New York Yankees: Jesus Montero and Just over a Decade of Prospects

Recently I wrote an article about the New York Yankees and what it might take for them to acquire 26-year-old left-handed starter John Danks from the Chicago White Sox.

The deal included three Yankees prospects—Brandon Laird, Zoilo Almonte and Dellin Betances.

Notice Jesus Montero and Manny Banuelos are not included.

Including Betances was a deal-breaker for some—there was simply no way they would trade a "top prospect," even in exchange for established major league talent.

While I am not a proponent of reverting back to the heyday of George Steinbrenner that saw him trade off prospects at a pace that resembled Usain Bolt running the 100-yard dash, sometimes it is better to trade a prospect while his perceived value is high rather than to wait until he becomes exposed in the major leagues.

Lets take a look back at the Yankees' top-10 prospects every year since 2001 and see who lived up to the hype of being labeled a "top prospect."

All Top 10 lists are courtesy of Baseball America—you may need a premium subscription to their service to view the detailed lists on their site.

2001: Nick Johnson Leads the Way

Top 10 Prospects of 2001

1. Nick Johnson, 1B
2. Alfonso Soriano, 2B
3. D'Angelo Jimenez, SS
4. Adrian Hernandez, RHP
5. Alex Graman, LHP
6. Randy Keisler, LHP
7. Erick Almonte, SS
8. Deivi Mendez, SS
9. Wily Mo Pena, OF
10. Todd Noel, RHP

Stars

Without question, only Alfonso Soriano fits the bill. A seven-time All-Star, from 2002 through 2006 Soriano was a perennial MVP candidate and one of the most exciting players in the game. Injuries would begin to affect him in 2007 and he has battled them since. 

Solid But Not Spectacular

Nick Johnson: Career .270 hitter with 91 HR and 387 RBI over nine seasons. Spent 2011 in the minor league system of the Cleveland Indians. Currently a free agent.

D'Angelo Jimenez: Career .263 hitter with 36 HR and 228 RBI over eight seasons. Last played for the Washington Nationals in 2007; spent 2011 in Mexico.

Wily Mo Pena:  Career .250 hitter with 84 HR and 240 RBI over eight seasons. Signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan at the end of November.

Forgettable

Adrian Hernandez: Career record of 0-6 with a 6.55 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 44 innings pitched. Last played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2004; spent 2010 in Mexico.

Alex Graman: Career record of 0-0 with a 18.47 ERA and 3.32 WHIP over 6.1 innings pitched. Last played for the Yankees in 2005; spent 2010 in Japan.

Randy Keisler: Career record of 4-4 with a 6.63 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 150.2 innings pitched. Split 2011 between Triple-A teams for the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Erick Almonte: Career .233 hitter with two HR and 14 RBI in133 AB, including 39 with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011.

Never Saw the Majors

Deivi Mendez: Last played for the Yankees Triple-A team in 2005.

Todd Noel: Last played for the Yankees High-A team in 2000.

2002: Drew Henson Steps Under Center

Top 10 Prospects of 2002

1. Drew Henson, 3B
2. Nick Johnson, 1B*
3. Brandon Claussen, LHP
4. John-Ford Griffin, OF
5. Juan Rivera, OF
6. Sean Henn, LHP
7. Marcus Thames, OF
8. Erick Almonte, SS*
9. Jason Arnold, RHP
10. Bronson Sardinha, SS

 *Player already discussed in a previous slide.

Stars

None.  

Solid But Not Spectacular

Juan Rivera: Career .277 hitter with 123 HR and 492 RBI over 11 seasons. Re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in November.

Marcus Thames: Career ,246 hitter with 115 HR and 301 RBI over 10 seasons. Last played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2011.

Forgettable

Drew Henson: Career .111 hitter in nine AB. Equally as inept as a quarterback in the NFL. Last played for the Yankees in 2003.

Brandon Claussen: Career record of 16-27 with a 5.04 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 316 innings pitched. Last played for Washington's Triple-A team in 2007.

Sean Henn: Career record of 2-6 with a 7.56 ERA and 2.01 WHIP over 81 innings pitched. Signed with the Seattle Mariners in November.

