Ok my first positional review and analysis starting with our catching. Top 5 is covered here
** Note here, players in CAPS are shortlisted and I use the shortlist as my "eye on youth's" (or utes
). Age 26 is the cutoff and if they are, they cant be shortlisted here. **
Francisco Cervelli is our entrenched MLB starter, beloved by Buc's fans and teammates, and paid like it ($11.5M/yr. Final year of 4 yr deal). At 33 years old he has peaked and his scouting numbers from both the Pirates and OSA are not rosy. if you look at the third chart down, Cervelli's arm strength doesn't even make it on the chart! (top 21 listed) Cervelli doesn't have the contact or power numbers to make him worth converting into a corner IF/OF. and his arm is one of the weakest for a starter in our organization and likely MLB! Cervelli's batting slump isn't doing him any favors here either. (Contact 49/49 - Gap 42/43 - Power 42/42 - Eye 66/66 - Avoid K's 51/51)
Elias Diaz is the next in line talent wise, but he started the season on the IR. 28 years old and still under team control for another season, he is a defensively elite catcher who will supplant Jacob Stallings as the backup and hopefully push Cervelli into better numbers offensively. (Contact 51/52 - Gap 47/47 - Power 42/42 - Eye - 37/37 - Avoid K's 67/67)
Jacob Stallings is a 29 y/o former prospect and serves well as a backup and swingman between AAA and the Majors. He is defensively challenged and near the bottom of the boards in nearly every catcher metric. His value is as a team leader and average bat off the bench. (Contact 44/44 - Gap 64/64 - Power 26/26 - Eye 46/46 - Avoid K's 57/57)
Steve Baron is a 28 y/o journeyman who is the exact opposite of Jacob Stallings in the defensive categories. His strong defense is betrayed by a average arm, his offense is what keeps him in the minors. (Contact 34/34 - Gap 19/19 - Power 15/15 - Eye 37/37 Avoid K's 42/42)
John Bormann is a 26 y/o former prospect who now is stuck in AAA, his offense is not quite good enough to make the show, while his defense grades out as good enough to be a top 15 catcher in MLB. (Contact 36/41 - Gap 39/41 - Power 1/7 - Eye 36/40 - Avoid K's 58/60)
Coming soon 1B...