Rancho Cucamonga Quakes the epicenter for young aces; 2012 roster announced

The Dodgers' High-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes announced their 25-man roster on Monday. Unlike the Loons' roster, there were little surprises here.

And also unlike the Loons' roster, the team is absolutely stacked with potential aces.

I took a look at the Quakes' potential roster back in January. I hit on a lot, but I also missed on a few.

It's a good thing the pitching is going to be strong because the California League is a notorious hitters' haven.

Top prospect Zach Lee (1, right) should head the rotation, followed by three other top pitching prospects: Garrett Gould (4), Angel Sanchez (5) and Chris Reed (19).

It's anyone's guess who the No. 5 starter is going to be, but I'm thinking it'll be Greg Wilborn.

The bullpen also looks solid. Scott McGough, 2011 5th-round pick, will join Logan Bawcom (26) and Juan Rodriguez (34) to form a nice 7-8-9 back end of the bullpen.

A lot of players from last year's Great Lakes team will make the trek to the Cal League. Since it's a great hitters' environment, a lot of guys should do quite well.

Leon Landry (18) will man center field and hit near the top of the order. He's the best position prospect the Quakes have. Jonathan Garcia (22, left) and Chris Jacobs will provide the thunder in the middle of the lineup. Tyler Henson, acquired in the Dana Eveland trade, will also (curiously) begin with the Quakes. I thought he'd be ticketed for Triple-A.

Two offensive players are returning to Rancho this season. One-time favorite Tony Delmonico and Austin Gallagher are back to presumably man the corners. Both are entering their third stints in the Cal League.

The biggest surprise is seeing Christopher O'Brien (41) make the squad. Son of former big leaguer Charlie, Christopher had 193 plate appearances between the Arizona League and the Pioneer League. He held his own, posting a .292/.358/.494 line with 18 walks in 168 at-bats.

Potential lineup
Landry CF
Gallagher 1B
Garcia RF
Jacobs DH
Delmonico 3B
Henson/Nick Akins LF
O'Brien C
Charlie Mirabal 2B
Pedro Guerrero SS

The top pitching prospects are the story to follow with this team. Allen Webster had great success in the California League before his promotion to Chattanooga. The team has a great 1-4 in the rotation. The bullpen looks solid. It's going to come down to whether the guys who struggled in Midland last season can muster enough offense to backup the great potential pitching.

The Quakes should make the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year behind strong pitching and (hopefully) some timely offense.

(#) - denotes Top 50 prospect ranking

Photo credits: mwlguide on Flickr

Grading the 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers off-season

Now that pitchers and catchers are reporting soon and any major transactions will likely wait until the trade deadline, I'll take a brief look at the Dodgers' off-season moves.

Trades

To Baltimore: LHP Dana Eveland
To Los Angeles: LHP Jarret Martin, OF/IF Tyler Henson

- This was a surprising move, as Eveland was arbitration-eligible and the Dodgers had other plans for the starting rotation. Eveland was nothing more than roster fodder, so for the Dodgers to get anything for him -- especially young players -- was rather amazing.
Grade: B

Re-signings/extensions

Andre Ethier - 1 year, $10.95M (avoided arbitration)
- Ethier signed a contract to avoid arbitration -- a contract some thought was a little cheaper than expected. I thought he'd get $12-plus million contract, but coming off knee surgery, he got a little less than that. It's a good number (a tradeable number if necessary) who seems poised to have a comeback season.
Grade: B+

Tony Gwynn - 2 years, $2 million (avoided arbitration)
- I actually really like this deal, as Gwynn is a defensive specialist and good base-stealer. He's the perfect guy for the Dodgers to have coming off the bench. To get him for a million bucks a year, despite the limited resources, is a great deal.
Grade: A

Matt Kemp - 8 years, $160 million
- Yes.
Grade: A+

Clayton Kershaw - 2 years, $19 million (avoided arbitration)
- Yes, part deux.
Grade: A+

James Loney - 1 year, $6.375 million (avoided arbitration)
- This deal is in line with what a lot of people thought he'd get, but it's a bit much for a guy who didn't do much until the last two months of the season. The Dodgers took too long to get into the Prince Fielder bidding that they had to tender Loney a contract. Unless he breaks out in a big way, this could be his last season as a Dodger.
Grade: C-

Mike MacDougal - 1 year, $650,000 ($350,000 buyout)
- I understood MacDougal on minor-league deal last year, but to give a guy with a shiny ERA a million bucks guaranteed is suspect. I don't think there's any way he matches last season's performance.
Grade: D+

