Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[Spanky__99]

Zero chance they are manipulating Kevin Smith's service time

 

Apparently not...

 

Coming up today. Valera over Smith made zero sense, he should've been called up long ago, is why I assumed that.

[Spanky__99]

Way too many people here giving up on Biggio. Probably people that didn’t watch many games in 2019/2020. Biggio is having a rough year, but he’s played out of position and battled through injury. Lets see what he can do next year before writing him off.

 

And I don’t think he’d be considered a worthless trade piece at all

 

He isn't, connor's a moron.

[Laika]

I’ll only give you Kirk as a piece for a star. Pearson you’d have to have some balls to trade a superstar for as the headliner. That’s the kind of move to get you fired. Obviously huge red flags, better suited for another guy like Lux or Adell as you mentioned (not that I would for either). Biggio sucks, the majority will come to accept it soon. Lourdes is pretty disappointing rn. All-in-all the quantity of it adds up in value but if I’m another teams scouting department and I see a guy like Kelenic+ or something that I believe in as a possible future 6 WAR player, I’d rather do that than a bunch of question marks

 

It's actually similar to deals Cleveland has taken before.

Remember, Clevinger for Austin Hedges, Josh Naylor, Cal Quantrill, Gabriel Arias, Owen Miller, and Joey Cantillo.

Kluber for Delino DeSheilds and a reliever, Clase.

 

The Kirk+Pearson package only looks flimsy in relation to the extremely frothy 2021 deadline deals.

 

I do think the Kirk+Pearson package is fair. I could also see another team offering a better centrepiece though, of course.

[Jimcanuck]

This team is going to have a number of expensive contracts very soon.

 

Gimme the cost controlled players over Ramirez. And yes I am aware he is on contract through 2023.

 

The Rays do it right with a low budget, Jays can do the same with a higher budget.

[Laika]

This team is going to have a number of expensive contracts very soon.

 

Gimme the cost controlled players over Ramirez. And yes I am aware he is on contract through 2023.

 

The Rays do it right with a low budget, Jays can do the same with a higher budget.

 

Cost controlled players are great.... until guys like Gurriel and Biggio are taking up 25 man and 40 man roster spots while contributing 0.4 combined fWAR in 180 combined games. Then you wish you had packaged them up for a star.

 

If the prospect pipeline works than you HAVE to be consolidating 40 man and pending 40 man players for upgrades.

[Jimcanuck]

Cost controlled players are great.... until guys like Gurriel and Biggio are taking up 25 man and 40 man roster spots while contributing 0.4 combined fWAR in 180 combined games. Then you wish you had packaged them up for a star.

 

If the prospect pipeline works than you HAVE to be consolidating 40 man and pending 40 man players for upgrades.

 

True but it doesn't need to be a star Jays don't have the budget to resign. Ideally, surplus roster assets should be moved to upgrade the team where it is needed, and we all know where the need was/is. Or for more prospects (the Rays way).

[connorp]

Why do Biggio's 290 poor plate appearances this season automatically cancel out the more successful 695 plate appearances from 2019-2020? He's been playing through injuries all year by the sounds of things, with injured hands early on and both a bad back and neck later on. I'd say give him a chance to get healthy first and get back to playing a position in the field he is suited for before completely writing him off. He's only 26 for crying out loud, it's not like he's a washed up older veteran.

 

A lot of Biggio’s value was the bb%. It’s sound logic that would come back a bit if he wasn’t hitting. He’s not Gallo taking lumberjack cuts where you don’t want to throw a fastball behind in the count. Lots of guys have a good first season and then the books come out. Then some batters adjust to the adjustment, others don’t

 

Biggio doesn’t really have a place on the team rn IMO. Lots of players have this or that nagging thing going on but not to be a conspiracy theorist but I’m not sure Biggio isn’t playing rn if he wasn’t putrid. The IL break was probably equal mental and physical, rather than an outright demotion. Helps to do it that way for roster purposes.

