Soon, the baseball wing of the Internet will launch boisterous debates over the prospect rankings of 19-year-olds that have never been seen live and only exist in box scores. (Think: Schrodinger's catcher.)
One aspect of this annual beef appraisal is its unpleasantness for Yank fans. In these rankings, the rosy curtain of YES optimism is shredded, and we often must gaze into a future of Zolios and Oswaldos. It stings.
Last August, in the most recent roundup, the Yankee farm system ranked 18th of 30 on MLB.com. In other terms, below average. This time, they'll probably rank worse, though, hey! ya never know! The well-greased Yankee hype machine works on many levels.
For the record, last August, all our blood rivals outdid us. Tampa ranked #1, (as they always seem to do), followed by Baltimore #3, the Dodgers #5, Boston #7, and the Mets #13. It's hard to see the Yankees moving up. It's not as if anybody broke out in October. We hoped the Martian would supplant Alex Verdugo, or that Ben Rice would take over for Anthony Rizzo. Nope, on both counts. The kids went home.
But one thing did NOT happen - or, at least, it hasn't yet: The Yankees haven't traded any of their top-tier prospects, generally the lifeblood of a system.
As shown in the above chart, the '25 Yankees could see one key youthful infusion: Jasson Dominguez. When signed at a ridiculous age, 16, for a ridiculous bonus - highest in history - Dominguez was ridiculously compared to Mickey Mantle and Mike Trout. Now, he'll be ridiculously compared to Juan Soto.
For any top Yankee prospect, the ridiculous comparisons never end. I hope they don't crush this kid.
Considering the hype the Yankees have bestowed on Dominguez, it's hard to imagine them trading him. It would be like closing a Broadway show before opening night. But after The Martian, the remaining top three have constantly been whispered in trade rumors.
Right now, Spencer Jones bounces from being the next Aaron Judge to just another tall guy who strikes out way too much. If he's still a Yankee next June, Jones could reach Scranton and be a 10-game hitting streak from the Bronx. God knows what he'll look like. The Yankees revamp his swing the way Cher used to change gowns in her Vegas act. They might kill him.
Then there are Roderick Arias - another huge signing bonus baby, who never received the cascade of hype that came with The Martian, and George Lombard Jr., a 2023 first-round pick still sequestered deep in the low-A trenches.
According to the Internet, Cooperstown Cashman will land a 3B or 2B, rather than hit spring training with DJ LeMahieu in the lineup. Yank fans should brace themselves for a trade that actually hurts. And get ready for sticker shock, because the next farm system rankings - even if they somehow have cleavage! - could be bleak.
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10 comments:
The question I have is, does Cashman leave as many as possible down on the farm as trade bait, so they can't reveal themselves as not major-league ready (maybe ever, maybe not)? In other words, does the Yankees hype machine build up some kids who really don't have a chance at being major league stars in order to pump up their trade value?
Nahhhh. Too cagey for Cashman.
You’re on to something there, JM. Cashman does belong in a cage.
The team continues to favor washed up “stars” for marketing purposes. That’s how you end up with the Paul Goldschmidts of the world. What a creaky old infield with LeMahieu at third and Oldschmidt at first.
I don’t see Dominguez or Jones being traded unless something really crazy happens to the current roster. If Cashgrab wouldn’t trade Jones for Cease or Burnes I can’t see anyone else he would let him go for. That being said if the Padres really get cash strapped I would right a previous wrong and move Jones for Machado, a guy that actually wanted to play here.
@ Jaraxie....If the scouts are even close to being correct when they say that Jones is a left-handed version of Judge but with more speed, he should not be traded for Machado. Sure, 5 or 6 years ago, but not now. Machado is 9 years older than Jones, and counting this season, is under contract for 9 more years. 9!! He will be another DJ in 4 years, and remember, he has chronic back issues. No way he will be productive at age 41.
It's a constant conundrum, Carl Weitz: do the Yankees' leading prospects suck because they are under Yankee tutelage, or because...they just suck. I agree with you about Jones—he's worth the risk, and Machado (at this age) is not—but who knows? Don't forget the Alphonso Directive: Young stars have to shine. The ballplayers who really become superstars tend to be awfully good, awfully young.
Jones will be 24 in May, and still looks far from ready.
Oh, and "Schrodinger's catcher" is fucking brilliant, Duque.
@Carl, I haven’t seen a scout call
Him a left handed Judge in the past two years. What I see is a guy who struck out over 30 percent of the time in his second season at aa
Very true, Hoss,but Judge was striking out at a very high rate a year or so before he was called up. They were concerned that he had a loop in his swing because of his size and many thought that he'd never make it. Judge was 24 when he made it to the Bigs.
Jones has a year maybe 2 to prove he's legit or a bust.
JARAXIE...See my comment to Hoss.
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