The Top 10 Prospects: AL West
Our Top 10 prospects series jumps from the National League to the American League with the AL West today. You can read there NL West here, the NL Central here and the NL East here.
It’s been well documented that Oakland and Texas are both overflowing with talent. Texas is impressive because of all the pitching talent that it has, along with some intriguing hitters. Oakland has done a nice job stockpiling talent from other organizations in exchange for more expensive MLB talent.
Seattle does not have a ton of depth, but it has some key names at the top of the chart, including Phillippe Aumont, who should be an absolute monster coming out of the bullpen now that he’s been moved out of the starting rotation for better or for worse. In Los Angeles, the system is hurting – and that was before the organization lost its top prospect to a tragic traffic accident last week.
The Oakland Athletics
1. Trevor Cahill, RHP, Oakland
2. Brett Anderson, LHP, Oakland
3. Michael Inoa, RHP, Extended Spring Training
4. Chris Carter, 1B, Midland (AA)
5. Adrian Cardenas, 2B, Midland (AA)
6. Vince Mazzaro, LHP, Sacramento (AAA)
7. Sean Doolittle, 1B, Sacramento (AAA)
8. Aaron Cunningham, OF, Sacramento (AAA)
9. Gio Gonzalez, LHP, Sacramento (AAA)
10.Jemile Weeks, 2B, Injured
Other Prospects of Note: James Simmons, Henry Rodriguez, Josh Outman, Josh Donaldson, Brett Hunter, Rashun Dixon, Craig Italiano, Arnold Leon
The Seattle Mariners
1. Greg Halman, OF, West Tenn (AA)
2. Phillippe Aumont, RHP, High Desert (A+)
3. Michael Saunders, OF, Extended Spring Training
4. Adam Moore, C, West Tenn (AA)
5. Carlos Triunfel, SS, Injured
6. Jharmidy DeJesus, 3B, Extended Spring Training
7. Mario Martinez, 3B, Clinton (A)
8. Juan Ramirez, RHP, High Desert (A+)
9. Michael Pineda, RHP, High Desert (A+)
10. Matt Tuiasosopo, IF, Seattle
Other Prospects of Note: Joshua Fields, Dennis Raben, Carlos Peguero, Maikel Cleto, Shawn Kelley, Denny Almonte, Nolan Gallagher, Rob Johnson
The Texas Rangers
1. Neftali Feliz, RHP, Oklahoma City (AAA)
2. Derek Holland, LHP, Oklahoma City (AAA)
3. Justin Smoak, 1B, Frisco (AA)
4. Elvis Andrus, SS, Texas
5. Taylor Teagarden, C, Texas
6. Michael Main, RHP, Bakersfield
7. Julio Borbon, OF, Oklahoma City (AAA)
8. Max Ramirez, C, Oklahoma City (AAA)
9. Martin Perez, LHP, Hickory (A)
10. Wilfredo Boscan, RHP, Hickory (A)
Other Prospects of Note: Blake Beavan, Eric Hurley, Neil Ramirez, Tommy Hunter, Kasey Kiker, Wilmer Font, Tim Murphy, Guillermo Moscoso, Robbie Ross, Greg Golson
The Los Angeles Angels
1. Nick Adenhart, RHP, In Memory
2. Jordan Walden, RHP, Arkansas (AA)
3. Trevor Reckling, LHP, Rancho Cucamonga (A+)
4. Hank Conger, C, Arkansas (AA)
5. Mark Trumbo, 1B, Arkansas (AA)
6. Sean O’Sullivan, LHP, Arkansas (AA)
7. Will Smith, LHP, Cedar Rapids (A)
8. Trevor Chatwood, RHP, Cedar Rapids (A)
9. Pete Bourjos, OF, Arkansas (AA)
10. Mason Tobin, RHP, Rancho Cucamonga (A+)
Other Prospects of Note: Kevin Jepsen, Ryan Chaffee, Manuarys Correa, Anthony Ortega, Bobby Wilson, Ryan Mount, Chris Pettit
Marc Hulet has been writing at FanGraphs since 2008. His work focuses on prospects and fantasy. Follow him on Twitter @marchulet.
Is B. Wood still considered a prospect for the Angels? Or is he just off the map nowadays, since he hasn’t proven to be MLB-ready in his few (though short) chances?
He’s had too many MLB ABs to be officially considered a prospect.
Is Carp (from the Putz trade) worth a damn?
Yes. He’s not a top-tier prospect, but could easily be a league average (or better) first baseman within 1-2 years.
beltre doesn’t rank in the ranger’s top 20…that is a deep system
3 seasons in A ball can’t help his case, though it’s interesting to see Golson on the list instead.
Aumont to the pen for better or for worse? I really can’t see how that move could be beneficial to the organization, no offense to anybody.
It’s bad for the organization as a whole, since it means three consecutive top picks to the bullpen.
But Aumont should be one heck of a reliever, and there should be a lot of value to some combination of Morrow/Aumont/Fields for high-leverage situations.
You have the wrong Chris Carter linked. How do you hit 39 homeruns in A+ ball and not be moved up? Take these together and you have go one heck of an X-File.
Also, for Michael Ynoa, his name is spelled wrong.
The angels do have 5 of the first 51 picks, so they should be able to restock their farm system
Mazzaro is definitely right handed..
Unless Tyler Chatwood has an evil twin I don’t know about, I think it’s supposed to be Tyler….
Sorry to nitpick : )
The Ranger system is ridiculous. I’m an A’s fan, and the Rangers overshadowing us is getting annoying. They deserve it, but it’s still annoying. I watched the draft, and Smoak falling to 11 when the A’s were picking 12 broke my heart.
Picking Jemile Weeks over Aaron Hicks or Brett Wallace also broke my heart. I hope Jemile proves me very, very wrong.