Joc Pederson to represent Dodgers at 2013 Futures Game in July

Joc Pederson will represent the Dodgers at the 2013 Futures Game on the Sunday before the All-Star game. The 21-year-old is doing some good things in the Southern League.

He's not hitting as well as he was earlier this season, but he's still posting respectable numbers: .296/.383/.500, 11 home runs, 34 RBI, 53 runs scored and 21 stolen bases (in 24 attempts).

Every year, the top prospects are selected to play in what is essentially a prospect all-star game. There is a United States team and a World team. Last year, Chris Reed represented the Dodgers for the World team as he was born in London. Teams can only send two players -- one on each squad -- for this exhibition game.

Here's a list of Dodger prospects to participate in the Futures Game since its inception in 1999:

1999 - Chin-Feng Chen, Luke Prokopec
2000 - Chen, Randey Dorame
2001 - Ricardo Rodriguez,
2002 - Victor Diaz, Rodriguez
2003 - Franklin Gutierrez, Edwin Jackson
2004 - Joel Guzman, Koyie Hill
2005 - Andy LaRoche, Russell Martin
2006 - Guzman, Chin-Lung Hu
2007 - Clayton Kershaw, Hu (MVP)
2008 - Ivan De Jesus
2009 - Pedro Baez
2010 - Baez, Dee Gordon
2011 - Alfredo Silverio
2012 - Chris Reed
2013 - Joc Pederson

The best player the Dodgers have ever sent is obviously Kershaw. Gutierrez is about the only position player to make an impact in the majors and Jackson has been a serviceable starter.

I was hoping one of the hard-throwing relievers would get the nod on the World side (i.e. Jose Dominguez), but it didn't happen. Yasiel Puig would have been a lock for the squad if he weren't promoted to the majors. At this rate, he could be a Los Angeles Dodger representative in New York.

The Futures Game is Sunday, July 14 at 11 a.m. Pacific time.

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

The connected careers of Alfredo Silverio, Yasiel Puig and Carl Crawford

When Jorge Soler was a free agent, I wanted the Dodgers to go after the Cuban slugger. When he signed a 9-year, $30 million deal with the Cubs on June 11, I was a little surprised at the length of the deal, but could understand why the Dodgers didn't want give that contract duration to an unproven 19-year-old.

Then, the Dodgers ponied up $42 million for seven years of Yasiel Puig on June 28 -- a move that didn't come out of nowhere, but was surprising nonetheless.

If that wasn't enough, the team went and acquired Carl Crawford in August as part of the Adrian Gonzalez deal.

So, the Dodgers now have four outfielders signed to long-term deals. Eventually, one of them will be traded (my money is on Andre Ethier, especially after Crawford's hot start to 2013).

But my question is: would the Dodgers have made these moves if Silverio hadn't been in the car accident and subsequently needed Tommy John surgery?

Silverio came off a career year in 2011, in which he hit .306/.340/.542 with a Southern League-leading 76 extra base hits (42 doubles, 18 triples, 16 home runs). He was poised for a huge season in Triple-A before a nasty car accident in January 2012.

What's unfortunate is, the Dodgers may or may not have misdiagnosed Silverio due to a language barrier.

Ben Badler wrote an article about it in December.

"The Dodgers brought Silverio in for tests and determined that he had a concussion. Only there was one problem: Silverio said the test was done in English. Silverio signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2003 and can speak English, but it's not his native language. Silverio said he understood everything the doctors were telling him, but he wanted to think about what they were saying before he responded, which may have been misinterpreted.

With Silverio's concussion, the Dodgers wanted him to stay off the field, but Silverio asked the Dodgers if he could get a second opinion. When Silverio went to the University of Pittsburgh a few weeks later for a test—this time conducted in Spanish—Silverio said they told him he did not have a concussion. Even with that, Silverio still missed the entire 2012 season, as he had Tommy John surgery that spring, which Silverio said he believes was the result of an elbow injury he sustained in the car accident."

Silverio, now with the Marlins after Miami nabbed him in the Rule 5 Draft, is on the 60-day disabled list due to a sprained elbow -- the same elbow which required Tommy John surgery last year.

Silverio is a dynamic player and is at least an average defender in left field. I never had him rated terribly high (No. 12 heading into 2012), but Baseball America had him ranked as high as No. 4 (same year). He's a tool shed who doesn't walk. He does everything else relatively well -- at least, he did before his injury.

While his future is still unknown, it would have been interesting to see his time play out with the Dodgers. Perhaps Crawford is playing elsewhere (Anaheim, perhaps?) or he's still wallowing in Boston. Perhaps we don't know how to pronounce Puig if Silverio is never in that car accident, even though I'm willing to bet the Dodgers wouldn't have shied away from nabbing Puig on the open market. I suppose there's less chance the team would have acquired Crawford, unless Silverio were dealt to Boston in that deal,

Everything truly does happen for a reason. With Silverio, there could be no Crawford. But the Dodgers could still be in a similar position with four outfielders for three spots. Perhaps Silverio would have been traded eventually if the team had Ethier, Matt Kemp and Puig. Perhaps Silverio -- not Puig -- is getting the headlines in the minor leagues.

