I think you and a lot of others who share your opinion are going to be quite surprised at where Gregorius does rank inside Top 100s.
Look at the Baseball America league rankings. He was inside the top 20 for both leagues he was in and the Top 10 in one of them. In the upper minor leagues. In the Southern League he ranked higher than Daniel Corcino, who I don't doubt just about everyone on here would say is a top 100 prospect, right? Scouts really like Gregorius. He is no Profar, but heck, how many guys are? That kid is arguably the best prospect in baseball.
I know Leake is still young but right now, he's proven as of right now he's an average starting pitcher in this league. Granted he plays in Great American so some consideration has to be taken there. However, he's been a 97 ERA+ pitcher in the majors. That isn't exactly spectacular.
I agree with you about Miller. He's unknown right now and has a ton of upside. I don't know what to expect from him. However, Rosenthal has been dominant thus far in his major league experience (short sample size I know). The Cardinals are facing the same issues that the Reds are with Chapman. They are debating whether to start him or keep him in relief. If the Cards keep him or not, Rosenthal will give any team he's with nasty, high quality stuff. His fastball is 100+, has a crazy good curve, and his changeup is very good in the 80's. He's as legit as you're going to get when it comes to power arms. Furthermore, he was unhittable in the playoffs.
It's time to go all in. With Hamilton coming sometime in 2013 and hopefully starting in 2014, I think adding a player like Upton could be the piece to the puzzle that this team needs to get them over the hump. While I like Ludwick, lets not settle on a stopgap in LF. Lets build a team that can go on a run.
Were I Jocketty, I'd offer Leake, Corcino, and Yorman Rodriguez for Asdrubal Cabrera, plug him in at SS, and deal both Gregorius and Cozart (among other, less talented prospects) in a three-way deal:
Cincinnati sends Gregorius to Arizona and Cozart to Tampa. They receive Upton.
Arizona sends Upton to Cincinnati and receives Gregorius.
Tampa sends Jeremy Helickson to Arizona and receives Zack Cozart and Drew Stubbs.
Works for all three teams, IMO.
Apparently the Phillies and D'Backs are discussing Upton for Cliff Lee.
“I don’t care,” Votto said of passing his friend and former teammate. “He’s in the past. Bye-bye, Jay.”
Amaro strongly denies.
Fay reporting Reds have talked to Arizona, and Parra, Kubel and Upton are all (obviously) available. He doubts the Reds could afford Upton.
So include Masset and/or Stubbs in the deal and better prospects (Gregorius, Leake, Corcino, Lutz). I really, really want to see Upton on this team.
Go BLUE!!!
Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please. |