Juan Rivera - 1 year, $4.5 million
- When I was drafting my off-season plan, I actually had the Dodgers re-signing Rivera on a 1-year, $4 million deal. At the time, it didn't look so bad. Now, it's terrible, especially since he'll be taking valuable playing time away from Jerry Sands. He was solid for the Dodgers after they acquired him in July, but the re-signing wasn't necessary. At least it's just a 1-year contract.
Grade: C-

Free agent signings

Chris Capuano - 2 years, $10 million
- For the price, this is actually not a horrible signing. The fact that it prevented the Dodgers from re-signing Hiroki Kuroda, however, makes this a poor signing.
Grade: C-

Todd Coffey - 1 year, $1.3 million
- Coffey is a solid reliever and isn't making a lot, but it was a totally unnecessary signing. If there's any one position the Dodgers have quality and surplus at, it's right-handed relief pitchers. This also came after re-signing MacDougal. If I had to choose between the two, I'd choose Coffey easily.
Grade: D

Mark Ellis - 2 years, $8.75 million
- I'm actually not opposed to this deal, as middle infielders -- for whatever reason -- got paid this off-season. Ellis is a great defender at second base -- something the Dodgers haven't had since Alex Cora in 2004. His bat has taken a dive, though. Despite that, he could be the team's No. 2 hitter. Hitting in front of Kemp could benefit him greatly.
Grade: C+

Jerry Hairston - 2 years, $6 million
- The Dodgers needed a utility player, but did they really need to $2.25 million on one this off-season? This was a luxury signing for a team that doesn't have a lot of money to blow on utility players (at least, not right now).
Grade: C

Aaron Harang - 2 years, $12 million
- Like the Capuano deal, this isn't a bad deal. The fact that the Dodgers chose these two instead of Kuroda doesn't sit well with me. If Harang can pitch like he did last season or like he did for a few years with the Reds, this could actually be a decent deal.
Grade: C

Adam Kennedy - 1 year, $800,000
- This is the Dodgers' worst signing of the off-season. There are a hundred different players who could do what Kennedy will do -- and probably do it for cheaper (and possibly better).
Grade: F

Matt Treanor - 1 year, $1 million
- We know Ned Colletti likes his veteran catchers and giving a guy $1 million to be the team's backup catcher is questionable. Treanor has no stick whatsoever, so don't expect anything from him at the plate.
Grade: D

Overall

The Dodgers' off-season started off great, inking Kemp to a long-term deal was priority No. 1. The off-season could have been bookend by nabbing Fielder, but Victor Martinez and his torn ACL prevented that. The Dodgers made a bunch of mediocre signings that could have been made later in the off-season for cheaper. Hopefully off-seasons for the foreseeable future will be a lot more interesting and productive than this.
Grade: C-

Dodgers about done with moves, focus on Winter Development Program

To no one's surprise, Ned Colletti said the Dodgers are at their payroll limit, meaning there are not going to be anymore significant moves this off-season.

It's disappointing to know guys like Hiroki Kuroda and Prince Fielder, who seemingly want to be in Los Angeles, have no chance of playing there because of a limited payroll.

Then there's this gem from Ramona Shelburne's article:

..."(the payroll) is down from a year ago. But sometimes it's not what you spend but how you spend it."

Really Ned? You don't say. It's too bad he doesn't take his own advice, because he's spent money more foolishly than almost any other general manager since 2006.

Just another chapter in the long book for frustration for the Dodgers' upper management for the last seven-to-10 years.

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The Dodgers began their annual Winter Development Program a few days ago. The Dodgers had 15 prospects/young players attend, as well as some Major Leaguers.

Players in attendance:

Steve Ames, Michael Antonini, Alex Castellanos, Rubby De La Rosa, Gorman Erickson, Tim Federowicz, Stephen Fife, Tyler Henson (acquired from the Orioles), Alfredo Silverio, Shawn Tolleson, Scott Van Slyke, Josh Wall, Matt Wallach, Allen Webster and Chris Withrow.

Roberto Baly of Vin Scully is my Homeboy has a ton of photos and videos from Monday's media day. He also said in his blog post he saw Castellanos playing some second base, a position he played in the minors. There was talk earlier in the winter about trying him at first base, but if he can hit like he did in 2011 as a second baseman, he could see himself in Los Angeles sooner rather than later.

Brandon Lennox of True Blue L.A. was also in attendance and said Don Mattingly said Castellanos would play mostly in the outfield. It's always nice to know if a guy has versatility, though. He said he also saw Henson playing third base. Like Castellanos, Henson is mostly known for playing outfield, but he has some infield experience in the minors.

Dodgers send Eveland to Baltimore for young players, plus lots of other news

No, really. That's what really happened. Ned Colletti actually an older player for younger players.

