes mechanically. I’d be surprised if he was above average. Maybe average, projects to be more a 4th OF
Always looked to me like he’ll be overpowered by major league pitching
Everyone thought Clint Frazier would be so great too. There are a lot of these that don’t make it
I’d be surprised if he became a regular starter
“He always looked to me like he’ll be overpowered by major league pitching”. The guy is 20 and started in A ball this year. I’d be willing to bet you’ve never even seen him play. Just regurgitating what you’ve read somewhere, and passing it off as your own “scouting report”.
@roy you don’t even need to see them play Roy. You can take one look at their mechanics from a photo or two and see how it’ll go
I did recently see one at bat of his. Assessment is the same. Not impressive. Too many mechanical imbalances. Weak hips and legs
He’s fundamentally undersized.. I said the same thing about Gavin Cecchini or Mickey Moniak and many others
He’s not going to hit. Will be defense first no hit OF
You can take one look at their mechanics from a photo or two
================================
Prospects, almost by definition, are hard to predict. I’m not crazy about his K/W, but based on his August stats, he’d project to ~ 34 2Bs, 7 3Bs, and maybe 20 HRs, albeit with a weakish current 19/7 K/W. But at age 20 in A+, that’s pretty good.
But more importantly, it is the first time, in a fairly long history of following BB, that I ever heard someone say they are judging someone based on a photo. I’ve met Twiggy, and her I would judge on a photo, but judging a BB player on a photo?
You probably looked at Trout’s photo when he was 20 and thought “yeah, this dude is gonna be a perennial silver slugger, MVP, and one of the greatest hitters in MLB history”… right?
How many photos of Travis Jankowski you figure Camden has seen? I’ve never seen a more arrogant, deluded poster here.
I would have said Trout is a losing player, and he is. A lot of these guys will hit, but that doesn’t mean they’ll win
I’ll take all the real talent. I’d rather have true talent like Hosmer was, because talent wins out
Then I would have guessed you’re an arrogant liar, and you are.
@joe well with pitchers, you sometimes do have to watch them pitch. Brock Porter looks like a top 10 prospect, but when you actually watch him pitch, you can see he’s not very good
But you can take one look at Cecchini or Dom Smith on draft day and know that’s not going to work out
It was obvious Justin Dunn would get shelled. Obvious Harvey was not better than Sale
Obvious Gorman was the pick not Kelenic. You can tell from body type and frame size and physical attributes what they’ll be
Sometimes there’s someone like Porter who looks very good but the actual results are unimpressive
I kept telling the Mets on draft days: Sale Sale Sale. Not Harvey…Wacha Wacha Wacha, not Dom Smith…Renfroe Renfroe not Cecchini….Gorman Gorman Gorman, not Kelenic
This year it was Crawford Crawford Crawford
Just to be clear, you looked at 2 pictures of Mike Trout when he was 19 and decided he was a losing player? Do you not realize how insane that sounds?
Camden so you can tell by the body size how a guy is going to perform? I would love your take on an undersized Corbin Carroll.
@king Look at Anthony Rendon. I was very high on Rendon that draft day. I said, “winning player, top prospect”
Rendon has a ring and he’s the main reason (along with Kendrick, another great talent ) the Nationals won
What does Trout have? Nothing
@bruin Yes, just as you can predict with nearly 100% accuracy which fighter will win a UFC fight by looking at who has bigger bones/frame size
Carroll? Yes, extremely overrated prospect. You’ll see when he hits higher levels that it doesn’t work out
Even if he does somehow produce (unlikely), not a top talent you’ll win with
It’s not height or weight, but bone/frame size. Altuve is not undersized. Neither is Jett Williams
Carroll is another sabermetric geek-in-front-office pick….there’s tons of these guys…none of them ever work out
Andres Gimenez has been good, but for how long, can you really win with that?
You can look at a few photos and see any of the mechanical flaws or deficiencies in potential or imbalances or frame size issue the hitters have
You do not need to even watch video of Pete Crow-Armstrong to project him. Small frame/bone size means he won’t hit
With pitchers it’s a little different. You have to see what kind of stuff, perceived velo that comes out
But there are still all the same physical signs you can evaluate from photos
Well you really whiffed on Mookie Betts!
