Texas Rangers 2018-2019 Offseason Thread

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[jta4437]

Tyson Ross at least had moments of competence

 

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T R Sullivan mentioned the Braves pitching prospects so I thought I would provide a rundown of the top ones via Atlanta Braves Top 20 prospects for 2019.

1) Ian Anderson, RHP, Grade A-: Age 20, first round pick from high school in New York in 2016, posted 2.49 ERA in 119 innings between High-A and Double-A, with 142/49 K/BB, only 87 hits and two homers allowed all year; plus fastball, curveball and change-up have all developed nicely, throws strikes, no deterioration in performance after being promoted; in my opinion he has the best combination of upside and polish of all the Braves pitching prospects; ETA late 2019.

2) Mike Soroka, RHP, Grade B+/A-: Age 21, first round pick in 2015 from high school in Canada, posted 1.76 ERA in 31 innings between Triple-A and a Low-A rehab outing, 34/6 K/BB, just 20 hits; posted 3.51 ERA in 25.2 major league innings with 21/7 K/BB; pitching time limited by shoulder problems; reports on recovery are good but shoulder stuff is inherently scary and knocks his grade down a notch from what it would otherwise be; he’s ready for a rotation spot if healthy; ETA 2019.

3) Touki Toussaint, RHP, Grade B+: Age 22, famously electric arm with fastball up to 98 and nasty breaking ball; took huge step forward with his command this year, posting 2.38 ERA with 163/57 K/BB in 136 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, just 101 hits; posted 4.03 ERA in 29 major league innings with 32/21 K/BB, just 18 hits; it is all a matter of control, stuff is too good for the minors at this point so he may have some ups and downs in the majors for a year or two to put the finishing touches on his command; ETA 2019.

4) Kyle Wright, RHP, Grade B+: Age 23, first round pick in 2017 out of Vanderbilt, posted 3.46 ERA in 133/51 K/BB in 138 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, 118 hits; threw six innings in the majors with five strikeouts, six walks; fastball in mid-90s, mixed in with slider, cutter, change-up; overpowering on the right day but can be inconsistent with his command and have some games when he gets blown up, reminds me some of Kevin Gausman at the same stage; ETA 2019.

5) Kolby Allard, LHP, Grade B+: Age 21, first round pick in 2015, posted 2.72 ERA in 112 innings in Triple-A with 89/34 K/BB, 102 hits; gave up 19 hits in eight innings in the majors with 12.38 ERA; he’s obviously better than that; doesn’t have the pure stuff of the guys above him but certainly no slouch and can throw fastball, curve, change-up for quality strikes when he’s going well; I like him more than some other analysts do for intuitive reasons I can’t explain very clearly; ETA 2019.

8) Luiz Gohara, LHP, Grade B+: Age 22, out of Brazil, posted 4.81 ERA with 59/18 K/BB in 58 innings in Double-A/Triple-A with 5.95 ERA, 18/8 K/BB in 20 major league innings; progressed stalled this year with nagging injuries and distracting family crises; I remain intrigued with his upside and still believe he can become a dominant pitcher if he can get a handle on the off-field stuff and stay healthy; Wayne Cavadi compares him to CC Sabathia in terms of upside potential and I can see that, keeping in mind that CC was also erratic in his early MLB exposure; ETA 2019.

9) Bryse Wilson, RHP, Grade B+: Age 20, fourth round pick in 2016 out of high school, posted 3.44 ERA with 143/36 K/BB in 126 innings between High-A, Double-A, Triple-A; posted 6/6 K/BB in seven major league innings; looks like potential workhorse with 90+ sinker, slider, and change-up combined with good control; doesn’t get as much press as the guys ahead of him but may end up being just as successful; would be the top pitching prospect in many systems. ETA 2019.

 

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I am staying away from Soroka's shoulder problems.

