tipmypitch

A.L. East:  Weak.  Can’t get out of bed weak.

Tampa (#8).  Immediate help is available led by Jake Cronenworth (AAA and the best everyday  position player in system).  Kean Wong (MLB/AAA), Mike Brousseau (MLB/AAA), Christian Arroyo (MLB/AAA) and Kevin Padlo (AAA) should all see time in the Bigs during 2020.  Watch Wander Franco (A+/A) as the next two years wander by (pun intended).

Toronto (#9).  Rowdy Tellez (MLB/AAA) should finally stick in Toronto in 2020.  Same with Cavan Biggio (MLB/AAA).  Next in line is Santiago Espinal (AAA).  Then a thinness develops

Baltimore (#10).  Given the lack of players in Baltimore (truly a bad baseball team), Mason Williams (MLB/AAA), Ryan Mountcastle (AAA) and Rylan Bannon (AAA) all get a chance to move to Baltimore at the end of spring training.

Boston (#11).  I rate the top-ten players for each team.  Boston’s developmental system stopped after #8.  Enough said.  Notable help at AAA does not exist.  Wait for the 2022 arrival of Marcus Wilson (A+ and best in system) and Jarren Duran (A+ and little to separate him from Mr. Wilson).

NYY (#13T).  The Yankees did not place a player in the last four of their top-ten.  Perhaps Ryan McBroom (MLB/AAA), Mike Ford (MLB/AAA) and/or Breyvic Valera (MLB/AAA) get a couple of weeks here and there to see the sights of NYC.

A.L. Central:  A big surprise awaits.  Your head may spin.

Detroit (#1).  Your head is spinning.  You cannot believe I or anybody would rate the Tigers #1 in anything except how-not-to-play-baseball-while-living-next-to-Lake-St.-Clair.  The Tigers’ system is loaded with ready help.  Jaime Candelario (MLB/AAA and best in system) will be followed by Ronny Rodriguez, Frank Schwindel, Victor Reyes, Dawei Lugo, Harold Castro, Willi Castro and perhaps Christian Stewart.  Less Mr. Stewart all enjoyed time in Detroit and AAA during 2019.  Additionally, Kade Scivique (AA) may be an ill advised early arrival in 2020, though the Tigers will be better served by waiting until 2021.  Mr. Scivique can hit and has toss rate of 37%.

Minnesota (#2).  Brief separation between the Twins and Tigers.  The following players split time between Minneapolis and Rochester:  Jake Cave, Ramon Flores, Williams Astudillo and Luis Arraez.  Mr. Arraez traveled quickly in 2019 beginning his journey in AA ball.  Luke Raley (AAA) will also be in the mix to receive a ticket to Minneapolis in 2020.

Kansas City (#5).  Yes, the billion dollar team (bat shit crazy money for the Royals) improved to #5 during 2019.  Nicky Lopez (MLB/AAA) is the best player in system.  Nick Dini (MLB/AAA) and Bubba Starling (MLB/AA, no AAA 2019 exposure) join Mr. Lopez in K.C. during 2020.

Cleveland (#8).  I choose Daniel Johnson (AAA) as most likely to help in 2020.  Most of the Indians talent is in A+ ball.

Chicago (#12).  No depth.  Especially in AA and A+ ball.  Ramon Torres (MLB/AAA) and Nick Madrigal (AAA/AA) are the only two position players to get a look during spring.  Yermin Mercedes (AAA) makes the team in 2020.  He can hit and had 2019 toss rates of 44% in AAA and 43% in AA.

A.L. West:  Better than the East, almost as good as the Central.

Texas (#2T).  Three guys to watch in 2020.  Nick Solak (MLB/AAA), Scott Heineman (MLB/AAA) and Ronald Guzman (MLB/AAA).  Hunter Cole (AAA), Andy Ibanez (AAA) and Willie Calhoun (MLB/AAA) are next in line.

Houston (#4).  I know Yordan Alvarez played and played well during the A.L. playoffs, but he spent considerable time in AAA in 2019, thus I include him in my ratings.  Abraham Toro (MLB/AAA/AA), Taylor Jones (AAA) and Josh Rojas (MLB/AAA) keep the Astros swimming in quality prospects.  Watch Seth Beer (AA/A+) and Lorenzo Quintana (AA) arrive in 2021.

Oakland (#6).  Mark Payton (MLB/AAA), Sean Murphy (MLB/AAA) and Sheldon Neuse (MLB/AAA) make the team 2020 spring training forward.  Accompanying them will be the impressive Jonah Helm (c) who threw out 54% of AAA runners and 51% of AA runners in 2019.  Plus, he hits.

Seattle (#7).  A lot of AA talent.  Yet, their best is Julio Rodriguez (A+/A).  Jake Fraley (AA), Donnie Walton (AA), Chris Mariscal (AA) and/or Evan White (AA) spend time in AAA to start 2020, then arrive in Seattle later in the season.

LAA (#13T).  What a mess.  The Angels placed six in their top-ten.  Need four more and a whole lot more in 2020.  I’m not convinced Jo Adell is savior in waiting.  Play a full year injury free in AAA, then we’ll talk.  However, I am convinced that both Jarred Walsh (MLB/AAA) and Taylor Ward (MLB/AAA) deserve a long look during spring training.