As you all have probably heard by now, the Yankees are close to acquiring Cliff Lee for multiple prospects, including their very best hitting prospect (Jesus Montero) and an advanced second base prospect (David Adams).
In Montero, the Yankees would be giving up their most advanced minor league bat in quite some time. As much of a prospect as Jose Tabata was at one time within the organization, he was never as advanced as Montero. We could go back to the days of Ruben Rivera (flop) and Nick Johnson (who could have been HOF caliber if not for all of the injuries he’s endured).
Montero was a hyped prospect before he even reached the states, the biggest prize in the 2006 international free agent signing period. While many young, international studs fizzle not long after signing big contracts, Montero didn’t. In the Gulf Coast League, he hit .280/.366/.421 in his first 127 professional at-bats. And that was just a taste of things to come, as his OPS jumped to .868 in 2008 for Charleston and .951 in two stops (Tampa/Trenton) in 2009 before going down late in the season with an injury. He started off slow in 2010, but has picked it up lately and may be on the verge of yet another offensive explosion. To be exact, I’d almost guarantee that an offensive explosion is likely coming. (It wouldn’t hurt that he would be moving to Tacoma…who play in the ultra-hitter friendly Pacific Coast League)
Why the Yankees can include him in such a trade: Montero, by most accounts, is not very good behind the plate. Also, even if he was decent behind the plate, the Yankees do have another strong catching prospect in the upper minors (Austin Romine in Trenton) with projectable guys behind him (JR Murphy in Charelston; Gary Sanchez in the Gulf Coast League). Teams love to trade from a position of strength, and Montero represents that.
Why they shouldn’t have included him in a trade: Montero, by most accounts, is going to be an impact bat in the major leagues. Nothing in life is guaranteed, especially when it comes to baseball prospects, but Montero is about as close to a sure thing as you are going to find in the minor leagues. He has no obvious weakness as an offensive player. With the major league roster aging a bit, a young bat like Montero could have breathed some life into an aging lineup as early as 2011. —– David Adams would get lost in any trade involving Jesus Montero, but he really shouldn’t be. Adams, a third-round pick in the 2008 draft, has done nothing but hit since joining the organization..and shows signs that he could someday be an impact major leaguer. Adams didn’t do all that much upon arriving in Staten Island in 2008. He put up a .257/.350/.393 line with 19 doubles in 257 at-bats. I bring up the doubles because that is where David Adams will begin to become very intriguing. In 2009, Adams hit .286/.373/.443 in two stops (Charleston/Tampa) with 40 doubles in 490 at-bats. Coupled with the eight triples and nine home runs, Adams suddenly become a legit power prospect from a middle infield position. One of the things people like to look at in a minor league career is doubles…because as a player fills out or becomes more comfortable hitting professional pitching, sometimes some of those doubles convert into home runs over time. So far, in 2010, Adams has produced 15 more doubles in 152 at-bats. He is currently on the disabled list with an ankle injury, but it seems doubtful it will hold up this type of trade.
Why the Yankees can include him: Believe it or not, middle infield is suddenly becoming a bit of a strength. In Triple-A, Eduardo Nunez has continued to build on his breakout 2009 season in Trenton. Down in Tampa, Corban Joseph is pushing to be promoted in his own right. Joseph has put up a .315/.386/.460 line at the age of 21 in a league that is commonly thought of as being more pitcher friendly than hitter friendly. As a left-handed bat, he’d probably have more future value in the Yankees’ mind given their home ballpark. Joseph, drafted in the 4th round in that same 2008 draft, has shown to be a prospect who may be, at the very least, on the same level as Adams. Deeper down in the system, Anderson Felix is currently a bit overshadowed by the Gary Sanchez show in the GCL, but should not be overlooked as a potential prospect as he moves up the chain. Speedy Jimmy Paredes is a bit overlooked as a prospect, but he shouldn’t be – the shortstop has held his own in Charleston this year.
Why they shouldn’t have included him: There really isn’t much of a reason to not include Adams. He doesn’t project to play anywhere other than second base, and Robinson Cano already holds the fort there in the Yankees’ organization. Adams is a solid prospect who may someday be an above-average major league second baseman…but that was not likely going to happen with the Yankees anyway, given the blocking issues that they have. Corban Joseph can easily move right into his slot as a second base prospect.