 

It’s hard to root against a “bring the lunchbox to work guy”. My first hope is Semien doesn’t get the contract he’s looking for and Jays re-sign him. If that doesn’t happen I’m ok with Biggio going into season at 2b. In no other circumstance is he good. It’s pointless having a utility guy that’s putrid at defense. Biggio should never play another game at 3b ever. Espinal is playing better this year. Smith deserves a shot over Biggio as well.

[Jimcanuck]

A lot of Biggio’s value was the bb%. It’s sound logic that would come back a bit if he wasn’t hitting. He’s not Gallo taking lumberjack cuts where you don’t want to throw a fastball behind in the count. Lots of guys have a good first season and then the books come out. Then some batters adjust to the adjustment, others don’t

 

Biggio doesn’t really have a place on the team rn IMO. Lots of players have this or that nagging thing going on but not to be a conspiracy theorist but I’m not sure Biggio isn’t playing rn if he wasn’t putrid. The IL break was probably equal mental and physical, rather than an outright demotion. Helps to do it that way for roster purposes.

 

It’s hard to root against a “bring the lunchbox to work guy”. My first hope is Semien doesn’t get the contract he’s looking for and Jays re-sign him. If that doesn’t happen I’m ok with Biggio going into season at 2b. In no other circumstance is he good. It’s pointless having a utility guy that’s putrid at defense. Biggio should never play another game at 3b ever. Espinal is playing better this year. Smith deserves a shot over Biggio as well.

 

Biggio is an above average bat (110-115 wrc+) that can play multiple positions adequately. That's a very valuable player.

 

He's been a bit unlucky and plagued by injuries this year, that is all.

[Spanky__99]

lol

[connorp]

Biggio is an above average bat (110-115 wrc+) that can play multiple positions adequately. That's a very valuable player.

 

He's been a bit unlucky and plagued by injuries this year, that is all.

 

Last person I harped on like this was Jansen (pre-season) and it was the same thing about how valuable he was. If I’m wrong here, we’ll both be 1 for 2

[Laika]

Jim has presented the bull case on Biggio, connorp has presented the bear case.

 

2022 will tell.

 

Maybe he's somewhere in the middle.

[The Cats Ass]

True but it doesn't need to be a star Jays don't have the budget to resign. Ideally, surplus roster assets should be moved to upgrade the team where it is needed, and we all know where the need was/is. Or for more prospects (the Rays way).

 

Ramirez is extremely cheap for the next 2 years. And who's to say they won't be able to fit him in the budget? Only person signed past 2023(year Ramirez's contract runs out) is Springer, and his deal was front loaded.

[Jimcanuck]

Ramirez is extremely cheap for the next 2 years. And who's to say they won't be able to fit him in the budget? Only person signed past 2023(year Ramirez's contract runs out) is Springer, and his deal was front loaded.

 

Jays have plenty of players that ideally would be signed long term when Ramirez is due for his mega contract.

[The Cats Ass]

Jays have plenty of players that ideally would be signed long term when Ramirez is due for his mega contract.

 

Not sure about "plenty". I guess maybe Teoscar? Potentially Vlad and Bo, both will still have 2 more years of control.

[Eat My Shatkins]

I would hope Berrios is extended through that time frame.

[Jimcanuck]

Not sure about "plenty". I guess maybe Teoscar? Potentially Vlad and Bo, both will still have 2 more years of control.

 

There will be other needs in addition to the Teo/Vlad/Bo. Ray may be gone after this season and Ryu will not be around forever. The bullpen needs a reliable high leverage guy.

 

Some other team will have a greater need / budget for a Ramirez.

 

It's a poor financial fit, IMO. Not worth moving potentially elite controlled assets for.

[connorp]

Yahoo last update on Biggio, August 12

 

Biggio has been sidelined since early August with lingering discomfort, but began a minor-league rehab assignment this week. He’s recorded the quintessential Biggio line, going 0-4 with 3 walks and a hbp so far in two games”…

 

Who doesn’t want a little snark in fantasy updates

[InvincibleTiger]

What do we think of Luis Quinones?

[Krylian]

What do we think of Luis Quinones?

 

Swing and miss stuff but real control problems

[The Cats Ass]

Sounds like a real s***** situation for Kristian Robinson hopefully everything works out for him.

