10 MLB-Ready Prospects That Will Benefit Most from the Free-Agent Frenzy
During the regular season, teams usually call up their top prospects to fill a role that’s been affected by injuries or productivity issues.
While those obviously aren’t relevant concerns in the offseason, teams still have to consider the futures of its top prospects when addressing roster concerns caused by free-agent departures.
In some cases, teams will turn to internal replacements to fill glaring roster holes, as the Reds did with Billy Hamilton this season. Other clubs show more pause in passing the torch to a largely unproven, young player, and instead pursue outside help, potentially blocking a prospect’s path to the major leagues in the process.
However, these 10 players have the potential to benefit from their respective team’s free-agency situations.
Christian Walker, 1B/DH, Baltimore Orioles
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Christian Walker’s 26 home runs this season were a huge improvement on the 11 long balls he hit last year in 103 games. In general, the 23-year-old improved across the board at the plate against advanced pitching, hitting for both average and power (.288/.357/.489, 53 XBH, 96 RBI) between the Double-A and Triple-A levels.
Walker wasn’t expected to reach the major leagues this season, but the suspension of slugger Chris Davis forced the team to call him up in mid-September. The right-handed hitter went just 3-for-18 with nine strikeouts and appeared in only six games but still made a strong impression by blasting the first home run of his career.
It’s possible that the Orioles will lose Nelson Cruz this offseason to free agency, in which case the team would have to replace his MLB-best 40 home runs. However, Davis’ future with the club remains up in the air following his suspension, which means Walker could be looking at a more serious role in 2015.
Jesse Winker, LF, Cincinnati Reds
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One of the more underrated hitters in the minor leagues, Jesse Winker, 21, showcased his mature approach and preternatural bat-to-ball skills this season by batting .317/.426/.580 with 28 extra-base hits and a 46-40 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 53 games at High-A Bakersfield. His production fell off after moving up to Double-A Pensacola, but it didn’t detract from his accomplishments in the California League.
Unfortunately, Winker suffered a partially torn tendon in his right wrist in late July that prematurely ended his season, though the injury did not require surgery. He’s been raking this fall in the Arizona Fall League and likely to begin the 2015 season back at Double-A, but his estimated time of arrival in the major leagues depends on how the Reds choose to replace free agent Ryan Ludwick this offseason.
Eddie Butler, RHP, Colorado Rockies
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Eddie Butler had a forgettable debut in early June, as he gave up six runs over 5.1 innings in a start against the Dodgers. The 23-year-old right-hander showed good stuff in the outing, but he still yielded 10 hits and three walks while tallying just two strikeouts. Following the game, the Rockies placed Butler on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.
Though he didn’t pitch particularly well in the minors after coming off the shelf in mid-July either, the promising right-hander returned to the major leagues in September for his second start and ultimately picked up his first win after allowing one run on five hits over six innings.
Butler posted impressive strikeout numbers in 2012 and 2013, but he suffered a significant regression in that department this year between the Double- and Triple-A levels. His three plus pitches (fastball/slider/changeup) suggest that Butler will return to his bat-missing ways in the future, but it’s still an interesting trend to follow moving forward.
With starter Brett Anderson and swingman Franklin Morales hitting the open market this offseason, Butler should have the opportunity to compete next season for a spot in the Rockies’ rotation, and fellow pitching prospect Jon Gray shouldn’t be far behind him.
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Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
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In Aaron Sanchez’s first taste of the Double- and Triple-A levels this year, the 22-year-old right-hander saw his strikeout (7.5 K/9) and walk (5.1 BB/9) rates trend in opposite directions, though he still managed to hold opposing hitters to a .243 average over 100.1 innings.
Still, Sanchez was rushed up the ladder this year due to the Blue Jays’ struggles in the major leagues and emerged as a major weapon in Toronto’s bullpen following his call-up on July 23, saving three games while registering an impressive 1.09 ERA, 0.697 WHIP and .128 BAA with 27 strikeouts in 33 innings.
Sanchez featured electric stuff out of the bullpen, as the right-hander was able to miss bats even when his command was off. However, the Blue Jays still view him as a starter long term, and there’s a decent chance he’ll return to the minor leagues next season to continue developing in that role.
But with closer Casey Janssen entering free agency and likely to at least draw modest interest due to a thin market, deploying Sanchez in the ninth inning next year may be the best all-around choice for the Blue Jays.
Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Corey Seager put up huge numbers in 2014, amassing 75 extra-base hits and leading all minor leaguers with 50 doubles. In general, Seager is one of best pure hitters in the minor leagues, with the potential to hit .280-plus and 20 home runs annually at maturity while driving in plenty of runs in the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup.
There are questions as to whether he will stick at shortstop or need to move to third base long term, but he’s continually surpassed expectations at his natural position and should be able to hold his own for at least the first few years of his big league career.
