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Taijuan Walker is the next power arm in the Mariners system.
       Today, part of the top ten prospects are unveiled. Tomorrow, I will cover the top three prospects (in my opinion) in the game with a more detailed and advanced scouting report. Again, if you have any issues with the list, feel free to leave comments and I'll address my thinking for each selection. Additionally, in the forum section, we welcome any prospect lists of your own and any debate that ensues. Enjoy

10.    
Trevor Bauer, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks, ETA: 2013: Out of college, Bauer had the better numbers than teammate Gerrit Cole but has taken his lumps as a pro. Dominated in Mobile and Reno (2.42 ERA, 10.8 K/9) but still nibbles too much and does not always trust his stuff. Could front a potentially scary rotation of Archie Bradley, Tyler Skaggs, and himself.

9.      Mike Zunino, C, Seattle Mariners, ETA: 2013: The 2012 Golden Spikes winner out of Florida, Zunino demolished low A and AA pitching with a combined 1.137 OPS. Matches offensive prowess with incredible leadership skills and above average defense from behind the plate. Comparisons include Jason Varitek with a better batting ability.

8.      Zack Wheeler, SP, New York Mets, ETA: 2013/2014: The Mets' prize for Carlos Beltran,  Wheeler has big-time stuff and has decreased his walk totals each of the past two years. He has a fastball that can touch the high 90's and a strong curve ball. Consistency is only the key from unlocking Wheeler's big potential.

7.       Xander Bogaerts, SS/3B/RF, Boston Red Sox, ETA: 2014: Batted .307/.373/.523 across two levels in 2012, Bogaerts is another member of the top 10 with a special bat. Although he currently is solid at shortstop, it is likely that he will need to move off due to his continued growth. He could profile at third, but a move to right field is more likely with Will Middlebrooks now at third base.

6.      Gerrit Cole, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates, ETA: 2013: 2011 number 1 overall pick, Cole has some of the best pure stuff from any right-hander in the game. He possesses a heavy, mid-90's fastball, a true 70 slider, and a developing change. He additionally suffered some bad luck including a .315 BABIP and a poor 67 % strand rate (league avg around  70-72%) indicating he was better than his numbers showed. However, as the case with most young pitchers, Cole needs additional refinement with his control before coming an ace. 

5.      Taijuan Walker, SP, Seattle Mariners, ETA: 2014: Scouts rave about his pure stuff and athleticism, as he had a chance to be a Division I basketball player. Possesses a mid 90's fastball, hammer breaking pitch, and flashes plus circle change-up. He has improved his walk rate every year and is still learning the intricacies of pitching as he only began pitching as a junior in high school. 

4.       Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, ETA: 2013: Arguably best pure hitter in the minors (.321 AVG, 23 HR), Taveras has an uncanny ability to square up baseballs on a routine basis. Despite playing against much older competition in double-A, he managed to increase his power rate (8 HR to 23 HR) and cut down on his strike outs. His strong arm profiles well in right field and he could make an impact for the Cardinals sometime in 2013.


 
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Promising Cardinal RHP, Shelby Miller
Today's edition of prospects includes numbers 20-11. The top 7 will be released tomorrow (Friday) with more advanced write ups on the top three for Saturday. Enjoy.

20.      
Byron Buxton, OF, Minnesota Twins, ETA: 2016: Extremely toolsy outfielder that has as much raw potential as anybody on this list. Wiry body that has more tools than tangible skills at the moment, but has monster potential as a true five-tool talent. Currently possesses plus speed, good defense ability, and a line drive stroke that could grow into more power as he matures.

19.      Jameson Taillon, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates, ETA: 2014:  One of the power arms in the Buc's system, Taillon possesses an excellent fastball with solid sink and a plus curve. He possesses a good pitcher's body and should be able to withhold a big workload. One knock is that he has been hit harder than expected, with additional polish and command needed for future success.

18.      Nick Castellanos, 3B/RF, Detroit Tigers, ETA 2013/2014: : Extremely talented hitter with ability to frequent make solid contact. Another player that has been associated as a future batting champ, Castellanos batted .405 for high A Lakeland before his promotion to double A. However, he only had 36 walks in 134 games and needs to improve his plate discipline. With Miguel Cabrera entrenched at third, Castellanos moved to RF this year and should be an average defender as he continues to progress defensively.