Randy Keisler: Career record of 4-4 with a 6.63 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 150.2 innings pitched. Spent 2011 with the Los Angeles Dodgers Triple-A team. Currently a free agent.

John-Ford Griffin: Career .304 hitter with two HR and nine RBI in 23 AB. Last played for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007; spent 2010 with an Independent team.

Bronson Sardinha: Career .333 hitter with two RBI in nine AB. Last played for the Yankees in 2007; spent 2011 with the Minnesota Twins Triple-A team.

Never Saw the Majors

Jason Arnold: Last played in Triple-A for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2006.

2003: Here's to You, Mr. Robinson

Top 10 Prospects of 2003

1. Juan Rivera, OF*
2. Bronson Sardinha, SS*
3. Brandon Claussen, LHP*
4. Drew Henson, 3B*
5. Chien-Ming Wang, RHP
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Danny Borrell, LHP
8. Julio DePaula, RHP
9. Rudy Guillen, OF
10. Sean Henn, LHP*

 *Player already discussed in a previous slide.

Stars

Robinson Cano: Currently the best 2B in baseball and a perennial MVP candidate.  

Solid But Not Spectacular

Chien-Ming Wang: Career record of 59-29 with a 4.14 ERA and 1.33 WHIP over 733 innings pitched. Re-signed with the Washington Nationals last month.

Forgettable

Julio DePaula: Career record of 0-1 with a 8.55 ERA and 2.00 WHIP over 20 innings pitched for the Minnesota Twins in 2007.

Never Saw the Majors

Danny Borrell: Last played for the Oakland A's Triple-A team in 2008.

Rudy Guillen: Last played for the Yankees Rookie League team in 2007.

2004: Dioner Navarro Breaks onto the Scene

Top 10 Prospects of 2004

1. Dioner Navarro, C
2. Eric Duncan, 3B
3. Rudy Guillen, OF*
4. Joaquin Arias, SS
5. Ramon Ramirez, RHP
6. Robinson Cano, 2B*
7. Ferdin Tejada, SS
8. Julio DePaula, RHP*
9. Estee Harris, OF
10. Bronson Sardinha, 3B*

 *Player already discussed in a previous slide.

Stars

None. 

Solid But Not Spectacular

Dioner Navarro: Career .244 hitter with 39 HR and 137 RBI over eight seasons. Currently a free agent.

Ramon Ramirez: Solid middle reliever with a career record of 20-17 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 364.1 innings pitched. Traded to the New York Mets from San Francisco earlier this month.

Forgettable

Joaquin Arias: Career .277 hitter with 23 RBI in 257 AB over four seasons. Currently a free agent.

Never Saw the Majors

Ferdin Tejada: Last played for an independent team in 2009.

Estee Harris: Last played for an independent team in 2010.

Eric Duncan: Spent 2011 in Double-A for the St. Louis Cardinals.

2005: Here Comes Hughes

Top 10 Prospects of 2005

1. Eric Duncan, 3B*
2. Robinson Cano, 2B*
3. Phil Hughes, RHP
4. Steven White, RHP
5. Dioner Navarro, C*
6. Christian Garcia, RHP
7. Marcos Vechionacci, IF
   
8. Melky Cabrera, OF
9. Bronson Sardinha, 3B*
10. Chien-Ming Wang, RHP*

 *Player already discussed in a previous slide.

Stars

None. 

Solid But Not Spectacular

Phil Hughes: Still has a chance to blossom into a star but needs to show that his injury-riddled 2011 season was an outlier and not the norm.

Melky Cabrera: Career .275 hitter with 58 HR and 375 RBI over seven seasons. Traded from the Kansas City Royals to the San Francisco Giants in November.

Forgettable

None.

Never Saw the Majors

Steven White: Last played for Yankees Triple-A team in 2008.

Marcos Vechionacci: Last played for Yankees Double-A team in 2010.

Christian Garcia: Spent 2011 in Single-A for the Washington Nationals.

