Last Updated: January 5, 2010
Here is the first edition of the 2010 Depth Chart, though this listing will surely change some throughout the rest of the offseason. As always, figuring out the rosters at the big league, Triple-A and Double-A level are not too difficult. That said, the most difficult task is figuring out the rosters for the two Single-A affiliates, especially the makeup of the bullpens and benches at both those levels.
Some quick notes on the depth chart:
- The maximum active roster size at Cleveland, Kinston and Lake County is 25 players whereas at Columbus and Akron it is just 24 players.
- There will be one heck of a camp battle in spring training for bullpen spots at Lake County and Kinston. There are going to be up to a dozen solid arms who could end up starting the year in extended spring training or that are released.
- The Indians have a lot of depth in the Triple-A rotation, and with left-hander Aaron Laffey a possibility to open in the rotation there you can see why the Indians sort of decided to roll the dice with not rostering several of their pitchers this offseason.. There is a lot of depth in Cleveland and Columbus, now they just need a couple of the young guys to step up in 2010.
- All of a sudden second base and third base are two of the strongest positions in the system. With Hodges-Chisenhall-Bellows-Brito at the top four levels of the system at third base, they have four very good prospects who all likely rank in their Top 25-30. It is just as good at second base with Donald-Phelps-Kipnis-Frawley at the top four levels of the system at second base.
- After Carlos Santana at catcher, there is not much coming anytime soon as far as impact catchers. Some nice depth or potential major league backups, yes, but you can see how it is setup where Santana-Marson are the catching duo in Cleveland for a long time.
- The Indians have some nice center field depth, which is important considering Sizemore is a free agent in three years (yes, we are talking about that already).
- The Indians have a lot of good, solid starters. In fact, it is really hard to figure out the staff in some cases because of this depth. I took an educated guess that Graham and Price will all be in the bullpen to start the season next year. Also, for now I am predicting that Putnam remains in the bullpen.
- Judy and Price are two closers expected to be at the two highest minor league levels in Columbus and Akron. They may be the two best relievers in the system, and certainly in the Top 5.
- Guys listed as bubble/rehab guys are listed in the column for the team they likely will be playing for a spot on this spring. Some interesting players will certainly be left off the active list when the season starts.
| Cleveland | Columbus | Akron | Kinston | Lake County | |
| Lineup | |||||
| C | Lou Marson | Carlos Santana | Matt McBride | Adam Abraham | Roberto Perez |
| 1B | Matt LaPorta* | Shelley Duncan | Beau Mills | Nate Recknagel | Ben Carlson |
| 2B | Luis Valbuena | Jason Donald | Cord Phelps | Jason Kipnis | Casey Frawley |
| SS | Asdrubal Cabrera | Josh Rodriguez | Carlos Rivero | Ron Rivas | Argenis Martinez |
| 3B | Jhonny Peralta | Wes Hodges | Lonnie Chisenhall | Kyle Bellows | Jesus Brito |
| LF | Michael Brantley | Jordan Brown | Nick Weglarz | Donnie Webb | Bo Greenwell |
| CF | Grady Sizemore | Jose Constanza | Tim Fedroff | Jordan Henry | Delvi Cid |
| RF | Shin-Soo Choo | Austin Kearns | John Drennen | Matt Brown | Abner Abreu* |
| Bench | |||||
| C | Wyatt Toregas | Damaso Espino | Alex Castillo | Doug Pickens | Greg Folgia |
| INF | Travis Hafner (DH) | Niuman Romero | Cristo Arnal | Karexon Sanchez | Jose Camargo |
| INF | Andy Marte | Jerad Head | Adam Davis | Mark Thompson | Jeremie Tice |
| INF | Chris Gimenez | ||||
| OF | Trevor Crowe | Stephen Head | Lucas Montero | Adam White | Jason Smit |
| Rotation | |||||
| SP | Jake Westbrook* | Carlos Carrasco | Eric Berger | Alex White | Jason Knapp* |
| SP | Justin Masterson | Hector Rondon | Scott Barnes | Alexander Perez | Trey Haley |
| SP | Fausto Carmona | Scott Lewis* | Paolo Espino | T.J. House | Joe Gardner |
| SP | David Huff | Jeanmar Gomez | Kelvin De La Cruz | Danny Salazar | Marty Popham |
| SP | Aaron Laffey | Yohan Pino | Ryan Morris* | Nick Hagadone | Clayton Cook |
| Bullpen | |||||
| MR | Mitch Talbot | Jess Todd | Dallas Cawiezell | Matt Langwell | Francisco Jimenez |
| MR | Joe Smith | Frank Herrmann | Connor Graham | Mike McGuire | Preston Guilmet |
