Russell Martin traded to dodgers.

[Abomination]

I feel like Sopko is being undervalued here. On paper, he's at least comparable to recent returns Trent Thornton and Julian Merryweather, and probably better than Jacob Waguespack, who's not completely devoid of intrigue, at least for me.

 

As for the other component of the return, I like that we got one Ronny Brito in this deal. Sure, he's 19 and in Rookie ball, so he probably never makes it to the show, but I'll take a prospect with plus-bat speed and power and plus-plus-defense in trade any day of the week. It might take a swing change to unlock his true offensive potential, but if the Jays can work with him on that and do so successfully, they'll have a legitimate prospect on their hands. Just don't hold your collective breath, I suppose.

 

I would put Merryweather way ahead of Sopko. Thornton has that ultra high spin rate curve that's intriguing, and probably could be interesting in the pen if he can't start. Sopko just seems completely meh. None of his offerings are plus, which probably limits his pen capabilities to long relief at best.

[metafour]

Brito was roughly a 70th percentile prospect in the Pioneer League last year. His chances of having an MLB outcome are probably extremely slim.

 

He is about as valuable as Dominic Abbadessa. Maybe you can justify him on the organization top 50 list, but top 30 seems aggressively dumb.

 

Eddy Almaguer from Prospects Live just wrote today that Brito would have ranked #17 on his Dodger's Top 30 list. He also kind of took a s*** on his bat, but the point remains that Brito is a lot more intriguing than a guy like Abbadessa. I'm not going to pretend like I know how well the Dodger's system compares across the MLB, but a guy ranking in from 17-23 (or whatever MLB Pipeline had him) with supposed defense at a premium position is a pretty solid get for a 36 year old that we had zero use for.

[Pendleton]

A more beneficial return lmao? For half a season of a 36 year old catcher who can't hit at all anymore? You yourself just stated that he's a backup catcher on a team that has no chance at competing, so what exactly do you expect a contender to give you for half a season of a backup defensive catcher? A top prospect? The Marlins can't even find someone to match their asking price for Realmuto, an ELITE catcher in his prime. This is actually more than I expected to get for Martin: a legitimately intriguing young prospect with some pedigree and a swing arm that presents depth at worst. The thing with guys like Sopko and all these other pitchers we've acquired is that if you get enough of them, eventually you find one that actually surpasses whatever "marginal prospect" label they carry.

 

Can't have a discussion without massively reaching and putting words in my mouth apparently. Obviously there is middle ground between this return and a "top prospect", and more a more beneficial return could simply mean not having to eat so much salary.

 

It's hardly a reach to suggest a better market could present itself throughout this season, when there will be more injuries and less options.

[Pendleton]

I feel like Sopko is being undervalued here. On paper, he's at least comparable to recent returns Trent Thornton and Julian Merryweather, and probably better than Jacob Waguespack, who's not completely devoid of intrigue, at least for me.

 

As for the other component of the return, I like that we got one Ronny Brito in this deal. Sure, he's 19 and in Rookie ball, so he probably never makes it to the show, but I'll take a prospect with plus-bat speed and power and plus-plus-defense in trade any day of the week. It might take a swing change to unlock his true offensive potential, but if the Jays can work with him on that and do so successfully, they'll have a legitimate prospect on their hands. Just don't hold your collective breath, I suppose.

 

They are close statistically, but scouting reports paint a much stronger picture of Thornton and Merryweather's upside.

[P2F]

They are close statistically, but scouting reports paint a much stronger picture of Thornton and Merryweather's upside.

 

I know.

[P2F]

[Spanky99]

MARTIN IN THREE-PLAYER SWAP

 

Eddy Almaguer

 

Eight years after leaving the Dodgers, a soon-to-be 36-year-old Russell Martin is going back to the team where he broke out and proved that even catchers are capable of stealing bags. The Toronto Blue Jays, well equipped with rookie Danny Jansen heading into 2019, shipped Martin and cash to the Dodgers in exchange for prospects SS Ronny Brito and RHP Andrew Sopko.

