The MLB Draft is now just two and a half weeks away – finally, we’re getting kinda sorta close! – and the Chicago Cubs will be drafting higher than they have since 2014. This is a very, very important year to really get things right.
Some of the latest draft-related bits to get into today …
The latest mock from Kiley McDaniel at ESPN has Cam Collier snagged by the Pirates at pick four, which seems an increasing possibility. For the Cubs, Brooks Lee falls, which I’m sure they’d be thrilled to jump on, even if missing on Collier. Still, McDaniel says he believes the Cubs would prefer Collier or Termarr Johnson make it to their pick. Just might not happen.
Shortstop Zach Neto and lefty Connor Prielipp come in for mentions from McDaniel, both of whom we’ve heard about before, and who might be the Cubs’ option if (1) their preferred two or three targets don’t make it to seven, (2) the Cubs view the difference between those two and others still available as pretty small, and (3) the Cubs can get a significant underslot deal done while knowing SPECIFICALLY which player they can use the savings on in a later round (i.e., a mid-to-late first round type the Cubs want, but who has a high price tag and will slide for that reason; in the bonus pool system, this is almost like trading back).
If it sounds like we’re starting to hear a lot of the same names and philosophies surrounding the Cubs’ pick, it could be because that’s where their head is at. Sahadev Sharma wrote in a recent mailbag that the Cubs would likely be very happy if any of Termarr Johnson, Kevin Parada, or Brooks Lee fall to them at seven, but Cam Collier might be the guy the Cubs are really targeting. Again, it’s something we’ve heard before, and that’s probably because it has some legs. It makes you wonder if the Cubs are just hoping one of those four are still on the board for them at seven, and if not, that’s where the alternative strategies might kick in. (That would suggest the Cubs aren’t super into Jacob Berry or Jace Jung or even a super high-upside prep bat like Elijah Green, if he were to fall (which he very likely won’t).)
Baseball America released an updated top 500, which is definitely worth perusing if you’re a draft nerd. The only change near the top of the draft is improved standing for Cam Collier, who now ranks 8th behind, in reverse order, Jacob Berry, Kevin Parada, Elijah Green, Termarr Johnson, Jackson Holliday, Brooks Lee, and Druw Jones.
Speaking of Collier, he is holding his own in the wood-bat Cape Cod league, despite being just 17:
. @MLB Draft update: Cam Collier, the 17-year-old third baseman, will conclude his Cape Cod League season with the Cotuit Kettleers later this week. He has a .703 OPS in 7 games against much older competition and impressed scouts recently at the Combine. @MLBNetwork@MLBPipeline— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) June 28, 2022
Baseball America has named Ivan Melendez the College Player of the Year after his historic offensive season at Texas. The first baseman hit a ridiculous .387/.508/.863 with 32 homers, probably the best offensive season in college since they switched to the BBCOR bats a decade ago. It was a better offensive year than Kris Bryant’s absurd junior season at San Diego.
So you might be wondering: why aren’t we hearing about this guy in the first round, if he’s the best-producing college hitter since Kris Bryant? Or even better than that? Well, there are at least a couple reasons. For one, Melendez is first-base-only. He can probably stick there well enough, but when you’re talking about a first round pick, it’s a huge risk to take a pure first baseman, because it limits the possible future paths and puts enormous pressure on the bat. Which brings me to the other thing – the BA scouting reports suggests that Melendez can be attacked by heat inside, and breaking stuff low and away (the traditional attack against sluggers). It’s possible that scouts just don’t project him as well at the next level, against much better pitching, as compared to what he’s been able to do in college. Taken together, that’s why college bats like Parada and Berry are mocked near the top of the first round.
All that said, Melendez ranks as the 51st prospect in that new top 500, so he’s certainly going to get consideration in the early rounds of the draft. Historically, it feels like guys “like” Melendez go in the second round. Certainly would be fun to follow in the Cubs’ system just for the heck of it …
Well, for the second time in his career, Jeimer Candelario is leaving the Chicago Cubs for another team. Only this time, he's headed to one of their division rivals: The Cincinnati Reds. Mark Feinsand has the scoop: https://twitter.com/Feinsand/status/1732637582410784947?s=20 The Cubs,...
