New York Yankees Top 20 Prospects

by John Sickels on Feb 20, 2005 9:39 AM EST in News

Eric Duncan, 3B, B+
Phil Hughes, RHP, B
Marcos Vechionacci, 3B-SS, B
Steven White, RHP, B-
Chien-Ming Wang, RHP, B-
Melky Cabrera, OF, B-
Robinson Cano, 2B, B-
Bronson Sardinha, OF-3B, C+
Christian Garcia, RHP, C+
Tyler Clippard, RHP, C+
Abel Gomez, LHP, C+
Brett Smith, RHP, C+
Eric Abreu, RHP, C+
Jesse Hoover, RHP, C+
Erold Andrus, OF, C+
Colter Bean, RHP, C+
Alex Graman, LHP, C
Rudy Guillen, OF, C
Ramon Ramirez, RHP, C
Jeff Marquez, RHP, C

A weak system. In some ways, rating mediocre systems like this is more difficult than rating loaded systems. There really isn't much difference between the players on spots four through ten.
The Yankees have one guy who looks like a potential star in Eric Duncan. Hughes and Vechionacci have good scouting reports, but neither has played enough for us to get a true objective read on their talents. Either or both could move up to B+ this year. . .or drop down considerably.
The big batch of B-/C+ guys are all very similar in the sense that they have something going for them but also have significant questionmarks of one kind or another in their profile. Traditionalists will scoff at Colter Bean's C+, since he doesn't throw hard, but his performance has been undeniably good and he deserves a chance. Other Grade C types not on the list include T.J. Beam, Matt DeSalvo, Sean Henn, Jason Jones, Maximo Nelson, Tim Battle. You could swap them with any of the other Grade Cs without hurting the list. Minor league vet Andy Phillips can hit if someone will give him a chance, but is too old at 28 to put on high on a prospect list.
As usual, feel free to critique and comment. I will be back this evening to defend myself.

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Comments

Bean

I think it's a shame that a guy like Colter Bean is stuck in the Yankees system. As you said, he doesn't exactly light up a radar gun, and so a lot of the more traditional teams will be less enthusiastic about giving him a decent shot in the show. On the flip side, some of the more stat oriented teams (such as the A's, Sox and Dodgers) already have pretty well filled their rosters and don't have a large, pressing need for a pitcher. And since the Yankees don't typically promote from within unless forced to (when their checkbook can't plug gaps), Bean strikes me as the type of guy who needs to get lucky to get a shot, and then take full advantage of that opportunity.

by RVachon on Feb 20, 2005 9:50 AM EST reply actions

We Could Use Him...

I know my Cubs could use Colter Beam...geez our bullpen is weak...

John, I've been hearing alot of stuff of Tyler Clippard becoming a reliever. Why would the Yankees do it? The kid was only 19 this year, and his fastball and curveball are all major league pitches.

Christian Garcia seems like a very interesting prospect, he K's a ton of guys, only gave up one HR in his short time in Rookie ball, but has pretty bad control. What kind of stuff does he have?

by SenorGato88 on Feb 20, 2005 11:36 AM EST reply actions

Garcia's Stuff

Garcia has a curveball that BA says grades out as major league average right now and has the potential to be a plus plus pitch. His fastball sits about 93 right now and he has hit 97 on several occasions. He's only been pitching one year and it's believed that he should eventually throw mid to high 90s.

...NJASDJDH...

by Fabian on Feb 20, 2005 12:22 PM EST reply actions

Robinson Cano

John, you mentioned how each of the players has a flaw, what is Robinson Cano's major flaw?

...NJASDJDH...

by Fabian on Feb 20, 2005 12:23 PM EST reply actions

cano

He has one really good half-season under his belt. His other numbers are pretty mediocre. There are also serious questions about his defense, which have hurt his trade value.

by John Sickels on Feb 20, 2005 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

Marcos Vechionacci

I wouldn't put Vechionacci up there off of scouting reports, the impression I've gotten from people I've talked to is not that he grades out like some super prospect. The again if you were considering the Seven Skill point of view he would look better since his eye/approach is his best tool. I would put him up there based on his performance in the DSL,GCL, and NYPL though those leagues are very far away.

...NJASDJDH...

by Fabian on Feb 20, 2005 12:25 PM EST reply actions

Estee Harris

What has happened to Estee Harris? Wasn't he supposed to be good?

by mrmetaa on Feb 20, 2005 12:57 PM EST reply actions

Hmm

He had a horrible season.

I'm intrigued by alot of the Yankees lower level prospects, especially Vechionacci, but yea, for whatever reason, the Yankees just don't develop guys that well anymore, ESPECIALLY pitchers.

Actually their not bad developing prospects, I know if he was healthy, Nick Johnson would be a star by now and he's my guy I picked to break out big this year.

