Top Ten:

1. Yasiel Puig (OF)- Puig is a guy that raised some eyebrows when he got a significant contract last season from the Dodgers. He look s like a big, strong, fast young man to me that has an idea of the strike zone. I think the Dodgers are going to be plenty happy with their investment.

2. Corey Seager (IF)- I’m not sure where Seager is going to end up in the infield, but his bat is what is really intriguing. He is pretty athletic as well with a big frame. I think he will grow into a prototypical 3B body, and could potentially be an above average defender and offensive force.

3. Hyun-Jin Ryu (SP)- Ryu looks to have a pretty impressive four pitch mix from what I have seen on video. His fastball works in the low 90′s mostly, and he combines that with an above average change, good curve, and a slider as well. His easy throwing motion may help his fastball out some, and he reportedly commands well.

4. Joc Pederson (OF)- Pederson put up impressive numbers in high A last season as a 20 year old, showing power, an ability to hit for average, and ability to run the bases. I like the willingness to work counts as well. He wasn’t in the Midwest League long enough for me to see him play defense, but with his solid athleticism, he should be at least average.

5. Chris Reed (SP)- There is a lot to like about Reed. Many wondered if he was just a bullpen guy, but I think he could be way more. A lefty that gets up to the mid 90′s with his fastball, Reed also possesses an above average slider, and an improving change up. His command waivers, but if it gets better, look out.

6. Zach Lee (SP)- I’m sure Dodgers fans will think I’m crazy for putting Lee at six, but hey, I think the other guys on this list carry more upside. Lee has solid stuff across the board, and shows a good feel for pitching, but I see him as more of a #3/4 type that can eat innings.

7. Onelki Garcia (SP)- Garcia reportedly has a big fastball and a sharp curve, giving him the makings of two above average to plus pitches. He also has a large frame as well and is already 23 years old. There are questions about his change up and command, but it’s tough to ignore the arm.

8. Zachary Bird (SP)- There is a ton to like about Bird, and I wanted to be aggressive in his ranking. Projectable frame, low 90′s fastball right now, chance for a plus curve, and also owns a change up. Generates ground balls as well. Will need to strengthen body, and work on repeating mechanics.

9. Jesmuel Valentin (SS)- Valentin has the major league bloodlines, and it looks like he has the approach and demeanor of someone that has been around the game a while. Needs to get stronger for sure, but could hit for average, and be a top of the order hitter while sticking at short.

10. Chris Withrow(P)- I’m a velocity whore, and Withrow has a power fastball that sits mid 90′s getting into the upper 90′s. He combines that with a sharp breaking curve that can generate swings and misses when it’s going good. Once a starter, looks like he is strictly a reliever at this point.

Mar 7, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Chris Withrow (68) pitches against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Just Missed The List:

Paco Rodriguez (RP), Jeremy Rathjen (OF), Garret Gould (SP), Steve Tolleson (RP)

Rodriguez is a deceptive lefty who will work late in games. Rathjen is a physical specimen with good athleticism. Gould is an underachiever of sorts thus far, but still has potential because of a real good curve ball. Tolleson has the makings of a set up guy.

Sleepers:

Miguel Sulbaran (SP) and Jarret Martin (SP)

Sulbaran is a young lefty that has a knack for strikeouts. Martin surprised in 2012 with an increase in velocity. Needs better command.

Summary:

As I get deeper into this system, I realize I may have underrated it a few spots. I know the biggest beef from Dodgers fans would be the Lee ranking, and that’s okay. When I saw him, he had good stuff, I just don’t think it rises to the ace type level that many thought coming out of high school. I’m a bit disappointed in Gould. I thought his velocity would be bigger at this point. But these are minor things. Overall, there are quite a few strong arms, both in the rotation and the bullpen. Position prospects are a little more thin, but Puig, Pederson, and Seager all could be regulars at the big league level, and good ones at that.

Despite being ranked 22, this isn’t that bad of a system, and could work it’s way up quickly. The new ownership seems determined to build a strong system as well as a big club.

It sure doesn’t seem prudent for Mike Illitch to dish out that much, but he’s spending money like a college kid at Taco Bell recently. The funny part about this scenario is not the contract itself: it works quite well in terms of Sanchez being a 28-year old pitcher in the prime of his career coming off of an impressive playoff performance. The problem is his role on the Tigers with this deal.