Honestly Camden you lost me when you dissed on Trout. Baseball is not Basketball and to a lesser extent Football. No baseball player can win by himself if you don’t surround him with quality. Trout is the best offensive player of his generation period end of story. Calling him a loser is actually quite an ignorant statement from a genius such as yourself.
No, because again, it’s not height, but frame size. Betts is not undersized. For someone 5’9” he has a proportionate frame
Everyone always make those same points. You have to “surround the player” with good players
None of those points are valid though
Tells me you don’t really understand baseball then.
You were talking directly yo the Mets?
Tell me you don’t understand baseball without saying “I don’t understand baseball” hmmmm… I guess you already did.
Assuming you can actually determine talent from looking at pictures of a player a couple times which I don’t really believe, I still don’t really understand how you could possibly determine if a player will win a WS or not using that same method. That seems legitimately impossible considering a single player has a very minimal impact on winning or not.
I live right outside of South Bend, so I was able to see PCA play 3 times this year. Kid looks like a ball player. A few issues, as most 20 year olds have, but trading him for Baez was our best deadline move last year. Can’t wait to see him in Chicago!
If the Mets didn’t make that stupid trade for Baez last year then they would have 4 of the ten. Mets will be injected with youth come next season.
Alvarez, Baty, and Vientos aren’t enough of an injection next year?
How many young players do you think should come up at once for a top team?
As many as are ready and needed
Well no more are going to be needed.
If all three of those guys meet expectations, the Mets will be set for awhile.
Mets have 3/4 of top ten bc, well, they are the Mets and the largest markets get all the ranking hype bc that leads to clicks and views. Same reason why dodgers have a slew of guys ranked 1 or top 5 that never lived up to hype a la Gavin Lux.
Other side of that – reds acquired the 2nd-5th ranked prospects from 2nd ranked system (M’s), additional prospects from Twins in 2 separate trades plus 2 highly touted 1st rounders in McLain and collier as well as top 10 prospect de la Cruz yet are ranked 4th. Why ? Bc they get least amount of clicks. And who’s 2nd ? Dodgers. Lolz.
Mets should have traded all those dudes. They’ll be over 300 million in payroll by next year anyway. Why sacrifice production in attempt to produce home grown talent when your trying to win now and moneys not a thing ??
Big Whiffa- I think you need to check out how Lux is performing this season.
Also, as an M’s fan I can tell you we were not going to be ranked 2nd during the re-rankings. We were pre-season number 2 but graduated the #2 prospect in all of baseball in Julio and another top 20 prospect in Kirby, plus Marte struggled big time during the first half of the season. We were going to be mid-range with Marte, Arroyo, and Stoudt still around. Now we’re 27th.
– PCA was traded for Javy Baez and Trevor Williams, who has been great for the Mets
– It always blew my mind how overrated everyone decided Francisco Alvarez at once, at best he’s a Gary Sanchez clone, surely we have better prospects right now. He’s a top 100 guy for sure, but #1? Nope.
-Hold your tongue! The A’s could easily go 162 at C+DH using Murphy and Langeliers swapping every other game. Both are equally good at defense and offense, might as well play them as often as possible. Why even bother with a terrible hitting backup C like team ALWAYS do?
Cleveland and all their middle infielders before the 40 crunch makes too much Murphy sense!
Mead is great. He’s going to be a great player for TB.
Can we get a big hype prospect that is hitting over .270.
Two of four are doing just that. Of course, there’s so much more to hitting than BA.
I really enjoy the prospect coverage MLBTR has been doing this season. Could we maybe see a top 100 list from MLBTR at the end of the season, @MLBTR writers? I know that’s a big undertaking, but it would be intersting to see their list.
A list might be beyond the scope we can reasonably accomplish. While I’m not completely hopeless as a scout (only close to hopeless), I haven’t personally scouted many Top 100 prospects. I take input from my scouting contacts so I have an interesting thing or two to say about a few guys every week.
I’ll talk it over with the others. Maybe there’s something we can do in the offseason.
What I’d like to see is a list of the #101-200 prospects, with analysis where appropriate. Or maybe a 101-200 with rising prospects. There are at least a dozen reputable sites with the top-100. And those are easy to research for us commoners.
As a RS fan, I know the stats for Mayers, Yorke, Casas, Bello, etc. What would be more interesting to me is an analysis of guys like Wilkelman, Jordan, Binelas. I’m looking for guys that might be #175 this year, but maybe top-100 next year.