 

The Dodgers had a Yasmani-sized hole at catcher, though it feels like it’s not quite filled yet. Martin started a career-low 71 games at catcher last year, this after just 78 starts in 2017. Almost 36, that number isn’t going to climb any higher so expect the J.T. Realmuto rumors to continue swirling despite the move.

 

Even in “old” age, Martin still ranked in the top 15 percent of 117 catchers in framing runs according to Baseball Prospectus , so there’s still value in his defensive ability behind the plate. If the Dodgers indeed stop making moves, then Martin and Austin Barnes, who’s a good pitch framer himself, should provide a solid foundation for the Dodgers pitchers. It’s fair to note that despite his playoff struggles, Grandal is an elite framer so there’ll be a defensive loss behind the plate.

 

While his defense is still passable, it’s the bat that really drags down Martin’s profile. He slashed .194/.338/.325 last year over 352 plate appearances. He was much more passive, swinging less inside and outside of the zone. The biggest culprit, however, became Martin’s complete inability to hit a breaking ball. He had a .076 AVG and .114 SLG against breaking pitches, which were 31 percent of the pitches he saw . While he wasn’t a darling against fastballs, either, it was a more respectable .249 AVG and .438 SLG. Martin’s saving grace remains his 12 percent walk rate which bumped up to 15 percent last season thanks to his increased passivity.

 

Fantasy value: Martin carries next to no fantasy value, serving as fodder in deep NL leagues now and in two-catcher leagues with more than 15 teams. Expect 300-350 plate appearances from him this year. If you’re in an OBP league he does get a sizable boost as the chasm between his AVG and OBP is growing year over year.

 

RONNY BRITO, SS

Here’s what I wrote about Brito, who was #17 in my yet-to-be-released Dodgers Top 30:

 

The Dodgers handed Brito a $2 million signing bonus as part of the 2015 international free agent class. He had one of the most advanced gloves in that class and it’s only improved since then. From his footwork, to a strong arm and equally strong instincts, he’s a lock to stay at shortstop and compete for hardware one day.

 

While his numbers at the plate were impressive last year, it’s important to note this was his third consecutive year in rookie ball and his BABIP was north of .380. He sets up in a crouch with his hands slightly above the letters. Footage from 2018 Instructs showed he alternates between a substantial leg kick and a pivot and it’s unclear if the latter is his two-strike approach. He lacks bat speed and his path to the ball isn’t efficient. He pulls the bat head too far back and tends to be late on pitches and it leads me to believe fastballs will eat him up as he ascends, if not already.

 

He has fringe-average pop that’ll show itself in games infrequently, mediocre speed that lacks instincts on the basepaths and a below-average hit tool that’s capped thanks to his poor two-strike approach.

 

ANDREW SOPKO, RHP

A seventh-round pick in 2015, Sopko profiles as a depth starter thanks to his ability to spot his 91-93 mph fastball while mixing in a slider and curveball. His pitches grade between average to above-average and he has solid command and control. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds he’s got a good frame to eat innings. He might start the year in Double-A but should reach Buffalo by midseason with the chance to contribute major league innings in 2020.

[saskjayfan]

Eddy Almaguer from Prospects Live just wrote today that Brito would have ranked #17 on his Dodger's Top 30 list. He also kind of took a s*** on his bat, but the point remains that Brito is a lot more intriguing than a guy like Abbadessa. I'm not going to pretend like I know how well the Dodger's system compares across the MLB, but a guy ranking in from 17-23 (or whatever MLB Pipeline had him) with supposed defense at a premium position is a pretty solid get for a 36 year old that we had zero use for.

 

I've read on here for years how much smarter Andrew Friedman is than most GMs. He just traded for a veteran backup catcher with one year of control. He knows what he's getting. He gave up 2 prospects for this. That probably tells you all you need to know about the value of these prospects.

[Laika]

Eddy Almaguer from Prospects Live just wrote today that Brito would have ranked #17 on his Dodger's Top 30 list. He also kind of took a s*** on his bat, but the point remains that Brito is a lot more intriguing than a guy like Abbadessa. I'm not going to pretend like I know how well the Dodger's system compares across the MLB, but a guy ranking in from 17-23 (or whatever MLB Pipeline had him) with supposed defense at a premium position is a pretty solid get for a 36 year old that we had zero use for.

