The New York Yankees and Their Minor League System

Happy New Year!

The New York Yankees have always been known for spending money to get the big named players. This off-season is no different. They went out and signed C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Texeira, neither of who was cheap by any means. Even though the Yankees spend and spend and spend, lately they have been using their minor league system more extensively than in previous years.

The turnaround of the Yankees' notoriously bad farm system started in 2005 when Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, and Chien-Ming Wang started to play everyday for the Yankees. All three of them were signed internationally and worked their way up through the Yankees minor league system. Cabrera and Cano have been regulars since 2005, and Wang has developed into a solid innings-eater.

2007 was their next year of really showing off the talent that they had in the minors, when they introduced the baseball world to Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Edwar Ramirez. Joba was tremendous in his 24 innings pitched out of the bullpen, when he struck out 34, walked only 6, and had an ERA of 0.38. Hughes, Kennedy, and Ramirez pitched well in the few games that they started for the Yankees late in ’07. All four pitchers have extreme talent and if they can overcome injuries that have plagued them early in their pro careers, then watch out!

In 2008, more players were called up from the minors, though not as well known as Joba, Hughes, Wang, etc, they are key role players for the Yankees. They include: Justin Christian, Brett Gardner, Alfredo Aceves, Phil Coke, Chase Wright, and Juan Miranda. These players may never turn into superstars, however they will develop into solid role players--something the Yankee teams of this decade have been short of . These players are the ones that lead the Yankees' AA team (Trenton Thunder) to two straight Eastern League Championships (’07 and ’08). They are talented and can perfectly complement the free agent talent that their parent club has acquired.

The Yankees have a couple big named prospects in the minor leagues right now in Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero. Austin Jackson could be up at some point next year, but if not he should definitely be seeing regular playing time in 2010. He possesses incredible speed which will help him patrol center field and hit at the top of the lineup. Jesus Montero is an absolute monster. He has extreme power and is just a stud hitter. He is a catcher right now, but his defense is not very good, so a move to 1B or DH is more likely. Montero is 19 years old, so he is probably a couple years away from the majors, but when he does get the call up he is going to be a great hitter for the Yankees.

The Yankees are still spending the big bucks on big named free agents, but now they are using international signings and the draft to build a more complete team. We also cannot forget that the Yankees drafted both Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada and its definitely safe to say they turned out pretty good. The 2009 Yankees will need their minor league system players just as much as their big free agent signings, if they are going to be successful and fight for another World Series Championship.

Clyde's Top 10 Prospects

Here is my Top 10 List of prospects compared to Speedy's:

1 - David Price, TB - #1 overall pick in 2007 by the Tampa Bay Rays and he has not disappointed yet. Dominated the minor leagues and because of that got the big call up late in the MLB season. When called up Price still not disappoint, pitching solid at the end of the year and into the playoffs for the Rays. He has two very good pitches, high velocity, and strikes out a lot of batters. He will be in the starting rotation for the Rays in 2009.

2 - Matt Wieters, BAL - I would not really say that Wieters is second on my list, but more of my #1a pick. Not too much to say about him that Speedy has not already covered. He can hit extremely well for a catcher and can field his position. He is going to compete for the opening day job and if he does not get it in spring training. My hope and belief is that he will get the job right away. He should be a superstar.

3 - Travis Snider, TOR - Snider got called up at the end of last year at the age of 20 years old. That is amazing and does not happen very often. He has been successful at every level so far and he should put up good power numbers in the majors. Couple of knocks on him though. 1 - He strikes out a lot. 2 - They say he is an outfielder, but I do not really see him staying there too long. More of a DH player. He is very young and so each year I believe he will improve and becoming a very good player.

4 - Mike Moustakas, KC - A shortstop with a ton of power! I have him up at #4 just for that reason alone. If he stays at shortstop, which I am hoping for, he is going to be one of the top power hitting shortstops for a long time. That power should help him move up to the bigs faster and be on the team at some point in 09, but if not then definitely in 2010. Also, for being a power hitter he does not strike out as much as most young power hitters do.

5 - Pedro Alvarez, PIT - Speedy and I agree with this pick right here and there is not much more to say about him that Speedy has not covered. He has a great future ahead of him and will hopefully move up quickly through Pittsburgh's minor league system.

6 - Dayan Viciedo, CWS - He is 19 years old, will be competing for the opening day White Sox 3B job, and was given a four year, $10 million contract (according to www.ESPN.com). That alone is pretty amazing. He is a Cuban native with a world of potential. A knock on him is his weight according to skipper Ozzie Guillen. If he can come into spring training fit and motivated, then the possibility of him starting and making a big impact is not far off at all.