Funny enough, this column came about because I sent an edition of Peripheral Prospects to the MLBTR Front Office subscribers. Tim felt it was too niche for the fantasy audience there but wanted to see a more mainstream version for the public site.
If you’ve been around long enough to remember Carson Cistulli, Peripheral Prospects is a continuation of his Fringe Five column under a new name. We look for the next great untouted prospect like Jake Cronenworth or Jared Walsh. Bello actually found his way onto the list in April when a lot of sources still thought he was a reliever.
Joe as a Red Sox fan I love to follow their prospects and watch a ton of those games I even have a friend who goes to FCL games. I think Binelas is still worth watching but his K% has exploded in AA couple that with the comically low .133 babip for someone who hits it as hard as he does and that’s why he has a ridiculously low average. I think a guy to watch at AA is Niko Kavadas no one hits it harder then this but he also has a great eye walks a ton. He also strikes out quite a bit but really understands the strike zone. My friend in Florida is enamored with Miguel Bleis he thinks he’s going to be special I can’t wait until he gets to Salem. There are many others that look good too but I really like how Kavadas has looked he has really not been challenged in the low minors can’t wait to see what he does in the upper minors he went deep today for the first time at Portland.
I figured it would be a big undertaking, but thank you for considering the idea.
I’m less concerned with the size of the undertaking than I am with providing a competitive product. My strength is individual analysis. At a leaguewide level, there are too many gaps in my knowledge. For instance, Druw Jones is #12 on Pipeline. I don’t have a single word to say about him that isn’t lifted straight from another site. And I’d rather avoid putting myself in that position.
That’s fair. I really do enjoy the prospect analysis though. I like going through myself and looking at what other sites have to say about certain prospects. It’s pretty wild how many differing opinions there are from each site. I don’t have a subscription to Baseball America or Baseball Prospectus, so I mostly look at MLB Pipeline and FanGraphs. Imo, FanGraphs is more accurate when it comes to position players hitting grades, but not the greatest for defensive grades. MLB Pipeline is usually the more optimistic.
PCA will be the best of this bunch. Elite defense already, and his bat continues to improve. Future all-star and gold glove center fielder in Wrigley. Thanks Mets
Alvarez is under the Mendoza line but rated #1????
He’s a catcher, it’s a small sample size, and he’s hit into some bad luck.
No, he doesn’t get anything to hit. They don’t pitch to him. His BB% are astronomical
He’s still trying to figure out how to be selective. They’re being real careful with him
The fact that he is below .200 but his OBP and SLG are high is a very good sign
Author nailed it with the Gary Sanchez comp for Alvarez. Rocket arm and big raw power/EV stud. MLB pitchers wont pitch around him and that low BABIP profile will be a lot less palatable.
Higher risk prospect than is being assumed at a minimum.
To be clear, none of these players have been “rated” for this column. The goal of BHP is pretty simple: discuss 10 guys who are Top ~200 prospects. I focus more on higher profile guys when I have something to note that I haven’t already said – hence why Corbin Carroll isn’t in every edition. He’s incredible, I have nothing more to add. Similarly, Noelvi Marte’s appeared often because I’ve been privy to some interesting arguments about him.
We Braves fans can’t give you up Shea L. Your the man. Terrible it went like that. I still want to get a Shea Braves jersey.
How’s life in the bat rack in the KC dugout?
Lonely. Honest note though I really really do hope he succeeds. Some do better skipping triple a. He was stuck their awhile. Maybe he needs to drop the power approach completely and take hits and doubles to reduce that strikeout rate. Slow me down Drew. Let’s get those doubles baby. I will always be a fan of his. Such a pretty swing he has.
