2061 - The Lou Bayou Deal (Sacramento/Boise)
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2024 12:02 am
The Mad Popes acquired elite CF Lou Bayou for eight lesser position players, only one of whom plays a premium position. They also acquired established SP Mario Reyes for four lesser starting pitchers, none yet in the big leagues.
Sacramento receives:
Lou Bayou, only 26 years old and Durable, is the reigning Yogi Zimmer Diamond Glove winner, the reigning Charles Puckett Gold Bat Award winner, AND the reigning stolen base champ. He plays the second scarcest position in the game. Scouts have him as an 80 overall player. He is under team control for two more seasons after this one, followed by a player option. He is Extremely Popular nationally and should boost Sacramento's fan interest.
Mario Reyes is a 25-year-old southpaw whom the Spuds acquired from Montreal in the Qutuz Mahdi trade in 2057. He is a solid starting pitcher with three above average pitches, including a plus-plus curveball. His fastball sits between 92-94 mph with sufficient movement to discourage hard contact. This season, he has started 18 games for the Spuds, going 9-7 with a 3.52 ERA (126 ERA+). He will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason.
Also included in the deal is journeyman 2B Lou Tinter, age 35. Age has begun to affect his range, and he profiles as an adequate defender of the keystone with a slightly negative zone rating.
Boise receives:
If there is a headliner going to Boise, I suppose that it would be left-handed first baseman / right fielder Jose Montoya. He was originally selected in the second round of the 2057 amateur draft by Sacramento. In his rookie season, he hit .320/.366/.596 with 4.7 WAR against right-handed pitching, but posted a -8.7 zone rating in right field. That same season saw him hit .210/.210/.403 in 62 plate appearances against southpaws; he has a major platoon factor and needs to be paired with a righty. He has struggled to replicate that success since. After two failed trips to the Mad Popes development lab to improve his defense in right field, he was moved to first base, where his defense is a work in progress. He projects as an average big league first baseman. Scouts had him as a 65 overall as a right fielder, but a 50 overall at first base.
The other 25-year-old position player headed to Boise is 25-year-old corner outfielder Tsutomu Yamauchi. Originally selected out of junior college in the first round of the 2055 amateur draft by Long Beach, he was dealt to Sacramento as part of the Carlos Flores trade. He's a jack of all trades and a master of none. He should hit well enough and field well enough to be an average major league regular in left field, but he is unlikely to be a star. Sacramento sent him to their development lab twice to improve his defense in left field, and the second time was the charm, with an outstanding result. He's almost fully developed, so his many negative intangibles should not be a major concern (low work ethic, low intelligence, low adaptability, low leader, and low loyalty). Scouts show him as a 55 overall with 60 potential.
Bob 'King of Swing' Hills is a 24-year-old left-handed center fielder who was a fifth round selection out of high school by Sacramento in the 2053 amateur draft. He is a capable defender who should hit at a roughly league average pace versus right-handed pitching. Like Montoya, Hills needs a platoon partner. He failed in his one pass through Sacramento's development lab to improve his defense in center field. Scouts rate him as a 50 overall as a center fielder.
The final big leaguer of the group is 35-year-old second baseman Ryan Geauxinue. He was originally selected in the first round of the 2045 amateur draft by Mexico City. He is nominally a switch hitter, but he is much more comfortable against right-handed pitching: 116 OPS+ lifetime vRHP but 91 OPS+ vLHP. He has one more year after this on his $7 million per year contract, but he's fading fast. Once a solid defender, he has recorded increasingly negative zone ratings over the last couple of seasons. His bat may not be far behind. Once an 80 overall, he is currently rated a 50 overall.
The best of the position prospects is 17-year-old Saleh bin Omran, who styles himself as a catcher. He is possessed of high intelligence and adaptability, so perhaps the Boise coaching staff can develop him into a serviceable catcher, but he currently rates 2 of a potential 4 at the position, with 5/5/6 blocking/framing/arm. His bat should play regardless of his position, with scouts projecting him with plus power and a plus-plus eye. His contact skills rate 5 across the board. He'll be promoted out of the international complex into rookie ball as part of the transaction, so he'll be thrown into the deep end right away. Scouts rate him 20 out of 50 as a catcher.
