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Many of baseball’s top prospects are playing in the Australian, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican and Venezuelan winter leagues this offseason as they look to get a head start on the 2014 season and improve their chances of cracking an Opening Day roster. 

As it is usually the case given the time of year, the prospect pool between the five leagues is primarily comprised of hitters. However, compared to previous years, there are more top-ranked prospects participating in the winter leagues this year than I can remember—and I’m not even including high-profile second-year players such as Jurickson Profar and Marcell Ozuna.

Here’s a look at seven top prospects tearing it up in the winter leagues.

Gregory Polanco, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

2013 Dominican Winter League Stats: .329/.427/.500, 16 XBH (5 HR), 28 RBI, 6 SB, 33/27 K/BB (42 G)

After a breakout full-season debut in 2012, Gregory Polanco set the bar even higher this past season with an outstanding follow-up campaign across three minor league levels.

Overall, the 22-year-old batted .285/.356/.434 with 44 extra-base hits (12 home runs), 71 RBI, 38 stolen bases and a 73-52 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 127 games between High-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona, and he even played two games at Triple-A Indianapolis to finish the regular season.

Polanco has continued to put up huge numbers this offseason in the Dominican Winter League and is making a strong case for a long look in right field during spring training. It’s also worth nothing that the left-handed hitter is batting .370 in 54 at-bats against same-sided pitching this winter.

Lewis Thorpe, LHP, Minnesota Twins

2013 Australian Baseball League Stats: 27.1 IP, 1.32 ERA, .212 BAA, 22/7 K/BB (5 GS) 

Signed by the Minnesota Twins out of Australia as a 16-year-old in July 2012, left-hander Lewis Thorpe put himself on the map in a big way in his stateside debut this past season.

Assigned to the team’s affiliate in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Thorpe, 17 at the time, posted a 2.05 ERA and .203 opponents’ batting average, with a stellar 64-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 44 innings.

At 6’1” and 160 pounds, Thorpe’s fastball will sit in the 89-93 mph range with arm-side life, and he can even run it as high as 94-95 mph. His curveball is a second potential plus offering, thrown with depth and tight spin, for which he already demonstrates advanced command. The left-hander’s changeup should give him yet another plus pitch at maturity.

Thorpe showed signs of rust during his first two ABL starts this winter, allowing three earned runs on 13 hits in 8.2 innings. Since then, however, the southpaw has won his last three starts in dominating fashion.

Specifically, Thorpe has allowed just one earned run on nine hits with a 17-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18.2 innings.

Thorpe is still three to four years away from the major leagues, but the 18-year-old’s pitchability and plus command profile give him a chance to be something special.

Michael Taylor, OF, Washington Nationals

2013 Puerto Rican Winter League Stats: .373/.432/.522, 20 R, 12 XBH, 37/12 K/BB (35 G)

The Nationals have been patient with Michael Taylor’s development in the minor leagues, making the outfielder prove himself at a level before offering him a promotion.

In his second consecutive season at High-A Potomac in 2013, Taylor, 22, batted .263/.340/.426 with 57 extra-base hits (41 doubles), 87 RBI, 51 stolen bases (in 58 attempts) and a 131-55 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 133 games.

At 6’4”, 205 pounds, the outfielder passes the eye test with flying colors. Taylor has finally grown into his once-wiry frame and is showing some of the power that was projected when the Nationals made him a fifth-round draft pick out of high school in 2009.

Taylor arguably has been the top hitter in the Puerto Rican Winter League so far—possibly even the top hitter across all offseason leagues—as he currently leads all qualified hitters with a .373 batting average, 50 hits and 70 total bases.

Though the 22-year-old now has played in 165 games between the minor leagues and PWL this year, he hasn’t shown signs of wearing down and is batting .419 with nine runs scored, three extra-base hits and a 9-8 strikeout-to-walk rate in his last 10 games.

Wilmer Flores, 3B, New York Mets

2013 VWL Stats: .397/.464/.575, 7 XBH (3 HR), 17 RBI, 8/9 K/BB (19 G)

After four mediocre seasons in the low minors, Wilmer Flores finally put things together in 2012 when he posted an .827 OPS and a career-high 18 home runs in 130 games between High-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton.

Flores’ breakout performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas for the 2013 season, where the 22-year-old thrived in the hitter-friendly environments of the Pacific Coast League. Overall, he posted a career-best .887 OPS with 55 extra-base hits (15 home runs) in only 107 games.

The Mets called Flores up to the major leagues in early August, where he was overmatched by top-notch sequencing and velocity and posted an ugly .542 OPS with 23 strikeouts in 101 plate appearances.

However, Flores has been on fire since starting in the Venezuelan Winter League in late November. The right-handed hitter boasts a .397 batting average through 19 games.

To say that Flores has been swinging a hot bat over his last 10 games is a gross understatement. During that span, he’s batting .450/.500/.750 with three doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI.

Flores also has collected multiple hits in four consecutive games during which he’s 10-for-19 with two home runs and nine RBI.

Now if he only had a true defensive home…

Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Houston Astros

2013 PWL Stats: .267/.393/.542, 15 XBH (9 HR), 37/25 K/BB (34 G)

After opening the 2013 season by serving a 50-game suspension, Jonathan Singleton struggled to find his power stroke upon his return while working his way back up the minor league ladder.

The 22-year-old first baseman made brief stops at Low-A Quad Cities and Double-A Corpus Christi before a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Playing in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Singleton posted a pedestrian .687 OPS with six home runs and 89 strikeouts in 73 games.

