Dariel Lopez SS. DOB: 2/7/2002. B- R, T-R. 6'1", 183 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible.
2022(A+ Pit): .286/.329/.476, 19 HR, 6 SB, 5.0 BB%, 25.5 K%, 420 PA.
Giants picked him up from the Pirates in the AAA phase of the Rule 5 draft after he missed the 2023 season with a knee injury. When healthy he is a budding power bat who is probably more of a 3B defensively than SS. I expect the Giants to start with a lower placement and advance him quickly if he performs well. They will see if he is worth protecting from next year's Rule 5 Draft by the end of the season.
Yusniel Diaz OF. DOB: 10/7/1996. B-R, T-R. 6'1", 215 lbs.
2023(AA LAD): .278/.374/.484, 16 HR, 7 SB, 13.8 BB%, 19.2 K%, 408 PA.
Diaz was once considered an elite prospect signed by the Dodgers out of Cuba. He put up big time numbers in the lower minors but went to the Orioles as the centerpiece of the Manny Machado trade. He then suffered through a series of debilitating injuries and was DFA'd in Nov 2022 and signed as a minor league FA by his original team. He put up nice numbers in a full season of PA's at the AA level. He was not added to the Dodgers 40-man roster and elected free agency. FZ pounced and signed him to a minor league deal. If he can stay healthy I expect him to hit well in AAA and get a chance at the MLB level with the Giants at some point in 2024.
John Bertrand LHP. DOB: 2/8/1995. 6'3", 205 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2025.
2023(A): 4-0, 2.65, 17 IP, 6.35 K/9, 1.06 BB/9.
2023(A+): 5-2, 2.92, 49.1 IP, 7.48 K/9, 2.19 BB/9.
2023(AA): 2-3, 4.67, 52 IP, 6.75 K/9, 3.63 BB/9.
Drafted out of Notre Dame as a graduate student in the 2022 draft. Moved through 3 levels in his first full pro season. K rates are not impressive but he's an extreme GB pitcher with GB/FB of approximately 2. Of course that makes him BABIP dependent, but that is not a completely bad thing. We'll see how that plays at higher levels in 2024.
So Farhan just threw 44 big ones at Nuke Laloosh, hoping he can be turned into a starter. Trying to duplicate the Gausman experiment, though at least Gausman had had some success as a starter. This all feels so 2019.
ReplyDeleteStill, thank you for your notes about the guys above. I was vaguely aware of Lopez but missed Diaz. They both sound interesting and kind of fun. Farhan will have the last laugh when Hicks goes six shutout with 11 Ks in game seven of the '24 series and surprise ROY Diaz hits a two run HR in the bottom of the eighth to win it. Odds, gentlemen?
Signing Hicks and his 100 MPH heat would have been a nice signing to backup Doval. It'll be interesting to see if he can have a successful conversion to SP. Seth Lugo did a nice job for the Padres converting to a SP and got a 3 yr $45 mil contract with the royals. Like the signing because Hicks has an intriguing arm that Can help out of the bullpen And hopefully starting rotation. The bad thing is it might take them out from any chance signing Blake Snell.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the likelihood Giants sign Snell or Bellinger? At which one would you prefer? Bellinger is my preference given the offense we had last year. We need to middle of the order bat.
ReplyDeleteHard to say. Seems unlikely but both Snell and Bellinger have been savaged by analysts to the point where it seems like their market is becoming severely depressed. Was the Hicks signing a signal the Giants are out on Snell or are they just trying to drive his price down further? I would take either of them or both for a reasonable price which seems like it is becoming a possiblity.
DeleteWould Bellinger be the Giants' 9th OFer on the 40-man roster? Or 10th if Sabol is an OFer...
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