| MR | Jensen Lewis | Ryan Edell | Zach Putnam | Santo Frias | Vidal Nuno |
| MR | Rafael Perez | Steven Wright | Neil Wagner | Chris Jones | Austin Adams |
| MR | Chris Perez | Josh Tomlin | Carlton Smith | Bryce Stowell | Tyler Sturdevant |
| MR | Tony Sipp | Erik Stiller | Chen Lee | TJ McFarland | Francisco Valera |
| MR | Rob Bryson | Jeremy Johnson | |||
| CL | Kerry Wood | Josh Judy | Bryan Price | Steve Smith | Cory Burns |
| Bubble Guys or Rehab (*) | |||||
| Anthony Reyes* | Adam Miller* | Vinnie Pestano* | Joseph Mahalic* | Alexander Morales | |
| Brian Buscher | Mike Gosling | Kyle Landis | Mike Pontius* | Antwonie Hubbard | |
| Jason Grilli | Brian Horwitz | Garrison Campfield | Eddie Burns* | Brett Brach | |
| Jeremy Sowers | Armando Camacarco | Jerad Goedert | Heath Taylor* | Carlos Moncrief | |
| Hector Ambriz | Jonathan Holt | Travis Turek | Chris Kersten | ||
| Luis Rodriguez | Brian Grening | Chun Chen | |||
| Saul Rivera | Chris Nash | Dale Dickerson | |||
| David Roberts | Daniel DeGeorge | ||||
| John Allman | Daniel Jimenez | ||||
| Ryan Miller | Darling Read | ||||
| Matthew Willard | Dwight Childs | ||||
| Richard Martinez | Franklin Soto | ||||
| Roman Pena | Giovanny Urshela | ||||
| Ryan Blair | Gregorio Rosario | ||||
| Guido Fonseca | |||||
| Joel Torres | |||||
| John Goryl | |||||
| Jose Campos | |||||
| Jose Flores | |||||
| Trent Baker | |||||
| Joseph Colon | |||||
| Juan Aponte | |||||
| Justin Toole | |||||
| Kevin Fontanez | |||||
| Kevin Rucker | |||||
| Kirk Wetmore | |||||
| Kyle C. Smith | |||||
| Kyle Smith | |||||
| Lurvin Basabe | |||||
| Matt Packer | |||||
| Michael Valadez | |||||
| Mike Rayl | |||||
| Moises Montero | |||||
| Nick Kirk | |||||
| Nick Sarianides | |||||
| Rafael Vera | |||||
| Rolando Petit | |||||
| Sung-Wei Tseng | |||||
| Tim Palincsar | |||||
Everything on this site is free, but for those interested in making any monetary contributions to help support the stability and growth of this site please click on the "Donate" button below.
14 comments:
Personally, I will be very surprised, and somewhat disappointed, if Hagadone starts the year in the bullpen. He seems like he has a lot of potential as a starter, maybe even top-end stuff.
I 100% agree with Brian. We need starters, not relievers. I am also excited that all the sudden, we have some good pitching in Columbus and Akron. Also, we have the player from the Shoppach deal coming. Looking good!
I actually felt the same way, Brian, when I read that Hagadone could start in the pen. He and Knapp seemed to be the two guys in all the deals that had #1 potential, down the line.
Either way, good to have the electric arms all over the organization...
Yeah, I'm 50-50 on Hagadone. I do believe he will open the year in the Kinston rotation though be on a short stay there as if he is healthy and performs well he will move quickly to Akron. But what drives me to put him in the bullpen at the moment is that he will supposedly be on the fast track through the system next year if healthy.....and the only way he does that would be the bullpen (at least to me).
Like I said, this is bit the first edition of the 2010 Depth Chart as it will surely be updated several times this offseason.
Tony, is this all you making educated guesses or have the Indians said anything about guys like Mills and Gomez moving up? Also, can McBride play anywhere? How can you keep him in AA after the year he had last year? Can't you plug him in the Columbus outfield rather than Constanza or Head? Lastly, Hagadone is pretty old to be this low in the system isn't he? Could they rush him through the system even being a starter? That would be the perfect situation.
@Chad - Here are Matt McBride's splits between Kinston and Akron last season. He was promoted in early May, if I am not mistaken:
Kinston - 31 games, 6 HR, 36 RBI, .405 average, 1.120 OPS
Akron - 98 games, 12 HR, 63 RBI, .247 average, .728
Don't get me wrong, Mac Attack is an absolute class act and a great clubhouse presence. But the numbers just are not there past Double-A. Considering he is already 24.5 years old, there seems to be no rush anymore now that he is a clearly not an upper-tier prospect.
Even if it takes Hagadone a little longer to go through the system, I'd rather he be a starter too. I really hope we can get a couple #1/#2 starters out of the group of Rondon/ Carrasco/ Hagadone/ Masterson/ Knapp/ White. Hope that isn't just wishful thinking. Great work on the list Tony!
kelvin de la cruz in AA?????