 

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then there is this from another site. Atlanta Braves Top 30 Prospects

1. Touki Toussaint, RHP

Age: 22 (6/20/96)

Highest Level: MLB

136.1 IP, 2.38 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 10.76 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, .201 AVG - AA/AAA

29 IP, 4.03 ERA, 4.24 XFIP, 9.93 K/9, 6.52 BB/9, .180 AVG - MLB

Toussaint has risen to the top of a loaded farm system with an outstanding 2018 campaign that flashed promises of improved command to go along with plus stuff. His curveball grades at a 70 and in his short stint in MLB has already appeared numerous times on Rob Friedman’s @Pitchingninja twitter feed. The split-changeup has flashed above-average to plus at times with sharp, downward biting action. The key for Touki will be control. He has struggled to command the zone at the MLB level seeing his walk rate double, however, his stuff is so good that even when he struggles to find the zone, he can dominate. Expect Touki to compete for a rotation spot to start 2019. ETA: 2018


4. Mike Soroka, RHP

Age: 21 (8/4/97)

Highest Level: MLB

30.2 IP, 1.76 ERA, 1.72 FIP, 9.98 K/9, 1.76 BB/9, .184 AVG - AAA

25.2 IP, 3.51 ERA, 3.63 xFIP, 7.36 K/9, 2.45 BB/9, .288 AVG - MLB

Soroka, one of the youngest arms in the system, was the first to get the call to Atlanta. A shoulder injury shut him down for the season, however, he should be fully ready to compete for a spot in the rotation next spring. While he doesn’t possess the lights out stuff of some of the other pitchers in the system, his floor is insanely high. He possesses a pitchability not often found in a young players which should help him stick in the middle of the Atlanta rotation. ETA: 2018

5. Ian Anderson, RHP

Age: 20 (5/2/98)

Highest Level: AA

107.1 IP, 2.49 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 10.71 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, .197 AVG

There was much speculation when the Braves took Anderson 3rd overall in 2016 that his willingness to sign below slot was the determining factor. However, Anderson’s 2018 season, in which he reached Double-A, has allowed him to separate himself from a loaded core of young arms and prove his worthiness of such a high draft pick. Anderson throws three pitches, a fastball, curveball, and changeup. The curveball is a plus pitch at present. He has the ability to run the fastball into the mid 90’s but sits 93-94. The key to development is improving command. Pitching from an over-the-top arm slot, Anderson at times struggles to get maximal extension, which leads to struggles with command. When he is in sync, he can pound the bottom half of the zone with all three pitches. ETA: 2021

8. Kyle Wright, RHP

Age: 22 (10/2/95)

Highest Level: MLB

138 IP, 3.46 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 8.67 K/9, 3.33 BB/9, .225 AVG. - AA/AAA

6 IP, 4.50 ERA, 6.42 xFIP, 7.5 K/9, 9.0 BB/9, .182 AVG. - MLB

Wright flew through AA/AAA in his first full professional season, reaching Atlanta as a September call-up. He also earned a spot in the 2018 Future’s Game. While it’s clear that this season he is behind Soroka and Toussaint in the pecking order, he has the stuff and pitchability to earn a rotation spot in 2019. In order to do so, he’ll need to improve his command/sequencing and limit his walks. He throws four above-average to future plus pitches and profiles as a mid-rotation starting pitcher. ETA: 2019

9. Bryse Wilson, RHP

Age: 20 (12/20/97)

Highest Level: MLB

125.2 IP, 3.44 ERA, 3.02 FIP, 10.24 K/9, 2.58 BB/9, .233 AVG.-A+/AA/AAA

7 IP, 6.43 ERA, 5.20 xFIP, 7.71 K/9, 7.71 BB/9, .308 AVG. - MLB

Wilson has pitched across three levels of the minors before earning a spot start in Atlanta and a September call-up. The young righty has a prototypical starting pitcher body and flashes plus command. His fastball touches 97 with downhill plane. His slider and changeup have improved to above-average offerings. He improved his strikeout rate at every stop in the minor leagues and is a bulldog on the mound. ETA: 2018

10. Luiz Gohara, LHP

Age: 22 (7/31/96)

Highest Level: MLB

58 IP, 4.81 ERA, 4.40 FIP, 9.16 K/9, 2.79 BB/9, .259 AVG - AA/AAA

19.2 IP, 5.95 ERA, 5.16 xFIP, 8.24 K/9, 3.66 BB/9, .222 - AVG. - MLB

Gohara exploded onto the scene in 2017 after starting in High A and advancing to Atlanta. 2018 has been a different story. Tragedy and a shoulder injury have derailed his season, leaving him one inning shy of exceeding prospect status. Concerns about weight and conditioning have also plagued Gohara, however, those same concerns were belayed in 2017 when he dominated across four levels. His fastball-slider combo are both plus pitches with his command lagging behind. With so many pitchers knocking at the door for a rotation spot, Gohara may be a prime candidate for a bullpen role in 2019. ETA: 2018

