And now we reach the final infield position, third base. Newsflash, Miguel Cabrera dominates this position. The Triple Crown winner more than made up for any defensive inefficiency he had last season. He was a full 200 OPS ahead of Youkilis, who has moved on to the Jackwagons. Looks like the option for the White Sox in 2013 will be Jeff Keppinger. He should hit better than Morel. The Tribe looks to be in decent shape as long as Chisenhall is who we think he is. I think Aviles or Phelps can be good backups if he falters. Moustakas probably is third best in this division, but needs to find some OBP help. His power is fine and he is still young enough. Plouffe had a breakout year last year, and is your number two guy in division heading into 2013.
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
|
Cleveland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack Hannahan |
MLB |
CIN |
32 |
318 |
4 |
29 |
312 |
341 |
654 |
Jose Lopez |
MLB:AAA |
FA |
28 |
224 |
4 |
28 |
272 |
366 |
639 |
Lonnie Chisenhall |
MLB:AAA |
Pre-Arb-3 |
23 |
151 |
5 |
16 |
311 |
430 |
741 |
Jason Donald |
MLB:AAA |
CIN |
27 |
296 |
6 |
31 |
365 |
441 |
807 |
Brent Lillibridge |
MLB |
FA/CHC |
28 |
123 |
3 |
8 |
276 |
342 |
619 |
Chicago |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin Youkilis |
MLB |
FA/NY |
33 |
292 |
15 |
46 |
346 |
425 |
771 |
Brent Morel |
MLB:AAA |
Pre-Arb 2 |
25 |
156 |
1 |
12 |
250 |
274 |
524 |
Orlando Hudson |
MLB |
FA |
34 |
152 |
2 |
17 |
262 |
307 |
568 |
Detroit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miguel Cabrera |
MLB |
2015 |
29 |
697 |
44 |
139 |
393 |
606 |
999 |
Kansas City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Moustakas |
MLB |
Pre-Arb-2 |
23 |
614 |
20 |
73 |
296 |
412 |
708 |
Irving Falu |
MLB:AAA |
Pre-Arb-1 |
29 |
406 |
7 |
50 |
375 |
463 |
838 |
Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trevor Plouffe |
MLB:AAA |
Pre-Arb-2 |
26 |
465 |
24 |
55 |
301 |
455 |
756 |
Danny Valencia |
MLB:AAA |
BAL |
27 |
284 |
7 |
37 |
289 |
399 |
688 |
Jamey Carroll |
MLB |
2013, 2014 team option |
38 |
537 |
1 |
40 |
343 |
317 |
660 |
Onto the minor league assessments ...
Cleveland |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
Jared Goedert |
AAA:AA |
PIT |
27 |
504 |
19 |
77 |
373 |
502 |
875 |
Andy LaRoche |
AAA |
FA/BOS |
28 |
166 |
5 |
16 |
331 |
372 |
704 |
Gregorio Petit |
AAA |
FA/SD |
27 |
422 |
10 |
45 |
320 |
403 |
723 |
Ryan Rohlinger |
AAA:AA |
FA |
28 |
439 |
8 |
52 |
336 |
342 |
678 |
Kyle Bellows |
AA |
2009-4 |
23 |
230 |
5 |
29 |
332 |
366 |
698 |
Adam Abraham |
AA |
2008-13 |
25 |
434 |
13 |
54 |
343 |
441 |
783 |
Davis Stoneburner |
AA |
2012 mFA |
27 |
351 |
0 |
26 |
268 |
272 |
540 |
Carlos Rojas |
AA |
2012 mFA |
28 |
38 |
0 |
2 |
222 |
67 |
289 |
Justin Toole |
AAA:AA:A+ |
2009 aFA |
25 |
339 |
1 |
21 |
272 |
284 |
556 |
Giovanny Urshela |
A+ |
2009 aFA |
20 |
475 |
14 |
59 |
309 |
446 |
755 |
Tyler Cannon |
A+ |
2010-12 |
24 |
320 |
1 |
27 |
331 |
358 |
689 |
Todd Hankins |
A+:A |
2011-15 |
21 |
397 |
5 |
37 |
328 |
358 |
687 |
Leonardo Castillo |
A |
2010 aFA |
18 |
457 |
4 |
48 |
254 |
318 |
572 |
Yhoxian Medina |
A |
2011-38 |
22 |
112 |
0 |
6 |
336 |
222 |
559 |
With Chisenhall around for the long haul hopefully, and all of the AAA free agents flying the coop, the Tribe signed Luis Hernandez for Columbus this year. Adam Abraham had a good year but is a bit aged in AA. Urshela also looks to be on the radar as a 20 year old in A+.