The other three position prospects are RF Carlos Diaz in Single-A (25/45), LF Bruno Gross in Short Season A (25/35), and 1B/DH Ya'qub bin Naim in the international complex (20/45).
The best of the four pitchers may be 21-year-old southpaw Felipe Ledesma (25/50), currently in Single-A. Possessed of three plus-plus pitches, he is projected to have 6 movement, 7 control, and 7 stamina. His 25 overall doesn't do him justice; I think he could easily conquer AA in his current stage of development. He projects as a mid-rotation starter who should arrive in 2063.
The most advanced of the pitchers is 25-year-old starting pitcher Tariku Jabiri (40/45). Currently in AAA after a cup of coffee with Sacramento last season, he features a six-pitch repertoire of mostly average to decent pitches. He has equally average-to-decent movement, control, and stamina. He projects as a back of the rotation starter who should arrive in 2062.
The other starting pitcher of the bunch is 20-year-old Rafael Garza (20/45), who like Ledesma, is in Single-A but should probably be in AA already. He throws three solid pitches, including a plus-plus fastball that sits around 96-98 mph. He is projected to have 5 movement, 6 control, and 6 stamina. He projects as a back of the rotation starter who should arrive in 2063, but might fill a bullpen role before that.
The last of the pitchers is 20-year-old Amelio Torrez (20/45), currently in Short Season A. He has an overpowering fastball that sits around 97-99 mph and a plus-plus cutter but his third pitch is a poor changeup. His pitches move well, but his control is poor and projected to be below average. He has a high work ethic but is not very bright. Boise's coaching staff will have their work cut out for them to mold him into a serviceable piece of the big league pitching staff. He could be a stopper for a second division team someday.
Summary
Boise sent one of the BBA's best players to Sacramento. In return, they received five first base/corner outfielders who are available on every street corner, a fading second baseman, a catcher-in-name-only, and a solid platoon center fielder.
Boise also sent their number two starting pitcher, receiving three future back-of-the-rotation starters and a flawed relief pitcher.
In my opinion, Sacramento won this trade going away.
Sacramento receives:
Lou Bayou, only 26 years old and Durable, is the reigning Yogi Zimmer Diamond Glove winner, the reigning Charles Puckett Gold Bat Award winner, AND the reigning stolen base champ. He plays the second scarcest position in the game. Scouts have him as an 80 overall player. He is under team control for two more seasons after this one, followed by a player option. He is Extremely Popular nationally and should boost Sacramento's fan interest.
Mario Reyes is a 25-year-old southpaw whom the Spuds acquired from Montreal in the Qutuz Mahdi trade in 2057. He is a solid starting pitcher with three above average pitches, including a plus-plus curveball. His fastball sits between 92-94 mph with sufficient movement to discourage hard contact. This season, he has started 18 games for the Spuds, going 9-7 with a 3.52 ERA (126 ERA+). He will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason.
Also included in the deal is journeyman 2B Lou Tinter, age 35. Age has begun to affect his range, and he profiles as an adequate defender of the keystone with a slightly negative zone rating.
Boise receives:
If there is a headliner going to Boise, I suppose that it would be left-handed first baseman / right fielder Jose Montoya. He was originally selected in the second round of the 2057 amateur draft by Sacramento. In his rookie season, he hit .320/.366/.596 with 4.7 WAR against right-handed pitching, but posted a -8.7 zone rating in right field. That same season saw him hit .210/.210/.403 in 62 plate appearances against southpaws; he has a major platoon factor and needs to be paired with a righty. He has struggled to replicate that success since. After two failed trips to the Mad Popes development lab to improve his defense in right field, he was moved to first base, where his defense is a work in progress. He projects as an average big league first baseman. Scouts had him as a 65 overall as a right fielder, but a 50 overall at first base.