However, Singleton’s 2013 long-ball drought seems to be behind him, as the left-handed hitter has launched nine home runs through 34 games in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

After the hot start, Singleton has cooled off considerably over his last 10 games, with a .171 batting average and only three extra-base hits. However, he’s maintained a consistent approach despite the recent struggles, as evidenced by his 15-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that span.

While it’s doubtful Singleton will open the 2014 season as Houston’s everyday first baseman, the left-handed hitter won’t be in the minors for long and should be ready to contribute at the highest level by midseason.

Jorge Polanco, 2B, Minnesota Twins

2013 DWL Stats: .297/.362/.384, 11 XBH, 17 RBI, 28/20 K/BB (47 G)

Jorge Polanco impressed this year in his full-season debut at Low-A Cedar Rapids, batting .308/.362/.452 with 47 extra-base hits (32 doubles), 78 RBI and a 59-42 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 115 games.

While the 20-year-old is a solid defender at second base, the real value lies in his bat. A switch-hitter, Polanco has excellent bat-to-ball skills and a knack for making hard contact. While he’s unlikely to offer much over-the-fence pop at maturity, his ability to use the entire field and pound the gaps should make him a doubles machine at the highest level.

After playing in 115 games at Cedar Rapids followed by another 47 this offseason in the DWL, Polanco has pushed his season total to 162 games. He got off to a sizzling start in winter ball but is clearly feeling the effects of the heavy workload, as he’s batting just .163 with one extra-base hit and eight strikeouts in his last 10 contests.

Marcos Mateo, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

2013 DWL Stats: 9 SV, 21 IP, 1.71 ERA, .195 BAA, 24/9 K/BB (19 G)

Selected by the Diamondbacks in the Rule 5 draft earlier in the month, right-hander Marcos Mateo was the most experienced arm on the board.

After six years in the minor leagues, Mateo spent parts of the 2010 and 2011 seasons pitching in the majors with the Cubs, registering a 5.04 ERA and 10.9 K/9 while appearing in 44 games.

However, an elbow injury sidelined the right-hander for the entire 2012 season and then limited him to only 31 total innings in the minors this past season.

Now 29 years old, Mateo still boasts an electric arm with a fastball that reaches the upper 90s, and he complements it with a power slider in upper 80s that has swing-and-miss, wipeout break.

Mateo has dominated in the DWL this offseason while serving as the closer for Estrellas de Oriente. If we discard the stats from his ugly outing on Dec. 12 (0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER), Mateo owns a 1.00 ERA and 14-3 strikeout-to-walk with five saves over his last 10 appearances.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The New York Yankees bolstered their lineup in a big way this offseason by signing top-tier free agents Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann. As for the pitching aspect of the equation—well, the organization still has work to do if it plans on contending next year. 

At the time of this writing, the Yankees are set to open the 2014 season with a starting rotation of CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova, David Phelps and Michael Pineda. Suffice it to say their Nos. 4 and 5 starters leave something to be desired. Furthermore, because the organization lacks major league-ready arms at the Double- and Triple-A levels, they’re unlikely to address the issue by promoting from within.

With that said, the Yankees are expected to pursue Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka—if he’s made available—and potentially could still sign a free-agent starter such as Bronson Arroyo, Matt Garza, Ubaldo Jimenez or Ervin Santana. However, given the projected market for the aforementioned hurlers, it may be in the team’s best interest to upgrade the starting rotation through a trade.

Here are three trade ideas for the New York Yankees to improve their 2014 starting rotation.

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International free agents are receiving serious interest in the aftermath of Winter Meetings, with teams looking for relatively cheap and creative options to plug holes on their rosters.

This week’s big news features another high-profile Cuban player defecting in order to pursue a career in Major League Baseball, although it will likely be several months until he’s cleared to sign with a team.

Meanwhile, the sweepstakes for Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka is still up in the air despite the recent agreement between MLB and Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball on a new posting system.

Here’s a look at the latest news regarding the top international free agents and the teams that could be interested in their services.

Erisbel Arruebarruena, Shortstop

Shortstop Erisbel Arruebarruena has left Cuba and hopes to sign with a major league team, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. 

Because he’s 23 years old and has played in Cuba’s Serie Nacional for six seasons, Arruebarruena will not be subject to the international bonus pools. MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez also notes that the player has already established residency in Haiti but has not yet been cleared to sign by the United States’ Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and MLB. 

Regarded as the premier defensive shortstop in the Serie Nacional, Arruebarruena also handled the position for the Cuban national team and played in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Badler has only great things to say about his defensive prowess:

At 6 feet, 195 pounds, Arruebarruena has clean hands, quick actions and good body control. He’s a below-average runner, but his quick first step and instincts give him good range. He has a quick transfer and a plus-plus arm with accuracy, which allows him to make throws from deep in the hole and turn 4-6-3 double plays with ease. His awareness in the field is advanced and he’s shown the ability to make the barehanded play look routine and make strong throws from different angles. Scouts have called Arruebarruena a magician in the field, and if he can hit enough to be an everyday major league shortstop, he has the potential to win a Gold Glove.

While there’s no doubt that Arruebarruena’s defense will translate in the major leagues, the same can’t be said about the 23-year-old’s bat, regardless of what his career numbers in Cuba suggest.

He enjoyed a breakout season at the plate in 2011-2012, batting .320/.367/.520 with eight home runs and a 39-19 strikeout-to-walk rate in 306 plate appearances. 

A right-handed hitter, he has a lack of physical strength that is noticeable in the length of his swing and inefficient bat path to the ball. The pitch recognition is also concerning; he struggles to pick up spin out of the pitcher’s hand and frequently overcommits his weight to the front side. As a result, Arruebarruena chases too many offerings outside the strike zone and tries to yank the ball to the pull side when he does get something in the zone.

