35: Diego Velasquez 2B. DOB: 10/1/2003. B-S, T-R. 6' 1", 150 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Now.
2025(AA): .256/.362, 315, 2 HR, 19 SB, 12.4 BB%, 14.3 K%, 566 PA.
$900 K signing bonus in Jan. 2021 as a SS. Has shown consistently good contact skills throughout his pro career but power has not followed. Gained some weight and has all but moved off SS to 2B. Aside from the lack of HR's, numbers at AA are strong for the the environment. High contact approach would seem to be what Buster has said he is looking for, but lack of power might be too much even for Buster's taste.
34. Shane Rademacher RHP. DOB: 1/30/2001. B-R, T-R. 6' 3", 215 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026.
2025(A+): 6-5, 2.60, 97 IP, 6.59 K/9, 1.39 BB/9.
2025(AA): 2-1, 7.28, 29.2 IP, 3.64 K/9, 4.85 BB/9.
Pitching to contact with a lot of fly balls is generally not a recipe for success at higher levels. Probably needs to find a strikeout pitch and/or something that will put more balls on the ground.
33. Jack Choate LHP. DOB: 4/18/2001. 6' 8", 249 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Now.
2025(AA): 4-6, 3.51, 102.2 IP, 10.78 K/9, 4.47 BB/9.
Sidearming lefty with a soft fastball. Two best pitches per Fangraphs scouting report are slider and changeup. That's an interesting mix with questions whether it works at higher levels. Sidearming approach suggests more of reliever profile but lack of velocity likely to preclude Closer roles.
32. Braxton Roxby RHP. DOB: 3/12/1999. 6' 3", 215 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Now.
2025(A): 3-3, 1.20, 30 IP, 12.00 K/9, 2.70 BB/9, 3 Saves.
2025(AAA): 2-2, 5.91, 32 IP, 11.81 K/9, 5.06 BB/9.
Acquired from the Reds for Taylor Rogers. Delivers a mid-90's FB from a sidearm angle with two breaking balls. Kind of got stuck in AA. Should move up to AAA for 2026 and if he finds success could be a bullpen option for the Giants later in the season.
31. Will Bednar RHP. DOB: 6/13/2000. 6' 2", 230 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Now.
2025(AA): 2-2, 4.97, 50.2 IP, 14.62 K/9, 6.75 BB/9, 1 Save.
2025(AAA): 0-1, 27.00, 1.2 IP, 0.00 K/9, 5.40 BB/9.
Former first round draft pick whose career was derailed by a series of debilitating injuries. Jumped back into the top 50 based on a report that he is healthy and touching triple digits with the fastball. Is that sustainable?
MLB.com/news:
ReplyDeleteNew York has reportedly offered Kyle Tucker a contract worth $50 million annually, but he has other serious suitors.
But the Mets are not alone in their pursuit of Tucker. The Blue Jays and Dodgers have also been linked to Tucker.
Like the Mets, Toronto and Los Angeles each have glaring needs in the outfield, too.
$50,000,000/year?
Seriously?
Giants have a glaring need in the outfield, too, don't they?
Four teams (LAD, Phil, & both NY teams) paid more than $50,000,000 last year in luxury tax, the four of them are MLB's 3+ times over the luxury tax threshold.
"Over spending" (if you can call it that) is not a sure ticket to the Playoffs but it usually works, and the majority of the teams in the post season were "over spenders." Only 2 "under spenders" have made the WS in the last 5 years, and neither won.
We know the Giants will go over when the Owners think they can win, but it doesn't look like 2026 will be one of those years, although Mr Johnson has been a bit cagey on that.
“Over spending” in and of itself is no guarantee of anything. For example, the Mets are one of the top spenders and did not make the playoffs last season. Also, the Dodgers made quite a few roster errors, particularly with regard to their relievers and outfield depth. Who knows how the new CBA might affect how teams will be able to spend going forward. I suspect that “Bobby Bonilla Day” is going to be replaced by “Shohei Ohtani Day” for the rest of my life.
DeleteGoing a little off-topic, Around the Foghorn thinks that the Giants will try to trade for more international bonus pool money. Luis Hernandez might take up most of the bonus pool so they will try to get some more.
ReplyDeleteIf they need more bonus pool money to sign the international prospects they want and can get, I hope they can swing trades to get more.
DeleteA new category: what players have been traded for "international bonus pool money" and who has been traded for the most money?
DeleteLast year, Blake Sabol was traded to the Red Sox for $250000 max allowed.
DeleteLast year, they received $500000 ($250000 in two separate transactions) for Blake Sabol and another player. There is a limit of $250000 that can be transferred per transaction. Also, Andrew Baggarly thinks that Luis Hernandez will use up as much as $5 million of the bonus pool so they need to get some more flexibility.
ReplyDeleteLuis Hernandez has just signed.
ReplyDeleteGreat news! Giants have really upped their game in the international market and have signed a top 5 player 3 of the last 4 periods.
DeleteSo far, because signing Hernandez took up most of the available pool money, the Giants were only able to sign two more prospects today. They can still sign more if they trade for additional pool money or if the signing is for less than $10000, in which case, it does not count towards the bonus pool.
ReplyDelete