Bay Area Baseball

1. Alcides Escobar - SS - A - ETA 2009 - Comp - Jimmy Rollins
2. Mat Gamel - 3B - B+ - ETA 2009 - Comp - Pat Burrell
3. Jeremy Jeffress - RHP - B+ - ETA 2011 - Comp - Radhames Liz
4. Angel Salome - C - B+ - ETA 2009 - Comp - Jason Varitek
5. Brett Lawrie - C/3B - B+ ETA 2012 - Comp - Russell Martin

Flip a coin with Escobar and Gamel. Escobar hit .328 last year between AA and the majors. He added 34 steals and 76 RBI and should be a force if they can find him a position at the major league level. JJ Hardy remains on the MLB club so he has a decent block there. If Milwaukee struggles JJ would be a valuable trade piece. Gamel is a power hitting third baseman who should provide middle of the order presence. His development made Milwaukee more willing to move Matt Laporta last season.

Lawrie was a consensus strong pick while Jeffress bounced back from some drug indiscretions. His strikeout numbers were excellent but his walks were also high - no pun intended. Salome was a consistent hitter who should see time behind the dish for the Brewers this year.

Braun’s powerful swing and the grand slam you see in the commercials gets him to the top of our re-draft.

Original Picks
1 Justin Upton Arizona Diamondbacks
2 Alex Gordon Kansas City Royals
3 Jeff Clement Seattle Mariners
4 Ryan Zimmerman Washington Nationals
5 Ryan Braun Milwaukee Brewers

New Picks
1 Arizona Diamondbacks - Ryan Braun, OF - Arizona loves Upton’s superstar potential, but Braun is already the superstar run producer that every team wants.
2 Kansas City Royals - Justin Upton, OF - Upton still has the greatest potential of any player in this draft, and in a year or two he could be back at the top.
3 Seattle Mariners - Troy Tulowitzki, SS - Tulo is a franchise shortstop and Clement was unable to secure the job for a lousy Seattle team.
4 Washington Nationals - Matt Garza, RHP - The hard throwing Garza was 2-0 in the ALCS against Boston and would be the ace of the Nationals weak staff.
5 Milwaukee Brewers - Jay Bruce, OF - Sure losing Braun would be a huge blow to the Brewers, but Bruce, whose power is equally enticing, would be a nice consolation with the fifth overall pick.

Original Order:
16 Jeremy Jeffress Milwaukee Brewers
17 Matt Antonelli San Diego Padres
18 Kyle Drabek Philadelphia Phillies
19 Brett Sinkbeil Florida Marlins
20 Chris Parmelee Minnesota Twins

New Picks:
16 Milwaukee Brewers - Luke Hochevar, RHP - Righty still has major league stuff and can become a solid starter, Milwaukee might be a nice spot for him.
17 San Diego Padres - Adrian Cardenas, 2B - High school star hasn’t disappointed for Philadelphia and Oakland, he would be the correct pick over Matt Antonelli at the second base position this time around.
18 Philadelphia Phillies - Dellin Betances, RHP - Hard throwing and raw righthander would bring a youthful pitcher to Philadelphia’s system.
19 Florida Marlins - Desmond Jennings, OF - Athletic centerfielder isn’t a finished product yet but has rare athleticism.
20 Minnesota Twins - Daniel Murphy, OF/IF - Low ceiling hitter is a consistent player who could be the type of player the Twins like in their lineups.