Baseball Prospectus - Chat with Javier Barragan

Chat: Javier Barragan

Welcome to Baseball Prospectus' Tuesday July 18, 2017 2:00 PM ET chat session with Javier Barragan.

Javier is a member of the BP Prospect Team.

Javier Barragan: 2:00 PM eastern time...let's go!

Andrew (DC): How much has Jesus Luzardo's stock risen this season?

Javier Barragan: in terms of mentions, I would say significantly. Pitcher's with TJS typically get forgotten, even with plus stuff. It is not until that they begin to throw and then make rehab appearances does their stock rise. In terms of baseball skills, that too. I don't know what I am getting when a pitcher returns. In Luzardo's case, his stuff has return to pre-tjs form or maybe even better, hitting 98.

Dusty (Colorado ): Hey Javier. Can you let me know about Javier, Wander? Can he make the top 100 next season? Are you two related?

Javier Barragan: Hey dusty. I don't know much about Wander, besides the no, we are not related.

Blackburn (Des Moines): What is Mitch Keller's upside? Could he be a really good #2, Taillon type of pitcher?

Javier Barragan: I saw Keller earlier this season, you can find my Ten Pack narrative on his player card page. Though the fastball is what people would say really good and the breaking ball, too, there is currently no third piece. The change up was a work in project. would need to develop a third to reach #2 starter label.

Neal Huntington (Pittsburgh): Do I trade Cutch or Cole at the deadline?

Javier Barragan: Hi Neal, thanks for checking in. I love your work. As far as who you should trade, Cutch. You have solid OFers - meadows, marte, polanco - and you can never have enough pitching with their attrition rate.

hector (Hidalgo): What would McCutchen fetch back in a return? Two top 100 prospects?

Javier Barragan: Hi Hector, with a team option year remaining, he could get you some projected average plus prospects. so yes, more in the middle to end types.

cracker73 (Florida): If Braxton Garrett recovers completely from TJ surgery, does he have front of the rotation upside?

Javier Barragan: I caught braxton for 2 innings of work last fall, came away impressed by control - everything was down- curveball and if I remember correctly, a modest change-up (?). as for upside, there is some, but he is more a 3-4th guy.

cracker73 (Florida): If Braxton Garrett recovers completely from TJ surgery, does he have front of the rotation upside?

Andrew (Boston): How are the Nationals' big J2 2016 signings (Luis Garcia, Yasel Antuna, Jose Sanchez) faring in the GCL?

Javier Barragan: Hey Andrew, they are faring well in their first pro season. I have caught them all in Extended, and they have held their own. Antuna, I Ten-Packed which you can find in his player card. Some swing and miss, but he should hit for power and average in the corner OF with below average speed. Garcia is an overly aggressive hitter who is learning the strike zone, approach and how to use his legs. it is a very contact approach swing, but you see the tools of staying in the middle. Sanchez is a light bat, mediocre speed, and more of a MIF glove guy, probably role 4. he is young and his body is medium size, so maybe he can grow into something more.

pocket pounder (plaza lanes): I really like Ian Happ. Is he Ben Zobrist with more power? Is Contrearas slowly becoming a top 3 catcher in baseball?

Javier Barragan: I like Ian Happ, too, but I would not give a zobrist comp. If i am not mistaken, zobrist is known for his contact ability. Happ though makes solid contact, he also misses balls, too. Happ is more a hit first with a daniel murphy kind of glove. As for Contreras, give him 2-3 more seasons, he could be top 3, top 5 easy.

James (CT): Would you consider moving Victor Robles for Francisco Mejia in a 30 team dynasty league? Thinking being even though Robles will definitely put up bettee numbers, it tends to be easier to find a power speed outfielder than it is to find a productive catcher

Javier Barragan: James, I agree with your reasoning. much harder to find 70 hitting catchers with pop than guys like Robles.

James (St Paul): Have you heard any recent reports on Johan Oviedo and Alvaro Seijas? If so, can you please share?

