37.10. Another Trade and Some Draft Pick Signings Shake Up The Farm

[agrudez]

With three trades in the books as the Phantoms' disappointing - and blindsiding - 2037 continues, a fourth was announced yesterday alongside a slew of draft pick signings. In the end, the new faces now represent 40% of the team's top 10 prospect rankings, 40% of their top 20 prospect rankings and 40% of their top 30 prospect rankings (which is, as an aside, pretty humorous, imo) - with the promise of even more trades in the works and picks to be signed lingering. At the end of this spurt, the team's minor leagues could look completely different (if almost half of the team's best prospects being new didn't already achieve that), but we will save those types of in depth accountings for later when the dust has truly cleared. For now, though, we will look at the details of the latest trade as well as the draft picks that have signed, the ones that haven't and the ones still pending.

The latest trade was a rather small one relative to more recent ones. It saw perpetually under-utilized Jose Cortez (whom was the team's RH DH platoon last season, but was pushed to full time AAA duty with the signing of Rutledge in the offseason) shipped to divisional foe Nashville in exchange for Villa and Terry. Between them, only Villa managed to crack the team's top 30 prospects (just barely, at #28) as a Southpaw SP with questionable stamina and a troubling injury history (he tore his flexor tendon, was out 13 months, came back and immediately tore his UCL and is out another 13 months). His talent is there to be a #3 or #4 SP, though, if he can get healthy and back on track. In Terry, the team sees some potential upside, but admits he is a longshot. As-is, his bat is probably good enough to be a platoon option in a corner OF; however, his defense isn't good enough for that. And his bat isn't good enough for the same offensive role as a DH. If he can bump either one, then he could very well be a player, though.

Back to the draft, the team was happy to announce the signings of both of their first round picks, one of their second round picks and their fifth round pick (along with others from the rounds down of less import). That still leaves them; however, sweating the fate of one second round pick, their third round pick and fourth round pick, though. Putting names to those titles, that is Luis Gonzalez, Roberto Reyes and Jose Silva. Compounding the stress is that Gonzalez was already a make-up pick, so him not signing would not net the team a pick next year (nor would Silva as a 4th rounder). Aside from that specific concern, the team also really likes all three players and fully expects them to make appearances in their top prospect rankings (Gonzalez likely to be a top 10 with Reyes and Silva as likely top 20s) so losing them specifically on their own merits would hurt. Reports surrounding the negotiations indicated that the team went above the player's asking price in all three situations with their initial offer, so the hesitance in signing that quickly is of concern. Some conspiracy theorists have pointed out that in a parallel universe Reyes and Gonzalez already signed as well, further compounding the angst amongst that particular opiod-riddled segment of the fanbase.

[recte44]

I love all three of those draftees, btw. Great job.