I still hope Silverio goes on to have a long and distinguished career. The first step is getting healthy and getting back on the field. He has a great opportunity in Miami, especially after Giancarlo Stanton is traded to the Dodgers this winter (I know, another outfielder, but TEH POWER).

As weird and potentially messed up as it sounds, perhaps the car accident was a positive for Silverio's baseball career. I can't imagine the hell and pain he went through on a personal level, though. And frankly, that outweighs everything else.

But only time will tell if he can turn it into a positive.

Photo credits

Silverio: mwlguide, Flickr

Puig and Crawford: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Dodgers' news - Silverio, Ryu, rotation, Sanchez, Shields, Lohse, prospects

It's been a busy week without it having been a busy week. Sounds weird, I know. But the Dodgers have been involved in tons of rumors, but there haven't been a lot of transactions.

Here's a quick rundown of some of the Dodger-related news this week.

Silverio wasn't concussed?

Ben Badler of Baseball America was able to interview Alfredo Silverio, the former Dodger prospect who was selected by the Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday.

There were a couple of interesting notes from the piece.

"The Dodgers brought Silverio in for tests and determined that he had a concussion. Only there was one problem: Silverio said the test was done in English. Silverio signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2003 and can speak English, but it's not his native language. Silverio said he understood everything the doctors were telling him, but he wanted to think about what they were saying before he responded, which may have been misinterpreted.

With Silverio's concussion, the Dodgers wanted him to stay off the field, but Silverio asked the Dodgers if he could get a second opinion. When Silverio went to the University of Pittsburgh a few weeks later for a test -- this time conducted in Spanish -- Silverio said they told him he did not have a concussion. Even with that, Silverio still missed the entire 2012 season, as he had Tommy John surgery that spring, which Silverio said he believes was the result of an elbow injury he sustained in the car accident."

The most interesting part of this is the fact Silverio's concussion might have been misdiagnosed. While it didn't matter in terms of playing time because of the elbow injury, it raises some concerns for me.

It's always better to be on the safe side, but in a situation like this, the Dodgers should have done a little more to make sure Silverio didn't actually have a concussion. It shows a lack of diligence on their part. Knowing the his first language isn't English, they should have conducted the examination in Spanish in the first place. And slow answers aren't the be-all, end-all when it comes to diagnosing a person with a concussion, but it is a significant part.

It obviously didn't scare the Marlins away, as they took Silverio early and likely expect him to contribute significantly in 2013.

There wasn't a spot for Silverio on the Dodgers' this season, so losing him doesn't hurt as much as it would have, say, last year. However, the Dodgers medical staff needs to do a better job in situations such as these in the future. While I haven't heard anything like this, it'd be in its best interest to make sure somethign like this doesn't happen again.

Ryu deadline Sunday

The Dodgers have until Sunday at 2 p.m. to sign Hyun-Jin Ryu to a contract. Mike Petriello reported Ryu has already passed his physical, which is the first step to getting the deal done.

Yes, the Dodgers and Ryu's agent Scott Boras have gone back and forth already, but that was just the opening salvo. Expect the negotiations to heat up Saturday with a deal being struck just prior to the deadline. It's the Scott Boras way.

And with the Dodgers less and less likely to land Zack Greinke, Ryu's signing could be that much more important.

Speaking of potentially no Greinke...

With the team contemplating a move to the next-best free agent starter -- Anibal Sanchez -- it could and should also explore the trade market even further.

The Dodgers have been linked to R.A. Dickey and James Shields. While it'd be easier to land Dickey, I still want the Dodgers to go after Shields. He provides more value, despite Dickey coming off a 2012 Cy Young season.

But whatever happens, the Dodgers need to steer way clear of Kyle Lohse. He isn't that good a pitcher and he'd cost the Dodgers their first-round draft pick. If the Dodgers were going to give up a draft pick to sign a pitcher, they should have just signed Hiroki Kuroda.

First prospect list of 2013

It's prospect season and True Blue L.A. is the first site to check in with a prospect list. Its fan voting concluded on Friday with not a lot of surprises.

Its Top 10 is as follows:

1. Yasiel Puig
2. Zach Lee
3. Corey Seager
4. Joc Pederson
5. Chris Reed
6. Matt Magill
7. Paco Rodriguez
8. Chris Withrow
9. Garrett Gould
10.  Onelki Garcia

Check out the full Top 20.

I'm shooting for the end of the month to release my Top 50. Right now, it's going to take some doing. If it doesn't go live this year, it in early January.