But yea, something is wrong with their pitching development.

by SenorGato88 on Feb 20, 2005 1:11 PM EST reply actions

"Beane Gets Bean"

I for one would like to see the A's trade for Colter Bean- even if it were just to see how many times the AP story would erroneously write "Beane" instead of "Bean" and vice-versa. :)

by CatsBack2Back on Feb 20, 2005 2:35 PM EST reply actions

Hoover and Hughes

I think Hoover deserves a little more love in the rankings. Maybe his control was a little shaky at times, but he flat out dominated last year. I think Hughes is going to be huge for the Yanks in about four years -- of course he'll probably be somewhere else by then.

by AaronMullen on Feb 20, 2005 4:31 PM EST reply actions

Hoover deserving more love

If Hoover gets some more love, then I would guess the same has to be done for Eric Abreu who was even more dominating last season.

...NJASDJDH...

by Fabian on Feb 20, 2005 5:23 PM EST up reply actions

Hoover vs. Abreu

And in my above comment I'm referring to strikeout rate and walk rate wise and the continuation of the domination at the High A.

...NJASDJDH...

by Fabian on Feb 20, 2005 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

hoover

Hoover has a 95 MPH fastball, but his breaking ball is erratic, his control is shaky, and he's already 23. He has natural talent but there are enough question marks right now to keep his grade at C+ in my opinion.

by John Sickels on Feb 20, 2005 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

Ben Sheets

If the Yankees rotation has any kind of problems the first half of the season and the Brewers look to deal Ben Sheets, do the Yankees have any considerable talent that could swing a deal? Their farm is desolate, but the teams with the best systems don't have their cash flow.

by Ienpw on Feb 20, 2005 6:06 PM EST reply actions

Sheets

Isn't going anywhere this year. The only reason they would get rid of him is if he was a salary burden. They will have him locked into a reasonable contract the next two seasons. And no, they don't have enough talent to get him, at least in their farm system.

by slurve on Feb 20, 2005 6:19 PM EST reply actions

Sheets to Sox ?

I've heard lots of rumors that the Sox will give Milwaukee Hanley Ramirez for Sheets in mid-season if they're contending and the Brews aren't...

by reviser273 on Feb 20, 2005 6:57 PM EST up reply actions

Where did it come from

This seems almost entirely a creation of the Boston media, especially following the Renteria signing. After all, now Ramirez can be traded, and Sheets seems like a good target. Therefore, the Red Sox will make it happen, because we want it to happen.

by b on Feb 21, 2005 12:50 AM EST up reply actions

JJ Hardy

Red Sox fans better hope JJ Hardy plays bad.

by Ienpw on Feb 21, 2005 3:16 AM EST up reply actions

Inane

Sheets to the Red Sox is the most ridiculous thing I've heard this spring. Skepticism is a good thing, people.

by Flynn Blake on Feb 21, 2005 10:29 PM EST up reply actions

Sheets

I think he only has a one year deal as of right now.

by AaronMullen on Feb 21, 2005 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

Erold Andrus

Andrus is being made into a 1B by the organization.

...NJASDJDH...

by Fabian on Feb 20, 2005 8:17 PM EST reply actions

Everyone could have had Bean, twice

In 2003, every team passed on Bean in the first round of the Rule 5 draft. The Sox took him in round 2, and he lasted less than 2 weeks in their Spring Training.

by SJ on Feb 20, 2005 9:06 PM EST reply actions

Cano

I guess I should have nominated Cano in the most overrated prospect thread the other day. That he still gets talked up as some kind of top prospect (not pointing at John here, by the way) amazes me.

I've seen Cano play a lot, and I'm not even sure he'd be a productive Triple-A player. Let's start with his defense; it's brutal. He has terrible footwork and simply lacks any kind of instincts around the bag. There's no way you want him playing up the middle. He might have the raw speed to not be awful in left field, but that's about as kind as I can be regarding his glovework.

Offensively, he's a fastball hitter. He sits dead red on every pitch and waits for a mistake. Any good breaking ball or offspeed pitch will have him out in front. He's mostly a gap hitter, lacking the power to drive the ball consistently over the wall. To add insult to injury, he's also a terrible baserunner.

In his prime, I think he could hit .280/.320/.400 while playing awful defense. Yipee.

by david cameron on Feb 20, 2005 10:17 PM EST reply actions

Bump for a good laugh

hahahaha

Wyrd bith ful araed.

by Brien Taylors Ligament on Sep 14, 2006 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

cano

I'm not quite as pessimistic about his offense, but I agree with your concerns about his glove. I know that his glove hurt his trade value a lot last summer.

by John Sickels on Feb 21, 2005 12:19 AM EST reply actions