Losers
Miami Marlins
While I have no issues with the Marlins top pick, Braxton Garrett, I am more than underwhelmed with their rest of their draft. I like Thomas Jones a lot, but I wonder how signable he’ll be in the 3rd round, which could make this a wasted pick. After taking few signability issues outside of Jones, they spent all of day 3 on college players rather than taking any risk with high school players, and the Marlins system desperately needs the upside of some high school kids.
New York Mets
The Mets have a system stacked with pitching and desperate for bats. They had an opportunity at 19 to select a bat they were tied to for quite some time in Will Craig, yet they chose to go with a college pitcher. Then they selected yet another college pitcher at pick 31. In fact, the Mets did not select a single high school player until round 11.
The worst part of all of it is that including the college and high school bats altogether, by far the guy I like best they drafted as a future hitter for their organization was Carlos Cortes, but as a 20th round selection, I’m not sure that they’ll be able to pay him enough to get him away from college.
San Diego Padres
One of my favorite parts of doing my mock drafts was taking a look at what the Padres could do. Their three picks in the first 25 selections and five picks in the first 85 selections gave them a ton of financial leverage. Then, they drafted an injured pitcher, overdrafted a high school shortstop that should have been way under slot at that spot, and picked a college pitcher that likely will go for slot or less at their first three picks.
The Padres did at least attempt to add talent, but they did it with guys who were falling, guys who likely will want more than the money they’ll have to give. They did go heavy after high schoolers in the third day, including a personal favorite in prep outfielder Hunter Bishop, so perhaps they read some of the criticism in their first two days and cut loose a bit!
Texas Rangers
The Rangers did go for high school pitching, and they wanted to go for high ceiling. I get the method, but I struggle with who they utilized the method on. Cole Ragans is more of a pitchability lefty, and Alex Speas has a big arm and no idea where it’s going. Those are your first two selections. High upside is great, but you want to have SOME floor behind it, especially when it’s available on the board.
I will note that they did go for a number of good options on day 3, albeit perhaps not the guys I’d have selected, but I at least understand the method with their day 3 guys. I’m just worried their two first guys will eat a lot of money while not giving them the production similarly priced guys could have in that same selection slot.
Next: How To View The Cardinals