Ashe Russell is a HS RHP from Indiana. He has a prototypical pitching prospect's body at 6'4", 195 lbs with oodles of room to fill out. He's got a long, loose arm. He throws both a 4 seam and 2 seam FB in the 91-94 MPH range topping out at 96. He adds a plus slider which he uses as a put away pitch and a changeup that is also a plus pitch at times. He maintains velocity deep into games.
On video, he looks like he puts a considerable load into the elbow with a hint of the dreaded inverted W which may be a concern in terms of future injury. The delivery is 3/4 to low 3/4.
BA and Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs both have him ranked as the #14 draft prospect going into 2015.
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DrB, what do you think about possibly acquiring Lonnie Chisenhall to play 3B? Heard he was available. Giovanny Urshela is on the 40 man roster and he had a pretty darn good year at AAA. They also have Mike Aviles who could play 3B. Chisenhall has a little pop in his bat but mostly gap power. Not the best defender but seems he can hit and is under control until 2018. I'm on the fence with him. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteNot doing handsprings, but he might be the best option.
DeleteGiants sign Sergio Romo to 2 year / $15M. Really? That is a lot of money for a setup man. Poor signing in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteTaking a $7.5M hit for Romo probably ruins the idea of a top tier pitcher such as Scherzer, Shields or Hamels. Unless they decide to go over the salary cap.
Very confused with this signing. We probably could have used Cordier or Strickland for his role and saved $7M.
I agree. I feel like this is a move just to make a move. I am sure you can replace Romo's production with a minor leaguer or non-roster invitee. But, it's not as bad as it could have been.
DeleteYeah, that's not true. Romo's first half last year was average, but his second half was excellent and add to that 7 innings in the playoffs while giving up one run. A journeyman reliever or random guy from the minors is not going to put up that line.
DeleteThere is no way that Romo's contract keeps the Giants from spending big bucks on any big money free agent, the Giants are rolling in $ right now. This is SOP for the GIants especially after a WS, sticking with a known player, even when a cheaper version is available.
DeleteThey are an estimated $28M under the salary cap before the deal. Carmot did the legwork to come up with that number. It includes payroll, arbitration and other expenses such as player liability insurance. It also calculates the total using annual average salaries for all players. So, with $21.75M left you think they can afford a big money 3B or SP? I don't think so. Most likely it will get you Jake Peavy and a 3B whom you won't want to buy his jersey. There is nothing to suggest they will go over the salary cap. This deal put the seal on the "we're not getting a top tier SP" dream.
DeleteI like many thought they would let Romo go because right-handed relief pitching is one of the few areas of depth on the team both at the ML level and throughout the minors. Re-signing Romo now suggests to me that Sabean wants to use some of that depth for trade purposes, possibly to pick up a third baseman. So we could easily see a high-ceiling guy like Ray Black go in the next week.
DeleteNot a terrible signing. Romo is kind of a tweener, not quite a closer, but too expensive to be just a reliever. $7.5 AAV for 2 years might be a slight overpay, but only slight in today's market. I agree that this likely precludes a big FA signing, or a trade for a high priced player, unless the Giants are willing to go slightly over Luxury Tax for 1 year.
DeleteI'm OK with the signing because it gives the bullpen a bit more depth than just 4 reliever plus possibly Petit. OK to have the likes of Strickland/Cordier/Kontos competing for 1 or 2 bullpen slots but having 3 open is a bit scary.
I agree but $7.5M per year sounds like a huge overpay to me. I would almost rather go with John Axford, Joba Chamberlain or Mike Adams.
DeleteI just hope Clayton Blackburn does not get traded. I can see him being in the MLB rotation as early as mid season to September call up.
$7.5 may be a slight overpay, but it is definitely not a huge overpay. Romo is a far better pitcher than Axford, Chamberlain or Adams.
DeleteCordier has no proven track record and is a total flyer if he ever even produces at the MLB level, not a guy I would count on to replace Romo. I also don't think Romo signing has any bearing on Strickland, I think they both make the pen. Might be too much for Romo but in the great scheme of things, short term and not a mega dollar amount that it would prevent them from doing other things too.
ReplyDeleteEdinson Volquez is off the board. 2 years /$20M.
ReplyDeleteIt may be a bit rich for a guy like Volquez who has been very inconsistent and whose success in 2014 was mostly BABIP driven, but I saw him as a low cost alternative to overpaying even more for Shields.
DeleteSomebody please tell Sabean that it is okay to compete in odd years as well! This is getting ridiculous. Every team in our division is noticeably better except the Rockies. Dodgers mostly got better on defense.
ReplyDeleteRomo back with Giants. 2 years 15 million
ReplyDeleteI like this Ashe Russell character. If he gets a reliever label, the guys who like to snag relievers with no thought to draft position can get to stepping. Mayo/Callis have him at #10 on MLB. I think he's a serious look based on rankings, he could go either way when the hype train comes in. The nice thing about having two picks early is the Giants can straddle upside/immediacy some. I really like the Virginia OF Joe McCarthy, he isn't ranked high (yet) but that could be a way to go a bit below slot and then go hunting with the 2nd rounder with some more moneys. Minor manipulating of the CBA, Gigante style.
ReplyDelete