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| Jake Arrieta (ChC - SP) |
Offense: TMO features the talents of NL MVP Bryce Harper (Was - OF) and NL RBI champ Nolan Arenado (Col - 3B), both of which hit 42 homers last season. Adding to that talented duo is cornerstone Anthony Rizzo (ChC - 1B) and the well-rounded Starling Marte (Pit - OF), who has 30/30 potential. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts (Bos - SS) has developed in all categories with the exception of power, which may come soon, future HOFer Miguel Cabrera (Det - 1B), while not as amazing as he once was is still MCab when healthy, and Robinson Cano (Sea - 2B) provides a veteran influence at a thin infield position. Outfielder Yasiel Puig (LAD - OF) remains uber-talented though inconsistent and the jury is still out on if Corey Dickerson (TB - SP) will rebound in Tampa Bay after having a down season. Rice alum Anthony Rendon (Was - 2B,3B) remains capable when uninjured while Domingo Sananta (Mil - OF) possess Stanton-esque power potential if his contact improves leaving prospect JP Crawford (Phi - SS) as a Top 5 talent. The top of this lineup is formidable to say the least as TMO possessed 3 of the Top 15 bats in baseball last season. Adding a catcher will be a requirement and it will be interesting to see who that might be but even with its lopsidedness, TMO's offense is pretty awesome and fun to watch.
Pitching: What was once this team's biggest weakness, TMO's pitching might actually be better than its offense. Las season saw 5 of TMO's pitcher accumulate more than 200ks. Clayton Kershaw (LAD - SP), who BTW was the only pitcher with 300 Ks last season, echoes back to times of Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson where the smartest move was to sit your players against them. Kershaw is great but he was amazingly not the best overall pitcher in baseball last year as that title went to Jake Arrieta (ChC - SP), also on TMO. So, if Kershaw and Arrieta are in a class by themselves here, then Gerrit Cole (Pit - SP), Sonny Gray (Oak - SP), Carlos Carrasco (Cle - SP) and Cole Hamels (Tex - SP) are only a few steps behind as all are also 200k members. You could easily add Garrett Richards (LAA - SP) to that list if he had not been recovering from a knee injury early in the season. Sophomore lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (Bos - SP), a Rule-5 pick worthy of keeping, was impressive last season while prospects Daniel Norris (Det - SP), who is recovering from being diagnosed with cancer, and Luis Severino (NYY - SP), who pitched well in limited duty will both have to fight for a rotation spot in order to be productive. Closers Craig Kimbrel (Bos - RP), Wade Davis (KC - RP) and Cody Allen (Cle - RP) will look to be one of the top end of game trios in the game. This is a very talented pitching corps with the crazy to potential to get better.
Draft: Never one to shy away from talent and youth, look for TMO to select the best possible player available and if forced to do so groom them for the next level while continuing to reload.
Prediction:
RD 1: Anderson Espinoza (Bos - SP) - Many believe him to be next best pitching prospect in baseball
RD 2: Jose de Leon (LAD - SP) - Skyrocketing up prospect rankings and potential to be top of rotation talent
RD 3: AJ Reed (Hou - 1B) - Big bopper looks poised to become power producer in Houston
RD 4: Alexi Bell (FA - OF) - Cuban import hasn't signed but could be Jose Abreu-lite when he signs
RD 5: Welington Castillo (Ari - C) - Good young run producer at a thin position
RD 6: duardo Rodriguez (Bos - SP) - R5 Keeper
Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Isan Diaz (Ari - 2B) - Hit .360 in Rookie ball and at 19 could be heir to Cano
RD 2: Jacob Nottingham (Mil - C) - Maybe the best hitting catcher in baseball right now
RD 3: Alex Verdugo (LAD - OF) - Keeper
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