Javier Barragan: Hey James,

followed Cardinals a bit this extended and somehow missed the big fella Oviedo. As for Seijas I saw him a good chunk of times, control and consistency is a problem, but the makings of a mid to backend starter are there. the fastball is 94-95, curveball has break and the CH tumbles, but the consistency hinders. His fastball is flat, so that control will be integral to his success in order to avoid being hit.

James (St Paul): Have you heard any recent reports on Johan Oviedo and Alvaro Seijas? If so, can you please share?

Justin (Iowa City): Is Felipe Rivero currently the most valuable reliever in baseball? He's 25, has four years of control left, and has pitched better than any other reliever this year.

Javier Barragan: Hey Justin, thanks for checking in. You could argue that for sure, additionally the Pirates are sellers. but I would counter with reliever volatility and also with Mariners Edwin Diaz whom is 23 years old (Twitter search his sinker). He is also a case for reliever volatility, his performance has regressed not drastically but to a degree.

Ceej (Pittsburgh): Acuna or Moncada the better OBP dynasty stash?

Javier Barragan: Ceej, if youre looking at OBP, it is a no doubt Acuna. There is a reason why Moncada struck out as much as he did. Acuna shall strike out a bit, too, but he has at least shown the ability to take a walk.

Jeremy (SD): Padres RHP Michel Baez has pitched 18 innings in Low-A and looks nearly unhittable. 1 ER (0.50 ERA), 5 H total. Is this the next big helium pitcher?

Javier Barragan: ALWAYS take low minors performance with a grain of salt. He has pitched well, but the youtube video of him from this spring, provided by FanGraphs, shows me there is more major league reliever qualities than starter ones.

BC (Urbandale): Are the Cubs done trading? Schwarber for Fulmer? just a bullpen arm?

Javier Barragan: The Cubs are not done trading...currently have two guys scouting the same major league seller.

MIKE (NY): HAVE LOGJAM AT FIRST GOLDSCHMIDT RIZZO ZIMMERMAN AND BOUR WHICH ONE SHOULD I TRADE AND WHAT KIND OF HITTER COULD I LOOK FOR IN RETURN

Javier Barragan: Mike, first, hit that "caps" key to the left of your keyboard. Second, i need more context, like is it dynasty, how many hitters can you occupy, etc. I'd say zimmerman or bour, their value is mainly power. zimmerman because he is older and not likely to repeat same numbers next year, then you look at bour.

Justin (Cutioner): Who says no? Gerrit Cole for Acuna and Allard/Soroka?

Javier Barragan: Justin, Braves PBOPs and I say No. Acuna fills up categories and is 19 years old. he is 7 years from his peak. Cole is young yes but is also about to be a FA. Braves are also not going to catch a playoff spot this year.

MIKE (NY): THOUGHTS ON WHERE ALBERT ABREU AND JORGE GUZMAN (RETURN FROM MCCANN TRADE) WILL BE RANKED IN UPDATED NYY PROSPECT RANKINGS?

Javier Barragan: Abreu, is a late top 10 in many, but not NYY's. haven't seen guzman.

Jeff (San Diego): Is Jordy Barley all hype, or do you guys see something there?

Javier Barragan: Have not heard much about him. Ask Matt Pullman/Wilson Karaman when their chat is on. Their west coast guys on the grind.

Brandon (johnston ): Quintana pitched well Sunday

Javier Barragan: Brandon, Yes he did. Don't you love it when your newly acquired toy simply shoves.

Brandon (johnston ): Quintana pitched well Sunday

Javier Barragan: Brandon, Yes he did. Don't you love it when your newly acquired toy simply shoves.

tbdubbs (Upstate NY): Who are your favorite A ball hitters to take the meteoric rise a la Acuna?

Javier Barragan: I am vaguely familiar with a few A-Ball hitters outside the big names, but I am biased to Florial. The SOs are very alarming, even with all the tools.

tbdubbs (Upstate NY): Who are your favorite A ball hitters to take the meteoric rise a la Acuna?

Javier Barragan: I am vaguely familiar with a few A-Ball hitters outside the big names, but I am biased to Florial. The SOs are very alarming, even with all the tools.

Xavier (Brooklyn): Chris Flexen next Mets pitcher prospect that flies under the radar and becomes a solid big league pitcher?

