Post by rog on Mar 20, 2019 14:53:16 GMT -5
In what could possibly be a model for a Joey Bart contract a year from now, the White Sox are said to be signing top prospect Eloy Jimenez to a 6/$42.5 deal with two option years that could bring the contract to 8/$75. In theory, the Sox are acquiring an option on Jimenez's first two years of potential free agency, but in reality they had a valid reason for playing the service time game with Jimenez, who had a poor Spring Training and has already been sent down. So they're really likely only buying one year of control.
Not sure I like this move so well from them, although I like the idea and would feel stronger about it if the Sox were truly buying two years instead of one. Having Jimenez -- who hit .355 in AA, .317 in AAA and .458 in the Dominican Winter League in 2018 -- on my fantasy team, I'm delighted. If Jimenez has gotten himself back together in minor league camp, this removes the financial disincentive to bring him back up to open the season.
To Jimenez's credit, he apologized for his poor spring, saying he was likely pressing, and said that it was right for the White Sox to send him down. Jimenez projects to be close to a .300 major league hitter with power. Only 22, he has a .311 career minor league average, and .392 in his two seasons in the Dominican Winter League. He is the #3 overall prospect in baseball.
If he has a good season beginning with his opening stint in San Jose this year, Bart could be a top 10 prospect a year from now. He's already ranked from the top 20's to the top 40's despite having played just 51 minor league games. If the Giants were to trade Brandon Belt between now and then, Bart could in theory begin the 2020 season behind the plate, with Buster moving to first base. Maybe Belt will finally have that healthy breakout season in 2019, and the Giants will keep him, utilizing the trio between catcher, first base and left field.
But as the Giants look to the future, it would seem to make sense to trade Belt even if he has that breakout season. He should then have good trade value, and he'll be 31 a month from today, and has a fair amount of his value stem from his excellent defensive work at first base (whereas he's merely passable as a left fielder).
Boagie mentioned in another thread that we shouldn't expect Sean Hjelle, the Giants' 2nd-round draft pick in 2018, to have already developed much of a prospect ranking -- and he's right. That said, while Belt didn't play organized ball at all in his 2009 draft year, after his first year in professional ball in 2010, he was ranked the #23 overall prospect in baseball. And Belt was merely a 5th-round pick.
Not sure I like this move so well from them, although I like the idea and would feel stronger about it if the Sox were truly buying two years instead of one. Having Jimenez -- who hit .355 in AA, .317 in AAA and .458 in the Dominican Winter League in 2018 -- on my fantasy team, I'm delighted. If Jimenez has gotten himself back together in minor league camp, this removes the financial disincentive to bring him back up to open the season.
To Jimenez's credit, he apologized for his poor spring, saying he was likely pressing, and said that it was right for the White Sox to send him down. Jimenez projects to be close to a .300 major league hitter with power. Only 22, he has a .311 career minor league average, and .392 in his two seasons in the Dominican Winter League. He is the #3 overall prospect in baseball.
If he has a good season beginning with his opening stint in San Jose this year, Bart could be a top 10 prospect a year from now. He's already ranked from the top 20's to the top 40's despite having played just 51 minor league games. If the Giants were to trade Brandon Belt between now and then, Bart could in theory begin the 2020 season behind the plate, with Buster moving to first base. Maybe Belt will finally have that healthy breakout season in 2019, and the Giants will keep him, utilizing the trio between catcher, first base and left field.
But as the Giants look to the future, it would seem to make sense to trade Belt even if he has that breakout season. He should then have good trade value, and he'll be 31 a month from today, and has a fair amount of his value stem from his excellent defensive work at first base (whereas he's merely passable as a left fielder).
Boagie mentioned in another thread that we shouldn't expect Sean Hjelle, the Giants' 2nd-round draft pick in 2018, to have already developed much of a prospect ranking -- and he's right. That said, while Belt didn't play organized ball at all in his 2009 draft year, after his first year in professional ball in 2010, he was ranked the #23 overall prospect in baseball. And Belt was merely a 5th-round pick.