Photo credit: Cbl62, Wikimedia Commons

Dodgers lose Alfredo Silverio in Rule 5 Draft to the Marlins

Alfredo Silverio, who had a fantastic 2011 season, was selected by the Miami Marlins in Thursday's Rule 5 Draft.

It was kind of surprising seeing as Silverio missed the entire 2012 season due to a nasty car accident that ultimately led to Tommy John surgery for the toolsy outfielder.

Silverio, 25, was removed from the 40-man roster before re-signing to a minor-league deal with the Dodgers.

His 2011 season got people talking and believing, so much so that Baseball America ranked him as the Dodgers' fourth-best prospect heading into 2011. I had him at No. 12 and had him slotted in the mid-20s for my upcoming Top 50 prospects.

Silverio has to remain on the Marlins' roster all season, otherwise they have to send him back to the Dodgers. By selecting him, the Marlins pay the Dodgers $50,000. I know it sounds weird, but the Marlins are actually paying a baseball player to play ball. Novel concept.

Not sure Silverio will last the season on the 25-man roster, but it'll be interesting to follow his progression in 2012.

Photo credit: mwlguide, Flickr

Chris Reed the only prospect to represent Dodgers in Futures Game

The 2012 Futures Game rosters were announced today and London-born (say wha?) Chris Reed will represent the Dodgers in Kansas City this year.

It's no surprise to see Reed headed to KC, as he's had a really good season so far: 2.86 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 9.2 K/9 between High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga.

Reed, 22, has a good fastball that sits in the low-90s, a mid-80s slider and a showme changeup. He was the Dodgers' first-round draft pick in 2011 -- a pick I wasn't particularly thrilled with. It remains to be seen if he's going to pan out, but he has the stuff. His stamina and durability are the concerns.

While it's not a surprise to see him pitching well, it is a little surprising to see he's the only Dodger prospect selected to play in the game.

Guys like Zach Lee, Joc Pederson, Blake Smith and Alex Castellanos all deserved consideration. Lee is widely regarded as the Dodgers' best prospect, Pederson as the Dodgers' best hitting prospect and Smith and Castellanos as guys who have a lot of ability. I could see guys like Lee and Pederson getting the nod in the next year or two.

The Futures Game has been in existence since 1999 and is played the Sunday before the MLB All-Star Game at that year's venue.

Here are the Dodgers' Futures Game participants from the past:

• 1999: Chin-Feng Chen, Luke Prokopec
• 2000: Chen, Randey Dorame
• 2001: Ricardo Rodriguez
• 2002: Victor Diaz, Rodriguez
• 2003: Franklin Gutierrez, Edwin Jackson
• 2004: Joel Guzman, Koyie Hill
• 2005: Andy LaRoche, Russell Martin
• 2006: Guzman, Chin-lung Hu
• 2007: Clayton Kershaw, Hu (MVP)
• 2008: Ivan De Jesus
• 2009: Pedro Baez
• 2010: Baez, Dee Gordon
• 2011: Alfredo Silverio

The only players on this list to not make it to the Major Leagues in some capacity are Dorame, Baez and Silverio. Dormae has since retired, Baez is 24 and in Double-A and Silverio was probably going to get a call-up in September if he wasn't in a car accident in January and had subsequent Tommy John Surgery in May.

So, the Futures Game is the minor-league All-Star game to watch. The best of the best participate in this game and usually guys who are destined to be MLB players at some point.

The game is on July 8 at 2 p.m. Pacific time.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Brandon Lennox, True Blue L.A.

Castellanos, others reassigned to Dodgers' minor-league camp

The Dodgers reassigned nine players to their minor-league camp today in the first of many moves to come in the next few weeks.

Michael Antonini, Alex Castellanos, Stephen Fife, Shane Lindsay, Russ Mitchell, Alfredo Silverio, Scott Van Slyke, Josh Wall and Chris Withrow were all optioned. A lot of them are unsurprising, especially Silverio, who's still out because of his January car accident.

Van Slyke hit a home run in his first Spring Training game, but that wasn't enough to keep him around. He'll get some valuable playing time in Triple-A. All the pitchers optioned are no surprise, as is Mitchell.

However, I'm a little surprised Castellanos was cut loose so quickly. I know he wasn't going to make the squad out of Spring Training, but he had been swinging a hot bat, going 6-for-16 with two home runs, four RBI, a double, triple and five runs scored. He's a work in progress at second base, but he could be a viable option there down the road.

I looked at what the Dodgers have in Castellanos in November.

"Scouts say Castellanos is playing above his skill level. Looking at his career numbers, I'm inclined to agree. Before 2010, the only times he had an OPS better than .800 was in his first two seasons in Rookie ball and Low-A ball.

Bottom line, it's not exactly known what the Dodgers have in Castellanos. They could have a utility player, they could have a starting corner position player, they could have a second baseman or they could have a Four-A player.

This season will determine whether his late-2011 performance was a sign of him turning a corner or just a fluke."

