The biggest little pod in the prospect world is back with one of the hottest systems in the minors. The Toronto Blue Jays. In what is the final minor league system preview of the season, Lance and I jump into Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Nate Pearson, and the rest. To say we have a connection to this system is an understatement. We’ve essentially watched this team a handful of times already in the first month. Tack on Lance’s interview back in February with Nate’s pitching coach, and you have some hot takes and fresh looks aplenty. Before we get into all that, we speak on last week’s scouting date to Manchester, NH, where we took in the pitching duel of Sean-Reid Foley vs. the Yankees’ Dillon Tate. After waxing poetic about SRF’s strange mechanics, we dive into our 5 by 5, highlighting ten of the top prospect performers over the last week. We round out the discussion with a review of the Blue Jays and Nationals systems. As we comp Victor Robles, and ask if Juan Soto is a top 10 prospect. It’s a whole lot of loving in this episode! Finally, please make sure to support our sponsor by heading over to RotoWear.com and entering promo code “SAGNOF” for 20% off the highest quality t-shirts in the fantasy sports game. It’s the latest edition of the Razzball Fantasy Baseball Prospect Podcast:
0:00-20:00 Banter, Bo, Vlad
20:00-1:00:00 5×5
1:00:00-1:30:00 TOR/WSH
Find all of the 30 Minor League Previews, and Offseason Rankings on the Minor League Index
On Twitter as @ProspectJesus
Podcast (prospect-podcast): Play in new window | Download
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Hey Ralph I’ve got a long winded question in relation to Soto. I’m in a 14tmH2H points league where we keep 20 players + 6 minor league guys each year (following MLB prospect eligibility rules). I’m just gonna type out my whole roster here, but the main question is which 1 or 2 guys do I deal in order to get my man-crush Soto?
Sanchez
Olson
Dozier
C Seager (Gleyber Torres in at SS atm)
Moose
Stanton
Pollock
Springer
Cruz
Kluber
Ray
Paxton
Hendricks
Devenski
Vizcaino
BN- JUpton, CTaylor, Acuna, Eaton
P BN-Castillo, Buehler, Romero, Triggs, Stratton, Luchessi, Jimmy Nelson, Britton
ML – Rodgers, Tatis, Robles, Trammell, Sixto
As you can see, I love prospects and outfielders. So does the Soto owner. His biggest need is at SS and it seems almost irresponsible to trade for another OF but I love Soto. Would consolidation of Eaton and Trammell for him make sense or is that even too much?
You think he’d do Rodgers and Eaton?
Thanks for the response earlier Lance. I really appreciate all you guys do. I have another question if you don’t mind.
I’m in a 10 team dynasty with 35 man rosters. I’m not deep at all with positional prospects and only carrying Hiura and Jo Adell. I plan on dumping Billy Hamilton for Jahmai Jones, Mountcastle, or Brandon Marsh. Any of these three really catching your eye right now as a must add? Or do I go with more upside like Akil Baddoo or Seuly Matias?
@sport: I think I’d take Marsh, tons of upside.
Lance,
Have you re-rank your top ten on the upcoming MLB draft?
I kind of like the two power hitting 3B and the two lefty pitchers, but I have to wait and see who is drafted by NL teams. My hand are tied.
I have four picks in the first round, including the very first. I want to make them count and get some elite players.
@jose:
Going to have to wait on this unfortunately, I’m doing some research tomorrow and this week, will be on a lot of pods between now and June 4 discussing the draft (most with Ralph!). And even when it goes out for me, it might change as we get closer to draft day.
It will be some mixture of…
Gorman
Mize
Singer
Madrigal
Stewart
Swaggerty
Bohm
Liberatore
…and others
What’s your thoughts on Jalen Beeks and do you think he comes up early June?
Is Bieber moving up on your list as much I’m seeing him on other lists?
@sport:
Beeks is super interesting. Had to have been some changes from last year, but some quick searching hasn’t given me any luck in find what that is. He’s got a pretty deceptive delivery. two plus offspeed shouldn’t leave him with split issues v RHH. He’ll likely get a look this year if he continues to pitch how he is right now.
We spoke about Bieber briefly on this pod. I think we’d both have him inside the top 100.
In a 14 team keeper league this trade was offered to me:
Ozuna and Bregman for Buehler, Trey Mancini,Calhoun.
I know that his two are struggling but I think they should be okay ROS and I have Klub/Stras/Mccullers/Castillo/Hill and Reyes in DL as my other pitchers. What do you think?
@Ciwa:
I’d take that in a heartbeat. I love Buehler as much as the next guy but he’s gonna max out at around 120 IP this year.