Oct 27, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez (19) throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning during game three of the 2012 World Series at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Verlander is the undisputed ace of the staff. Max Scherzer and Doug Fister continually vie for the role of Number Two, and both appear to be realizing their vast potential over the course of the last few seasons. Sanchez, although a very talented pitcher, does not seem to be better than any of those three pitchers. Again, spending CJ Wilson money on a fourth pitcher just doesn’t seem to be the best course of action.

Yet retaining Sanchez’s services appears to be a do-or-die scenario. The Dodgers have recently admitted that they want to spend big bucks to get talented, big-name players on their squad, so they seem to have no qualms with snatching up Sanchez. The Red Sox have proven in the past to be more than willing to hand over big contracts to pitchers, and are in dire need of adding a quality starter this offseason. And let’s not forget the Angels, who have parted ways with Ervin Santana and Dan Haren recently, and might lose Zack Greinke to free agency. Arte Moreno has shown his willingness to spend big and now seems to need some solid starters. Unless the Tigers really connected to Sanchez on a personal level, those teams can offer him much more than Detroit could be able to.

The issue that looms the biggest over this is one that would reflect negatively on Dave Dombrowski. DD gave up the Tigers’ top minor league pitching prospect in the deal that brought over Omar Infante and Sanchez. If Anibal doesn’t resign and Jacob Turner ends up becoming a good, God forbid great, pitcher for the Marlins, doesn’t that trade then seem wasteful? Granted, it’s hard for anyone to properly gauge what’s going to become of any prospect dealt – would the Tigers be trading a Jair Jurrjens or an Andrew Miller (or even a Smoltz) – but the fact that they’d be seemingly be giving away one of their best minor leaguers for a rental player doesn’t sit well.

This whole contract issue should be very interesting as it unfolds. Let’s just hope it’s one that unfolds well in the Tigers’ favor.

Aug 9, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (28) grimaces after being hit by a pitch in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

But… Beckett, Gonzalez and Crawford are all more than a little tarnished at the moment. The big 3 have accounted for only 4.9 WAR this season (and Crawford won’t be playing until 2013) and are owed untold millions, so they fall more into the mold of a Chan-Ho Park, Carlos Lee or a Raul Mondesi – classic examples of hard-to-move albatross contracts that come attached to players that still added at least a little value. There is a lot of talent there – and certainly hope that these guys will come closer to living up to their contracts in Dodger blue than they have in Boston of late. So we find a Dodgers team willing to part with legitimate prospects AND take on almost all of the salary that these guys are due in order to cement themselves (with their new ownership) as the big-budget beasts of the West. Still – you can easily make a legitimate case that the Dodgers are the ones who got swindled here. They now look to fall well above next year’s luxury tax threshold – just with players that they already have – and Boston will be free to chase whatever free agents they choose with the dollars that they won’t be paying Beckett, Crawford and Gonzalez.

Boston is 6 games under .500 and 8.5 back in the wild card race. They are – as they should – giving up on 2012 and looking toward 2013. They remain a big market, high budget franchise. They will be fine. The Dodgers – despite all the talent on the roster – still sit 3 games behind the Giants in the NL West and a game and a half behind the Cardinals in a very competitive NL Wild Card race. They needed to do something and they certainly went out and did it. They have had some of the worst first base production in the MLB from Loney and will get an improvement here even if Gonzalez is only a hair above average at the plate (he’s still one of the best defensive first sackers). Beckett may not be ace material at the moment – but he should be an upgrade over Joe Blanton or whatever scrub would otherwise be taking Chad Billingsley‘s place in the rotation – assuming he does actually miss time due to his elbow thing.

The Dodgers and Pirates look like the only teams currently on the outside looking in for NL playoff races, so tightening those up would seem to be good for baseball in general. They do not – of course – play Detroit at any point in the seasons remaining 5 weeks. The Red Sox don’t actually play the Tigers again this season either – making this a somewhat awkward bit of (huge) news to somehow tie in on a Tigers site. They aren’t even going to be playing any against Kevin Youkilis‘ White Sox. What the Red Sox will be doing – with their newly gutted roster – is playing a lot of games against other Wild Card contenders (and like it or not, the Tigers are Wild Card contenders and that will be increasing in importance if the White Sox don’t stop winning games). The Red Sox have 4 games coming up in LA against the Angels at the end of the month, after getting swept by that team at home earlier this week. Then they play 3 in Oakland against the bizarrely competitive As. And of course – with they way schedules are designed these days – they have 6 games against the Rays in September and 6 against the Orioles. So one impact here may be to throw a bone to all non-Detroit contenders for the two American League Wild Card spots as the Red Sox formally give up. Not great news.