Chicago |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
Eduardo Escobar |
MLB |
MIN |
23 |
97 |
0 |
3 |
281 |
276 |
557 |
Ray Olmedo |
MLB:AAA |
MIN |
31 |
310 |
0 |
19 |
340 |
355 |
674 |
Jose Lopez |
MLB:AAA |
FA |
28 |
55 |
0 |
1 |
205 |
244 |
448 |
Dallas McPherson |
AAA |
FA/LAD |
31 |
260 |
12 |
47 |
335 |
463 |
797 |
Tyler Kuhn |
AAA |
2008-15 |
25 |
449 |
4 |
36 |
309 |
384 |
692 |
Jeff Baisley |
AAA |
2012 mFA |
29 |
64 |
1 |
5 |
328 |
357 |
685 |
Tommy Manzella |
AAA |
FA |
29 |
45 |
0 |
6 |
205 |
244 |
448 |
Kyle Shelton |
AAA:A+ |
2008 aFA |
26 |
57 |
3 |
8 |
222 |
538 |
872 |
Corey Smith |
AA |
2012 mFA |
30 |
289 |
8 |
39 |
356 |
459 |
816 |
Erik Morrison |
AA |
2012 mFA |
26 |
322 |
6 |
42 |
324 |
373 |
697 |
Jake Oester |
AA:A+ |
2010 aFA |
25 |
266 |
1 |
36 |
330 |
308 |
638 |
Juan Silverio |
A+ |
2008 aFA |
21 |
286 |
8 |
51 |
285 |
433 |
719 |
David Herbek |
A+:A |
2011-15 |
23 |
347 |
5 |
32 |
358 |
394 |
752 |
Chris Curley |
A+:A |
2012 mFA |
24 |
221 |
11 |
30 |
326 |
510 |
836 |
Kyle Eveland |
A+:A |
2011 mFA |
25 |
19 |
0 |
1 |
211 |
118 |
328 |
Rangel Ravelo |
A |
2010-6 |
20 |
327 |
2 |
39 |
343 |
397 |
739 |
Grant Buckner |
A |
2011-26 |
24 |
474 |
6 |
59 |
330 |
348 |
678 |
Joe De Pinto |
A:Rk |
2011-21 |
23 |
317 |
0 |
27 |
318 |
313 |
631 |
This list is fraught with a lot of nothing. Like the Tribe, all of the AAA roster is gone. Escobar and Olmedo both landed with the Twins. LGFT Lopez is looking for a home and and AAAA McPherson had signed with the Dodgers for 2013. Another LGFT Corey Smith had a good 2012 but is older than dirt at 30 in AA. Silverio looks to be the best of the lot, with Curley an outside shot.
Detroit |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
Danny Worth |
MLB:AAA |
Pre-Arb-2 |
26 |
255 |
5 |
24 |
364 |
421 |
785 |
Audy Ciriaco |
AAA |
2005 aFA |
25 |
369 |
12 |
35 |
262 |
374 |
636 |
Justin Henry |
AAA |
BOS |
27 |
543 |
1 |
38 |
372 |
357 |
729 |
Bryan Pounds |
AAA:AA |
2008-34 |
26 |
232 |
3 |
7 |
264 |
348 |
612 |
Jeff Baisley |
AAA |
2012 mFA |
29 |
41 |
0 |
3 |
146 |
108 |
254 |
Edgar Corcino |
AAA:A+:A |
2009-26 |
20 |
252 |
4 |
19 |
271 |
329 |
600 |
Rawley Bishop |
AAA:AA |
2009-19 |
26 |
491 |
8 |
52 |
319 |
357 |
676 |
Corey Jones |
AA:A+ |
2010-7 |
24 |
277 |
3 |
21 |
286 |
343 |
628 |
Nick Castellanos |
AA:A+ |
2010-1 |
20 |
584 |
10 |
57 |
365 |
451 |
815 |
Wade Gaynor |
AA:A+ |
2009-3 |
24 |
475 |
16 |
74 |
352 |
442 |
794 |
Matt Perry |
A+:A |
2010-41 |
24 |
53 |
0 |
0 |
254 |
114 |
378 |
Ryan Soares |
A+ |
2010-36 |
24 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
182 |
100 |
282 |
Jason King |
A |
2011-4 |
23 |
378 |
7 |
37 |
307 |
400 |
707 |
Colin Kaline |
A |
2011-26 |
23 |
137 |
0 |
3 |
271 |
179 |
450 |
Worth is likely the utility guy in Detroit this year. Ciriaco looks Adam Dunn-esque without the proven track record. Castellanos is the top prospect but with Cabrera and Fielder fixtures, I bet he becomes trade bait at some point.