He played in a showcase in the Dominican Republic earlier in the month that had scouts from several major league teams in attendance.

MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo spoke with a scout who attended the event:

From his evaluation, it sounds like he will certainly bring some Major League-caliber skills to a team, but he doesn’t see him as a true impact player, like a Cespedes, Puig or Chapman. Here’s his thoughts on what he’s seen of Arruebarruena:

“He’s what you’ve been reading. He’s a very good defensive player. His glove is very close to the big leagues. The bat, you kind of think he’s one of those guys who’ll bat down in the order. He can really play shortstop, if that’s the type of player you’re interested in. He’ll be a quality defensive shortstop in the Major Leagues, but you wonder if he’s going to hit. Some of the others who have come recently – Jose Iglesias, Adeiny Hechavarria — I felt more confident about the bat. We’ll have to hear what the money is. This isn’t like watching Aroldis Chapman or Yeonis Cespedes. You’re not going to hear from 15 teams. You’ll hear from teams that are hurting a little bit at shortstop.”

No organization needs a shortstop more than the New York Mets. So, it’s not surprising that they’ve expressed interest in Arruebarruena and sent scouts to the Dominican Republic for his showcase.

Rusney Castillo, Outfield

Cuban star Rusney Castillo has defected from the island and will pursue a contract with a major league team, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.

It will be several months before he can actually sign, though, as the 26-year-old center fielder must first establish residency in another county to be declared a free agent by Major League Baseball. He also will have to be cleared by OFAC.

Because Castillo has played five seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, he will be exempt from international signing bonus pools and eligible to sign as a free agent.

However, he hasn’t played competitively since late in 2012, when he was suspended from Cuba’s national team and the Serie Nacional season for trying to defect.

The center fielder put up monster numbers in 2011-12, hitting .332/.395/.545 with 28 doubles, 16 home runs and 22 stolen bases in 420 plate appearances. However, he struggled during his final year in the league, posting a pedestrian .250/.352/.342 batting line in 43 games.

Here’s what Badler had to say about the 26-year-old’s game:

Castillo is short but has a strong, athletic frame at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds. His best tool is his speed, as he’s an above-average runner and one of the better base stealers in Cuba. More of a doubles hitter than a big home run threat, Castillo puts a charge into the ball with a line-drive righthanded swing, though he can get long to the ball at times and some scouts think he’s prone to chasing pitches off the plate. Primarily a center fielder in Cuba, Castillo has also played some second and third base, so his versatility could be a draw for some teams. He’s an aggressive, high-energy player, though some teams see him as a fourth outfielder.

Badler also mentions that Castillo could potentially make the jump directly to the major leagues after signing, although a tune-up in Triple-A isn’t out of the question either.

If that’s also the consensus among major league teams, then expect Castillo to draw significant interest from a range of suitors.

While he hasn’t been linked to a specific team, the 26-year-old could be a fit for clubs in need of a long-term center fielder or even super utility player. Teams that could be interested in Castillo’s services include the Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers.

Aledmys Diaz, Middle Infield

Aledmys Diaz is a 6’1”, 185-pound shortstop who has drawn favorable reviews from evaluators for his projectable bat and power potential, as well as solid range and a strong arm.

While he’s ineligible to sign with a team until February after falsifying his age last offseason, there already is plenty of interest in the 23-year-old.

According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, Diaz has been working out in Culiacan, Mexico and has drawn interest from the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports added that the Blue Jays had a large presence at the showcase in Mexico and that some teams were interested in Diaz as a second baseman.

Kenta Maeda, Right-Handed Pitcher

Kenta Maeda has been one of the top starting pitchers in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball over the last several years. However, he doesn’t have that sexy, front-of-the-rotation profile of Masahiro Tanaka.

Although he’s a 6’0″, 160-pound right-hander with a fastball that rarely eclipses 90 mph, Maeda baffles opposing hitters thanks to deception in his delivery and plus command of a deep arsenal.

Specifically, the 25-year-old features both a two- and four-seam fastball that grade out as below-average offerings in terms of velocity, although the two-seamer has late run to the arm side.

Maeda throws a slider that registers in the upper-70s with significant movement—albeit of the sweeping variety—down and to his glove side. He also throws a second breaking ball, a curveball, that averages roughly 70 mph with a huge vertical break that compares to Ted Lilly and Barry Zito’s, according to Clint Hulsey of I R Fast.

The right-hander also mixes in a changeup that offers a nice change in pace in terms of velocity at about 82 mph with an average sinking action. It’s a serviceable pitch that will presumably be vital toward his success against major league hitters, especially left-handed ones.

Maeda recently expressed interested in playing in the major leagues, according to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, perhaps as early as the 2015 season.

Yenier Bello, Catcher

Yenier Bello left Cuba for Ecuador earlier this year and has established residency in Mexico. He’s already been declared a free agent by MLB, but he 28-year-old catcher is yet to be cleared to sign by OFAC.

A 5’11”, 225-pound right-handed hitter, Bello batted .274 with 13 home runs Cuba’s Serie Nacional in 2011. He hit .276/.324/.458 with 82 home runs from 2003-11.

He is known mostly for his rocket arm behind the plate, as he threw out exactly half of attempted base-stealers (118-of-236) in his nine-year career.

According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, between 15 and 20 teams sent scouts to Tijuana, Mexico in early November to watch Bello in a showcase.

The Dodgers are the only team linked to him so far, with Spanish site Solo Beisbol reporting that they have evaluated him Tijuana.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

If we learned anything from last year’s MLB offseason, it’s that blockbuster trades are more likely to happen when previously untouchable prospects are made available.