@Terrence Mann:
The Dodgers have said at around 150 innings,
@Ciwa:
Ozuna-Bregman side, not particularly close for me.
Not sure if Willie or Kole Calhoun, but doesn’t saw me either or.
@Ciwa: how many people have to tell you its slam dunk ozuna bregman before you stop asking ? haha
Ralph,
This is my “Lpve that young pitching week”
Buehler has had three oustanding starts, including his six inning “NO-NO” last night and now he has earned a spot in the rotation at least until the ALL-STAR break.
Soroka had great debut and has earned one more start Sunday. I hope he has a good one and takes Sanchez’s spot in the rotation.
Alcantara had a very good start at AAA yesterday, seven solid innings and only ONE walk. I hope he gets the call soon.
The #1 pitching prospect on my radar, Enyel De los Santos had a great start last night, pitching against a 30+ MPH wind , he threw six shutout innings on terrible conditions. He walked five, but that was weather related. He only had seven BB coming into this game.
I really hope he makes it to my second round as i plan to take Peter Alonso first.
Don’t look now, but Jimenez and Tatis Jr are getting hot. I wish some of my other guys hitting bellow the Mendoza line wood too.
Now i am going to listen to Washington part of the podcast. Thanks.
@jose: Two more little notes on pitching:
Alex Reyes is going to start a rehab on Palm Beach, soon.
Julio Urias is almost ready to start throwing from a mound soon. He is very excited about it.
Ralph:
Please correct my lousy spelling when you see it. I had a typo on the word love and also wrote wood for would on the previous comment. SORRY, I am a lousy speller in both English and Spanish, Jose
@jose:
Nice recap!
Reyes already threw in FL, not sure if it was with Palm Beach. Craig Mish had some video of it. His role will be interesting.
Nice work, as always. Couple pitcher questions
Can we trust Weaver’s FIP despite his jump in walks?
Cahill has a couple tough starts coming up but his peripherals look great. What do you expect out of him ROS?
@Terrence Mann:
Weaver – Expectations were simply just too high here from my perspective. I think he’s ok rest of season. FIP is a little misleading with him because he’s suppressing HRs at an abnormal rate xFIP is 4.5. I think he’s an SP3-4 rest of season, which isn’t where most people drafted him, but it’s where the most likely outcome of his performance would lead him.
Cahill – Seems like we do this every year. His stats confuse me so much. Tonnnn of hard contact, a lot of whiffs. I think he’s worse than league average rest of season.
Granted these guys aren’t banging down the door yet, but given how they’re performing and advancing quickly, what order do you think these guys will get called to the bigs?
Juan Soto
Taylor Trammel
Josh Naylor
Jesus Luzardo
Pete Alonso
Jesus Sanchez
Shame Bieber
Colton Welker
Thanks for the info.
@Benny: Bieber, Alonso, Soto, Luzardo, Naylor, Trammell, Sanchez, Welker
@Ralph Lifshitz: wait there’s a dude named Shame Bieber?
@batflix: Hahaha
Regarding Japan’s Tetsudo Yamada –
Do you have an approximate ETA for his arrival year to the big leagues?
@Luvdarooks: Not sure. Need to research more.
I know what u mean Last year lots of talk but nothing since I have him cheap.. and wich to know if he is worth a spot.
thanks
I’l give up Springer and Hosmer and receive Stanton? Am I giving up too much? Seems fair to me.
@Mike: Depends how much you dislike Hosmer. I don’t hate it.
Dynasty HTH points league: I have two spots to hold two of three. OFs for a while. Who is the odd man out long term in your opinion between Margot, Franchy, and Brinson? Gut reaction Brinson is a must due to upside, but he’s been so bad…the other two have upside and have been productive to varying degrees…help!
@Matt: You can’t trade Brinson? Seems like I’m the short term he’s the easy cut. Even if I think he’s much better than Franchy.
Good stuff!
Loving me some Bo!
Any concerns with Goldy or should I just be a patient dynasty owner? May be able to move him for Springer. Is that enough or hold?
Thanks!
@Chud: Springer would tempt me. I’d likely do that deal if I had coverage at first. You are of course taking a chance he figures it out.
@Ralph Lifshitz: appreciate it. I am deep at 1B w Rizzo, Smoak, JBell, Jose Martinez n Mancini.
Is Rizzo or Goldy the better dynasty keeper? I’d look to deal the other.
Thanks
Time to drop Senzel if not in keeper league?
@Griffey24:
Always depends what you’re picking up!
I think his timetable will be delayed a bit, sure.