I keep thinking to myself what if the Mets held on to Kelnic and PCA. Ugh…
Baty looks like a bust to me. After a few games he looked like he was under a lot of duress
He does not feel comfortable in the clubhouse
Oh sure I get all the “it’s still early he’s still a rookie” takes, but usually if a guy is going to make it he will eventually settle in somewhat
He’s also very slow defensively at 3B. Probably will never be a good defensive 3B, and had multiple RBI opportunities and didn’t come through every time
Yes I get “hey it’s early not enough sample size yet” takes, but usually if a guy is going to be a success he’ll come through
I also noticed as soon as all the pressure was off and it wasn’t a big RBI spot he was able to settle down and get a hit
You can pretty much tell from a pitchers debut what he’ll be like. Oh sure some will struggle, maybe even get lit up, but there are always signs what his composure is
Baty did not look composed when he was in big RBI spots. That isn’t being new and learning major league pitching, innately the player doesn’t perform well under pressure
From what I see he doesn’t function under pressure very well
I’m very honest about prospects. I was very high on Holderman. Impressed with Nate Fisher. I’m not high on Baty because of the intangibles. The Mets should trade him
I said the same things about Harvey. He’s terrible, doesn’t function well in pressure spots, trade him. Same with Wheeler
Syndergaard the opposite. You can quickly see what a guy is in most cases
One can also quickly recognize a misguided fan assessment.modality
Camden lives in a different world than the rest of us
@longtime that’s an argumentum ad verecundiam fallacy
The logical fallacy that arguments are invalid unless the person is a GM or scout
Fair comment. You can’t always tell from the stats, but a decent amateur can read something out of the stats.
IRT Baty, he had 98 Ks in 340 ABs in AA at age 22. That’s risky. I’ve lost track of the number of rated guys with high K rates that have fizzled out. So many of these projected 30-HR guys become 15-HR guys against pro pitching. Which is fine if you have a glove. But very common if you have no position.
You are right in the sense of bust as not going to be the spark Mets need this year for title push. But long term baty is a G! I’d love to have him playing for my favorite team. Mets should have sent all their top prospects to Angels for ohtani
@big Baty will ultimately be hated by the fan base. If the Mets were smart they’d trade him
He can’t play 3B, won’t be able to play LF very well. They will be losers with Baty in the field
Very nice swing and approach at the plate but that’s something Conforto also had, but those players are not something you really want to be stuck with
Also, Vientos is terrible. Mets probably tried to deal him and nobody wanted him. You have to be careful what you draft because you’re stuck with them for 6 years
Vientos is a no defense high K DH with low BB%. Decent power, but not off the charts
Last thing you want really
Baty has been up for about 5 minutes you dummy. Camden definitely leads the league in bad takes. Just makes things up so he has something to say.
lmao, ok, check back here in a few years
Every fan boy thinks every prospect is going to be great when it’s obvious that just looking at a few games he isn’t going to be
I took one look of an inning of Harvey in AAA and knew he wouldn’t have much of a career. Literally everything I said in my evaluations of Harvey were 100% true
I also said Acuna “stunk” before this season and was canned by the casuals for that “take” also, but I was right (again)
There’s tons of similar “takes” that have been trashed by fans who don’t know what’s going on
I said Tim Anderson is one of the best hitters in the game before he ever did anything. People like you said I was “dumb” then also
You saying Acuna stinks proves that you don’t have a clue. Thankfully you’re not a real scout, just a clown with bad takes.
@roy, no, it means actually that I have a profound understanding of how Acuna will project
I said two years ago his regression would happen and the Braves should trade high. I was absolutely trashed then by fans who don’t get what’s happening
His downfall and regression is actually faster than I originally thought it would be
Everyone will blame his injury but I saw that coming too, because he trashed all his original mechanics, and he was never a great talent to begin with. He’s been playing way over his actual talent
I said before this season that in a couple years he’d be an injury plagued league average OPS+ OF
It is precisely what is happening. He has a 115 OPS+ this year. I saw this coming two years ago
And your profound shock that someone would say Acuna stinks is precisely the problem. Fans, people stuck on the past and a consensus that has emerged. When you challenge the consensus they can’t believe it
But Ive learned over the years not to argue with common people. They all have the same common takes on everything and just wait for the next consensus to emerge
They’re never ahead of the curve. Whenever the popular consensus changes they change right along with it
In a year or two they’ll all be the Baty detractors I was after seeing 6 games of Baty
You’ve got to think and act fast, and most people can’t
I said two years ago his regression would happen and the Braves should trade high.
==================================
But in the last 2 years, with 651 ABs (roughly one season), he has 34 Hrs and 42 SBs, with a 135 OPS+, despite a serious injury. And a 5.7 bWAR.