By this time last year, the Royals had already dealt Wil Myers and three other prospects to the Rays in exchange for right-handers James Shields and Wade Davis.

Similarly, the Blue Jays’ last-minute decision to include top prospects Travis d’Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard in the trade for R.A. Dickey ultimately brought the deal together.

For the most part, teams have held true to their words this offseason regarding the availability of top prospects. However, that could change in a hurry as the remaining big-name free agents come off the board.

Here’s a look at four untouchable prospects who could command a huge return for their teams in a trade if made available.

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Trades went down left and right last week during Major League Baseball’s annual winter meetings.

Unfortunately, none of those deals involved notable prospects.

Well, that changed on Monday when the Chicago White Sox acquired third baseman Matt Davidson from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for closer Addison Reed.

In short, landing the 22-year-old Davidson is a huge victory for the White Sox, who haven’t received consistent production from a third baseman since Joe Crede a half decade ago. If he continues to develop as expected, Davidson should be an everyday regular at the position with 20- to 25-home run potential and a solid on-base percentage. 

Reed is a proven closer with 69 saves over the last two seasons. However, with a 4.17 career ERA (103 ERA+) and 0.9 HR/9 (home runs per nine innings), he doesn’t rank among the game’s best in the role.

While a few smaller prospect trades should transpire before the end of the offseason, it’s doubtful that any top-ranked prospects will be moved unless there’s a blockbuster trade involving a star-caliber player.

So here’s a look at five different prospects-for-star trade scenarios that would make sense for both teams.

*All contract information courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

*All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Many of baseball’s top prospects are playing in the Australian, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican and Venezuelan winter leagues this offseason as they look to get a head start on the 2014 season and improve their chances of cracking an Opening Day roster.

As it is usually the case given the time of year, the prospect pool between the five leagues is primarily comprised of hitters. But compared to previous years, there are more top-ranked prospects participating in the winter leagues this year than I can remember. And it’s likely that more players will join the action with each league’s regular season winding down and spring training on the horizon.

Here’s a look at seven top prospects tearing it up in the winter leagues.

Alexander Guerrero, 2B-SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

2013 Dominican Winter League (DWL) Stats: .289/.325/.447, 4 XBH, 7/2 K/BB (12 G)

The Dodgers signed Cuban middle infielder Alexander Guerrero to a four-year, $28 million contract in October, viewing the 27-year-old as a long-term solution at second base.

Guerrero last played in Cuba’s Serie Nacional in 2012 as a 25-year-old, batting .290/.402/.576 with 21 home runs in 328 plate appearances.

Playing in the Dominican Winter League this offseason in preparation for major league camp in the spring, Guerrero missed over two weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in his fourth game for Gigantes del Cibao. 

Though Guerrero is batting only .208 since returning to the lineup on Dec. 2, expect his production to pick up in the coming weeks as he regains rhythm at the plate. And once the winter season ends, Guerrero could work out at the Dodgers’ spring training facility in Arizona in advance of spring training, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.

Jorge Polanco, 2B, Minnesota Twins

2013 DWL Stats: .324/.388/.426, 11 XBH, 17 RBI, 21/18 K/BB (41 G)

Jorge Polanco impressed this year in his full-season debut at Low-A Cedar Rapids, batting .308/.362/.452 with 47 extra-base hits (32 doubles), 78 RBI and a 59-42 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 115 games.

While the 20-year-old is a solid defender at second base, the real value lies in his bat. A switch-hitter, Polanco has excellent bat-to-ball skills and a knack for making hard contact. While he’s unlikely to offer much over-the-fence pop at maturity, his ability to use the entire field and pound the gaps should make him a doubles machine at the highest level.

Playing in the Dominican Winter League, Polanco has been on fire lately after a slow start, with 11 hits in his last nine contests.

Gregory Polanco, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

2013 DWL Stats: .331/.440/.504, 14 XBH (4 HR), 25 RBI, 6 SB, 28/26 K/BB (36 G)

Last season Gregory Polanco amazingly surpassed the lofty expectations he set with an eye-opening full-season debut in 2012. Overall, the 22-year-old batted .285/.356/.434 with 44 extra-base hits (12 home runs), 71 RBI, 38 stolen bases and a 73-52 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 127 games between High-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona, and he even played two games at Triple-A Indianapolis to finish the regular season.

Polanco has continued to put up huge numbers this offseason in the Dominican Winter League, and he’s batting .500 (11-for-22) during his current six-game hitting streak.

Lewis Thorpe, LHP, Minnesota Twins 

2013 Australian Baseball League Stats: 22.1 IP, 1.61 ERA, .209 BAA, 18/4 K/BB (4 GS)

Signed by the Minnesota Twins out of Australia as a 16-year-old in July 2012, left-hander Lewis Thorpe opened eyes during his stateside debut this past season.

Assigned to the team’s affiliate in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Thorpe, 17 at the time, posted a 2.05 ERA and .203 opponents’ batting average, with a stellar 64-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 44 innings.

At 6’1” and 160 pounds, Thorpe’s fastball will sit in the 89-93 mph range with arm-side life, and he can even run it as high as 94-95 mph. His curveball is a second potential plus offering, thrown with depth and tight spin, for which he already demonstrates advanced command. The left-hander’s changeup should give him yet another plus pitch at maturity.

Thorpe showed signs of rust during his first two ABL starts this winter, allowing three earned runs on 13 hits in 8.2 innings. Since then, however, the southpaw has shown his huge upside with back-to-back dominating starts. Specifically, Thorpe has allowed just one earned run on five hits with a 13-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 13.2 innings.

