Bay Area Baseball

Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo will compete for the opening day thirdbaseman job with Chicago this season. The 20 year old is known for his powerful frame. He joins Jose Contreras and Alexei Ramirez as Cuban defectors on the White Sox. He signed a four year $10 million contract that included a $4 million bonus.

He is a right handed hitter who should grow into perhaps an Aramis Ramirez  ceiling type middle of the order run producer. He isn’t known for his defense but should be able to stay at third for the immediate future - he could at some point move across the diamond should he grow out of the position. Paul Konerko and Wilson Betemit are not long term solutions. If Ramirez locks down shortstop prospect Gordon Beckham could move to third if Viciedo falters.

1. Aaron Poreda - LHP - A- - ETA 2009 - Comp - Jon Lester
2. Gordon Beckham - SS - B+ - ETA 2010 - Comp - Stephen Drew
3. Clayton Richard - LHP - B- - ETA 2009 - Comp - Wandy Rodriguez
4. Jordan Danks - OF - B- - ETA 2011 - Comp - Corey Hart
5. Jose Martinez - OF - B- - ETA 2012 - Comp - Alex Rios with less speed.

Poreda is the rare lefthander who can sit in the mid 90’s. His strikeout numbers don’t reflect his power stuff as he has not been pitching as long as most prospects his age. He possesses an intimidating 6′6 240 lbs frame that is ideal for pitching. As he develops he is only going to improve. A Jon Lester ceiling would be the best possible scenario.

Beckham is an undersized masher who should bring 20-25 HR pop as well as reasonable average and gamer speed to the White Sox middle infield in the not too long future. With Alexei Ramirez at SS Beckham could move to 2B but such a move is far off in the future. Richard has nothing left to prove in the minors and should be in the rotation in 09. Danks and Martinez are toolsy outfielders who should be solid complementary players in a few years.

Buchholz might benefit from a change of scenery.

Original Picks
11 Andrew McCutchen Pittsburgh Pirates
12 Jay Bruce Cincinnati Reds
13 Brandon Snyder Baltimore Orioles
14 Trevor Crowe Cleveland Indians
15 Lance Broadway Chicago White Sox

New Picks
11 Pittsburgh Pirates - Jacoby Ellsbury, OF - Speedy Ellsbury is a gold glove caliber defender and has the potential to be an elite leadoff man.
12 Cincinnati Reds - Colby Rasmus, OF - Rasmus isn’t Jay Bruce, but his ceiling is still high enough that if he can stay healthy he should be a top outfielder.
13 Baltimore Orioles - Clay Buchholz, RHP - They can always use more pitching in Baltimore, and Buchholz has some of the best stuff in the draft.
14 Cleveland Indians - Kevin Slowey, RHP - Control artist looks like he should be a solid pitcher for Minnesota. An innings eater who is able to keep his team in the game while throwing constant strikes.
15 Chicago White Sox - Jeremy Hellickson, RHP - Rays pitcher was 11-5 with 2.96 ERA. Power pitcher would be a great solution for the Javier Vazquez replacement.