 

Highly regarded Diamondbacks prospect Kristian Robinson pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of a police officer and was sentenced to an 18-month probation Tuesday in Phoenix, the latest step in a legal saga that has lasted since April 2020, when what his lawyer described as a “psychotic break” culminated in a violent encounter with an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer. But because of immigration issues the conviction creates, his future in professional baseball is in doubt.

 

Were Robinson a citizen of the United States, he could complete his probation while continuing his career in the Diamondbacks’ minor-league system, at which point his offense would be lowered from a Class 6 felony to a misdemeanor. But because Robinson is from the Bahamas, where he must return by Sept. 8 to renew his visa, the felony conviction is likely to prevent him from obtaining a new visa to reenter the country. That would keep him away from baseball stateside and also from his girlfriend and infant son, both of whom live in Arizona and are U.S. citizens.

 

“It didn’t really satisfy any answers for us,” Robinson’s attorney, Michael Kimerer, said of the sentencing hearing. “It just made it worse.”

 

Robinson politely declined to speak on the record.

 

The conviction stems from an incident on April 5 of last year, which Robinson and his attorney say was the result of serious mental health issues the 20-year-old was battling at the time. DPS officers found him wandering a remote stretch of highway on the edges of Maricopa County, having abandoned his car and thrown his keys into the desert. Robinson initially complied with a request to be driven to a hospital, but then attempted to escape the squad car as he was being buckled in and hit an officer identified as Trooper J. Lough in the process.

 

The Athletic reported details of the arrest several months ago. Tuesday’s hearing revealed more details of Robinson’s mental state at the time, as well as the treatment he sought after his arrest.

 

Several days before the arrest, Robinson had been “having delusions and believed people were after him” and that the officers who arrested him “were CIA/FBI agents trying to kidnap him,” according to a sentencing memorandum submitted to the court by his attorney. Robinson had disconnected the electronics in his apartment because he feared the government was spying on him, according to a letter of support written by the mother of his girlfriend, Susan Haney, who described other concerning behavior from Robinson.

 

At 3 a.m. the morning of his arrest, Haney wrote, Robinson entered her house and came into her bedroom, waking her up and asking why she was having people follow him. He spent much of the next month in psychiatric institutions, including one in California to which he was driven by his agent, Kris Glazier of Excel, and Robinson’s sister. Glazier described an incident during that trip during Robinson’s hearing. Robinson initially asked to use the restroom at a gas station, Glazier said, but instead requested the attendant to call the police because, he said, he was being kidnapped by his sister and Glazier.

 

Robinson’s paranoia was caused or at least exacerbated by the usage of “high potency cannabis,” according to a letter submitted to the court by Dr. Rahsaan Lindsey, a psychiatrist who treated Robinson post-arrest at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz. Lindsey is also the director of the Employee Assistance Program for the Diamondbacks. Lindsey diagnosed Robinson with “Cannabis-Induced Psychosis and Catatonia.”

 

After being treated with antipsychotic medication, Robinson was discharged from the hospital a week after his arrest. He agreed to continue his treatment at a drug rehabilitation center in California, but Lindsey wrote that Robinson’s “psychotic symptoms recurred and he was hospitalized in California” for two more weeks. He was transferred back into Lindsey’s care at BBHH, where he spent another week before being discharged to continue his treatment at an outpatient facility in Scottsdale called Soul Surgery.

 

By January 2021, upon the completion of his outpatient treatment and the decline of his symptoms, Robinson agreed to his agent’s suggestion that he submit to random drug screenings multiple times a month through March 2021. He was tested eight times in that span, each test coming back clean. The test results were submitted to the court in advance of Robinson’s sentencing hearing.

 

“It is my clinical opinion that he will remain symptom-free granted he remains sober from substances associated with psychosis,” Lindsey wrote.

 

Given Robinson’s treatment history and otherwise clean record, his attorney entered Tuesday’s hearing with the hope that Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Justin McGuire would agree to lower Robinson’s charge to a misdemeanor. Kimerer and the county attorney’s office had negotiated a plea deal that would avoid jail time, but the county attorney wanted a two-year probationary period with a chance to “earn the misdemeanor” at the end, while Kimerer asked for one year of probation and for the crime to be classified as a misdemeanor immediately.