17.      Shelby Miller, SP, St. Louis Cardinals, ETA: 2013: Big time fastball with solid movement to go along with mid-90's heat. Suffered a bit of bad luck in AAA Memphis as he had a 4.74 ERA, but had an elevated .322 BABIP and actually pitched better in terms of K's (10.54 K/9) and limiting free passes (3.29 BB/9) compared to his pre-2012 rates. Although he needs to further improve his command, Miller has a chance to replace free agent Kyle Lohse in big league rotation in April.

16.      Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros, ETA: 2016: 2012's number 1 overall pick, Correa boasts above-average to plus scores across. A solid defender, equipped with strong arm, good hitting skills, and a 70 power potential, Correa has it all. Should continue to fill out physically and a move to third is possible. Does have a big risk component, because of his age and the time that it will take him to reach the majors.

15.     Javier Baez, SS/3B, Chicago Cubs: Baez has a unique ability of barreling up balls in the batter's box and has a chance to hit 30+ home runs at the major league level. Plate discipline needs improving in order to have success at higher levels (only 14 walks in 80 games). Further growth could push him off shortstop, where he currently profiles as above average with a great arm and solid range.

14.      Miguel Sano, 3B/RF, Minnesota Twins, ETA: 2015: HUGE power, Sano combines true 80 power with superb plate discipline and big strikeout totals. Could be the next Adam Dunn in terms of HR/BB/K (Sano went 28/80/144 in 2012). Move to RF is in order after an abysmal season at 3B (42 errors). Has a chance to be a very special bat.

13.      Tyler Skaggs, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks, ETA: 2013: The major piece of the Dan Haren trade with LAA, Skaggs is tops among southpaw prospects for his quality stuff and solid command. He probably has best left-handed curve in the minors, that features excellent 12-6 break and good control (Kershaw-esque curve). Could be an excellent number 2 in the rotation and could occupy a spot in the major league rotation as soon as next year.

12.      Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians, ETA: 2014: Lindor is an extremely fluid shortstop that has showed surprising ability with the stick against much older competition. His glove and very good plate discipline should at least make him a starting shortstop at big league level, while the bat could make him a star. 

11.        Jose Fernandez, SP, Miami Marlins, ETA: 2014: The 2011 first rounder has a power arm that reaches the mid-90's and has a wipeout slider. He is a big kid that needs to stay on top of conditioning to reach his potential of a very good #2 starter. Absolutely dominated in 2012, with a 1.75 ERA, 10.61 K/9, and pinpoint control (2.35 BB/9). 

 
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Where will Josh Hamilton land?
   The hot stove season is upon us, which means it is time for free agency! Here at BTP, we will hold our first annual Free Agent Forecast Challenge, which will test your ability to correctly predict the team each free agent will sign with. The contest is FREE and prizes will be awarded to those with the most correct selections, and will be $10 cash, an official Behind the Plate t-shirt, and opportunity to write a guest article for the site. All selections must be in by Sunday, November 11, 2012 by the end of the day. Any late forms will be disqualified from the contest. If tiebreakers occur, I will ask the tied contestants their team prediction for a free agent still on the market. Contest will end as soon as every player listed has signed a contract for the 2013 season. So simply state each team, include your name and email, and submit the form, and you will be entered in the contest. Also, you can just ignore the open/blank slot beneath each player's name. Just select the teams you think he will sign with and hit submit. Thank you and Good Luck!

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Will top SP Zack Greinke return to the Angels?
 
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Reds prospect Billy Hamilton stole a record 155 bases in 2012
   The next installment of the top prospects in baseball, from #30-#21.

30.      Matt Barnes, SP, Boston Red Sox, ETA: 2013/2014: UConn product performed well during first professional season (2.86 ERA, 2.2 BB/9, 10.0 K/9). Power arm that needs further refinement with secondary pitches, Barnes should begin 2013 in AA Portland with a chance at the majors later in the year.

29.     Danny Hultzen, SP, Seattle Mariners, ETA: 2013: Selected 2nd overall in 2011, Hultzen was viewed as very polished and nearly big league ready pitcher with front of the rotation potential. In 2012, his command fell apart (5.4 BB/9!!!) resulting in very poor and surprising results for someone who had excellent control in college. His tuff is still there, but control improvement is key for any sort of big league success.