I don't see a particular need to convert Hagadone to the bullpen. They already have a number of good high-level bullpen prospects, and potentially a solid major league bullpen even without guys like Todd and Judy. (I expect Veras to open the season in Cleveland with Todd in Columbus, and I'll be pleasantly surprised if R Perez turns it around ... I'd guess Wood, C Perez, Sipp, Smith, Veras, Lewis, Sowers to open the year) ... I'm curious, one of the bullpen guys who had some good numbers in '09 was Brian Grening but you have him listed as a bubble guy for Kinston, with his 13.1 IP and 1 ER in Akron/Columbus, shouldn't he at least be opening the season in Akron?
Really nice job dealing with some tough decisions. Good bold call on Price at Akron closer. I suspect he will be challenged by Pestano who is a favorite of mine. Personally, I go with Sowers at #5 and Laffey in relief but ST will tell. Although you have listed Putnam as a reliever in Akron, I believe he will start and Espino relieve. You could be right about Hagadone but I have him as a starter and Stowell as well. Really screws up a fine Kinston rotation you put together. Are you sure about Kipness at 2B? Must have impressed in extended. I had him in the OF at Kinston along with 2 of the 3 OFs you have at Lake. I know you followed McBride closely in AZ and guess you would agree with my assessment that he is not a catcher at this time. Too bad, like you said, our catching depth is real weak except in Columbus.
Add my vote to Hagadone to the rotation....but not next year. At least not a first. Cleveland will worry about getting Hagadone to Cleveland before letting him start, and I agree with Tony that the Indians are going to fast track him.
A lot of people feel that had Hagadone stayed healthy then he would have been one Boston's untouchable's, and Boston would have likely brought him up in their pen at first and got his feet wet. Cleveland needs to keep this kid healthy.
As time goes past his TJ surgury I figure the Indians will eventually stretch him out into the rotation. Having him in the BP now isn't much different than him starting games with a 3 inning, X amount pitch count.
As much as I want to see them all be No 1-2 type starters, if just 2 of the group of Carrasco, Masterson, and Rondon (and of course Carmona) step up we'll be in a lot better shape for Shapiro and company to make more sound decisions regarding the roles Knapp, Hagadone, De La Cruz, White etc.
Just my opinions
-Clay
Hagadone: It's more a feel thing in putting him in the bullpen now, though thinking more on it he could very well open the year in the Kinston rotation with McFarland in the pen instead. Either way he will open in Kinston as it is a vital developmental stop....just he may move quickly given his age and advanced pitchability. No need to rush him right to Akron to start the year.
White: He's a lock for Kinston as I was told this by an impeccable source.
De La Cruz: He had two great starts to open the year in Kinston this year before getting hurt and also had 7-8 starts there in 2008. I think there is still a chance he could return to Kinston, but with all the other arms needing to be in the rotation there along with a lack of starting arms in Akron and the org maybe pushing De La along, I see it as very likely he opens in Akron this coming season. Plus they got him lots of work in Instructional League this offseason and had him out in the Dominican Republic playing in a small winter league there to get work in.
Putnam: I think it is 50/50 he starts or relieves next year. He has been told to keep the option open, but for now I will side with him in the bullpen for next year. He very well could end up in the rotation though and a guy like Young/Espino goes to the bullpen.
McBride: Where will he fit in AAA? Santana will catch, Brown/Head will be the corner outfielders, and Mills will be at 1B. Also, McBride had good overall numbers last year, but he had a subpar to average year when just looking at his AA numbers. Could almost be exactly like what happened with Goleski in 2007 after his great 2006 that he returns to Akron. I expect it to happen.
Kipnis: Yep, full steam ahead on him at 2B. Impressed enough in Instructs....and makes him more valuable there.
Grening: Yeah, I had him in the Kinston bullpen actually....but with so many starters likely converting to relievers I had to take him out. The starters always get precedence, and they will go with their higher level prospects first. That said, I think he is certainly in for a bullpen spot in Akron or Kinston to open the year next year and if he doesn't make it will be a swing guy all year between the two levels.
Hey Tony... I thought all the minor leagues used the DH. Who do you think will end up DHing for Columbus? Because I was thinking Beau Mills would end up DHing for them, with either Head or Brown playing 1B. That would also make room for Weglarz or McBride at AAA.
Yeah, DH is used but I don't like using it in the lineup listing since it often is a bench player there anyway. Also, keep in mind that Columbus and Akron only allow for 24 players, whereas everywhere else there are at least 25.
Anyway, McBride and Weglarz could factor into an OF/DH rotation at Columbus or in McBride's case at 1B. But I have a hunch that the Indians will start Weglarz at Akron as he only really played a half season there and the overall numbers are not good for a callup after just a half season there. Also, McBride was just okay at Akron with his numbers though of the two between Wegz/McBride, I think McBride has a better shot of opening in Columbus in a 1B/OF/DH rotation. Brown will be in the outfield and Mills the regular 1B.
Post a Comment