Prospect Insider - Eight days

Eight days

By Jason A. Churchill

By 02-05-2011

There are 8 days between now and the day pitchers and catchers report for spring training on February 13 -- the rest of the squad will report no later than February 18 with the first full-squad workout slated for the day after.

The M's first spring game is the annual charity game versus the San Diego on the 27th with their first Cactus League matchup the following day against the same Padres.

Minor leaguers won't report until the second week of March, though these dates are more of a deadline than the day most players show up for camp.

In any case, we'll be here daily to round up the thoughts and ideas as the club heads closer to the 2011 season; lending you all anything you might need to get yourself ready.

Gross added to OF mix
The Mariners announced via press release Friday that they have signed Gabe Gross to a minor league deal, adding the 31-year-old to the competition for the final spot on the roster that could come down to Ryan Langerhans, Jody Gerut and Gross.

Gross, a left-handed hitter, is a former first-round pick but hasn't been good in any capacity since 2008 when he posted a .356 OBP versus right-handed pitching.

His swing is still sound but he's lost some bat speed and carries limited value outside the batter's box. Gerut and 'Hans probably have the inside track here.

Former Mariners on the move?
The Texas Rangers are still talking trade with Michael Young, and the latest rumor has the Colorado Rockies offering Jose Lopez to the Rangers in return for Young. It would be a salary dump for Texas, which is all they are really looking to do.

The Rockies, however, don't have the payroll space to take on Young's contract unless another big contract is sent packing as well.

Todd Helton's deal is the first that comes to mind, but his presence in such a trade makes no sense since the Rangers wouldn't accomplish their No. 1 goal, which is to create some flexibility so they can sign another player -- perhaps Russell Branyan or a reliever.

Another outside possibility is right-hander Aaron Cook, who is set to make $9.25 million. More players might have to be involved, but Cook is a good fit for Texas, who could then leave Neftali Feliz in the bullpen.

Lopez, if he stays in Colorado, might go for 30 homers in 2011 if he gets the playing time. He'll still be average defensively and fail to get on base at a satisfactory clip, but that's Jose.

2011 Draft
The amateur season starts in a few weeks -- I'll have a preview coming up late next week -- but it's worth noting that the state of Washington has another solid crop of prospects.

I'll go in depth next week, and will also have a piece on the possibility of the trading of draft picks, but the area has a few potential first-day picks in left-hander Blake Snell from Shorewood HS and Redmond's Dylan Davis and Michael Conforto.

Two other notes to pass along ... with the chance that the CBA changes the draft in terms of the money available for each club to spend starting in 2012 -- which would come in the form of slotting, which I do not like -- clubs may choose to splurge on this year's class, which is a good one on which to do so.

I would highly recommend the Mariners following suit, as the result of limited funds being available will mean more kids passing on signing and playing college ball instead, and the risk involved in drafting such prospects skyrockets.

Even if the M's have to pass on the international market altogether next summer in order to spend more on the draft, that's what they should do. Besides, if you've hung around here for long you know how I feel about spending millions in Venezuela and the Dominican.

The Tampa Bay Rays have a terrific farm system -- eight of their top 10 landed in Keith Law's Top 100 -- and not one of them were signed off the internationally market.

That's right, they've built their farm system through the draft -- and a trade here and there. And they don't just collect prospects, they scout, draft and sign future big leaguers, and have received star performance from many of them.

eight-days

Comments
The following 10 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: Dregur on 02-05-2011 12:07:58
Felix Hernandez?

I know, I know. It was like catching lightning in a bottle, but I'm not sure if anyone knew for absolute certainty that King Felix was going to be this great.

Also, I think Tampa's farm system has had some help with some really bad teams before 2007. Yes, they scouted, drafted, and scouted well, but having top 10 picks for a decade makes things a little bit easier.

2. By: gwangung on 02-05-2011 12:17:01
Hm, yes, but if your farm system is relying in a major way on drafts more than five years ago, I'm not sure you're doing things right....

3. By: Jason A. Churchill on 02-05-2011 12:33:21
There will always be talent abroad, and I'm not suggesting the M's ignore it. But take advantage of the deeper draft classes, for crying out loud.

They spent as much on international talent this past year as they did the draft, which is fine since the draft class wasn't good and they lacked a first-round pick, but the opposite is true this year.

They have one extra pick (Stanek) and a pick in the top 2 of each round. Spend.

4. By: Jason A. Churchill on 02-05-2011 12:35:28
gwangung,

So Boston isn't doing things right? The vast majority of their homegrown talent comes from the draft, too. They thrive on it. And they don't do it by drafting in the top 10, they do it by spending money.

They typically use those prospects in trades, but that's what they are for.

5. By: Marco on 02-05-2011 12:42:56
Stop wasting millions in teenagers from Central America would be a nice idea IMO.

6. By: maqman on 02-05-2011 13:10:12
I think the team went big internationally last year to get some talent into the system as the U.S. draft class was not so hot and they didn't have a high draft pick position. I think you will see them spend more domestically this year than internationally. After that it will depend on what the CBA does to the draft. I love it that Z is always trying to bring in talent one way or another. Like Kevin Rivers, a 22-year old non-drafted free agent OF who they signed and sent to Everett last year, where he put up an OPS of 1.021 and a wOBA of .430 for the season. Tom Wilhelmsen who was a bartender for a few years after dropping out of the game was signed after a tryout during spring training and could make the big team bullpen in this or the next season.

7. By: Adam B. on 02-05-2011 13:44:38
Funny story about Blake Snell;

I work for the Shoreline School District (Shorewood HS) and Snell's coach substitutes in some of the classes I work in. Being a big baseball nut myself, we got to talking about the upcoming draft and Snells name naturally came up.

His coach being something of an old-schooler wasn't familiar with internet scouting reports and technology in general, but was curious about how Snell was regarded nationally.

One google search later, Snell's Facebook profile came up with some less then tasteful rap lyrics concerning "bitchez" and presumably what young Blake intended to do with them.

Suffice to say I am personally responsible for one of Washington's best prep arms getting chewed out by his manager.

8. By: vertigoman on 02-05-2011 14:45:35
I have nothing against Gabe Gross or Gerut for that matter, it just seems there's a whole lot of competition for our 4th OF spot. All LHd as well.

With the lack of RHd bats coming in it seems that the club is fairly certain that Bradley will serve as the teams RHd platoon/bench bat.

Ot maybe Gerut and Gross are camp fodder and I'm reading into this too much.

9. By: Jason A. Churchill on 02-05-2011 14:56:56
Vertigoman,

First off, don't we want Saunders to run away with the f.ull-time gig, for the most part? Because if he performs, he's the guy.

Bradley's ABs will fade if Mike produces, and Gross, Gerut and Langerhans will just be fodder.

They are just creating competition for both Saunders and Bradley, which is a good thing.

10. By: Lonnie on 02-05-2011 20:06:33
Jason sez:
"They are just creating competition for both Saunders and Bradley, which is a good thing."

Or, they are there as role models for Saunders so that he can see what his career is going to turn in to if he doesn't get his shit together...

Ok, I stole that from Jon Shields over at PBNW. I admit it.

Lonnie

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