While he’s still three to four years away from the major leagues, the 18-year-old’s pitchability and plus command profile give him a chance to be something special.

Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Houston Astros

2013 Puerto Rican Winter League (PWL) Stats: .291/.411/.573, 13 XBH (8 HR), 31/21 K/BB (29 G)

After opening the 2013 season by serving a 50-game suspension, Jonathan Singleton struggled to find his power stroke upon his return while working his way back up the minor league ladder.

The 22-year-old first baseman made brief stops at Low-A Quad Cities and Double-A Corpus Christi before a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Playing in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Singleton posted a pedestrian .687 OPS with six home runs and 89 strikeouts in 73 games.

However, Singleton’s 2013 power outage is finally over, as the left-handed hitter has now hit eight home runs through 29 games in the Puerto Rican Winter League, including four in his last 10 games.

Wilmer Flores, 2B-3B, New York Mets

2013 Venezuelan Winter League (VWL) Stats: .391/.463/.478, 4 2B, 6 RBI, 4/6 K/BB (13 G)

After four mediocre seasons in the low minors, Wilmer Flores finally put things together in 2012 when he posted an .827 OPS with a career-high 18 home runs in 130 games between High-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton. 

Flores’ breakout performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas to open the 2013 season, where the 22-year-old thrived in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, posting a career-best .887 OPS with 55 extra-base hits (15 home runs) in only 107 games.

The Mets promoted Flores to the major leagues in early August, where he was overmatched by top-notch sequencing and velocity and posted an ugly .542 OPS with 23 strikeouts in 101 plate appearances.

Flores has been on fire since starting in the Venezuelan Winter League in late November, with a .391 batting average through 13 games, and he’s now hit a double in three consecutive contests.

Michael Taylor, OF, Washington Nationals

2013 PWL Stats: .373/.408/.500, 16 R, 10 XBH, 33/5 K/BB (29 G)

The Nationals have been patient with Michael Taylor’s development in the minor leagues, making the outfielder prove himself at a given level before offering him a promotion.

In his second consecutive season at High-A Potomac in 2013, Taylor, 22, batted .263/.340/.426 with 57 extra-base hits (41 doubles), 87 RBI, 51 stolen bases (in 58 attempts) and a 131-55 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 133 games.

At 6’4”, 205 pounds, the outfielder passes the eye test with flying colors; he has finally grown into his once-wiry frame and is showing some of the power that was projected when the Nationals made him a fifth-round draft pick out of high school in 2009.

While Taylor’s propensity to swing and miss is a concern and will continue to be moving forward, it’s hard not to be intrigued by his power-speed potential—especially if you believe his baseball skills will improve.

Taylor has been arguably the top hitter in the Puerto Rican Winter League so far, as he currently leads all qualified hitters with a .373 batting average and 44 hits. In his last five games, Taylor is batting .476 (10-for-21) with seven runs scored and two doubles.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Value is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to the Rule 5 draft, with each team hoping to find a potential hidden gem amongst a seemingly endless list of eligible players.

There isn’t a proven formula for landing a sure-fire major league player through the draft, as it usually has as much do with luck as it does scouting. And because any player selected in the major league phase of the draft has to be viewed as a potential addition to the 25-man roster—and a $50,000 investment—teams tend to target players based on specific organizational needs.

Specifically, teams typically prefer power arms—especially left-handed ones—with a plus fastball and history of missing bats in the minor leagues, as well as up-the-middle players with speed and strong defensive profiles, displaced power hitters that play a corner position and pitchability left-handers.

Nine players were selected in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft on Thursday, as 21 teams ultimately passed on making a first-round selection.

While time will determine whether a team struck gold with their selection(s), here are my very early thoughts on the winners and losers of Thursday’s Rule 5 draft.

Biggest Winners

Arizona Diamondbacks

Even though the Diamondbacks lost a pair of relievers in Thursday’s draft, they ultimately made up for it by selecting the most experienced arm on the board in right-hander Marcos Mateo.

After six years in the minor leagues, Mateo pitched in the major leagues with the Cubs during parts of the 2010 and 2011 seasons, registering a 5.04 ERA and 10.9 K/9 while appearing in 44 games.

However, an elbow injury cost the right-hander his entire 2012 season and limited him to only 31 total innings in the minors this past season.

Now 29 years old, Mateo still boasts an electric arm with a fastball that reaches the upper 90s, and he complements it with a power slider in upper 80s that has swing-and-miss, wipeout break.

Arizona probably wasn’t expecting Mateo to fall to them in the draft, so the fact that they landed the only player with major league experience is a win in itself.

They lost left-hander Patrick Schuster (drafted by Houston and then traded to San Diego) and right-hander Kevin Munson (drafted by Philadelphia) on Thursday, however neither reliever was expected to be an impact arm in the major leagues. So, in theory, they replaced both players with Mateo, a legitimate big league reliever who should earn a spot on Arizona’s Opening Day roster.

Chicago White Sox

Chicago’s selection of catcher Adrian Nieto with the second pick in the Rule 5 draft was unexpected. According to J.J. Cooper of Baseball America, Nieto is the first catcher picked in the major league portion of the draft since 2008 as well as the highest drafted backstop since Kelly Stinnett was selected second overall in 1993.

A highly regarded prep prospect back in 2009, Nieto’s professional career has been marred by an assortment of injuries, as well as a 50-game PED suspension in 2011. As a result, the 24-year-old has played in only 357 games in six minor league seasons and is yet to reach Double-A.

However, Nieto showed signs of turning the developmental corner last year in his first season at the High-A level. Playing in a career-high 110 games—his previous high was 78 games—the switch-hitting backstop batted .285/.373/.449 with 41 extra-base hits (11 home runs) and a 82-53 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 452 plate appearances.