11. Kyle Muller, LHP

Age: 20 (10/7/97)

Highest Level: AA

139.2 IP, 3.03 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 8.31 K/9, 2.96 BB/9, .242 AVG - A/A+/AA

Muller was yet another fast riser pitching across three levels are reaching Double-A. Standing 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, Muller has a prototypical frame with projection. He throws downhill with his FB at 92-93. He could add some velocity as he matures. Muller also features as slider and changeup, with the changeup being a plus offering. He repeats his delivery well for a big guy. Muller will be pitching in the AFL and could improve his stock with a strong showing. ETA: 2021

12. Kolby Allard, LHP

Age: 21 (8/13/97)

Highest Level: MLB

112.1 IP, 2.72 ERA, 3.40 FIP, 7.13 K/9, 2.72 BB/9. .242 AVG - AAA

8 IP, 12.38 ERA, 7.39 xFIP, 3.38 K/9, 4.5 BB/9, .463 AVG - MLB

Usually if a prospect dominates Triple-A in his age-20 season, he finds himself in the top five. In the case of Allard, the numbers don’t seem to match the stuff. His best pitch is a curveball that flashes plus at times, but isn’t enough of a weapon to keep hitters off his pedestrian fastball. With that being said, he is young and polished so the upside is there. He will need to stay off the sweet spot of the bat in order to get MLB hitters out, so a repeat at Triple-A in 2019 may be in the cards. ETA: 2018

 

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Fangraphs has them:

Soroka
Anderson
Wright
Toussaint
Wentz
Gohaara
]Wilson
Muller
Allard

 

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Which picher(s) would it take for you to deal Mazara?

They do have a very good 3B prospect as well as an OF prospect and a catcher prospect that some rank very highly.

 

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[scotsman1948]

I'm not the one on here making absurd predictions for how the rangers do things in 2020

do you realistically believe that this team is suddenly going to be competitive in 2020? I believe that it will be 2021 or 2022 before the Rangers are talked about as being relative

 

[jta4437]

do you realistically believe that this team is suddenly going to be competitive in 2020? I believe that it will be 2021 or 2022 before the Rangers are talked about as being relative

Think you meant relevant but honestly i have no idea, a lot can happen between now and then

 

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Jose Leclerc's role likely expanding in 2019

I really don't get the point the manager is trying to make.

 

[Kelleyman]

Jose Leclerc's role likely expanding in 2019

I really don't get the point the manager is trying to make.

Perhaps functioning like Andrew Miller does. 1-2 innings in the high leverage situations

 

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[saddles]

Perhaps functioning like Andrew Miller does. 1-2 innings in the high leverage situations

"But he might be too valuable to pitch more than one inning. We don't want to just limit him. I think to limit him just to say he's our closer, I don't think it's fair to him.""

I don't see how it isn't fair to him to be simply a closer. Isn't that the ultimate compliment you can give a reliever. Why aren't veteran closer treated so "fairly" more often. lol

It seems like he is speaking a lot of double talk to do something for a reason he doesn't want to disclose.

 

[Kelleyman]

"But he might be too valuable to pitch more than one inning. We don't want to just limit him. I think to limit him just to say he's our closer, I don't think it's fair to him.""

I don't see how it isn't fair to him to be simply a closer. Isn't that the ultimate compliment you can give a reliever. Why aren't veteran closer treated so "fairly" more often. lol

It seems like he is speaking a lot of double talk to do something for a reason he doesn't want to disclose.

I have wondered why a coach does not bring in their best one inning pitcher in the 7th or 8th in a tight situation witch the other teams best hitters up perhaps with men in scoring position and the bottom of the order due in the following inning.

The traditional easy of doing things is not always the best. You may be right in him being non specific but I only read article. Ther e may be more to the report the writer omitted

 

[saddles]

I have wondered why a coach does not bring in their best one inning pitcher in the 7th or 8th in a tight situation witch the other teams best hitters up perhaps with men in scoring position and the bottom of the order due in the following inning.

The traditional easy of doing things is not always the best. You may be right in him being non specific but I only read article. Ther e may be more to the report the writer omitted

I tend to think he is just not clearly saying what he has to say instead of purposely trying to be misleading. I got that impression about something else he said once before.

 

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Toolshed: 2018 Rule 5 Draft preview

 

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