Ed 'Mister' Rooney
Today the Blazers shipped Rooney and four prospects to Cobble Hill in exchange for right-hander Júlio Madrid and platoon centerfielder Lenya Adlerov.
Júlio Madrid
Madrid, 22, is in his second season but has yet to reach his full potential. Last season he made 41 appearances with a 3.17 ERA (138 ERA+) but struggled with his control. This season he has appeared in 35 games with a 4.17 ERA (104 ERA+). He throws two elite pitches, a fastball that sits around 96-98 mph and a circle change, each with good movement. His control is still a work in progress. Scouts say that he is not particularly bright.
Adlerov, 26, played two seasons in a reserve role with Nashville before being claimed off waivers by Cobble Hill née Brooklyn. He is a solid centerfielder with a below average bat. He is expected to assume the role of Lee’s platoon partner for now.
The four prospects are left fielder Gui-fan Guao, centerfielder Mario Ledezma, right-handed starting pitcher Thad Gill, and left-handed starting pitcher Rahman Atif.
Guao, 22, is a switch hitter who strongly prefers hitting against right-handed pitching. He possesses plus contact skills and elite power into the gaps, where he can use his elite speed to his advantage. His baserunning instincts are decent and he is highly skilled at bunting for hits. In the outfield he displays plus range, a plus glove, and an average throwing arm. This season in AAA he is hitting .274/.330/.415 (105 OPS+). He was originally selected out of junior college by Montreal in the fourth round of the 2061 amateur draft. He was ranked as Montreal’s #15 prospect in the 2064 Prospect Handbook.
Ledezma, 24, is a solid centerfielder and a plus-plus baserunner with 24 steals in 31 attempts this season. He has average to decent contact skills, plus power into the gaps, and a decent batting eye. This season he has split time between AA and AAA, hitting .313/.397/.622 (171 OPS+) and .246/.321/.311 (77 OPS+), respectively. He was ranked as Montreal’s #24 prospect in the 2064 Prospect Handbook.
Gill, 19, is a right-handed pitcher with a five-pitch repertoire of pedestrian offerings. His fastball projects to 89-91 mph. He was originally selected out of junior college by Montreal in the fourth round of the 2063 amateur draft. This season in rookie ball he has started nine games, going 3-3 with a 4.33 ERA (110 ERA+) and a 1.22 WHIP.
Atif, 19, is a southpaw who was signed by Montreal out of Egypt in 2062. He has yet to make his professional baseball debut. He throws three pitches, none above average. His fastball projects to 94-96 mph.