2006: Action Jackson Breaks into the Top 10

Top 10 Prospects of 2006

1. Phil Hughes, RHP*
2. Eric Duncan, 3B*
3. Jose Tabata, OF
4. C.J. Henry, SS
5. Austin Jackson, OF
6. Eduardo Nunez, SS
7. Marcos Vechionacci, 3B*
8. Christian Garcia, RHP*
9. Jeff Marquez, RHP
   
10. Tyler Clippard, RHP

*Player already discussed in a previous year.

Stars

None.  

Solid But Not Spectacular

Jose Tabata: Career .284 hitter with eight HR and 56 RBI over two seasons. Current starting LF for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Austin Jackson: Career .274 hitter with 14 HR and 86 RBI over two seasons. Current starting CF for the Detroit Tigers.

Eduardo Nunez: Career .267 hitter with six HR and 37 RBI over two seasons. Horrific fielder. Current utility IF for the Yankees.

Tyler Clippard: Career record of 22-12 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 277 innings pitched. One of the best setup men in baseball for the Washington Nationals.

Forgettable

Jeff Marquez: Career record of 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over five innings pitched.

Never Saw the Majors

C.J. Henry: Last played in High-A for the Yankees in 2008. Current starting shooting guard for Southern Nazarene University's Men's Basketball Team.

2007: A Killer B Sighting

Top 10 Prospects of 2007

1. Phil Hughes, RHP*
2. Jose Tabata, OF*
3. Dellin Betances, RHP
4. Joba Chamberlain, RHP
5. Ian Kennedy, RHP
6. Christian Garcia, RHP*
7. Tyler Clippard, RHP*
8. J Brent Cox, RHP
9. Mark Melancon, RHP
   
10. Brett Gardner, OF

*Player already discussed in a previous year.

Stars

None.

Solid But Not Spectacular

Joba Chamberlain: Career record of 20-17 with a 3.70 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 382 innings pitched. Currently recovering from Tommy John surgery and will start 2012 on the disabled list.

Ian Kennedy: Had a breakout 2011 for the Arizona Diamondbacks, going 20-4 with a 2.88 ERA. Career record of 31-18 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 475.2 innings pitched.

Mark Melancon: Career record of 10-5 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 112 innings to go along with 20 saves. Current closer for the Boston Red Sox.

Brett Gardner: Career .264 hitter with 15 HR, 122 RBI and 134 SB over four seasons. Arguably the fastest player in baseball.

Forgettable

None.

Too Early to Make a Call on

Dellin Betances: Threw 2.2 innings with the Yankees in 2011, likely to start 2012 in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Never Saw the Majors

J Brent Cox: Last played for the Yankees Double-A team in 2010.

2008: Jesus Arrives

Top 10 Prospects of 2008

1. Joba Chamberlain, RHP*
2. Austin Jackson, OF*
3. Jose Tabata, OF*
4. Ian Kennedy, RHP*
5. Alan Horne, RHP
6. Jesus Montero, C
7. Jeff Marquez, RHP*
8. Brett Gardner, OF*
9. Russ Ohlendorf, RHP
10. Andrew Brackman, RHP

*Player already discussed in a previous year.

Stars

None.

Solid But Not Spectacular

None.

Forgettable

Ross Ohlendorf: Career record of 14-28 with a 4.77 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 392.2 innings pitched. Released by the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 7, currently a free agent.

Andrew Brackman: Battled injury and inconsistency in 2011, throwing 2.1 innings of relief with the Yankees where he walked three. Signed with the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Too Early to Make a Call on

Jesus Montero: Showed massive offensive potential as a September addition to the Yankees roster in 2011. Expected to start the 2012 season as the Yankees DH/Backup Catcher.

Never Saw the Majors

Alan Horne: Now 28, Horne is still recovering from 2010 surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. Appeared in two games for the Yankees Double-A affiliate in 2011.

2009: Andrew Brackman and a Whole Lot of Pitching

Top 10 Prospects of 2009

1. Austin Jackson, OF*
2. Jesus Montero, C*
3. Andrew Brackman, RHP*
4. Austin Romine, C
5. Dellin Betances, RHP*
6. Zach McCallister, RHP
7. Alfredo Aceves, RHP
8. Phil Coke, LHP
9. Mark Melancon, RHP*
10. Bradley Suttle, 3B

*Player already discussed in a previous year.