28.      Billy Hamilton, CF, Cincinnati Reds, ETA: 2014: 155 steals say a lot about Hamilton's speed but he also has an excellent approach at the plate. However, questions remain about his ability to make contact against higher quality pitchers at higher levels. Also, he recently transitioned to CF after playing SS most of 2012 and his speed could make him among the game's best defenders if he continues to develop his outfield skills.

27.      Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies, ETA: 2013: Had a setback compared to his excellent '11 season as power and on base numbers decreased. Arenado is an average defender at the hot corner and has a line drive swing that should generate plenty of doubles but ultimately, his potential will be determined on how many of those doubles become home runs.

26.      Julio Teheran, SP, Atlanta Braves, ETA: 2013: Arguably top RHP prospect coming into the year, Teheran struggled with lack of breaking pitch and was simply more hittable (7.7 H/9 in 2011, 10.0 in 2012). Still has one of the best changeups in minors but command in fastball and regained confidence is needed for success beyond Triple-A.

25.      Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Houston Astros, ETA: 2013: Part of Astros haul for Hunter Pence, Singleton has plus power to all fields and is not afraid to take a walk at the plate. Talented bat could see some time this year as 1B/DH as the Astros move to the AL West.

24.    Anthony Rendon, 3B, Washington Nationals, ETA: 2013: Rendon is another player who excels on both sides of the ball. He has an advanced approach at the plate and has ability to consistently drive balls with authority. Durability is a major concern, as he only played in 43 games due to an ankle injury that required surgery.

23.        Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins, ETA: 2014: Very talented hitter (.329 Avg in 2012) with line drive stroke that has some scouts saying batting titles are in his future. Additionally, he has solid outfield range although weak arm should force him to left if he cannot handle center field.

22.      Travis d'Arnaud, C, Toronto Blue Jays, ETA: 2013: D'Arnaud flashes a special bat behind the plate, but lacks defensive polish. He has the ability to hit for average and power  albeit his numbers were enhanced playing in hitter friendly Las Vegas. D'Arnaud does have durability concerns after missing time with back, hand, and leg injuries over the past several years ( and playing catcher only augments these concerns).

21.      Mike Olt, 3B, Texas Rangers, ETA: 2013: Another possible 2013 contributer that has a power bat and plus glove that profiles best at third base. Might struggle making contact, but walks and power (28 HRs in AA) should make up for it. Possible move to 1B or RF with Adrian Beltre entrenched in Arlington.


 
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                Heading into the 2012 season, the Texas Rangers were already established as a dominant force in the American League.  The 2-time defending AL champs looked poised to make another run at a third straight fall classic.  They were off to a blazing start in 2012, going 11-2 through the first 2 weeks of the season.  All-star and former MVP Josh Hamilton looked like a lock for his second MVP award by hitting .368/.421/.763 in April and May combined.  He also must have thought he was back in the 2008 home run derby again (28 home runs in one round!), blasting a record 4 long balls at Camden Yards against the Orioles on May 7th.  At this point everything seemed to be going right for Texas.  However, the 162-game baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint, and consistency plays a big role throughout the year. 

                From April 9th on, the Rangers led the AL West quite comfortably.  However, the Oakland Athletics caught fire in July and kept it rolling until the finish line.  They slowly snuck up behind Texas and before you knew it, they were just 2 games back heading into a showdown 3-game season to close out the campaign.  The Rangers dropped all three games in Oakland, being outscored 19-9 in the series.  One of the biggest problems in this series was the lack of production from Josh Hamilton, the same guy who had the incredible start to the year.  He was a combined 2-13 with 6 strikeouts, 6 men left on base, and zero extra base hits.  This series cost the Rangers a division title and a free pass right into the ALDS.  Instead, they had to play a very loose Orioles ball club who had nothing to lose going up against the heavyweight Rangers.  This proved to be a big problem as the Rangers fell to Baltimore 5-1, with the offense sputtering again.  In the Wild Card game alone, Hamilton struck out twice, grounded into a double play, and grounded out to the pitcher on eight combined pitches. This is just a blatant lack of plate discipline for a guy who wasn't lighting the world on fire either at the time. Down the stretch, Hamilton hit just .245 from June 1 to the end of the season.  That won’t get the job done batting out of the number three spot in the lineup.  Elvis Andrus ended up having a solid season but was also fairly inconsistent, especially down the stretch.  In September and October Elvis hit just .233/.285/.333.  That as well won’t get the job done batting near the top of the order.  Just as these two very important offensive pieces struggled, so did the Ranger pitching staff. 