That basically remains unchanged. However, when Roberto Baly of Vin Scully is Homeboy posted a video of Castellanos taking batting practice at the Winter Development Camp, I was immediately drawn to the video of Castellanos. I know it was just BP, but the sound of the ball jumping off his bat just sounded great.

Jared Massey of LA Dugout was at last night's Dodger-Red game and commented on Castellanos' bat.

"My God, Castellanos has a quick bat. #Dodgers"

Baly's video, Castellanos' strong spring showing and Massey's comment gives me legitimate hope for Castellanos' future. Perhaps 2011 wasn't a fluke.



I just thought he'd hang around a little longer. At least he'll get to hone his abilities at second without having compete with Mark Ellis, Ivan De Jesus and Justin Sellers for playing time in major-league camp.

The Albuquerque Isotopes' offense will be fun to watch

At about this time last year, I was writing about Jerry Sands and his hot start in Spring Training.

With a 2-for-14 start in Spring Training this year and with his roster spot uncertain, Sands could begin the season with Triple-A Albuquerque. I'm not saying basing decision off Spring Training numbers is smart, but we all know it happens. And despite my desire (for what it's worth) to let the young guys play, it's probably the right move for the team and Sands.

Manager Don Mattingly said he won't start the season platooning Andre Ethier and James Loney. With Juan Rivera getting a $4.5 million contract, there's pretty much no way Sands will beat him out for playing time. While he's better off playing for the Isotopes to start and has the inside edge to start down there, there are some guys who are jockeying for playing time: Scott Van Slyke, Alfredo Silverio, Alex Castellanos, Tyler Henson, Kyle Russell and possibly Josh Fields.

Sands hit 29 home runs last season for the Isotopes and 33 home runs overall (four with the Dodgers). He doesn't have anything left to prove in the minors, but playing everyday trumps a platoon/bench role in the majors in my eyes.

Van Slyke will certainly start somewhere -- possible first base. Silverio's status is unknown, but he should man center field when healthy. Castellanos will likely be tried at second base, but he does have experience in the corner outfield positions. Henson could be tried at third base but is probably better suited in the outfield. Russell is a prototypical right fielder. Fields has experience at first base, third base and left field.

Other position players in the Isotope mix include Ivan De Jesus, Justin Sellers (though, he should begin the season in the majors), Tim Federowicz, Trent Oeltjen (even though I don't know why he still has a spot on the 40-man roster), Russ Mitchell, Josh Bard and newly acquired Matt Angle.

Here's what I think the projected lineup should be, but we know it won't work out exactly this way:

Silverio CF
De Jesus SS
Castellanos 2B
Sands LF
Russell RF
Van Slyke 1B
Oeltjen DH
Fields/Henson/Mitchell 3B
Federowicz C

Cory Sullivan could also be a possibility in center field if Silverio isn't healthy to start the season.

The pitching staff, on the other hand, doesn't look nearly as good as the offense does.

John Ely, Michael Antonini, Stephen Fife, Carlos Monasterios and any number of pitchers could fill out the rotation. No one in that group really jumps out at you. We're a long time removed from "Elymania" and Monasterios is coming off Tommy John Surgery and probably won't be ready until mid-summer.

Guys like Ryan Tucker, Will Savage, Scott Rice and maybe Josh Wall (which would be intriguing) could see some time out of the bullpen.

The Pacific Coast League is famous for inflating numbers and with the Isotopes' potential on offense, they're going to be a lot of fun to watch. Just don't expect them to win many 1-0, 2-1 games.

Photo credits: LWY on Flickr (Sands), Cbl62 on Wikimedia Commons (Ely)

Silverio and Songco on the shelf for awhile

Word broke on Saturday that Dodger prospects Alfredo Silverio and Angelo Songco would both miss time to start the season.

Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. (who's just killing it at Spring Training right now) was one of the first to report on Silverio's accident.

Silverio was in a rather serious car accident in January, suffering injuries to his back, elbow, neck and shoulder, but the more pressing matter is Silverio's concussion-like symptoms, which have yet to subside.

Tony Jackson of ESPN LA wrote Silverio is heading to Phoenix-area place that specializes in concussions. He will not be on the field for Spring Training.

Silverio was added to the 40-man roster earlier in the winter and was expected to be in Dodgers' camp with a miniscule chance of breaking with the team (0.00001 percent, but still a chance). However, this is going to set him back because there's no clear timetable for his return.

I singled out Silverio on Tuesday as one of my prospects who had most to lose in this upcoming season. He now has to deal with an uncertain future health-wise because concussions are not easy to diagnose correctly.

But the most important part is he survived. From Jackson's blog post:

"...the accident happened on a stretch of road called Curva de la Muerte, which translates to Curve of Death. Apparently, he was going about 60 mph and lost control, the car going off the road and flipping several times. He temporarily lost consciousness, and the car was demolished."

Songco's situation is a little more straightforward. He had a metal rod inserted in his lower right leg and will be out two to three months.

