Organizational Report-Infield

[PepperJack]

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/spor...field/7068227/

Inside the Reds' front office, they keep a chart of the years major leaguers are under contract and when to expect the minor leaguers to be ready to contribute at that level.

What follows is an organizational depth chart showing, position by position, not only where the Reds are at the major-league level, but who they have coming through the ranks. The organization reports reflect not necessarily where prospects will start the season, but where the Reds feel those players will see the bulk of their time in 2014.

Also, The Enquirer enlisted the help of Jason Parks, the national prospect/player development writer for Baseball Prospectus, to evaluate the overall quality of the prospects at each position. Baseball scouts use a 20-80 scale – sometimes shortened to 2-8, as we've done here – in evaluating talent. Five represents major-league average.

Lists what's at the Major League level, and then rounds up some players who could be at each stop along the way.

Catcher:

The bottom line

(5) Average. Promising catcher in Jose Ortiz in lower minors; future backup in Barnhart in upper minors.

First Base:

The bottom line

(3) Below average. But most organizations can't boast plus first-baseman prospect depth.

Second Base:

The bottom line

(3) Below average. Not a lot of depth up the middle.

Short Stop:

The bottom line

(3) Below average. Thin when it comes to skill players at the position in the minors.

Third Base:

The bottom line

(3) Below average.

[RedTeamGo!]

Yikes

[Rojo]

Shocking.

[mth123]

MLBs top 20 came out today and not an IF in the bunch. Barnhart was 12 at catcher.

[Steve4192]

Fortunately for the Reds, they scored plus-plus grades at CF and RHP. Hopefully, they can trade some of that depth for help in the infield. They have traded away a bunch of infield prospects (Alonso, Grandal, Gregorius, Torreyes) over the past few years for major league help, so it only makes sense that they will be a little weak in that department. Now the time has come to trade FOR infielders.