With his selection in the Rule 5 draft, Nieto will enter spring training next season as one of four catchers—the others being Tyler Flowers, Josh Phegley and Hector Gimenez—vying for two spots on Chicago’s Opening Day roster.

While he’s the least experienced of the four players (and by a lot), the 24-year-old could be a potentially cheap backup catcher should he make the team. Such a scenario is a long shot, though, as it would mean Nieto jumps directly from High-A to the major leagues. However, with his selection in the Rule 5 draft, it’s obvious the White Sox at least believe he’ll provide healthy internal competition next spring.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers win this year’s award for the most creative Rule 5 draft pick after selecting Taiwanese left-hander Wei-Chung Wang from the Pirates’ system.

Originally signed in 2011, the 21-year-old was made eligible for the draft on a technicality when the Pirates voided his contract after learning he needed Tommy John surgery.

Making his professional debut this past season in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Wang posted a 3.23 ERA and stellar 42-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 47.1 innings (11 starts). He also received positive reviews for his aggressive approach and overall poise on the mound.

The 6’1”, 160-pound left-hander showcases promising stuff, with a fastball that sits in the 92-94 mph range and bumps 95, as well as a changeup that flashes plus potential at maturity.

Wang’s extreme lack of professional experience makes him a long shot to make the team next season, as he’ll be making the largest possible jump going from the GCL to the major leagues. However, if his fastball-curveball combination plays against big league hitters next spring, the Brewers potentially could stash him in the bullpen as their second left-handed reliever.

Milwaukee also added two former prospects in the draft’s minor league segment, selecting outfielder Kevin Mattison (from the Marlins) and third baseman Vinnie Catricala (from the A’s) in the Triple-A phase.

Mattison, 28, spent the last six seasons in the Marlins system and received a cup of coffee as a 26-year-old in 2012. However, the outfielder’s production tailed off over the last two seasons at Triple-A New Orleans, as he batted only .230 with 283 strikeouts in 920 plate appearances.

The 25-year-old Catricala, a ninth-round draft pick of the Mariners in 2009, appeared to be on the fast track to the major leagues early in his professional career. In 2011, he was named the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year after posting a 1.021 OPS with 77 extra-base hits (25 home runs) and 106 RBI in 600 plate appearances between High-A High Desert and Double-A Jackson.

Since then, however, Catricala has regressed at an alarming rate. After posting a disappointing .630 OPS with 10 home runs in 2012 at Triple-A Tacoma (in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League nonetheless), the Mariners demoted him to Double-A for the 2013 season.

Back at the level he destroyed in 2011, Catricala’s struggles at the plate intensified with a .669 OPS in 48 games and ultimately prompted his trade to Oakland for cash considerations in early June. Things only worsened for him after joining the A’s Double-A affiliate in the Texas League, as the once-promising hitter produced a .585 OPS and struck out 56 times in 254 plate appearances.

While Catricala and Mattison are unlikely to contribute at the major league level, both players are solid additions for a system that lacks serviceable position players in the high minors.

Mattison has the potential to serve as a fourth or fifth outfielder next season thanks to his speed and above-average defensive profile. On the other hand, the Brewers addition of Catricala is a great low-risk gamble based the off chance he rediscovers the hitting ability he showcased in 2011. If that’s not the case, he’ll still provide organizational depth for Milwaukee next season at Triple-A Nashville.

Biggest Loser(s)

New York Yankees

The Yankees lost a pair of notable prospects in the Rule 5 draft on Thursday. However, it could have been worse.

In the major league phase, right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle was selected by the Colorado Rockies with the fourth-overall pick. The Yankees decision not to add the 24-year-old to the 40-man roster after the 2013 season was surprising considering their big league bullpen needs restructuring in the wake of Mariano Rivera’s retirement.

While Kahnle lacks the control to be an effective closer at the highest level, his mid-90s fastball and above-average changeup suggests a future as a seventh- or eighth-inning arm.

The Yankees were lucky not to lose two more relievers, right-hander Danny Burawa and left-hander Freddy Lewis, from the upper levels of their farm system.

The 24-year-old Burawa spent the entire 2013 season in Double-A and struck out exactly a batter per inning. However, his fringy command presumably was the reason teams passed him over on Thursday. Similarly, Lewis, 26, also performed well at Double-A last season, posting a 2.28 ERA in 20 games including five starts.

The Yankees also lost outfield prospect Ravel Santana after he was selected by the Astros with the first-overall pick of the minor league phase of the draft.

It wasn’t long ago that Santana was viewed as one of New York’s more promising position prospects. Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2008, Santana posted impressive numbers during his stateside debut in 2011. Playing in the complex-level Gulf Coast League, the then-19-year-old batted .296/.361/.568 with nine home runs in 185 plate appearances.

Since then, however, Santana’s career has been derailed by freak injuries. In 2011 he suffered a devastating ankle injury that required surgery to repair multiple fractures and significant ligament damage.

He moved up to the short-season New York-Penn League in 2012 but looked like a shell of his former self, posting a dismal .593 OPS with 10 extra-base hits and 68 strikeouts in 247 plate appearances. To make matters worse, he then missed the entire 2013 season after breaking his wrist early in the spring.

Now 21 years old, Santana’s string of injuries over the last three years has diminished his once high ceiling, and he’s now well behind the developmental curve. That being said, he still has considerable upside—even if only for his power potential—and is a nice pickup for the forward-looking Astros.

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After coming up short in the sweepstakes for Prince Fielder and Josh Hamilton in each of the last two offseasons, respectively, the Seattle Mariners were determined to land one of the few elite hitters in this year’s free-agent class.