@joe, lmao, Joe, in a few years, Acuna will be a league average OPS+ player or worse
Just like Heyward, Hanley Ramirez and many others that tailed off
Check back in a few years, you’ll see
The fact that he has a 115 OPS+ already means it’s already happened. Nothing will improve. It’s only going to get worse
I told the Braves to trade him after 2020 because I saw the injury/regression coming
Just as I told the Mets to trade Harvey after 2015
It’s shrewd, but shrewd trades are smart. Sell high on Acuna. If they were smart, they’d trade Acuna to a sucker that thinks he can get back to his old self
There’s reasons I say this. This doesn’t come out of nowhere. You could tell years ago from mechanics, body language these things were coming
It’s also the one guy (myself) who knows what he’s doing that gets trashed by the common people with average or below average minds
Yes, it’s the one guy with “takes” that are unpopular or unusual who knows better than the hordes of average to subpar minds with customary and common assessments and who don’t really know what’s going on, or how to project anything
Nick Morabito was a terrible draft pick, for example. It won’t work out. You can take one look at the Cecchini’s, the Dom Smith’s, Justin Dunn’a on draft day and know they’re terrible picks
I’m curious about who you think is the top 10? I would appreciate your view.
Also, just to clarify: Baty will probably hit. No doubt he’s a good hitter. Should put up some good seasons
But, he’s a major liability defensively and will cost much more wins with defense than his offense makes up for
Also, won’t perform well in clutch situations
Mets should trade him as soon as possible. They will not win with Baty
@san of the top 100 prospects on mlb pipeline the best prospects are:
Alvarez, Grayson Rodriguez, Espino, Henry Davis, Taj Bradley, Bobby Miller, and Waldichuk
honorable mentions to Elijah Greene, Parada, Volpe, Tiedemann, Jason Dominguez, Tyler Soderstrom
Your takes aren’t simply unpopular they are outlandish and incredibly arrogant. What fallacy is it when a person tries to back up their takes by pointing out that everyone disagrees and calling them commoners? I’m still half of a mind that you are a parody account.
Looks like parody to me.
Yea it’s gotta be. Camden is Andy Kaufman-ing us.
IMO, Alvarez and Vientos don’t fit what the Mets have made themselves into. They hit but don’t appear to be very reliable defenders.
Alvarez is a 20 y.o. catcher. To conclude he’s defensively challenged when he’s only 20 is quite a reach. .
Too early to make determination on Vientos’s value to the Mets. He might fit well as DH and spot starter at first and third. should he reign in his high K rate. He has a nice compact swing and power to all fields. Deserves a call up.
Mets however have to do better job obtaining speedy, athletic position players.
LongTimeFan1;
Under Mr. Cohen the Mets are in a transition phase.
The buying of FA’s this past off-season was a temporary move. It cannot be sustained due to the penalties that the Mets will incur. MLB is a young mans sport. Like everyone else, they need good young players
Mr. Cohen has begun to bring key people into analytics and scouting with a very good chance that David Sterns comes on board in the next year or two to oversee Baseball Ops (if not him, someone else). The point is – what the Mets have done in the past with young players is about to change….the types of players acquired; how they’re developed in the minors and worked with in the majors.
I love seeing all of the Mets prospect experts we have in this comment section. Why don’t you guys write the article instead?
I don’t spend my life on something as unchallenging as baseball
Everyone always asks me “why aren’t you a scout then?”, because I have better and more profound things to do with my considerable genius
There are no challenges in being a baseball GM. It’s easy, very easy to see who to draft, which players to sign, which players to get rid of etc
Yes, I could easily turn any team into a perennial powerhouse and be a legendary executive, but it’s too easy, is not much of a challenge. And also, you endlessly have to battle all the common minds (as you do here and everywhere) who will battle you every step of the process
When a genius arises the confederacy of dunces is always in opposition to him
How is physical therapy going for that muscle you tore patting yourself on the back?
@westcoast, yeah, ok, you be me for a few days and battle the hordes and hordes of below average IQs who don’t know what’s going on, who rip into the few that do understand what’s happening, and see how it goes
Every sector of society is flooded with the failures and all they do is battle the 1% of the people who do know what works and how to win
Oh boy we have a legend in his own mind guy
I saw PCA when he was at Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He looked like the real deal and then he was promoted to South Bend. Can’t wait to see him again at Wrigley Field.
Saw PCA Thursday night… I’m impressed! No give away ABs …. he hit 3 rockets including a dinger. Hit a grounder up the middle that the 2B has to range a bit for and surprisingly it was a fairly close play at 1st. He’s got some serious wheels… very much carried himself like he’s been there… clearly confident but not cocky… Cub fans are gonna love this kid!