P2F

One more time: Dexter Fowler and Jay Bruce are available. They can be packaged together or sold individually. I'm looking for young player(s) in return. Edit: Also, Manny Margot is (sort of) available.

Wow!

Exactly. Every once in a while, it all just comes together for the toolsy types. I'm really curious to follow Rosario into the big leagues and see how he does.

Some pretty high praise here for Amed Rosario today... 65 FV Prospects 1. Amed Rosario, SS Signed: July 2nd Period, 2012 from Dominican Republic [TABLE=width: 579] [TR] [TH]Age[/TH] [TD]21[/TD] [TH]Height[/TH] [TD]6’2[/TD] [TH]Weight[/TH] [TD]170[/TD] [TH]Bat/Throw[/TH] [TD]R/R[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Tool Grades (Present/Future) [TABLE=width: 579] [TR] [TH]Hit[/TH] [TH]Raw Power[/TH] [TH]Game Power[/TH] [TH]Run[/TH] [TH]Fielding[/TH] [TH]Throw[/TH] [/TR] [TR] [TD]40/60[/TD] [TD]50/55[/TD] [TD]40/50[/TD] [TD]60/60[/TD] [TD]55/60[/TD] [TD]60/60[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Relevant/Interesting Metrics Slashed .324/.374/.459 between High-A and Double-A in 2016. Scouting Report When Rosario was a teenager, he was a messy amalgam of limbs, athleticism and clearly present baseball instincts that were all wholly unsupported by a lack of physical strength. As he has started to fill out (it was easy to see, even back in 2012, that he was going to) and gotten stronger, he has become more explosive, his actions more refined, and he’s begun to hit. And indeed, at just 21 years old with more room for mass on the body, Amed Rosario has just begun. Rosario is so exceptionally athletic that he’s likely to be a plus defender at short even if he adds another 10-15 pounds into his 20s. His first-step quickness, range and ability to make strong throws from strange platforms are all excellent. He’s remarkably flexible for such a tall, gangly infielder and has a quick transfer allowing him to scoop tough hops and hose baserunners all in one motion. Rosario’s newfound offensive prowess is a substantial layer of icing piled onto a favorable and cakey defensive profile. He did not look out of place taking batting practice at the Futures Game among some of the best power-hitting prospects in baseball and planted a few shots of his own deep into the Petco Park bleachers. His swing has natural loft and he’s so flexible that his extension through contact often results in a 360-degree journey for his bat. There’s a chance he has plus raw power at maturity. How much of that power he’s able to utilize depends on some refinement to Rosario’s contact skills. There is some stiffness in his hands prior to their acceleration, and he pushes far too much weak contact the other way right now, but he has good bat control, plus-plus bat speed and a decent idea of what he’s doing at the plate. We’ve seen several different iterations of Rosario’s footwork in pro ball. At times there’s a big leg kick, others there’s not. Sometimes there’s a kick until he’s got two strikes. Despite these constant alterations, Rosario hits. He and the Mets are still clearly searching for something that they think works for him. When they do, I think we’re looking at a plus hitter with average game power and plus defense at short. This is my pick to appear No. 1 on my overall top-100 list next offseason barring some disaster that forces him onto the big-league roster for an extended period of time this year. KATOH+ Projection for first six years: 7.5 WAR http://cdn.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Amed-Rosario-Likelihood-of-Outcomes.png

Dexter Fowler and Jay Bruce are still available.

The only thing with that is that I am hoping to stay consistent with the number of lists included year to year. Last year I used seven, and this year I plan to use seven as well. It would be interesting to be able to directly compare lists year to year.

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/904/545/60b.png

That's great that he has connections to scouts, but it doesn't come through in his writing. I actually have nothing against Sickels - and do read his articles - but he is what he is, in my opinion. Maybe I'm giving us too much credit. Either way, I really don't think it ultimately matters much which of these two lists is included among the aggregate rankings. I thought it would be fun to include ours instead of Sickels' this season. Perhaps the right answer is to include neither, but I'll leave ours in the composite rankings unless the consensus is to have it removed.

Okay, that was unfair of me. I've read the other lists. But the majority of his write-ups quote only stats and facts that almost any baseball fan knows. 1) Yoan Moncada, 2B-3B, Grade A: Age 21, signed by Red Sox out of Cuba in 2015; traded to White Sox in Chris Sale deal; hit .294/.407/.511 with 15 homers, 45 steals, 72 walks, 124 strikeouts in 405 at-bats between High-A and Double-A, then went 4-for-19 with 12 strikeouts in MLB trial; Number Two prospect in all of baseball, just behind Andrew Benintendi; switch-hitter with power, speed, good eye for the strike zone; could be 20+ homers, 20+ steals, 80 walks producer and that could be an underestimate; had issues with contact during MLB trial but shouldn’t be a long-term factor; defense needs more polish and time in Triple-A will be useful but should be a lineup mainstay soon. ETA 2017." You or I could write that.

We all follow and, in some cases, even watch prospects play baseball. I would take a consensus list of informed baseball fans over just one guy that does more or less the exact same thing that we do.

I don't mind Sickels either, but his lists are anything but informative. For example: "1) Andrew Benintendi, OF, Red Sox, Grade A 2) Yoan Moncada, INF, White Sox, Grade A 3) Dansby Swanson, SS, Braves, Grade A 4) Alex Reyes, RHP, Cardinals, Grade A 5) Amed Rosario, SS, Mets, Grade A/A- 6) Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates, Grade A/A- 7) Gleyber Torres, SS, Yankees, Grade A/A- 8) Jose De Leon, RHP, Rays, Grade A/A- 9) Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox, Grade A- 10) Ozzie Albies, INF, Braves, Grade A- COMMENT: Winter consensus across the industry puts Andrew Benintendi at number one. In this case, I agree with consensus. Other picks are standard except for De Leon, who usually ranks lower on other lists. I’m in love with his pitchability however; just have to hope he stays healthy. Glasnow’s industry stock is down a bit but I think people may be over-reacting." Where's the information? There's virtually nothing there.

0.1%?

FS, your PMs are full.

Confirmed.

Jesus, that was absolutely crushed. It sounded like a gunshot off the bat.

Hell yes, please.

Familia, Fowler and Bruce are available.

I'm pretty excited about it.

Hamels and Salazar out. Javier Baez, Luis Severino, Joey Gallo, Matt Strahm, Clint Frazier, Sandy Alcantara, Phil Bickford in. Rebuild is going well.

What?

Yes, that's right. Confirmed.

I've come to a decision. Rather than drag this out any longer, I'll just end this now. I received an offer I really like. I'm sorry to those that came close. To me: Javier Baez, Joey Gallo, Matt Strahm, and Phil Bickford To Abom: Danny Salazar I will subsequently drop Nolan Jones to make room.

Confirmed.

Sickels isn't a scout, bro.

Top offers for Salazar, in no particular order: A. Top 20 prospect, top 60 prospect, warm body SS, 1st Rd MiLB B. 2 top 40 prospects C. Young 2B, Young 1B, Young SP D. Solid CF, top 30 prospect (I add a young, high-upside prospect here)