Kansas City |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
Kevin Kouzmanoff |
AAA:AA |
FA/MIA |
30 |
355 |
2 |
46 |
309 |
382 |
691 |
Anthony Seratelli |
AAA |
2007 mFA |
29 |
439 |
17 |
66 |
374 |
492 |
866 |
Kurt Mertins |
AAA:AA |
2006-13 |
26 |
145 |
2 |
11 |
278 |
298 |
575 |
Mario Lisson |
AA |
2007 aFA |
28 |
435 |
11 |
52 |
338 |
410 |
748 |
Eric Duncan |
AA |
2012 mFA |
27 |
200 |
4 |
24 |
303 |
385 |
688 |
Michael Liberto |
AA:A+ |
2010-21 |
24 |
131 |
1 |
2 |
326 |
261 |
586 |
Sharlon Schoop |
AA |
2012 mFA |
25 |
186 |
7 |
19 |
341 |
436 |
777 |
Yowill Espinal |
AA:A |
2008 aFA |
21 |
88 |
0 |
4 |
329 |
250 |
579 |
Cheslor Cuthbert |
A+ |
2010 aFA |
19 |
517 |
7 |
59 |
296 |
322 |
618 |
Adrian Morales |
A+:Rk |
2011-49 |
23 |
108 |
1 |
9 |
241 |
227 |
468 |
Michael Antonio |
A |
2010-3 |
20 |
511 |
5 |
64 |
265 |
304 |
569 |
Daniel Mateo |
A |
2009 aFA |
20 |
568 |
8 |
61 |
325 |
386 |
711 |
Hey, another LGFT sighting. Kouzmanoff didn't do so hot but somehow finagled an invite from the Marlins. Seratelli had a great year as a utlity guy and could crack the 25 man roster. Former top prospect Brandon Wood was signed and will likely be the AAA guy. Lisson might get some play in AAA as well.
Minnesota |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
Sean Burroughs |
MLB:AAA |
FA |
31 |
240 |
1 |
18 |
326 |
348 |
675 |
Eduardo Escobar |
MLB:AAA |
Pre-Arb-2 |
23 |
151 |
1 |
9 |
259 |
304 |
563 |
Ray Chang |
AAA |
2011 mFA |
28 |
297 |
0 |
17 |
304 |
271 |
574 |
Michael Hollimon |
AAA |
FA |
30 |
191 |
5 |
14 |
305 |
380 |
685 |
Deibinson Romero |
AA |
2006 aFA |
25 |
548 |
19 |
78 |
356 |
441 |
797 |
Nathan Hanson |
AA |
2008-28 |
25 |
382 |
7 |
50 |
311 |
387 |
698 |
Anderson Hidalgo |
A+ |
2006 aFA |
23 |
322 |
3 |
38 |
299 |
319 |
618 |
Jairo Perez |
A+ |
2007 aFA |
24 |
274 |
6 |
30 |
350 |
403 |
754 |
Andy Leer |
A+ |
2010 aFA |
24 |
322 |
3 |
27 |
297 |
253 |
549 |
Aderlin Mejia |
A+:Rk |
2010 aFA |
20 |
203 |
1 |
20 |
365 |
402 |
767 |
Miguel Sano |
A |
2010 aFA |
19 |
553 |
28 |
100 |
373 |
521 |
893 |
Adam Pettersen |
A |
2011-25 |
23 |
368 |
2 |
35 |
312 |
320 |
632 |
AAAA Burroughs had a bad year and is gone. Hollimon followed him out the door. Romero is a tad old, but had a good year last year. He also got a spring invite. Jason Christian was signed as a free agent. But the future star here is Miguel Sano. Those numbers are very impressive for a 19 year old in A ball. He should move quickly through the system.
The Tigers are well set for the foreseeable future. The Twins might be alright as Plouffe looks good and have the best prospect in the infield in Sano. Chisenhall and Moustakas should battle it out for third or try and catch Plouffe if he has a slump. The White Sox are really lacking at this position.
This series attempts to review how each position fared within the AL Central last year and what holds for the future. The first chart reviews how the position fared in the majors between the five teams. The subsequent charts track each position through each team's farm system. Status is not always correct as some of the info was culled a few weeks ago. For players not on the 40-man roster, I have taken my best guess as when/how they were acquired. Not every player who played the position in the minors has been identified as again, I have tried to identify core players at the position only. Some identified as minor league free agents, could have been trade acquisitions. I also only reviewed down to the A level as players at A- or in the rookie leagues are still quite volatile.