Dana Eveland, last season's September "sensation" was sent to the Baltimore Orioles today for left-handed pitcher Jarret Martin and outfielder Tyler Henson.

Eveland threw 29 2/3 innings of solid ball for the Dodgers, and Colletti somehow turned that into two players 23 years old and younger.

Now, just because they're young doesn't mean they're good. Looking at the numbers and scouting reports, I don't think I'd rank either of those guys in my Top 50 prospect list.

Martin, a 2009 18th-round pick, has a low-90s sinking fastball that is his best offering. He also has a curveball and changeup. Martin has struggled with control in his brief career, averaging 5.9 walks per nine innings. His K/BB ratio is none too pleasing, too (1.49).

He does rack up a few strikeouts, though. Unsurprisingly, he had more success in the Appalachian League (10.3 K/9) than he did in the South Atlantic League (7.9). He profiles as a bullpen arm despite starting 31 of his 44 career appearances. If I had to guess, I'd say he starts the season at High-A Rancho Cucamonga.

Henson, 23, was a fifth-round pick in 2006. He's played more third base than any single outfield position in the minors, but his subpar fielding led to a position change this past season. He played mostly right field in Triple-A.

As well as having experience at third base, he's also played shortstop (92 games) and second base (24 games) in his minor-league career. I don't have an idea what the Dodgers want to do with him, but it seems he's best suited in the outfield.

Henson doesn't have a lot of power, but his prospects were looking better after a decent 2010 season (.278/.329/.440, 37 doubles, 12 home runs) for Double-A Bowie of the Eastern League. However, that success didn't translate to Triple-A Norfolk (.247/.313/.321, 18 doubles, three home runs). A positive from his 2011 season: he reduced his strikeout rate from 32.1 percent in 2010 to 21.8 percent in 2011. It's still not great, but it shows at least some improvement.

Neither of these guys are likely to be impact players for the Dodgers. Martin has the best shot, mostly because he's left-handed and throws in the 90s. Henson is closer and should begin the season in the crowded Albuquerque outfield (Alex Castellanos, Kyle Russell, Alfredo Silverio, Scott Van Slyke).

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The Dodgers also officially signed Aaron Harang to a 2-year, $12 million contract today. The details breakdown like this, from Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times:

"The projected No. 4 starter will earn $3 million next season and $7 million in 2013. The contract includes a vesting option for 2014 that could be worth $7 million to $8 million, depending on how much he pitches over the next two seasons. If the option doesn't vest, the Dodgers can buy it out for $2 million.

If Harang pitches 400 innings over the next two seasons, the vesting option would be worth $8 million. If he pitches 380 innings over the next two seasons, including 180 in 2013, the option would be worth $7.5 million. If he pitches 360 innings over the next two seasons, including 175 in 2013, the option would be worth $7 million."

This is much more backloaded than expected. Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. gives us a disturbing look at the 2013 payroll:

"The Dodgers also have a projected payroll of roughly $106 million for 2013 and that's without a right fielder or first baseman. That number includes a staggering $47.25 million for just Harang, Capuano, Lilly, Matt Guerrier, Juan Uribe, Jerry Hairston Jr., and Mark Ellis."

Well, that certainly sucks. I expressed my thoughts on the Harang signing on Monday.

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Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times has some news on the McCourt/FOX/MLB situation. It doesn't seem like there will be a "Dodger" network anytime soon. FOX will simply not allow it, even after the contract expires.

"However, under a previously undisclosed provision, the contract also hampers the Dodgers' ability to form a regional sports network after the contract expires so long as Time Warner , Comcast or ESPN is an equity partner, according to the people familiar with the agreement."

It'd be cool to have a Dodger TV network. Of course, you'd probably have to live in the greater Los Angeles area to receive it, which I don't.

The amount of potential money from an exclusive TV network would allow the Dodgers to sign free agents like Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, who both signed with the Angels this morning. Just another slap in the face to the Dodger fans. Thanks, Frank.

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Hernandez also has a bit about James Loney's apparent arrest last month.

"According to Tang, Loney was driving his 2009 Maserati westbound on the 101 when he sideswiped three vehicles for unknown reasons. Immediately afterwards, his sports car came to an abrupt stop in the fast lane, Tang said."

That sounds really weird and potentially bad. And then there's always the confirmed and unconfirmed:

"But a person close to the player said tests for drugs and alcohol returned negative and that Loney has apologized for the incident.

The CHP's Tang, however, said no results were available yet from a blood sample taken from Loney by officers"

So, we don't know if he was on something or if it was just a mere accident. Either way, this isn't what Loney or the Dodgers need right now.