 

I didn’t complete my thoughts about him properly and need to retract and clarify - he’s a 70th percentile performer ignoring position and defensive skill at his position, so he’s obviously better than that and therefore better than Abbadessa. Probably more like a top 20 position prospect for 2018 from the Pioneer League, based on stats. He’s Richard Urena in four years, maybe.

[Laika]

I've read on here for years how much smarter Andrew Friedman is than most GMs. He just traded for a veteran backup catcher with one year of control. He knows what he's getting. He gave up 2 prospects for this. That probably tells you all you need to know about the value of these prospects.

 

 

Look up win curves, marginal win values, etc.

 

This is basically just arbitrage. Russell means more to a competitive team than he does to Toronto

[Jimcanuck]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/russell-martin-fetches-two-fringe-prospects/

[Pendleton]

I know.

 

Do you?

[Spanky99]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/russell-martin-fetches-two-fringe-prospects/

 

Thanks... For those that don't/can't click links. I like Longenhagen's take on what we've acquired.

 

Russell Martin Fetches Two Fringe Prospects

by Eric Longenhagen

 

January 12, 2019

 

In a trade that sent Russell Martin back to Los Angeles, the Blue Jays acquired two interesting, but drastically different, prospects in teenage second baseman Ronny Brito and Double-A righty Andrew Sopko.

 

Sopko is the more likely of the two to wear a major league uniform, as his skills are constantly desired among teams seeking to build starting pitching depth at Double and Triple-A in the event of big league injuries. He’s an efficient strike-thrower with spot starter’s stuff; a fastball that resides in the 88-92 range, an average changeup that flashes above, and a slurvy breaking ball with enough depth that it will be an issue for hitters who struggle to square up break.

 

Pitchers with this kind of stuff are typically found at the very back of the rotation or waiting to pick up a start due to injury. The frequency with which pitchers get hurt makes teams’ 6th-8th starters very important, as they may have to make meaningful starts at some point during the year. Sopko projects to be a very competent version of this.

 

Brito is more boom or bust. After dealing with injury and struggling badly throughout his first full pro season, Brito had a monster year in the offense-friendly Pioneer League, slashing .288/.352/.489 with 11 homers in 53 games at age 19.

 

While the dizzying elevations of the Pioneer League drastically inflate offensive performance, Brito does have legitimate, above-average raw power, and he’s capable of hitting balls out to all fields, even as a teenager, something not typical of middle infield prospects.

 

What eyeball scouts are skeptical of, though, is Brito’s bat. He’s free-swinging and prone to the strike out. His swing has gone through several iterations — a leg kick was implemented and then uninstalled for a while last fall, for one — and all of this mechanical variability makes it harder to evaluate Brito as a hitter. But a lack of plate discipline makes Brito’s contact profile high risk, even if there’s natural feel for contact here once his swing gets dialed in.

 

 

 

He has a chance to stay at second base, but he hasn’t really improved there since signing, and some scouts think his defense has actively gone backwards as his frame has thickened. His body is also pretty much maxed out, so he’s not likely to grow into much more power as he ages, though he already has enough to profile at any infield spot provided he becomes a competent defender and takes better at-bats. If that stuff comes, Brito will be an everyday player, but scout-to-scout optimism for improvement is highly variable.

[Laika]

Eddy Almaguer from Prospects Live just wrote today that Brito would have ranked #17 on his Dodger's Top 30 list. He also kind of took a s*** on his bat, but the point remains that Brito is a lot more intriguing than a guy like Abbadessa. I'm not going to pretend like I know how well the Dodger's system compares across the MLB, but a guy ranking in from 17-23 (or whatever MLB Pipeline had him) with supposed defense at a premium position is a pretty solid get for a 36 year old that we had zero use for.

 

The disparity in scouting reports on Brito is very amusing.