Jackson reported Songco suffered a small fracture in the leg late last season, but continued to play through it. He felt significant pain a few weeks ago and was promptly diagnosed with a full fracture.

Songco's abilities were to be tested in the Southern League after posting MVP-like numbers in the California League.

He should be back by early June at the latest (barring setbacks). His raw power potential is intriguing and hopefully it isn't compromised with this injury.

Photo credit (top): mwlguide (Flickr)
Photo credit (bottom): Dustin Nosler (Feelin' Kinda Blue)

Dodgers' prospects with the most to lose and gain in 2012

The 2012 season is one of uncertainty for the Dodgers. A lot of things will come into focus following the ownership transition, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot to be gained or lost -- especially for prospects.

Here's my three guys who stand have the most to lose and most to gain in 2012.

Most to lose

Ethan Martin RHP
- Martin, while not as talented as Withrow, has even more to lose than Withrow this season. His control was an issue after his debut season (5.5 BB/9, 1.97 K/BB), but he's just gotten worse as he's moved up. He posted a 7.36 ERA at Ranch Cucamonga last season before getting promoted to Double-A (sounds counter-intuitive, I know). He actually pitched a lot better in Chattanooga, but still has no control. His saving grace is his stuff -- a mid-90s fastball and a power curveball. With that combination, he could be a reliever in the majors, but I think his days as a legit starting prospect are over. This season will determine whether he even has a future in the majors.

Alfredo Silverio OF
- Some could put him on the "most to gain" list, but Silverio stands to lose a lot with a poor 2012 performance. He had his best season in the minors seven years after his debut. Guys who do that don't tend to work out long-term. The concerns with him include lack of power (despite 66 extra base hits in 2011), defensive ability (best suited in a corner) and his lack of plate discipline (3:1 K:BB ratio). If he bombs in Albquerque, his chances of being a regular in the majors are likely over.

Chris Withrow RHP
- People are still really high on Withrow, but he's about to begin his fourth stint in Double-A and has yet to get over the hump. He is the best prospect talent-wise in the system, but he hasn't put it all together -- and he might not ever put it all together. If he wants to remain a top starting pitching prospect, the 2012 season will make or break him. Otherwise, he'll end up in the bullpen or not ever end up in the majors.



Most to gain

Steve Ames RHP
- Curiously left off Baseball America's Top 30 list, Ames had a fantastic 2011 season and could take another leap forward in 2012. Scouts say his stuff don't match his numbers, but all he's done is produce in the minors. His 13.5 K/9 in his career is awfully impressive and his 1.8 BB/9 and 7.45 K/BB are even more impressive. With another solid showing in 2012, he could throw his hat into the bullpen ring for 2013.

O'Koyea Dickson 1B
- I just posted about Dickson, but he has a chance to establish himself as a legitimate prospect in the Dodgers' organization. He's going to have to do it all with his bat, though, as his defense is average at best. Dickson has good power potential and as an older selection from the 2011 draft, he'll need to move quickly to be more than roster fodder.

Leon Landry OF
- Landry had a fantastic debut season in 2010 -- well enough for me to rank him in my Top 10 last year. However, he had a rough go at it with the Loons and has fallen off a lot of prospect radars. But I foresee a breakout season for Landry, and not just because he's going to play in the hitter-friendly California League. Landry has a chance to re-establish himself as one of the organization's best position prospects. His defense in center field is among the best and his ability to get on base could help him bounce back in 2012.

Photo credit: SD Dirk on Flickr

Baseball America's Top 10 Dodgers' prospects leaked

Well, Friday was to be the day Baseball America released its Top 10 Dodgers' prospects. But the Dodgers' official Twitter account beat 'em to it.

"@Dodgers: '@BaseballAmerica Top #Dodgers prospects: 1-Lee 2-Webster 3-Eovaldi 4-Silverio 5-Reed 6-Gould 7-Withrow 8-Lindblom 9-Pederson 10-Federowicz"

Here's the cleaned-up version of the list:

1. Zach Lee
2. Allen Webster
3. Nathan Eovaldi
4. Alfredo Silverio
5. Chris Reed
6. Garrett Gould
7. Chris Withrow
8. Josh Lindblom
9. Joc Pederson
10. Tim Federowicz

And here's a side-by-side comparison to my rankings from nine days ago:

Rank	Baseball America	FKB (mine)
1	Lee	Lee
2	Webster	Eovaldi
3	Eovaldi	Webster
4	Silverio	Gould
5	Reed	Sanchez
6	Gould	Pederson
7	Withrow	Songco
8	Lindblom	Tolleson
9	Pederson	Smith
10	Federowicz	Lemmerman

As you can see, Baseball America and myself differ on a lot of the Top 10. In fact, the only one we had the same is Lee (with Eovaldi and Webster flip-flopped).