 

“His whole career is here with the Diamondbacks. His family is here. That is the real critical issue here,” Kimerer told the court. “Once he goes back, if he has a felony at that time on his record, they will not let him return to the United States. He will have to stay there.”

 

That Robinson’s case lasted this long is a result of immigration issues the young outfielder already faced. For three months, from May to July of this year, he was stuck in the Bahamas while his girlfriend and infant son were in Arizona, unable to obtain a visa to return to the U.S. for his court case. That held up the legal proceedings, and the case was continued multiple times while Robinson’s visa issues were resolved. The issue, Kimerer said, was the felony arrest on his record. “That took us a while to negotiate getting a special visa for him to come back and answer to all of the charges here,” the attorney told the court.

 

Several people asked for leniency on Robinson’s behalf, both at the hearing and in court documents. Glazier, who mentioned that he is the son of a former police captain, thanked police for their response — “Without their actions, I may have been attending a funeral instead of a court hearing,” he said — but said Robinson is a different person than he was the day of his arrest. Diamondbacks farm director Josh Barfield submitted a letter of support highlighting Robinson’s work ethic and efforts to become a better person. “I completely understand the original felony categorization,” Barfield wrote, “but hope strong consideration will be given for a lesser plea due to his hard work and accountability.”

 

Haney, the grandmother to Robinson’s son, submitted a letter and also addressed the court via teleconference. Her letter explained that she is a probation officer for Maricopa County who works with “seriously mentally ill” individuals. “The purpose of probation is to provide support and resources so that an individual can gain stability in the community and minimize the risk of returning to the justice system in the future,” she wrote. “Kris has already done this proactively without being ordered by the court to do so.” She outlined the immigration implications: “My grandson needs a dad. If Kristian is not able to get back into the country to provide for him, it affects everybody.”

 

Robinson was the last to speak at the hearing. In a statement that was about two minutes long, he apologized to Lough and thanked him for attempting to help him. (Lough was not present at the hearing.) “My only request is his forgiveness,” Robinson said. “Just leaving this courtroom today, I want to be a better man. I hope I can stay here with my girlfriend and my child.”

 

However, in a victim’s statement submitted to the court, DPS officer J. Lough requested that Robinson “be prosecuted to the letter of the law for assaulting me and causing injuries to my face,” which he described as “a minor cut to my lip from a closed fist punch.” Changing the classification of Robinson’s offense, Lough wrote, would amount to Robinson “getting away with it.”

 

“I am surprised and discouraged to learn an Arizona Professional Athlete, or anyone can assault a Law Enforcement Officer while performing his duties and get away with it,” Lough wrote.

 

The hearing lasted about 15 minutes before McGuire handed down the sentence. He accepted probation, rather than imprisonment, as “appropriate.” But, he told Robinson, “you’re in this situation because of choices you made,” highlighting Robinson’s use of marijuana. McGuire said he understood the effect the sentence might have on his family and career, but that made Robinson no different than “every single person who walks up to that lectern.” The offense would remain an undesignated felony with 18 months of probation.

 

“Based on what you did, it is not right, it is not justice, to give you the misdemeanor today,” McGuire said.

 

Robinson must return to the Bahamas in three weeks, and it’s unclear when or if he will be able to reenter the United States. Kimerer said he needed to talk to an attorney specializing in immigration law. “It’s not resolved,” he said. But another immigration attorney, Candia Weaver of the Arizona-based Nuñez Law Firm — who is not involved in Robinson’s case — said it’s “highly unlikely” that Robinson will be allowed back in the country to complete his probation. The thing standing in the way of doing so is the very probation itself, which he must complete in order to change his offense to a misdemeanor. “It is a catch-22,” Weaver said.

 

That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, however. The fact that Robinson’s son is an American citizen will help him, Weaver said, and Major League Baseball has extensive experience helping with visas for foreign-born players. But it’s a steep hill to climb. “With a felony conviction for assault, that’s something that could revoke his visa to be in the United States and makes him inadmissible to the United States,” Weaver said. “Whether or not Major League Baseball can do something about this, maybe they can. Friends in high places.”