 

Eddy Almaguer from Prospects Live:

 

"He had one of the most advanced gloves in that class and it’s only improved since then. From his footwork, to a strong arm and equally strong instincts, he’s a lock to stay at shortstop and compete for hardware one day... He lacks bat speed... He has fringe-average pop that’ll show itself in games infrequently..."

 

Eric Longenhagen from Fangraphs:

 

"Brito does have legitimate, above-average raw power, and he’s capable of hitting balls out to all fields, even as a teenager, something not typical of middle infield prospects... He has a chance to stay at second base, but he hasn’t really improved there since signing, and some scouts think his defense has actively gone backwards as his frame has thickened..."

 

- They are at least a full grade apart on the raw power, maybe 1.5 grades

- The defense ranges from what sounds like a double-plus SS to what sounds like a fringe-average 2B

 

lmao

[Spanky99]

The disparity in scouting reports on Brito is very amusing.

 

Eddy Almaguer from Prospects Live:

 

"He had one of the most advanced gloves in that class and it’s only improved since then. From his footwork, to a strong arm and equally strong instincts, he’s a lock to stay at shortstop and compete for hardware one day... He lacks bat speed... He has fringe-average pop that’ll show itself in games infrequently..."

 

Eric Longenhagen from Fangraphs:

 

"Brito does have legitimate, above-average raw power, and he’s capable of hitting balls out to all fields, even as a teenager, something not typical of middle infield prospects... He has a chance to stay at second base, but he hasn’t really improved there since signing, and some scouts think his defense has actively gone backwards as his frame has thickened..."

 

- They are at least a full grade apart on the raw power, maybe 1.5 grades

- The defense ranges from what sounds like a double-plus SS to what sounds like a fringe-average 2B

 

lmao

 

Crazy... lol.

[Boxcar]

I like Sopko too, don't mind the lottery ticket in Brito either... I'm more of the belief Atkins did Martin a solid and sent him to a contender, while getting a bit of money and assets in return, it isn't a bad trade by any means. Plus that link hardly shows people adamant in not trading Martin.

 

Lol Brito isn't a lottery ticket, dummy

[Spanky99]

Lol Brito isn't a lottery ticket, dummy

 

Why not?

[glory]

Lol gotta love online scouting reports.

 

Elite defensive SS or a 2B with declining defensive ability.

 

Not much difference there at all.

[Boxcar]

Why not?

 

He's more like a coupon for 3 dollars off a rotisserie chicken

[Spanky99]

He's more like a coupon for 3 dollars off a rotisserie chicken

 

Oh, your opinion, Gotcha!

[Krylian]

Lol Brito isn't a lottery ticket, dummy

 

He is. But thanks.

[Spanky99]

He is. But thanks.

Not for Boxbike, he holds final position on Lottery Tickets!

[Slade]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/russell-martin-trade-brings-veteran-back-to-dodgers/

 

The Dodgers are bringing back an old friend, as catcher Russell Martin is returning to Los Angeles. The Dodgers acquired Martin from the Blue Jays on Friday afternoon in exchange for righthander Andrew Sopko and infielder Ronny Brito.

 

Martin hit .194/.338/.325 for the Blue Jays last season in what was the worst offensive season of his career. The 35-year-old is in the final year of a five-year contract and is slated to earn $20 million in 2019.

 

A seventh-round pick out of Gonzaga in 2015, Sopko ranked 26th on the Dodgers' Top 30 Prospects as recently as two years ago. He has spent much of the past three seasons at Double-A Tulsa. Brito ranked 25th on Baseball America's Top 50 International amateur prospects in 2015. The 19-year-old switch-hitter spent much of last season at short-season Ogden.

 

DODGERS ACQUIRE:

 

Russell Martin, C

Age: 35

 

It's been a long time since Martin backstopped the Dodgers to back-to-back NLCS appearances in 2008-09 and made back-to-back All-Star games with the team. Then a young, rising standout, Martin is now a veteran on his last legs. He played only 91 games last season and 90 games the year before due to injury, and he has seen his offense decline rapidly, cratering with last season's career-worst showing. Martin is still an able defensive catcher on a part-time basis, and he moved to third base for 21 games last year as well (in addition to three games at shortstop). With the Dodgers lacking a big league catcher to pair with Austin Barnes, Martin fills that need and provides veteran leadership in the clubhouse. For Toronto, this move opens up playing time for rising young catchers Danny Jansen and Reese McGuire.

