Well it’s done. We have taken our first real step towards building a team for the 2025 season.
It wasn't a surprise but the draft pool wasn’t necessarily loaded with big time talent. Every other franchise got to protect 25 members on their roster from being selected plus any player with under 4 years of MLB service time was automatically protected. As a result, there weren’t a ton of clear studs to choose.
We had the honor of selecting first and I used that pick on former Los Angeles Angels
2B Jeremiah Jackson. Jackson has only had 68 plate appearances in the major leagues, all coming in 2023 and they didn’t go well. But he’s coming off an outstanding 2024 campaign in AAA where he slashed .301/.360/.527 while slugging 30 HRs and driving in 114 runs. Can play 2B, SS or 3B at a high level. Only 24 years old to boot. Unlikely to grow into a superstar but hopefully can be a quality ball player for us.
In the 2nd round, we went looking for pitching.
Jacob Nix has thrown a grand total of 42 innings in the MLB and posted a rough 7+ ERA in that limited work. Doesn’t necessarily scream ace but he was solid in triple A last season, sports 5 pitches and generates a lot of groundballs. My plan is to build a strong defensive roster so looking for folks who will throw strikes, keep the ball in the park and let the defense make plays. Nix checks all those boxes.
We snagged our most proven MLB player in round 3 when I decided to pull the trigger on former Guardian
Josh Naylor. The right fielder sports the 2nd highest salary on the team at $3.1 million and is one of the few bats in this lineup that knows what it’s like to face major league pitching day in and day out. Injuries have been a problem but when healthy Naylor has been effective. Last season was one of his best where he hit 19 HRs, drove in 67 runs and had an OBP of .326. He will be a guy that hits near the top of the order for us in 2025. He will likely be someone I ship off near the trading deadline for hopefully some young talent.
Some other bigger names that you readers might know:
- 2B Sergio Alcantara (D-Backs) - Elite defender who will likely start at 3B for us in 2025
- IF Jose Miranda (Twins) - Been bouncing around the minor leagues since seeing time with the Twins in 2022. Very good defensive 1B who won’t strikeout much
- RP Cal Quantrill (D-Backs) - Lots of good bullpen arms were available but many carried stupid high salaries for an expansion team. Quantrill was one of the cheaper options. Hoping to flip later this year
- SP Anthony Escobar (A’s) - One of the best prospects available. Ranked #55 right now by OSA. Don’t see ace potential but could develop into a decent back end of the rotation guy or at worst another bullpen arm
- CL Andre Munoz (Mariners) - Most expensive player on the roster right now with a $3.96 million salary. Had 38 saves last year for Seattle. Another hopeful trade bait player come July.
- RP Justin Bruihl (Dodgers) - Experienced reliever who is one of the few lefties in the bullpen