Javier Barragan: Interesting name Xavier... I missed Flexen in his short time in High-A... He could be, a few industry guys have mentioned him previously. keep an out on Merandy Gonzalez and Christian James. don't know if they're under the radar though.

Dexter (Houston): What do you make of all this DeGrom-Astros noise? Obviously the Astros would have to grossly overpay to acquire the 3.5 years of DeGrom, but given the status of the Astros and strength of roster, it almost seems as if they could afford to do so. I saw a hypothetical trade of DeGrom and Reed for Bregman, Tucker, Whitley, Martes. That seems kind of crazy, right? That being said, a trio of Keuchel, McCullers and DeGrom going forward would be impossible to top.

Javier Barragan: that would be a pretty good haul for the ets, jolting their lifeless season. However, consdering the plan to win in 2017 (remember that sports illustrated cover a few years back?), Luhnow might text back a "Y-E-S".

Steve (Philly): You've been to quite a few extended spring training games. Anyone stand out as someone who should have been in full season instead?

Javier Barragan: Mets Hansel Moreno, though a bit raw/ Cardinals OF Machado had the tools but questionable makeup/Marlins never got/wanted to see anyone/astros willy collado, amador, arauz/nationals everyone was quite young or tool old

a.j. (las vegas): How likely is Zach Collins to stay at Catcher? If he can I see 11 White Sox in next year's top 100.

Javier Barragan: He is a catcher who will stay, and possibly a back 25 guy.

Steve (nj): How many games have you seen this year?

Javier Barragan: an embarrassing amount, it's what i enjoy.

Steve (nj): How many games have you seen this year?

Javier Barragan: an embarrassing amount, it's what i enjoy.

Steve (nj): How many games have you seen this year?

Javier Barragan: an embarrassing amount, it's what i enjoy.

sdsuphilip (San Diego): Why do people pretend avocados taste good?

Javier Barragan: i don't pretend.

Cal Guy (Cal): Hi Javier, How do the top prospects for the '18 MLB draft compare to those from '17, specifically Turang vs Lewis (HS bat), Rocker vs Greene (HS arm), Singer vs Wright (College arm) and Beer vs Hiura (College bat)?

Javier Barragan: Hey Cal Guy...Saw Kumar, power FB, meh control, meh-er offspeed < Greene because of word for solid offerings and control AND position versatility. Phenom type talent.
Saw Singer, he had stuff to be rocketed up a system. Saw Wright in his start NCAA tourney vs. OSU, showed pitchability, control and multiple solid offerings. Singer over wright b/c age and stuff.

Steve (Philly): Best batting session you've seen this year? Bullpen session?

Javier Barragan: considering I have seen Major league team's BP, Stanton. not considering them, yasel antuna - line drives up the middle, austin riley for spray fly ball ability.
don't get to see many bullpen sessions.

Mark (Palo Alto): What do you think of the return the A's got for Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle? Jesus Luzardo seems like a great addition, though, the history of TJ surgery is always troubling (and he's so young). While I'm not sure where Sheldon Neuse fits with Matt Chapman just breaking into the big leagues.

Javier Barragan: luzardo is a pretty good selection, arm is as you said troubling. We will see how it holds up.
I don't know what Neuse really is, but if he is an average 3B defensively with pop and luzardo is healthy, it is a good haul for two relievers.

Buff (CO): Any indications that Nick Williams can curb his over aggressive approach enough to succeed in the majors?

Javier Barragan: Hey Buff, Seeing him now, swing first approach last night. Maybe the results in the bigs will be enough to convince him improve the agg approach.

MIKE (NY): Would a package starting with rutherford and mateo/sheffield plus some lower level prospects be enough to get sonny gray

Javier Barragan: I hope so. It is like people forget Sonny Gray has battled arm injuries. my price for damaged guys is largely discounted than the same product without deficiencies.

Javier Barragan: Sorry, y'all duty calls. Be sure to catch the phillies-marlins. maybe you'll catch me on tv! thanks for the questions. feel free to follow up on twitter @ javiigunz Where were the meme-ries? chat soon.