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Eric A Longenhagen
2:01
Hi from Tempe, everyone. Let's quickly do some housekeeping...
2:02
We did a pref list on the prospects traded ahead of the deadline: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/ranking-the-prospects-traded-at-the-de...
2:04
I see that we omitted Jorge Alcala and that Brett Phillips fits under the Drury/Paulino/Meadows roster limbo area I like to cover, so I'll add those guys in today.
Also, we updated The Board: https://www.fangraphs.com/scoutboard.aspx
2:05
We did updates to all team lists and moved players who were traded around.
2:06
I leave for Area Codes/PG San Diego on Sunday and will be there next week.
j
2:06
Should I be excited about Antonio Cabello?
Eric A Longenhagen
2:09
This is a 17 y/o CF in the Yankees system who is crushing the GCL. I think yes, we should be. He's unique in some ways and they're not all good. Essentially, it's Alex Bregman's body in CF.
2:11
So this is a teenager with a relatively limited frame, he's 5-10, short-levered. He takes big hacks, he's strong, he has good straightline speed. It's a weird package but I think it works.
Was a catcher as an amateur, by the way. Really weird profile/background.
Matt
2:11
Blue Jays starting Clippard tonight. Is the opener revolution truly upon us now?
Eric A Longenhagen
2:13
I do think we'll continue to see more creative pitcher usage at the big league level and that something that looks like this is going to be more pervasive. I also think Tampa Bay will be at the forefront of this.
2:16
And honestly, I think it's cool. I know not everyone is here for it and I get why, but I think the idea of Brendan McKay throwing an inning or two against a lefty-heavy lineup to start a game and then playing 1B the rest of the game is really interesting.
Tim
2:16
Would Matt Chapman be a good comp for Ke'Bryan Hayes?
Eric A Longenhagen
2:17
I don't think Hayes has quite that much raw power and Chapman had strikeout issues as a prospect that Hayes does not. But I get how you might say they're each elite defensive 3B with one-dimensional bats and comp them.
Jack
2:18
What is your current opinion on Jorge Alfaro?
Eric A Longenhagen
2:22
I think there's a case he impacts the game in ways that are hard to capture statistically. His arm strength must change the way teams think about running, right? He's also not a very good defensive catcher in some specific ways that, depending on who you talk to in baseball, don't really matter.
2:23
In general I think he's a low-end everyday player.
2:24
But catching isn't exactly strong across the Majors right now.
Jeb
2:24
What is Mitch Keller's upside? Taillon like?
Eric A Longenhagen
2:24
Sam kind of pitch mix but Keller gets more ground balls, fastball has more sink.
Bravo de ATL
2:24
Pache doesn’t seem have hype but scouts praise. Thoughts on potential?
Eric A Longenhagen
2:28
We love Pache (he's #28 https://www.fangraphs.com/scoutboard.aspx) because we think, at minimum, he's a plus-plus defensive CF provides competent, league-average offense. That's basically what Albert Almora is right now and he's a 2 win guy. And Pache has a chance to grow into some power.
Greg
2:29
So the Braves have Folty, Newcomb, Fried, Soroka, Touki, Wright, Wilson, Gohara, Allard at Triple A or the big leagues now. Add in Gausman for the next two years of control at the deadline and considering they have plenty of arms at High A, too, what do they do with all these arms? I'm assuming trade is the answer, but what holes should they try to fix this offseason?
Eric A Longenhagen
2:30
I think there's enough natural bullpen attrition in their that there's not a crazy surplus. It's likely one or two of Fried, Touki, Gohara, Wilson end up in the bullpen.
2:32
But then again, teams have been pretty efficient about poaching teams with logjams at the upper levels. Toronto has done this a lot (Teoscar, Drury, Aledmys Diaz if you liked him) and I guess something like that could eventually occur with some of those Braves arms.
Purple Mays Haze
2:32
Higher ceiling: Gavin Lux or Kevin Smith?
Eric A Longenhagen
2:34
Lux is a 20y/o Dodgers SS prospect who was at like .320/.400/.520-ish in the Cal League this year, just promoted to AA. Smith is a 22y/o Jays SS at Hi-A hitting for power, was 4th rounder last year.
2:35
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2:37
I prefer Lux as a prospect but Smith has more upside. It's hard to say how much of Lux's newfound  power production is real. He's had a shift to his batted ball data and the Dodgers have a track record of altering swings in good ways, but some of that power is coming from the Cal League, too. Smith we know the power is real, it's always been part of his profile, but he's a college hitter striking a lot in A-ball.
So I think Smith is more volatile but I'm more inclined to believe he has a chance to be a SS with actual power than Lux.
Bailey
2:38
I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but is Drew Waters being overrated lately?
Eric A Longenhagen
2:44
Not if you think he hits, hits for power and stays in CF, which is what it looks like he's gonna do. If you look at our top overall list, the hitters on the top half of the list are almost all up the middle guys. We just prefer those types of players. The exceptions are near-ready, well-rounded hitters like Calhoun and Yordan Alvarez. We have Waters ahead of a lot of corner bats we like or up the middle players with one of hit/power, not both like Waters could have.
Rays Fans
2:44
Please tell us that there's hope for Austin Meadows and *gulp* Glasnow.
Eric A Longenhagen
2:46
I will tell you that. Breaking balls like Glasnow's pair well with four seamers. Glasnow's fastball has natural cut. I know it seems crazy to want to mess with 97+ with cut, but it might be best for Glasnow to significantly alter his fastball's shape and its usage. Plus, we've seen pitchers leave Pittsburgh and go to places that prioritize 4sm/curveball combos (Morton, Cole to HOU) and take off. Meadows i just think is good.
Blackburn
2:47
You guys ranked Cole Tucker much higher than other outlets, can you explain why and what you see with him and his upside?
Eric A Longenhagen
2:51
I wasn't discouraged by his slow start and his line has been league average since the start of June. He's one of those up the middle guys with viable but limited offensive ability. He's 22 now and the cement is pretty much dry on the body. That was once a volatile part of TUcker's profile because there was a chance he'd outgrow SS but also a chance he'd grow into power. He's kind of just held serve and is just a fine SS without power. He'll be a .340 OBP SS without power. It's basically Addison Russell's line, although they arrive there in different ways.
Satya
2:52
Eric, what's the best player development approach for a switch hitter like Drew Waters, who has much better numbers from one side of the plate?
Eric A Longenhagen
2:54
I think more guys should give up switch hitting , in general. I'd caution against giving it up this soon though. Right-handed swings/feel take longer to develop, that swing sees less reps.
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