 

Aaron-Sanchez-2017-cw

Blue Jays Build New Culture

The Blue Jays are trying to win now and build something sustainable

 

BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE:

 

Andrew Sopko, RHP

Age: 24

 

Sopko has spent the last three seasons bouncing between high Class A and Double-A, but he appeared to finally solve the higher level last season, going 3-1, 2.88 with 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 41 appearances (10 starts) at Double-A Tulsa. Like many Dodgers pitchers, Sopko primarily works north-south with a four-seam fastball up and a curveball down in the zone. He sits 92-93 mph and stands out more for his pitchability than his pure stuff, hitting his spots and mixing in a slider and changeup to keep hitters off balance. None of Sopko's offerings are truly plus, but he throws strikes and mixes his pitches enough for evaluators to see him contributing in the majors in some form. Sopko will begin his Blue Jays career in the upper levels of their system and has a chance to make his major debut in 2019 if he performs.

 

Ronny Brito, SS

Age: 19

 

Brito signed for $2 million as part of the Dodgers’ loaded 2015 international class that included Yadier Alvarez and Oneil Cruz. A broken leg limited him to 28 games in 2017, but he re-emerged in 2018 by leading all Pioneer League shortstops in home runs (11) and OPS (.841) at Rookie-level Ogden. Brito signed as a slick-fielding defensive shortstop whose defense was ahead of his bat, but he put on 20 pounds after his injury and now has a more balanced projection. Brito shows rare opposite-field power for a teenager, ambushing fastballs with a steep, uphill swing. He’s an aggressive free-swinger who doesn’t adjust with two strikes, resulting in plenty of strikeouts, but he makes impact contact when he connects. He is still working to improve his secondary pitch recognition and strike zone management. Brito has slowed down in the field but still flashes excellent hands, a smooth transfer and plus arm strength, giving him a chance to remain a shortstop. He is lethargic in the field sometimes and makes poor baserunning decisions, so his effort and focus are areas targeted for improvement. Brito’s ability to hit the ball hard and play a smooth defensive shortstop provide a workable foundation. Now, he needs to add maturity to his game. He will try to do that low Class A in 2019.

[Spanky99]

I really have no qualms on those 3 reports of Brito, Boxcar8 that is a lottery ticket. Not to mention Sopko is certainly interesting.

[Boxcar]

He is. But thanks.

 

If he's a lottery ticket then literally every prospect in baseball under 21 is a lottery ticket.

 

But hey, don't let me get in the way of your excitement for a 10 dollar jackpot.

[Deadpool]

That last profile of Brito makes him sound like a switch hitting Teoscar. There's potential value in that *IF* the "slick fielding SS" label is more accurate than the "barely passable 2B" one. (and that last profile is the only time I've seen mention of his 2017 broken leg as part of the reason why he repeated Rookie).

[Krylian]

If he's a lottery ticket then literally every prospect in baseball under 21 is a lottery ticket.

 

But hey, don't let me get in the way of your excitement for a 10 dollar jackpot.

 

That's exactly what it means. The whole point of a lottery ticket is that every ticket could potentially win. That's the definition of a lottery ticket.

[TheHurl]

First of all $3.6M is still an okay savings (and is the job of the front office). The free'd up spot is still something. Also the appearance that you will do the right thing for veteran players is still something. There is so much more than just the return itself.

[Krylian]

First of all $3.6M is still an okay savings (and is the job of the front office). The free'd up spot is still something. Also the appearance that you will do the right thing for veteran players is still something. There is so much more than just the return itself.

 

For all we know Martin could've gone to Atkins and asked to be moved to a contender so he could go for it.

[Jay Train]

That's exactly what it means. The whole point of a lottery ticket is that every ticket could potentially win. That's the definition of a lottery ticket.

 

Yes but there is a difference between a $60mil jackpot and a Honda lawnmower.