Stars

None.

Solid But Not Spectacular

Alfredo Aceves: Career record of 24-3 with a 2.97 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 240 innings pitched. Currently a long reliever/spot starter for the Boston Red Sox.

Phil Coke: Career record of 14-17 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 248 innings pitched. Currently a middle reliever for the Detroit Tigers.

Forgettable

None.

Too Early to Make a Call on

Austin Romine: Hit .158 in nine games with the Yankees in 2011, expected to compete for the backup catcher role in 2012. 

Zach McAllister: Started four games for the Cleveland Indians in 2011, going 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA and 1.87 WHIP over 17.2 innings pitched. Was traded to Cleveland by the Yankees in 2010 for Austin Kearns.

Never Saw the Majors

Bradley Suttle: Spent 2011 with the Yankees Double-A team, hitting .215 with nine HR and 47 RBI.

2010: Year of the Catcher

Top 10 Prospects of 2010

1. Jesus Montero, C*
2. Austin Romine, C*
3. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP*
4. Slade Heathcott, OF
5. Zach McAllister, RHP*
6. Manny Banuelos, LHP
7. Gary Sanchez, C
8. J.R. Murphy, C
9. Jeremy Bleich, LHP
10. Andrew Brackman, RHP*

*Player already discussed in a previous year.

Too Early to Make a Call on

Arodys Vizcaino: Career record of 1-1 with a 4.67 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 17.1 innings of relief for the Atlanta Braves in 2011. Was part of the trade that bought Javier Vazquez back to New York in 2010. 

Zach McAllister: Started four games for the Cleveland Indians in 2011, going 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA and 1.87 WHIP over 17.2 innings pitched. Was traded to Cleveland by the Yankees in 2010 for Austin Kearns.

Yet to Debut in the Majors

Slade Heathcott: Split 2011 between the Yankees Single-A and High-A teams; hit a combined .279 with 5 HR and 17 RBI.

Manny Banuelos: Split 2011 between the Yankees Double-A and Triple-A teams; had a combined record of 6-7 with a 3.75 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 129.2 innings pitched.

Gary Sanchez: Spent 2011 with the Yankees Single-A team; hit .256 with 17 HR and 52 RBI.

J.R. Murphy: Split 2011 between the Yankees Single-A and High-A team; hit a combined .287 with seven HR and 46 RBI.

Jeremy Bleich: Missed all of 2011 recovering from 2010 shoulder surgery.

2011: Noesi and Laird Make Their Debuts

Top 10 Prospects of 2010

1. Jesus Montero, C*
2. Gary Sanchez, C*
3. Dellin Betances, RHP*
4. Manny Banuelos, LHP*
5. Andrew Brackman, RHP
6. Austin Romine, C*
7. Hector Noesi, RHP
8. Eduardo Nunez, SS/3B*
9. Slade Heathcott, OF*
10. Brandon Laird, 3B

*Player already discussed in a previous year.

Too Early to Make a Call on

Hector Noesi: Spent most of 2011 with the Yankees as a long reliever and spot starter. Career record of 2-2 with a 4.47 ERA and 1.51 WHIP over 56.1 innings pitched. Could return to full-time starting duty in 2012.

Brandon Laird: Hit .190 with a RBI in 21 AB for the Yankees in 2011, expected to compete for a reserve role in 2012.

Final Thoughts

Ten years of top-10 lists would lead you to believe that 100 different players were just looked at.

After removing duplicates, there have been 63 players to be deemed worthy of top-10 status.

Of those 63 players, two can be labeled legitimate stars: Alfonso Soriano and Robinson Cano.

That's it.

Two players from a pool of 63—that works out to just over three percent.

Perhaps those numbers are skewed a bit, seeing as how the majority of prospects from 2009 onward have had minimal major league experience.

That's a fair point.

So lets just look at the period from 2001 through 2006, which gives us a pool of 40 players to evaluate.

Again we have two stars, but this time out of 40 players—which works out to five percent.

Perhaps trading some "top prospects" for players with established success in the major leagues is not such a bad idea after all.

Food for thought.