                Matt Harrison and rookie Japanese sensation Yu Darvish were rocks in the rotation all season.  Harrison threw 213.1 innings and had an ERA of 3.29 and ERA+ of 138.  Darvish logged 191.1 innings with a 3.90 ERA and 116 ERA+.  After these two men, the rotation was either very inconsistent or riddled by injuries.  Colby Lewis was off to a solid start (3.43 ERA 133 ERA+) before going down for the season with an injury after making just 16 starts.  Neftali Feliz , the former closer, was converted to the rotation and made only 7 starts (3.16 ERA 145 ERA+) before he had his season come to a halt.  They had to rely on guys like Derek Holland and Scott Feldman who proved to be unsuccessful in 2012.  Holland ended the year with a 4.67 ERA and 97 ERA+ in 175.1 innings and Feldman ended with a 5.09 ERA and 89 ERA+ in only 123.2 innings.  Because of these problems Texas added Roy Oswalt and Ryan Dempster mid-season.  These looked like solid moves at the time but neither panned out.  Both had ERA’s north of 5 and ERA+’s below the league average of 100.  The combination of a struggling starting rotation and two offensive superstars who failed to produce at their normal rates down the stretch is the reason Texas fell apart in 2012 (although I guess you can give some of the credit to the magic that is the Oakland A’s, if you are one to believe in that sort of thing). 

                Look for Texas to be right back in the race for a division crown in 2013.  Texas will return Darvish and Harrison as a nice 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation.  They will also have Feliz back healthy and they have to hope for a bounce back season from Derek Holland.  Although Texas  has money to spend, is seems unlikely they will re-sign free agent Josh Hamilton, as General Manager Jon Daniels will allocate that money to better alternatives .  I look for them to possibly add a starting pitcher and an outfield bat.  I personally believe Nick Swisher is a good fit.  A deal of about 4-5 years would be acceptable for Swisher.  He has proven to be extremely durable and very consistent throughout his career and I think Texas should look at him for a Josh Hamilton replacement.  Additionally, they have been linked to Zack Greinke (3.48 ERA, 8.48 K/9, 3.10 FIP), this year's top free agent pitcher, in hopes that he could be the ace they have lacked the past several seasons. Regardless, the formula that made them so successful back in 2010 and 2011 is starting to lose its luster and look for Daniels to be aggressive in order to reach October immortality. 


 
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Jackie Bradley, Boston Red Sox
     Continuing with my countdown of the top 50 best prospects in baseball, here is today's list, from 40-31.

40.  
Alen Hanson, SS/2B, Pittsburgh Pirates, ETA: 2015: Hanson had a breakout year in high A West Virginia, as he hit .309/.381/.528. He sprays the ball to all fields and maximizes his plus speed with the occasional bunt or slap infield single. Fringy arm should eventually force him to 2B, but should be a very good offensive talent at either up-the-middle position.

39.     Nick Franklin, 2B, Seattle Mariners, ETA: 2013: Franklin does a little bit of everything with no standout tool. With a decent ability to hit for average and power, Franklin's bat should provide some punch to the hapless Mariner offense. Defensively he lacked a ton of range and the strong arm necessary for shortstop so a move to 2B is in order.

38.      Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees, ETA: 2014: Huge potential with the bat that includes plus power, Sanchez could be seen as the second coming of former Yankee prospect Jesus Montero. Like Montero, Sanchez is a work in progress behind the plate, with 16 errors and 18 passed balls in 91 games behind the plate. The Yankees will give him all the time necessary to develop defensively to better maximize his bat.
37.      Rymer Liriano, OF, San Diego Padres, ETA: 2014: Incredibly gifted player that drives the ball consistently and could hit 20+ home runs as he learns to turn on pitches. Also has a very strong arm and plus speed that could lead him either CF or RF at the major league level. True five tool talent with surprisingly solid approach at  the plate adds up to a monstrous ceiling for the Dominican product.

36.     Jackie Bradley, CF, Boston Red Sox, ETA: 2013: Otherworldly defender in CF with amazing range, Bradley has shown the ability with the stick as well. Batted .315/.430/.482 in two levels in 2012, Bradley has an excellent approach at the plate and sprays line drives all over the field. Should replace Ellsbury in Boston by as soon as 2013.