However, with only a month of Double-A baseball under his belt, Seager wouldn’t serve as an immediate replacement to Hanley Ramirez next season should the Dodgers decide not to re-sign Ramirez this offseason. He also probably wouldn’t debut before mid-to-late 2015, at the earliest, though the remainder of his developmental timeline will also depend on any changes (signings, trades, other promotions) at the position made this season by the Dodgers.
Basically, Seager's best chance of reaching the major leagues next season will come if the Dodgers don't re-sign Ramirez or make a significant upgrade at the position this winter.
Dalton Pompey, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
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Dalton Pompey, a 21-year-old switch-hitter, emerged as one the game’s more intriguing power-speed prospects this year, excelling at four different levels and finishing with an impressive showing in the major leagues as a September call-up.
He finished his second full professional season in the minors with a .313/.388/.462 batting line, nine home runs, nine triples, 20 doubles, 43 stolen bases and an 84-52 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 494 plate appearances (112 games) across three levels.
Pompey offers a high-end combination of hit-speed potential while also playing a solid center field—all attributes he showcased during his time in the major leagues. Though he’s still young and relatively raw, Pompey should receive serious consideration for a spot on next year’s Opening Day roster, especially if the Blue Jays are unable or unwilling to sign Melky Cabrera and/or Colby Rasmus.
Aaron Nola, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
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Aaron Nola, 21, was assigned to High-A Clearwater of the Florida State League following his selection by the Phillies with the No. 7 overall pick. There, he registered a 3.16 ERA and 30-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 31.1 innings.
Nola fared even better after moving up to Double-A Reading in early August, pitching to a 2.63 ERA over 24 innings, but he had his strikeout rate halved against more advanced hitters in the Eastern League.
Between both levels, Nola walked just 10 batters in 55.1 innings (1.7 BB/9) and held opposing hitters to a .240 batting average.
The Phillies drafted Nola expecting him to fly through the team’s farm system, and so far, that’s gone as planned. And with A.J. Burnett and Kyle Kendrick hitting the open market, it would seem as though there might be a rotation spot waiting for him once he’s ready.
Steven Moya, OF/DH, Detroit Tigers
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Steven Moya was named MVP of the Double-A Eastern League this year after leading the circuit in home runs (35), RBI (105), extra-base hits (71) and slugging percentage (.555)—all career highs. On top of that, his 35 bombs, 286 total bases, 71 extra-base hits and 105 RBI were single-season franchise records for Erie.
The Tigers rewarded Moya for his breakout performance with a September call-up—a decision that was made easier by the 23-year-old outfielder’s spot on the team’s 40-man roster—and he held his own with three hits and two runs scored in eight plate appearances.
The Tigers will have to find some power for next season if they’re unable to re-sign Victor Martinez, who’s likely to be highly sought after this winter. Moya has plenty of that, and he’s a better fit at designated hitter than he is in the outfield. He’s at least worth consideration for the role given his power frequency (.567 slugging in 2014) against right-handed pitching.
Hunter Strickland, RHP, San Francisco Giants
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Hunter Strickland, 26, saved 11 games between High-A San Jose and Double-A Richmond this season, posting a 2.09 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, .194 BAA and a ridiculous 13.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 38.2 innings (41 appearances).
The 6’4” right-hander made his big league debut Sept. 1, throwing a scoreless eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies, and finished the regular season with nine strikeouts and five hits allowed over seven scoreless innings.
The postseason was a different story for Strickland, though, as he allowed six home runs in 8.1 innings, and let his emotions get the best of him during a near-confrontation with Salvador Perez.
That all being said, Strickland’s stuff was nasty—the kind of stuff that legitimately belongs at the back end of a bullpen—which was why Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy continued to call upon the right-hander in the postseason.
Sergio Romo is now a free agent, and the Giants have no reason to bring him back next season with Santiago Casilla handling the ninth inning. Therefore, a case can be made that Bochy used the postseason to groom Strickland for a late-inning role in 2015. Dude has the potential to be a monster next year with improved fastball command.
Jason Rogers, 1B/OF, Milwaukee Brewers
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Jason Rogers was called up by the Brewers in September after arguably his finest minor league campaign, as the 26-year-old right-handed hitter batted .296/.365/.489 with 18 home runs, 29 doubles, six triples, 82 RBI and a 94-53 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 134 games between Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville.
He didn’t see much playing time over the final month of the regular season and appeared in only eight games, but he did pick up his first knock, a double, in his first career plate appearance.
The Brewers are set to lose both Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay this offseason, but they’ll likely pursue another free-agent first baseman rather than promote from within.
That being said, Rogers could have a chance to serve as LaRoche’s backup next season, or possibly even more given his ability to hit left-handed pitching.
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