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ayaghmour2 · 02-09-2024, 09:00 PM

I just can't help myself! Another trade! And maybe more on the way!

I managed to find a home for Harry Beardsley, sending the now 25-year-old to the Miners for a pair of prospects. Beardsley, who has struggled some in the CWL (2-5, 5.88, 42), is long overdo for a shot at a big league rotation, but that wasn't coming anytime soon in Chicago. Now, he may arguably be the best pitcher on the Miners roster, and he'll be given every opportunity to crack their Opening Day rotation.

The return is on the lighter side, but this deal was all about "doing right" by one of my prospects and former draftees. That's not to say we didn't get decent pieces in a return, but a year ago I would have laughed this offer out of the building. Instead, we'll be adding a brand new battery acquiring 19-year-old Bill Davis and 23-year-old Johnny Hadley. Both rank towards the back of the top 500 prospect list, at 399 and 483 respectively. Davis might be the headliner, as he's a 6'4'' righty from Chicago. The issue is he might be no more then a pen arm, as he's really a two fastball pitcher. He has a change, which is really just him throwing the ball slower, so expect mostly sinkers and fastballs. He's sitting in the high 80s now, but if we can get him in the 90s he's going to be tough to time up. Especially if you only get a few pitches to watch him. He looked over matched in Class B, 1-9 with a 6.25 ERA (70 ERA+) and 1.82 WHIP, so he may be keep in La Crosse to start his Cougar career. I haven't decided if I'm going to let him start or not, as he's still very young, but bullpens are starting to become more important, and he won't turn 30 until next decade. If starting doesn't work out, he could be a useful late inning arm with fellow Chicagoan and offseason acquisition Mack Lyons.

Hadley is the guy my scout likes better, and he views the Richmond State native as a potential starting catcher. I love his glove, and it really wouldn't surprise me if he was one of the top defensive catchers in the entire minor leagues. The bat is nice too, as he hit a respectable .281/.364/.390 (99 OPS+) with a 104 WRC+ in 124 games with the Miners' A-ball affiliate. That came with 14 doubles, 9 homers, and 51 RBIs, and he drew 50 walks -- good for an excellent 11% BB%. He generates a lot of bat speed with his swing, and his combination of barrel control and discipline could cultivate more walks then strikeouts. He showed some pop this year too, but that's not something I'm going to bet on against big league pitching. Hadley has a high floor do to the glove, and it's hard to find a better option for a backup catcher then him. With Garland Phelps entrenches as the catcher of the future, all we need from Hadley is the occasional start. If he wasn't so against working hard, he could end up a regular, but he doesn't seem to care enough to make the needed improvements a regular should.

02-09-2024, 09:00 PM	#1329
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	Trade News! I just can't help myself! Another trade! And maybe more on the way! I managed to find a home for Harry Beardsley, sending the now 25-year-old to the Miners for a pair of prospects. Beardsley, who has struggled some in the CWL (2-5, 5.88, 42), is long overdo for a shot at a big league rotation, but that wasn't coming anytime soon in Chicago. Now, he may arguably be the best pitcher on the Miners roster, and he'll be given every opportunity to crack their Opening Day rotation. The return is on the lighter side, but this deal was all about "doing right" by one of my prospects and former draftees. That's not to say we didn't get decent pieces in a return, but a year ago I would have laughed this offer out of the building. Instead, we'll be adding a brand new battery acquiring 19-year-old Bill Davis and 23-year-old Johnny Hadley. Both rank towards the back of the top 500 prospect list, at 399 and 483 respectively. Davis might be the headliner, as he's a 6'4'' righty from Chicago. The issue is he might be no more then a pen arm, as he's really a two fastball pitcher. He has a change, which is really just him throwing the ball slower, so expect mostly sinkers and fastballs. He's sitting in the high 80s now, but if we can get him in the 90s he's going to be tough to time up. Especially if you only get a few pitches to watch him. He looked over matched in Class B, 1-9 with a 6.25 ERA (70 ERA+) and 1.82 WHIP, so he may be keep in La Crosse to start his Cougar career. I haven't decided if I'm going to let him start or not, as he's still very young, but bullpens are starting to become more important, and he won't turn 30 until next decade. If starting doesn't work out, he could be a useful late inning arm with fellow Chicagoan and offseason acquisition Mack Lyons. Hadley is the guy my scout likes better, and he views the Richmond State native as a potential starting catcher. I love his glove, and it really wouldn't surprise me if he was one of the top defensive catchers in the entire minor leagues. The bat is nice too, as he hit a respectable .281/.364/.390 (99 OPS+) with a 104 WRC+ in 124 games with the Miners' A-ball affiliate. That came with 14 doubles, 9 homers, and 51 RBIs, and he drew 50 walks -- good for an excellent 11% BB%. He generates a lot of bat speed with his swing, and his combination of barrel control and discipline could cultivate more walks then strikeouts. He showed some pop this year too, but that's not something I'm going to bet on against big league pitching. Hadley has a high floor do to the glove, and it's hard to find a better option for a backup catcher then him. With Garland Phelps entrenches as the catcher of the future, all we need from Hadley is the occasional start. If he wasn't so against working hard, he could end up a regular, but he doesn't seem to care enough to make the needed improvements a regular should.