 35.    Kaleb Cowart, 3B, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, ETA: 2014: Switch hitter that has solid pop and patience at the plate, Cowart has the 3B starter kit. Also possesses a strong arm that almost led him to be drafted as a pitcher and should be a good defender there as well.

34.      Archie Bradley,  SP, Arizona Diamondbacks, ETA: 2015: Another arm with power stuff in the Diamondbacks system, but still lacks consistency in pitches and control. Control must improve after walking 5.6 BB/9, although he will occasionally go on streaks of strike thowing. Front of the rotation potential but years away from maximizing his talent.
 
33.      Aaron Sanchez, SP, Toronto Blue Jays, ETA: 2015: Has as much potential as any pitcher in the minors. Plus-plus fastball and strong curve. Will occasionally throw a plus changeup, but it still lacks feel and consistency in addition to his currently subpar control. Regardless, his fastball alone should take him to the bigs, sitting in the mid-90's with good sink and run. If everything clicks, Sanchez could be an impact arm for the Jays.

32.      Carlos Martinez, SP, St. Louis Cardinals, ETA: 2014: Dominant fastball with severe run and sits in the mid-high 90's. Also has a well above average change but a fringe average curve. Has good command but durability is a concern given his smaller stature (6'0", 165 lbs). If starting does not work, he could be an asset in the 'pen.

31.      Jake Odorizzi, SP, Kansas City Royals, ETA: 2013: Prize of the initial Greinke trade, Odorizzi has no dominant pitches but balances a good arsenal with a low 90's sinking fastball and above average curve. Has a shot to begin 2013 in the big leagues and profiles as a middle of the rotation starter.

 
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Reds RHP, Robert Stephenson
     Over the coming days, I will begin to unveil my Top 50 prospects in baseball. I will release ten players each day until I get to the Top 10 prospects. Each player has a small scouting report that describes his skills and shortcomings. After releasing the Top 50, I will post a full list of my Top 100 prospects (albeit without scouting reports) as well as my current farm system rankings for each MLB Franchise. This is not a science, and not all prospects listed here will make the major leagues. However, these players were selected for both their overall potential and their likelihood of reaching it, as seen in my choices. Furthermore, here are some terms you should be familiar with before reviewing the upcoming lists.

20-80 scouting scale: Scale used to judge a player and his "tools" or attributes. 50 is major league average, 60 is above average or "plus", 70 is well above average or "plus-plus", and 80 is reserved for the absolutely best tools or players in the game (elite)
Ceiling: Refers to a player's maximum potential; Although highly desired in prospects, ceilings are very rarely achieved and often fall short for a number of things.
ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival
Feel: Ability for a pitcher to throw a pitch with ease and be able to locate it frequently.
Life: Action on a particular pitch, usually describing a fastball's late movement
Makeup: Broad term that includes leadership ability, baseball IQ, work ethic, and ability to respond and adjust to failure (it will happen!)
Rawness: A term used to describe a player who lacks consistency and has yet to fully develop his talents
Run: Armside movement on a particular pitch
Tools: A player's set of skills; describe a player's ability to hit, hit for power, run, throw, and field

    Any other scouting terms you may be unfamiliar with, just contact me and I add them to this page or the glossary. Additionally, if you are confused about why a particular prospect is ranked higher than another, I will be more than happy to explain my reasoning to you. So, without further delay, here are my 50-41 best prospects in Major League Baseball...

50.       Casey Kelly , SP, San Diego Padres, ETA: 2013: Former Red Sox prospect experienced some injuries in 2012, but that did not stop him from making his ML debut. Kelly's repertoire includes a good sinker and change up that he can command frequently, a skill set that could lead him to being a traditional middle of the rotation workhouse 

49.     Austin Hedges , C, San Diego Padres, ETA: 2015: Arguably the best defensive catcher already in the minors, Hedges combines his defensive chops with surprising ability with the bat. He could be a .270-.275 hitter with 15 HRs annually and be similar to the pre-2011 Yadier Molina. Also possesses a strong leadership ability and is lauded for his makeup from behind the plate.

48.       Gregory Polanco , OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, ETA: 2015: Talented outfielder that showed ability to hit for average, power, run, throw, and field in his breakout season. Still raw in most parts of the game, but his potential is salivating to a team that has had  20 consecutive losing seasons.