Analysis

We all know Baseball America's love for former high draft picks, which is why Reed, Withrow and Lindblom are ranked as high as they are. I'm not a believer in Reed as a starter (though I hope he proves me wrong), Withrow seems destined for the bullpen unless he can start throwing strikes consistently and Lindblom is a nice bullpen arm, but doesn't belong in the Top 10.

I'm higher on guys like Angel Sanchez, Angelo Songco, Blake Smith and Jake Lemmerman than BA, which is totally unsurprising to me.

And I don't think we could differ more on Federowicz. I just don't see him being able to hit enough to justify a Top 10 ranking in the system.

The most surprising inclusion is Silverio at No. 4. He had a great season for the Lookouts, but did he do enough to jump into the system's Top 5? I don't think so. I had him just outside the Top 10 (No. 11) and want to see if his 2011 was a sign of things to come or a fluke.

Looking forward to the Top 30 in the 2012 Prospect Handbook.

2012 Dodgers' prospect lists from others thus far

With Baseball America releasing its top 10 Dodgers' prospects on Dec. 2, folks are already in the prospect-ranking mood. No word on when Baseball Prospectus, Minor League Ball or Fan Graphs will release its prospect lists, but those are also highly anticipated.

I want to give folks a primer before I release my Top 50 list on Nov. 21.

With the Dodgers graduating Rubby De La Rosa, Scott Elbert, Dee Gordon, Kenley Jansen, Trayvon Robinson (traded), Jerry Sands, the system overall is significantly weaker. I'll go further into detail in my Top 50 post.

Here are some lists from reputable prospectors. I'll post just the Top 10. Click through the links to see their entire lists:

J.P. Schwartz, Top Prospect Alert (Top 15)

1. Zach Lee
2. Allen Webster
3. Chris Reed
4. Alfredo Silverio
5. Garrett Gould
6. Derek Cone
7. Scott McGough
8. Joc Pederson
9. Jesus Valdez
10. Shawn Tolleson

Jared Massey, L.A. Dodger Report (Top 20)

1. Zach Lee
2. Allen Webster
3. Nathan Eovaldi
4. Angel Sanchez
5. Joc Pederson
6. Garrett Gould
7. Shawn Tolleson
8. Alex Castellanos
9. Chris Reed
10. Alfredo Silverio
    

Colobrowns, via Scout.com Dodger Message Board (Top 20)

1. Zach Lee
2. Allen Webster
3. Nathan Eovaldi
4. Joc Pederson
5. Garrett Gould
6. Javy Guerra (technically not a prospect anymore)
7. Scott Van Slyke
8. Josh Lindblom
9. Blake Smith
10. Chris Withrow
    

Speedy8, via Scout.com Dodger Message Board (Top 25)

1. Zach Lee
2. Nathan Eovaldi
3. Chris Reed
4. Joc Pederson
5. Allen Webster
6. James Baldwin
7. Garrett Gould
8. Chris Withrow
9. Aaron Miller
10. Tim Federowicz
    

CanuckDodger, via True Blue L.A. (Top 30)

1. Nathan Eovaldi
2. Allen Webster
3. Zach Lee
4. Garrett Gould
5. Joc Pederson
6. Javy Guerra (technically not a prospect anymore)
7. Tim Federowicz
8. Josh Lindblom
9. Angel Sanchez
10. Scott Van Slyke
    

As you can see, there's a wide variety in the rankings. Let me breakdown each one with my thoughts.

Schwartz
This list is the biggest head-scratcher. The first five are OK in my book, but the inclusion of Cone, McGough and Valdez really confuse me. It's not bad, but it definitely isn't common.

Biggest surprise: Valdez at No. 9. I could have gone with Cone or McGough, but Valdez was the most puzzling pick. But he was a 17th-round pick in 2011 and fifth-round pick in 2010, so there is obviously talent there. His debut was short and had mixed reviews. He's definitely a raw player.

Massey
Overall, a solid Top 10. Can't argue with Lee at No. 1. The list is dominated by right-handed pitchers, with six of the top seven being righites.

Biggest surprise: Castellanos at No. 8. I know he had a great finish to the season and a great showing in the Arizona Fall League before his injury, but many scouts say he's been playing above his talent level. We'll see if it keeps up.

Colobrowns
Lots of familiar names here. Absolutely love the aggressive ranking on Smith. He's definitely one of my favorite Dodger prospects.

Biggest surprise: Van Slyke at No. 7. He had a monster year in Double-A, but he was repeating the level and was almost too old for the competition. Still, it's hard to argue with the pure hitting ability.

Speedy8
There's a few guys here who aren't going to be in my Top 10, but it's nice to see variety. Reed at No. 3 is a bit high for my liking, but it's not totally unheard of. Baldwin in the Top 6 is definitely surprising, but just misses out on "biggest surprise."

Biggest surprise: Miller at No. 9. It was between him and Baldwin. Baldwin has loads of potential, while Miller hasn't been able to stay healthy. At this point, I see him more as a left-handed reliever rather than a starter.