 

Reached by phone late Tuesday afternoon, Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen was still digesting the meaning of the hearing’s result. “We need to figure out what it’s going to mean,” Hazen said. Had the hearing gone in Robinson’s favor, there was a small chance that he could have played this year in the minors or in the Arizona Fall League. With Robinson’s immigration status still in limbo, the outfielder’s future is uncertain “in the short term,” Hazen said. Robinson, a consensus top-100 prospect the last two seasons, could potentially play in the low-level Dominican Summer League. “Those are things we’ll have to ask questions on,” the GM said, adding that he is not yet aware if MLB has experience ironing out similar visa problems.

 

After the sentence was rendered, Robinson spent several minutes filling out paperwork in the courtroom before exiting with his lawyer, agent and girlfriend. He studied a printout he’d been given with instructions on how and where to register with his probation officer, with whom he must make contact within 72 hours. Then he headed off to register immediately — whether he’ll ultimately be able to complete probation or not.

[FantasyNewb]

Sounds like a real s***** situation for Kristian Robinson hopefully everything works out for him.

 

That officer Lough is a real piece of work. A "minor" cut to his lip from a person who was completely in psychosis, and he wants him prosecuted to the "letter of the law".

[Laika]

Sounds like a real s***** situation for Kristian Robinson hopefully everything works out for him.

 

Pretty sad situation. In Canada he would have like, no negative consequences at this point from a situation like that.

[Daniel Labude]

Sounds like a real s***** situation for Kristian Robinson hopefully everything works out for him.

 

That sucks. Hopefully they can work something out

[Mikeleelop]

Biggio is an above average bat (110-115 wrc+) that can play multiple positions adequately. That's a very valuable player.

 

He's been a bit unlucky and plagued by injuries this year, that is all.

 

not that valuable.... can't argue with the WAR

[Mikeleelop]

Why do Biggio's 290 poor plate appearances this season automatically cancel out the more successful 695 plate appearances from 2019-2020? He's been playing through injuries all year by the sounds of things, with injured hands early on and both a bad back and neck later on. I'd say give him a chance to get healthy first and get back to playing a position in the field he is suited for before completely writing him off. He's only 26 for crying out loud, it's not like he's a washed up older veteran.

 

going into this year, the change from the juiced ball used previous years was ID'd as the biggest potential to effect Biggio. Seems to have had some impact to say going forward there is big potential for this regression to continue

[max silver]

going into this year, the change from the juiced ball used previous years was ID'd as the biggest potential to effect Biggio. Seems to have had some impact to say going forward there is big potential for this regression to continue

 

This could simply be the case of a good player having a bad year. His statcast batted ball metrics are pretty much in line with his career averages, but his batted ball profile shows him having used the entire field more compared to previous years where he was more pull heavy. He has been tinkering with his approach to become more aggressive, but this might be counterproductive for him as one of his best attributes was his ability to work walks. Biggio has been swinging at more pitches and subsequently chasing more as well. Get him back to the previously more selective approach and the results should improve.

[The Cats Ass]

That sucks. Hopefully they can work something out

 

Especially since his partner and kid are both US citizens and live in the states. Since he's a pro athlete I can see this eventually working out in the end. But what about all the other times a situation like this might have occurred and that was it.

[Terminator]

I don't care what his excuse is, assaulting police officers is a serious charge so the U.S. needs to do the right thing and deport him back to the Bahamas. You guys are too soft.

[Jimcanuck]

I don't care what his excuse is, assaulting police officers is a serious charge so the U.S. needs to do the right thing and deport him back to the Bahamas. You guys are too soft.

 

Extenuating circumstances. Also, I doubt the officer handled / de-escalated the situation they way they are supposed to.

[Daniel Labude]

I don't care what his excuse is, assaulting police officers is a serious charge so the U.S. needs to do the right thing and deport him back to the Bahamas. You guys are too soft.

 

Guy legit thought the CIA and FBI were after him and he was going off grid in the desert alone (probably not end well). Tossed his phone and keys, was hearing voices, etc. Id say most of the time that isnt even charged, especially since it was just a cut lip