Oh, this is so good. This isn't just "good for the social media manager of a baseball team" good. This is full on excellent comedy execution. The official Yankees' Twitter/X account just landed an all-time burn — one that's both...
Although he's not necessarily in that top tier of available starting pitchers this offseason, lefty Eduardo Rodriguez could be a very good number three in many rotations. He would, for example, be a noticeable upgrade for the Cincinnati Reds' rotation....
It was picking back up last night, but the steam behind a Juan Soto trade to the Yankees seems to be quite robust right now. To such an extent that it sounds like it's going to happen today: https://twitter.com/JackCurryYES/status/1732407284616008136 https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1732443123043741883...
There will be more to say about the Winter Meetings, and the Juan Soto deal is still likely to be completed eventually ... but man alive, that was absolutely the worst and most boring and awful Winter Meetings ever. Just...
Late last night, Joel Sherman reported that the Orioles were "seriously engaged" with free agent reliever (and former Cubs closer) Craig Kimbrel. And this morning, it seems those talks have progressed to "close to a deal" status, which, from Ken...
The 2023 MLB Rule 5 Draft has arrived, and I'll be tracking any Cubs-impact-related picks down below. For the uninitiated, the Rule 5 Draft is an opportunity for teams to poach players from other organizations that meet certain criteria. The Draft comes...
Sorry to make today pearl clutching about exorbitant prices day, but I have one to add to the ever-exploding Yoshinobu Yamamoto expectations and the apparent high price the Yankees are paying to acquire Juan Soto from the Padres. This one...
While it still feels highly unlikely that the Chicago White Sox would take actual steps geared toward a move as their stadium lease comes up in six years, it's not like it hasn't happened before. And obviously there were recent...
No throat-clearing up top. By now, you know the story with the two potential Cubs targets, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both drifting further away from getting their mail sent to a Chicago address next season. Shohei Ohtani In a...
In Week 14 (Sunday at 1:00 PM ET), wideout Khadarel Hodge and the Atlanta Falcons will meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have the 28th-ranked pass defense in the league (257.9 yards allowed per game).Is Hodge's game versus the Buccaneers...
Wideout Stefon Diggs faces a matchup against the sixth-ranked passing defense in the league (183 yards conceded per game) in Week 14, when his Buffalo Bills play the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.With his upcoming tilt against...
Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry will match up with the eighth-ranked rushing defense of the Miami Dolphins (96.7 yards allowed per game) in Week 14, at 8:15 PM ET on Monday.Is Henry worth starting in fantasy this week? Read on...
Los Angeles Rams running back Royce Freeman will be up against the 11th-ranked tun defense of the Baltimore Ravens (102.3 yards allowed per game) in Week 14, at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday.Is Freeman's game against the Ravens this week...
Christian Kirk and the Jacksonville Jaguars will meet the Cleveland Browns and their top-ranked pass defense (153.4 yards conceded per game) in Week 14, on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.When setting your fantasy football lineup this week, is Kirk worth...
Wideout Courtland Sutton faces a matchup against the 31st-ranked passing defense in the NFL (265.8 yards allowed per game) in Week 14, when his Denver Broncos take on the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.Is Sutton's game versus...
In Week 14 (Thursday at 8:15 PM ET), tight end Hunter Henry and the New England Patriots will face the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have the 19th-ranked passing defense in the NFL (227.3 yards allowed per game).When setting your fantasy football...
New York Jets TE Tyler Conklin will match up with the 26th-ranked passing defense of the Houston Texans (245.2 yards allowed per game) in Week 14, at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday.With his upcoming game against the Texans this week,...
Dawson Knox and the Buffalo Bills will play the Kansas City Chiefs and their sixth-ranked pass defense (183 yards conceded per game) in Week 14, on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.With his upcoming tilt against the Chiefs this week, should...
In Week 14 (Sunday at 4:05 PM ET), TE Josh Oliver and the Minnesota Vikings will play the Las Vegas Raiders, who have the 13th-ranked passing defense in the NFL (216.8 yards conceded per game).Is Oliver worth starting in fantasy...