Well, they got one Friday.

According the Enrique Rojas of ESPNDesportes.com, Robinson Cano and the Mariners have agreed in principle on a 10-year, $240 million contract, which ties Albert Pujols for the third-largest deal in major league history.

Though the Mariners will have the 31-year-old Cano under contract for the next decade, it’s doubtful the organization would have pursued him so aggressively if it didn’t plan on contending in the near future; the M’s wanted Cano anchoring their lineup for the back end of his prime years.

While Cano’s contract will likely prevent Seattle from signing another big-name free agent this offseason, there is a growing belief that the organization will trade for Tampa Bays ace David Price during next week’s winter meetings.

Had you asked me at the beginning of the week which is most likely to occur this offseason, the Mariners signing free agent Robinson Cano or trading for David Price, I would have said the latter without hesitation.

Despite graduating Nick Franklin, Brandon Maurer, Brad Miller and Mike Zunino to the major leagues in 2013, the Mariners have both the talent and depth on the farm to execute a potential blockbuster trade—and the front office knows it.

Considering the Rays’ return last offseason—a four-player prospect package headlined by AL rookie of the year Wil Myers—from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for James Shields (and Wade Davis), it’s almost a foregone conclusion they will want Seattle’s top prospects in return for Price, the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner.

With that said, here’s one realistic trade package Seattle may offer the Rays to land David Price. 

Taijuan Walker, RHP

Selected by the Mariners in the supplemental first round of the 2010 draft, Walker has everything you want in a future ace. At 6’4” and 210 pounds, the right-hander is an outstanding athlete with a fluid delivery, quick arm and exceptional stuff.

After an up-and-down age-19 campaign at Double-A in 2012, Walker’s command and overall execution of his electric arsenal developed rapidly during his second tour of the level this past season.

The 21-year-old opened the season by mastering the Southern League with a 2.46 ERA and a 96-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 84 innings at Double-A Jackson, and he ultimately earned a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma in late June.

Despite the fact that he was one of the younger pitchers at the level, Walker held his own with a 3.61 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 57.1 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Even though he logged a career-high 141.1 innings between both minor league levels, the Mariners decided to give their top prospect a taste of the major leagues as a September call-up.

Suffice it to say that Walker responded favorably to the challenge. In his final start of the year, on Sept. 9 against the Houston Astros, the promising right-hander allowed two earned runs on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts over five innings.

Overall, Walker registered a 3.60 ERA, .a 204 opponent batting average and a 12-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15 innings spanning three starts.

Walker boasts a plus-plus fastball that reaches the upper-90s, and he has also developed a high-80s/low-90s cutter that should be at least above-average at maturity. Although his command of both pitches has vastly improved this season, he still tends to leave too many up in the zone—something that will need to improve moving forward.

Both of Walker’s secondary offerings are also in need of refinement. The right-hander induces whiffs with a curveball that has big-time depth and heavy downer action, though his lack of control makes it an inconsistent offering. Meanwhile, he’s still developing a feel for a changeup that’s average at the moment but plays up when he’s working the corners with the fastball and cutter.

I think I speak for all prospect enthusiasts in saying that I hope Walker isn’t traded this winter. It’s not that he’d necessarily be less successful or worse off with another organization; I just think his future is especially bright with Seattle.

However, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, the Rays won’t trade Price to the Mariners unless Walker is included in the deal.

The only question is whether the Mariners are willing to make a long-term sacrifice (trading Walker) in favor of a potential short-term gain (acquiring Price).

Nick Franklin, 2B-SS

Selected by the Mariners in the first round of the 2009 out of a Florida high school, Nick Franklin asserted his place on the big league radar the following year with an outstanding full-season debut.

Assigned to Low-A Clinton, the switch-hitting shortstop batted .281/.351/.485 with 52 extra-base hits (23 home runs) and 25 stolen bases in 129 games. The Mariners moved Franklin up to Double-A for the final game of the regular season—a challenge to which he responded by going 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

After battling through an injury-plagued 2011 campaign and playing in only 88 games, Franklin bounced back in a big way in 2012, batting .278/.347/.453 with 52 extra-base hits (11 home runs) and 12 stolen bases in 121 games between Double-A and Triple-A.

Although he has developed at both middle infield positions, Franklin’s range and arm are a cleaner fit at second base than shortstop. Therefore, when he moved to second base on a near-full-time basis early in the season at Triple-A, it was a strong indication that his call-up was near.

After batting .324/.440/.472 with 13 extra-base hits and more walks (30) than strikeouts (20) in 39 games at Triple-A Tacoma to begin the season, Franklin finally was promoted to the major leagues in late May.

It didn’t take long for the 22-year-old to enjoy success at the highest level.

In his third big league start, Franklin was 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs—the first and second of his promising career—at spacious PetCo Park in San Diego. So it’s not like either home run was cheap.

At the All-Star break in July, Franklin was considered a legitimate rookie of the year candidate in the AL after batting .268/.337/.451 with 16 extra-base hits (six home runs), five stolen bases and a 36-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 169 plate appearances.

However, Franklin’s second half of the season was essentially a two-and-a-half month slump during which he pressed at the plate and seemingly swung through everything. As a result, he batted .194/.280/.333 with a 77-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 243 plate appearances during that span.

While Franklin’s overall body of work as a rookie was impressive, it’s difficult to look past the severity of his struggles following the All-Star break. And with Cano now in the equation and presumably taking over at second base next season, the 22-year-old now represents the Mariners’ most expendable young player.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has been attempting to solidify its middle-infield situation for the last several years with minimal success. So expect Franklin to be included in a potential trade should the Mariners pursue Price.