47.      Trevor Story , SS/3B, Colorado Rockies, ETA: 2015: Rockie farmhand has solid tools all around, which will play up if he stays at shortstop. Good hit tool, decent power, and average defense should play at ML level, even if a move to third is deemed necessary (Tulowitzki roadblock in Colorado).

46.      Robert Stephenson , SP, Cincinnati Reds, ETA: 2015: 2011 first round pick that flashed his huge potential with a monster fastball and advanced change up. Stephenson also showed the ability to throw strikes a solid rate and has a high baseball IQ. Has a very promising future but rawness could take some time to iron out.

45.     Mason Williams , OF, New York Yankees, ETA: 2015: Toolsy outfielder has the ability to hit for average and play good defense in CF. As he continues to mature his approach at the plate, he could tap into some more power (only 8 HRs in 2012) and add to his already promising offensive repertoire.



44.      Jorge Soler , OF, Chicago Cubs, ETA: 2015: The other Cuban import has as much talent as his countryman (Yoenis Cespedes) but is more raw. Soler has huge power potential and his plus plus bat speed provides drives to all fields. He also has an excellent arm that could make him a prototypical rightfielder.

43.      Taylor Guerrieri , SP, Tampa Bay Rays, ETA: 2015: The latest power arm to come through the Rays system is Guerrieri with the potential to have four above average pitches (fastball, curve, change, and cutter) along with plus plus control. Only reason he is this low is because he was pitched cautiously (only 52 innings) and plenty can still go wrong from short season ball to the majors.

42.      Alex Meyer , SP, Washington Nationals, ETA: 2014: Nasty stuff comes from the Kentucky product's right arm, but his inconsistent delivery (influenced by his 6'9" frame) can lead to occasional bouts of wildness. Power fastball with good sink and a sharp breaking ball should at least take him to the majors as a dominant reliever.

41.      Jedd Gyorko , 3B/2B, San Diego Padres, ETA: 2013: Simply, Gyorko is a hitter first, everything else second. Gyorko consistently barrels up ball and is a true plus plus hitter. Lack of a defensive home with a current roadblock at 3B (Chase Headley), Gyorko could profile as an all bat/no glove second baseman (a la Dan Uggla).

 
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      The Kansas City Royals have added some depth to their starting rotation by receiving right-handed pitcher Ervin Santana and $1 million from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for minor league pitcher Brandon Sisk.  Sisk, at age 26, had back to back solid seasons with AAA Omaha with a 1.41 ERA in 32 innings in 2011 and a 2.54 ERA in 67.1 innings in 2012.  He is a decent piece to look to for LA in case of an injury or struggles in the bullpen for 2013. 

      The bigger part of this deal clearly is Santana.  The talented right hander will be heading into his age 30 season in 2013 and the question mark for him is consistency.  He has showed flashes of brilliance throughout his career including tossing a no-hitter in 2012 in Cleveland.  He has enjoyed four seasons (2006, 2006, 2010-11) of having an ERA+ of over 100.  His back-to-back solid seasons in 2010 (3.92 ERA) and 2011 (3.38 ERA) are great signs.  However, going back to consistency, he has had his share of struggles.  He has had three seasons of sporting an ERA of over 5.  Unfortunately for Santana, his 2012 ERA of 5.16 is fresh in everyone’s mind.  Another glaring problem in 2012 was home runs.  Santana served up a ridiculous 39 long balls in 2012 which lead the entire league and was 12 more than his previous career high of 27. This is due to his crazy home run per fly ball percentage of 14.8, which is almost double the league average of 7.6%. He also posted a career low ERA+ of just 73.  He has also shown the ability to throw over 200 innings over the course of a big league season.  However the innings have not been as high during his more unsuccessful seasons.  The Royals can only hope they are getting the 2011 Ervin Santana and his ridiculous HR/FB will regress to his career norms. 

First Reactions:

Winner:  Royals.  They only gave up a minor league reliever and this is a low risk move for them.  Kansas City is in great need of starting pitching and Santana is a guy that has the ability to eat some innings and be successful for the organization moving forward.

Loser:  Angels.  Received a 26-year old reliever and lost depth in their rotation.  Not a move that will tear down the team, but will especially hurt if team cannot resign RHP Zack Greinke. 



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