CanuckDodger
Like the other lists, there are a lot of similar names here -- and for good reason. The Dodgers are lacking a lot of talent after graduating a lot of players. Eovaldi at No. 1 is a tad surprising, as is Lee at No. 3.

Biggest surprise: Lindblom at No. 8. He had a bounce-back season and had success in the Majors. Once the Dodgers finally abandoned the idea of him starting, he began to flourish. He isn't going to strikeout a lot of guys, but he should be a solid reliever at worst.

2011 Los Angeles Dodgers off-season preview: Trade targets

In the last of my off-season previews, I look at potential trade targets. The Dodgers' minor-league system is rich with low-level pitching and MLB-average (at best) outfielders. Teams will be interested in pitching, but the Dodgers could (and should) go a different direction -- trading veterans.

Will they? Probably not. But there are some pieces on the market the team could certainly use.

Not surprisingly, there are no pitchers on this list. And yes, you will see some of these scenarios in my 2012 plan, which will drop this week.

Targets

C Chris Iannetta, COL
.238/.370/.414, 14 HR, 55 RBI, 102 OPS+
- Iannetta has good power potential and on-base abilities, but he doesn't hit enough on the whole. Still just 28, perhaps a change of scenery is in order for him.

What would it take to get him?
To Colorado: Ivan DeJesus, Javier Solano
To L.A.: Ianetta

Why it works for Colorado: The Rockies get a Major League-ready middle infielder and a relief prospect who's faced Double-A competition. Plus, it clears the way for Wilin Rosario.

Why it works for L.A.: The Dodgers take a chance on a catcher who, if he could put it all together, could be a force. He's a solid defender and would prevent the Dodgers from relying on solely A.J. Ellis and Tim Federowicz.

C Devin Mesoraco, CIN
.289/.371/.484, 15 HR, 71 RBI (Minors)
.180/.226/.360, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 57 OPS+ (Majors)
- Mesoraco is one of the best catching prospects in the game. So, why is he available? Well, he might not technically be available, but the Dodgers have a couple pieces that could intrigue the Reds.

What would it take to get him?
To Cincinnati: Ethier, Steve Ames
To Los Angeles: Mesoraco

Why it works for Cincinnati: Ramon Hernandez is a Type-A free agent and if the Reds don't offer him arbitration, he won't be back. If they do, however, there aren't going to be a lot of teams lining up to give up a first- or second-round draft pick to get him. But the Reds would be getting a middle-of-the-order bat in Ethier and a nearly Major League-ready reliever who had good success in at High-A and Double-A in 2011.

Why it works for L.A.: The catching void is filled with one of the best prospects in the game. The Reds also have Yasmain Grandal waiting in the wings. The Dodgers shouldn't be looking to trade Matt Kemp's only protection, but if it means filling a big hole, then it should be done. Also, losing Ames could hurt a little, but the Dodgers have a glut of right-handed pitching prospects (starters and relievers).

1B/LF Logan Morrison, FLA
.247/.330/.468, 23 HR, 72 RBI, 116 OPS+
- Morrison is the type of the guy the Marlins wouldn't normally make available (and they haven't). He was demoted to the minors for seemingly no apparent reason in August. Some speculated it was because he was outspoken on Twitter. If a team is that afraid of a player, they don't deserve to have him (yes, I'm editorializing).

What would it take to get him?
To Florida: Allen Webster, Alfredo Silverio, Shawn Tolleson
To Los Angeles: Morrison

Why it works for Florida: The Marlins get three guys close to the Majors, with Webster and Tolleson ranking in my Top 10 Dodgers' prospect list. Silverio is in the low-teens at this moment. The Marlins are always seemingly in the market for a center fielder. Silverio might best be suited for the corners, but he could get a look there. They also get a young starter and fire-balling reliever.

Why it works for L.A.: The Dodgers get a guy who is a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat and can play either left field or first base. In the Dodgers' case, he'd slot in at first base. Oh, and he's just 24 years old.

2B/3B Martin Prado, ATL
.260/.302/.385, 13 HR, 57 RBI, 89 OPS+
- This would be a case of buying low. Prado can play second or third base effectively, which is something the Dodgers could use. He had three consecutive seasons of .800-plus OPS from 2008 to 2010 before falling to .687 last season. The Braves have made him available and the Dodgers should be in on him.

The Braves are said interested in cutting payroll while acquiring a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat. The Dodgers have a person who fits the latter.

What would it take to get him?
To Atlanta: Andre Ethier
To Los Angeles: Prado, J.J. Hoover

Why it works for Atlanta: The Braves are in the market for a bat and have a big hole in left field -- the position Prado played most in 2011. Ethier, despite coming off knee surgery, would be a nice get for the Braves. The money might be the only factor with this trade.

