At least 11 Giants minor leaguers reportedly declared for free agency per Baseballjeff1 on Bluesky:
Sean Hjelle RHP
Sam Huff C
Cole Waites RHP
Ethan Small LHP
Chris Wright LHP
Juan Mercedes RHP
Miguel Diaz RHP
Helcris Oliverez LHP
Drew Ellis IF
It's a sad but no unexpected ending for Hunter Bishop, a former first round draft pick from the first draft of the Farhan Zaidi era. He put up some unusual but interesting stats in his first pro season right after the draft but then saw his career derailed by a string of injuries. Sean Hjelle is a unique talent due to his 6'11" height but poor on-field results and obvious issues in his personal life threw him off track and it's no surprise to see him hit free agency either. Cole Waites is a hard-throwing reliever who struggled at the MLB level in a small sample and then suffered an injury. Not much to say about the others than we wish them the best in finding another organization to continue their careers. It's always possible some of them resign with the Giants.
Presuming all players have agents, do the agents have contacts with all or most organizations?
ReplyDeleteIf so, the agents can shop around, but, unless the Giants have a plethora of very good prospects at the top of their minor leagues (which they don't do they?), isn't someone who knows you, your best opportunity, especially an organization that has invested heavily in you?
There are other reasons, perhaps getting closer to "home" which may or may not be a good thing, and a restart "might" help.
Without something unique, like Hjelle's height, what good does changing organizations do?
Minor league free agency is mostly a carousel but players are generally looking for a situation that gives them the shortest path to a cup of coffee. Occasionally one will catch lightning in a bottle.
DeleteI hope Cole winds up back with the Giants. He still has potential.
ReplyDeleteBishop put up awful numbers at all levels. He was never going to make it in SF. Between him and Logan Wyatt, you see the FZ era in a nutshell. That's what he didn't bring to this team. Bad early round draft picks. At least Bailey has given some good catching behind the plate.
ReplyDeleteIf you compare FZ's picks to drafts from 2018 back to 2009 (Belt), 10 years, you get Ramos, Webb, and Rogers and a few who were traded away (by predecessors). You might throw Duffy and Panik in there who had some flashes, but no game changers.
DeleteFZ drafts: McCray, McDonald, Schmitt, Harrison (along with Tibbs III important parts of getting Devers), Roupp, Whisenhunt, Birdsong, maybe Black (still around?), Crawford (haha), prospects Davidson (found by scouts), Jordan, & Level signed during the FZ years.
I disagree. Tim Alderson got us Freddy Sanchez. Charlie Culberson got us Marco Scutaro. Heath Hembree got us Jake Peavy. Jonathan Sanchez got us Melky Cabrera (for a magical part of a WS season) Bryan Reynolds, Zack Wheeler, and Adam Duvall were awful trades.
DeleteI don't know. Bishop prepped at Serra. I gotta think there was some organizational local boy preference for Hunter.
DeleteDon't get me wrong, I was never a huge fan of this pick...and it's a tough one to take with Corbin Carroll getting selected a few picks after Bishop. But I don't blame FZ exclusively for taking Bishop.
Reynolds for Cutch was not a great trade. The Wheeler and Duvall trades were understandable attempts to upgrade for a postseason run at the trade deadline. Statistically the best demographic ROI for draft picks is college hitters. Bishop looked like one of the best on draft day. His career was derailed by multiple injuries. I don't think injury risk is particularly scoutable.
DeleteOh, and the Duffy trade was atrocious. Got us Moore, yes. He was good for exactly one post season game. Tore the heart out of a team that was on an 8 game winning streak. Sad decision.
DeleteEldridge "may be" the best non pitcher who would be the best since at least Belt, no? Is Bailey the best so far? Fitz has accumulated bWAR 3.7
DeleteAny pitcher to compare to Webb?
Sometimes you get fleeced in a trade and sometimes you’re the fleecer. The most cost effective and controllable way to build a team is through the farm system. Doc is spot on about the ROI on college hitters. Hopefully , with his experience Tony V can provide insight and help turn around the team’s history of poor drafting of hitters.
ReplyDelete