7 - Tommy Hanson, ATL - 163 strikeouts in 138 innings and only 52 walks last year is what Tommy Hanson put up in A+/AA last year. That is unreal! Hanson completely dominated last year with a 2.41 era, a sub 1 whip, and a strikeout per 9 rate of over 10. He should be competing for a spot in the Brave's rotation next year and you should expect to see him at some point in 2009.

8 - Trevor Cahill, OAK - 20 years old and was pitching at AA is very good. While pitching at AA at a young age, he pitched as if he was much older. Cahill put up great stats and should be in the mojors at some point in 09 and it could be as early as opening day. Cahill is extremely intelligent on the baseball field which is amazing for a player at his age. His velocity is not as high as most strikeout pitchers, but with his control and intelligence he should continue to be a dominant strikeout pitcher.

9 - Colby Rasmus, STL - The reason why I have Rasmus so low is because of his rough year last year. He started off really slow and then was hurt and so his 2008 season should be one to forget for him. He should be a really great player putting up great power numbers and stealing a good amount of bases, but he dropped on my list because of his 08 season. He should rebound and be up with the Cardinals in 2009. He has superstar potential.

10 - Cameron Maybin, FLA - He has all the tools to be a great player, but is inconsistent right now and you never know what Maybin you are going to get. He strikes out a lot, but can hit for power and steal bases. He was called up last year and actually tore it up in his short stint with the Marlins. He had a .500 average with a wOBA of .517, he scored 9 runs and had 4 stolen bases in 36 plate appearances. Hopefully that carries over into next year, but the strikes out and consistency is something to watch out for.

Speedy's Top 10 Prospects

We have added a few new things, under the picture of Tim Lincecum we have added our respective top 10 prospect lists which we will update and debate about throughout the season.

Here are my reasons for the rankings on my list...

1. Matt Wieters - I don't think there is much debate about this one, switch hitting catchers with the ability to put up 30/100/.300 numbers regularly and above average defense don't come along that often.

2. David Price - The first overall pick in the 2007 draft broke into the majors mostly as a reliever this year, however, he should be entrenched in the Tampa Bay rotation next year and for years to come with the makings of 2 plus pitches (fastball and slider), and the ability to induce a large amount of ground balls while striking out a lot of batters.

3. Travis Snider - Snider flew through the minors in 2008, starting at single-A and working his way up the the majors--as a 20 year old! He should hit for lots of power down the line, however there are some concerns about his batting and strikeouts.

4. Colby Rasmus - The Cardinals top prospect was expected to make the team out of spring training last year, but he was sent back to AAA where he struggled for the first two months of the season, then injured his knee. He rebounded nicely in the second half of the season and is a legitimate 5- tool stud who should break into St. Louis early next year.

5. Pedro Alvarez - The second overall pick in the 2008 draft did not play pro ball at all last year due to a signing complication. He should start in A+ next year and move through the minors quickly. Alvarez has the ability to hit for high average and lots of power when he breaks into the MLB.

6. Dayan Viciedo - Viciedo defected from Cuba (where he started playing in their top professional league at 16) in the spring of '08 and signed with the Whitesox about three weeks ago. Despite being only 19 years old, the Whitesox have said that he could make the team out of spring training. He is somewhat unpolished yet should hit for both power and average with very good defense down the road.

7. Rick Porcello - He finished his first pro season with a 2.66 ERA as a 19 year old in A+, that alone in somewhat amazing, but it gets even better, he had a 65% ground ball rate and even though he only struck out about 5 batters per 9 innings, he has electric stuff (mid 90's fastball, power curve) and should become a better strikeout pitcher as he gets older.

8. Trevor Cahill - Cahill had a great season split between A+ and AA last year and is expected to be called up early in 2009 if he doesn't make the rotation out of spring training. Cahill throws a low 90's fastball with good sink (63% ground ball rate) and a sharp curve ball which rates as his best pitch. Cahill has an optimistic combination of ground balls and strikeouts (10 per 9 innings last year) which could help him become Oakland's ace in a few years.

9. Mike Moustakas - The second overall pick in '07, Moustakas has big time power which could help him break into Kansas City as either a shortstop or third baseman (though 3B is more likely). He could eventually develop into a 40/100/.280 hitter.

10. Cameron Maybin - He would be much higher if he didn't strike out so much. Either way, there is no refuting that Maybin has a combination of power and speed that could make him a regular all-star and statistical freak. He is a 5-tool stud who could eventually do 30-30's with ease if he gets his plate discipline under control.