Why it works for L.A.: The Dodgers clear up some room in the outfield for Jerry Sands and another player (I'm looking at you, Logan Morrison). Plus, Prado makes less, offering the Dodgers some payroll flexibility. They also acquire a solid right-handed back-of-the-rotation or relief prospect in Hoover.

3B Ian Stewart, COL
.156/.243/.221, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 21 OPS+ (Majors)
.275/.359/.591, 14 HR, 42 RBI (Minors)
- Prior to the 2010 season, the then-24-year-old was on the verge of stardom. Stewart was coming off a 25-home run campaign and looked to be putting it all together (despite a .228 batting average). His 2010 wasn't horrible, but he didn't improve much, if at all. His 2011 was disastrous. He never got on track and has likely worn out his welcome in Colorado.

What would it take to get him?
To Colorado: Aaron Miller
To Los Angeles: Stewart

Why it works for Colorado: The Rockies get a former No. 1 pick who still has a chance to be a starter but will more likely end up in the bullpen. Plus, Stewart doesn't appear to be in the Rockies' plans.

Why it works for Los Angeles: The Dodgers don't have to give up much to buy low on a guy who has solid potential.

3B David Wright, NYM
.254/.345/.427, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 114 OPS+
- This is the one not a lot of people are talking about. There always seems to be a guy who gets traded who comes out of nowhere. Wright could very well be that guy. He's owed $15 million in 2012 and has a 2013 club option for $16 million (with a $1 million buyout). The Mets are said to be looking for a young center fielder. No, the Dodgers aren't going to trade Kemp for him. And there aren't many high-upside center fielders in the Dodgers organization otherwise. But they have a corner outfielder and starting pitcher who could interest the Mets.

What would it take to get him?
To New York: Ethier, Billingsley
To Los Angeles: Wright

Why it works for New York: The Mets get a bat to seemingly replace Wright's in the lineup (albeit not at the same position) and a young starter who had a poor 2011. Both are prime for bounce-back seasons. The Mets would keep Billingsley long-term and they could collect draft picks for Ethier after 2012 if they don't wish to keep him.

Why it works for Los Angeles: The Dodgers get a cornerstone-type player who's had mediocre seasons (by his standards) two of the last three seasons. Plus, he is immediate protection for Kemp. The Dodgers save some money in 2012, but it also opens up a hole in the rotation.

Analysis

I'd handicap the likeliness of a trade among the six players above like this:

1. Ianetta
2. Stewart
3. Prado
4. Morrison
5. Mesoraco
6. Wright

I'm a big Morrison fan, so I'd definitely want the Dodgers to explore that deal. I'm also intrigued by Prado. With the proposals above, the Dodgers could pull of both deals. Ianetta would be a nice acquisition, but the price tag (money wise) begins to get high. Mesoraco might be the most intriguing player of the bunch. Stewart would be a nice buy-low option. And if the Mets came to the Dodgers about a trade involving Wright, Ethier and Billingsley, they'd absolutely have to listen.

That does it for my 2011 off-season preview.

Next up: My 2012 plan.

Have thoughts? Leave a comment or hit me up on Twitter.

Five Dodgers make BA's Southern League Top 20

Baseball America published its Top 20 Southern League prospect list today, and five Dodgers made the cut.

10. Allen Webster
12. Alfredo Silverio
13. Nathan Eovaldi
18. Chris Withrow
20. Shawn Tolleson

I predicted yesterday Eovaldi would make the list for sure, with Silverio, Tolleson, Van Slyke and Rubby De La Rosa as potentials. I mistakenly omitted Webster and just didn't think Withrow was going to make it.

I was surprised to see Silverio ranked so high -- ahead of Eovaldi, even. If these lists are any indicator to what the Dodgers' Top 30 could be like -- and that's not guaranteed -- maybe Silverio will be a Top 10 prospect. It'd be quite the jump for the toolsy outfielder.

BA's lovefest with former first-round picks continues with Withrow. His 2011 season wasn't horrible -- certainly not any worse than his 2010 season, but he still needs to improve his command. He might be the 18th-best prospect in the Southern League, but he looks like he might be destined for relief work.

Speaking of relievers, they don't usually rank highly, so Tolleson checking in at No. 20 is surprising and unsurprising at the same time. A 30th-round steal in last year's draft, he could conceivably challenge for a bullpen spot in 2012.

One omission -- not especially glaring -- is Scott Van Slyke. He led the league in batting average and doubles and was in the top five in a lot of other statistical categories. The reasoning, revealed in the chat, is his apparent lack of bat speed and minimal defensive value.

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Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness poses the question: would you trade Andre Ethier and Chad Billingsley for young talent? This is a question that stems from Jim Bowden's post on ESPNLA.com. While pretty unrealistic on Bowden's part, it's the kind of direction general manager Ned Colletti should be looking in to fix the club.

He also has a great review of James Loney's 2011 season.

Brandon Lennox of True Blue L.A. has a nice review of the Dominican Dodgers' season.