Ji-Man Choi, 1B

Signed in 2009 out of South Korea, Ji-Man Choi had a very promising professional debut the following year, batting .360/.440/.517 with 21 extra-base hits and 10 steals in 50 games between the AZL Mariners and High-A High Desert.

Unfortunately, he spent the entire 2011 season on the disabled list with a strained back muscle. The setback in his development resulted in an assignment to Low-A Clinton in 2012, where Choi made up for lost time by batting .298/.420/.463 with eight home runs and 43 RBI in 66 games.

This year, Choi enjoyed the type of quick ascent through the Mariners’ system that had seemed inevitable back in 2010. It’s easy to point out that the 22-year-old’s triple-slash line deteriorated upon reaching Double- and Triple-A; however, it also marked the first time that he’d played at either level.

Depending on whether they re-sign James Loney, the Rays could be in the market for an inexpensive first basemen. On top of that, the Mariners still have Justin Smoak under contract through the 2016 season, so including Choi in a potential trade for Price actually makes plenty of sense for both teams.

Dominic Leone, RHP

Dominic Leone may not look like much at 5’11” and 185 pounds, but don’t let his size fool you.

Selected in the 16th round of the 2012 draft out of Clemson, Leone hopped on the fast track to the major leagues this past season (also his full-season debut).

The 22-year-old—in his age-21 season—amassed 16 saves and posted a 2.25 ERA with a 64-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 64 innings between Low-A Clinton, High-A High Desert and Double-A Jackson.

Concern about Leone’s size and lack of downhill plane will continue to follow him through his career. However, that should never detract from the overall nastiness of his stuff.

The right-hander boasts a mid-90s fastball that will play up due to his quick arm and release point. Leone will also attack hitters with a cutter that comes in a few ticks below his regular fastball velocity and features late slicing action to the glove side. Leone’s out-pitch is a nasty slider that dives out of the zone at the last minute to generate a favorable number of strikeouts and weak-hit outs.

Leone continued to improve his prospect stock even more this fall with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, saving six games and posting a stellar 15-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 12 innings.

Although he’ll presumably open the 2014 season in the minor leagues—either at Double- or Triple-A—it shouldn’t take long for Leone to pitch his way to the major leagues. Once he gets the call, Leone’s combination of swing-and-miss, plus stuff and an above-average command profile should allow him to carve out a role as a solid seventh- or eighth-inning arm.

With a host of young, hard-throwing relievers ahead of him on Seattle’s depth chart, Leone represents intriguing trade bait, given his proximity to the major leagues.

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Major League Baseball and Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball may be making progress towards an agreement on a new posting system.

Back in October, negotiations were reportedly coming along, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, and both sides seemed optimistic that a deal would be reached by Nov. 1.

But that never happened.

MLB proposed an amended posting system where a Japanese team would receive a fee equal to the midpoint between the top two bids. However, by the middle of November the league was tired of waiting on Japanese baseball officials to push forward with the initiative, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (via Twitter), and talks hit a snag.

Throughout deliberations, Japanese officials have made it clear they want their players to have a say in the matter. However, at the same time, the teams also want as much money as possible in return for their players before losing them to free agency in NPB.

Under the current posting system, an NPB club with a player who wishes to join the major leagues would accept bids from all interested teams, with negotiating rights going to the highest bidder.

However, the system’s inequality was exposed prior to the 2012 season through the Texas Rangers’ pursuit and signing of Yu Darvish.

After Darvish was officially posted by the Nippon Ham Fighters, the Rangers won negotiating rights with a winning bid of $51.7 million, a total that was reportedly $20 million more than the next closest bid.

With 30 days to sign the right-hander, the Rangers waited until minutes before the deadline to sign him to a six-year, $56 million contract. Had the two sides not reached a deal, the all-in posting fee would have been returned to the Rangers.

Basically, it set a dangerous precedent that having deep pockets could potentially buy a top NPB player without any immediate repercussions.

But the Thanksgiving holiday brought good news.

After meeting face-to-face last week before, details have emerged regarding MLB’s latest proposal.

According to Japan’s Sponichi (h/t MLB Trade Rumors), multiple teams would be able to submit a maximum bid for the posted player. In that event, the team with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season would be awarded negotiating rights with the player.

While the maximum bidding limit is yet to be defined, it will presumably reflect the state of the current market so as to encourage the participation of lower-revenue teams and create greater balance league-wide.

For example, if the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers both made a hypothetical maximum bid of $30 million this offseason for 25-year-old Japanese sensation Masahiro Tanaka under the proposed posting system, his negotiating rights would go to Houston. In theory, it would also prevent another Darvish-type scenario from unfolding.

Talks between MLB and Japanese officials are both fluid and ongoing, and there will be many details that will be ironed out along the way.

And while an agreement isn’t imminent, there is considerable pressure on both sides to strike a deal sooner rather than later. If they are unable to decide on a new posting system, then Tanaka will have to wait until next offseason to launch his career in the major leagues.

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The St. Louis Cardinals are Major League Baseball’s model organization. 

This past season, the Cardinals won the National League Central with 97 wins and advanced to the playoffs for the 10th time since 2000. While they came up two wins shy of capturing the 12th championship in franchise history, it did mark their fourth trip to the Fall Classic in the last 10 years.

However, not every organization can be run as brilliantly from top to bottom as the Cardinals; many clubs struggle to simply field a competitive team in the major leagues, let alone a farm system with talent at every level. 

Specifically, the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers are two teams that have failed to contend on a yearly basis due to poor player evaluation and a tentative feel for the market.

Here’s a breakdown of why both organizations have struggled in the past and how they can improve moving forward.

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