The other 25-year-old position player headed to Boise is 25-year-old corner outfielder Tsutomu Yamauchi. Originally selected out of junior college in the first round of the 2055 amateur draft by Long Beach, he was dealt to Sacramento as part of the Carlos Flores trade. He's a jack of all trades and a master of none. He should hit well enough and field well enough to be an average major league regular in left field, but he is unlikely to be a star. Sacramento sent him to their development lab twice to improve his defense in left field, and the second time was the charm, with an outstanding result. He's almost fully developed, so his many negative intangibles should not be a major concern (low work ethic, low intelligence, low adaptability, low leader, and low loyalty). Scouts show him as a 55 overall with 60 potential.
Bob 'King of Swing' Hills is a 24-year-old left-handed center fielder who was a fifth round selection out of high school by Sacramento in the 2053 amateur draft. He is a capable defender who should hit at a roughly league average pace versus right-handed pitching. Like Montoya, Hills needs a platoon partner. He failed in his one pass through Sacramento's development lab to improve his defense in center field. Scouts rate him as a 50 overall as a center fielder.
The final big leaguer of the group is 35-year-old second baseman Ryan Geauxinue. He was originally selected in the first round of the 2045 amateur draft by Mexico City. He is nominally a switch hitter, but he is much more comfortable against right-handed pitching: 116 OPS+ lifetime vRHP but 91 OPS+ vLHP. He has one more year after this on his $7 million per year contract, but he's fading fast. Once a solid defender, he has recorded increasingly negative zone ratings over the last couple of seasons. His bat may not be far behind. Once an 80 overall, he is currently rated a 50 overall.
The best of the position prospects is 17-year-old Saleh bin Omran, who styles himself as a catcher. He is possessed of high intelligence and adaptability, so perhaps the Boise coaching staff can develop him into a serviceable catcher, but he currently rates 2 of a potential 4 at the position, with 5/5/6 blocking/framing/arm. His bat should play regardless of his position, with scouts projecting him with plus power and a plus-plus eye. His contact skills rate 5 across the board. He'll be promoted out of the international complex into rookie ball as part of the transaction, so he'll be thrown into the deep end right away. Scouts rate him 20 out of 50 as a catcher.
The other three position prospects are RF Carlos Diaz in Single-A (25/45), LF Bruno Gross in Short Season A (25/35), and 1B/DH Ya'qub bin Naim in the international complex (20/45).
The best of the four pitchers may be 21-year-old southpaw Felipe Ledesma (25/50), currently in Single-A. Possessed of three plus-plus pitches, he is projected to have 6 movement, 7 control, and 7 stamina. His 25 overall doesn't do him justice; I think he could easily conquer AA in his current stage of development. He projects as a mid-rotation starter who should arrive in 2063.
The most advanced of the pitchers is 25-year-old starting pitcher Tariku Jabiri (40/45). Currently in AAA after a cup of coffee with Sacramento last season, he features a six-pitch repertoire of mostly average to decent pitches. He has equally average-to-decent movement, control, and stamina. He projects as a back of the rotation starter who should arrive in 2062.
The other starting pitcher of the bunch is 20-year-old Rafael Garza (20/45), who like Ledesma, is in Single-A but should probably be in AA already. He throws three solid pitches, including a plus-plus fastball that sits around 96-98 mph. He is projected to have 5 movement, 6 control, and 6 stamina. He projects as a back of the rotation starter who should arrive in 2063, but might fill a bullpen role before that.
The last of the pitchers is 20-year-old Amelio Torrez (20/45), currently in Short Season A. He has an overpowering fastball that sits around 97-99 mph and a plus-plus cutter but his third pitch is a poor changeup. His pitches move well, but his control is poor and projected to be below average. He has a high work ethic but is not very bright. Boise's coaching staff will have their work cut out for them to mold him into a serviceable piece of the big league pitching staff. He could be a stopper for a second division team someday.
Summary
Boise sent one of the BBA's best players to Sacramento. In return, they received five first base/corner outfielders who are available on every street corner, a fading second baseman, a catcher-in-name-only, and a solid platoon center fielder.
Boise also sent their number two starting pitcher, receiving three future back-of-the-rotation starters and a flawed relief pitcher.
In my opinion, Sacramento won this trade going away.
