Top Ten:

1. Billy Hamilton(CF)- If you follow prospects, I don’t have to tell you Hamilton’s speed is elite. He may be a guy that could steal 100 bases in a season, part of that because he is an improved hitter. Given his speed, he could be a plus defender in CF. Just needs time out there.

July 8, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; USA player Billy Hamilton heads to third base on his two-run triple during the third inning of the 2012 All Star Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2. Robert Stephenson (SP)- Stephenson projects to have a mid to upper 90′s fastball, a possible plus curve, and is working on a change. Reports I got from some that saw him in the Midwest League were positive on the stuff, but there is still plenty of polish needed.

3. Daniel Corcino (SP)- Corcino is a smallish right hander, but he has really good stuff. Corcino has a fastball that runs into the mid 90′s with a chance for two other big league average pitches in his change and a slider. A mid rotation starter.

4. Tony Cingrani (SP)- Cingrani is the possessor of two plus pitches in his fastball and a change up, but he needs to develop his breaking ball further, as it is below average. If he doesn’t, he still has the chance to be a late inning pitcher that could dominate.

5. Jesse Winker (OF)- Winker has the potential to have the kind of bat that will play just about anywhere on the diamond. And it looks like that will have to be either LF or first base. He isn’t terribly athletic, but I don’t think that will matter.

6. Kyle Lotzkar (SP)- Command and health are obvious issues here, but stuff isn’t. Lotzkar has strikeout ability, and with improved command could push towards the middle of a rotation.

7. Nick Travieso (SP)- Travieso is a big bodied pitcher who can get his fastball up to the mid 90′s, but sits in the low 90′s currently. He also shows a potential plus slider, but needs to develop a change.

8. Ismael Guillon (SP)- Guillon is a smallish lefty that has solid stuff across the board. He sits in the upper 80′s low 90′s with fastball, and shows an above average change up. His breaking ball is solid as well.

9. Henry Rodriguez (2B)- Rodriguez is a real good hitter and he is solid defensively. Yet, he seems to get dismissed in prospect rankings mostly because the tools aren’t eye popping.

10. Dan Langfield (RP)- Langfield is a three pitch guy, but one that is rare in the sense that a change up isn’t a part of that. Nor is a split finger. Langfield throws hard in the mid 90′s and pairs that with a hard slider and a curve. Think he will profile nicely in the back of a pen.

Just Missed The List:

Seth Mejias-Brean (3B), Tanner Rahier (3B), and Jonathan Reynoso (OF)

Mejias-Brean projects as an above average defender with a solid bat at the hot corner. Ranier kind of projects along the same lines as Mejias-Brean, but maybe with a bit more power projection and a little less hit tool. Reynoso is an exciting young OF with great potential.

Sleepers:

Yorman Rodriguez (OF) and Kyle Waldrop (OF)

Rodriguez, despite his troubles, is still young and still loaded with tools, but has now been relegated to sleeper status. Waldrop is a big physical kid with solid tools who performed well in the Midwest League at age 20.

Summary:

The Reds system is a solid one that has the potential to look even better a year from now. I think Stephenson and Corcino have at least mid rotation potential, but the other top arms have some question marks attached to them. Winker is a hitter, and Hamilton should be a contributor at the major league level soon.

There is good balance between pitching and hitting with a slight nod to stronger pitching, but the reservations I have on some of the guys ability to reach their ceilings holds me back a bit. Reynoso is the big one that could take a leap in the rankings, as could pitcher Jeremy Kivel.

Reds fans should be excited about some of these guys, but that excitement needs to be tempered a bit.

Sep 27, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart (2) throws to first base during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-US PRESSWIRE

Cozart spent all of 2012 with the Cincinnati Reds, playing well for most of the season before fading somewhat down the stretch. While Cozart hit just .246 and produced an OPS of .687 in 2012, his real value was contained in his glove. Hint: That is something the Tigers desperately need. Cozart was well above average in the field, producing an UZR of +9/150. Basically, he isn’t that statuesque type SS that the Tigers…ahem…may have now…

Gregorius is a well thought of SS prospect as well, who grabbed himself a cup of coffee at the big league level at the end of the season. While he isn’t a power producing bat or anything, he has gotten a little bit better as he has gotten older. He will be just 23 years old in 2013 and has a bright long term outlook with both the bat and the glove. In fact, the Reds might rather keep him over Cozart.

Point being, the Reds are one of the few teams outside of Texas that actually has a surplus of shortstops.

I do realize that the Tigers recently picked up the option on Jhonny Peralta. They of course had to do this simply because there isn’t any other internal option. In fact, there was some rumor that the Arizona Diamondbacks were interested in acquiring Peralta down the stretch last season. If the Tigers could acquire one of the young Reds SS for the future, maybe the Tigers can check on Arizona’s current interest to move Peralta for something else.

Now, as for what it would cost the Tigers to get one of the Reds’ guys? It may be a combination of Andy Dirks plus a bullpen arm that gets it done. While Dirks is probably a better hitter, and could fill the lead off spot for the Reds, the premium on SS as a position could mean it would take more. The Tigers do have enough relievers, and this may be an opportunity to move a potentially overvalued Phil Coke as well.

Dirks and Phil Coke for Cozart and maybe a minor leaguer would seem fair to me. I don’t think it could be underestimated how much a plus defending SS would mean to the Tigers infield next season. Putting Cozart next to Infante for a whole season means that infield gets to a whole bunch more baseballs in 2013 than it did in 2012.

What do you all think? What would you be willing to give up for Cozart?

*As a side note, I intended to put together a post of young shortstops the Tigers should be in the market for. Essentially letting everyone know what might be available out there for the right price. Cozart and Gregorius would’ve been on that list for sure. Since I gave them their own separate post, I probably won’t include them on the next one. I still will be approaching other shortstops out there. The reason? This is likely to be Peralta’s last season with the Tigers. They need to find someone long term.