Long term bright spots - Triston Casas and Kutter Crawford
Triston Casas - Over the season especially in the second half, Triston became a top end hitter. Looking forward Triston looks like he can become a legitimate elite bat. He walks at a tremendous rate and has great contract skills. Hopefully he can improve his fielding a bit.
Kutter Crawford - With the addition of slider/sweeper, Cutter has become a legitimate MLB pitcher. He still is having trouble like most of the rotation in getting through a lineup a third time. I believe some of this has to do with pitch calling from Wong and McGuire (which much like their framing is poor). If Kutter can rely on using his slide for strikes keeping hitters from sitting on his four seamer or cutter in count, Kutter could make the next step and look like a mid to top of the rotation starter.
Medium Term / possible starters
Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela
Jarren Duran - Somehow the sum of his parts do not equal the total. Duran has elite speed, hit the ball pretty hard, and has a good arm. Yet Jarren isn't a particularly good defender nor does he have a high slugging percentage. Tons of tools but is an average MLB starter / 4th OF.
Wilyer Abreu - Sort of the opposite of Duran. Outside of a very strong arm, Abreu overperformed his tools last season. Probably profiles to be LHH bench OF however could play his way to being a starter
Ceddanne Rafaela - Useful RHH bat with down the middle ability in both IF/OF. Probably more of a utility player but a ton of value being able to cover different positions.
Triston Casas - Over the season especially in the second half, Triston became a top end hitter. Looking forward Triston looks like he can become a legitimate elite bat. He walks at a tremendous rate and has great contract skills. Hopefully he can improve his fielding a bit.
Kutter Crawford - With the addition of slider/sweeper, Cutter has become a legitimate MLB pitcher. He still is having trouble like most of the rotation in getting through a lineup a third time. I believe some of this has to do with pitch calling from Wong and McGuire (which much like their framing is poor). If Kutter can rely on using his slide for strikes keeping hitters from sitting on his four seamer or cutter in count, Kutter could make the next step and look like a mid to top of the rotation starter.
Medium Term / possible starters
Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela
Jarren Duran - Somehow the sum of his parts do not equal the total. Duran has elite speed, hit the ball pretty hard, and has a good arm. Yet Jarren isn't a particularly good defender nor does he have a high slugging percentage. Tons of tools but is an average MLB starter / 4th OF.
Wilyer Abreu - Sort of the opposite of Duran. Outside of a very strong arm, Abreu overperformed his tools last season. Probably profiles to be LHH bench OF however could play his way to being a starter
Ceddanne Rafaela - Useful RHH bat with down the middle ability in both IF/OF. Probably more of a utility player but a ton of value being able to cover different positions.