Main League Baseball’s offseason is underway, and which means everybody is considering the longer term. In most cities, which means subsequent season; in some, although, it means the larger image, the following three to 5 years. You are both promoting wins otherwise you’re promoting hope, the previous saying goes. We right here at CBS Sports activities like to supply as a lot hope as we will round this time of the winter by evaluating every staff’s farm system.
After all, that does not imply each staff has an equally good farm system — some, as you may discover out all through this course of, are missing in that respect. It does imply, however, that CBS Sports activities can be spending the following couple of months inspecting the highest three prospects in every group. We outline “prospects” as retaining their rookie eligibility for the 2024 season, so if a younger participant is lacking that is seemingly why.
These lists and evaluations are fashioned following conversations with scouts, analysts, and participant improvement varieties. There’s additionally firsthand analysis and bias thrown into the combination. Take into account that participant analysis is a tough activity, and it is high-quality for those who disagree with the rankings. These are opinions, they usually don’t have any actual bearing on the longer term. You’ll be able to take a look at our winter prime 25 checklist by clicking right here.
With that in thoughts, let’s get to it by dissecting the Chicago Cubs.
- Prime 25 rating: No. 16
- The quick model: Sensible defensive outfielder with some offensive upside.
- MLB ETA: Debuted in 2023
Crow-Armstrong, acquired from the Mets on the 2021 deadline for Javier Báez, is among the sport’s greatest younger defensive outfielders. He strikes effectively and throws effectively, and he needs to be in competition for a Gold Glove Award starting in 2024. That a lot is for certain. What’s much less positive is how Crow-Armstrong will carry out offensively. He is realized to elevate the ball with better frequency as a professional, however he is paid lease on it within the type of a rising strikeout charge. It is in all probability affordable to think about Crow-Armstrong’s outlook as being one thing akin to Harrison Bader’s days with the Cardinals. There are worse fates.
2. Cade Horton, RHP (22 years previous)
- Prime 25 rating: No. 18
- The quick model: Dangerous choose has and will proceed to pay dividends.
- MLB ETA: Spring 2024
Horton completed his profession at Oklahoma so strongly that the Cubs missed his seasonal 4.86 ERA and chosen him seventh general in 2022. He validated their alternative in his first style of professional ball, hanging out 33% of the batters he confronted throughout three ranges, together with a six-game stretch in Double-A. Horton has three pitches (a fastball and two breaking balls) that grade out as above-average or higher. He throws sufficient strikes to comfortably challenge him as a starter, too. The one consideration that might stop him from being a part of Chicago’s big-league rotation for many of subsequent season is workload. The Cubs restricted him to 88 innings (or about 4 per look) in 2023. The Dodgers took a equally conservative method with Bobby Miller earlier than unleashing him final season. Maybe the Cubs will observe swimsuit. If that’s the case, Horton has an opportunity to offer the center of their rotation an early season enhance.
3. Matt Shaw, INF (22 years previous)
- The quick model: Effectively-rounded infielder who ought to attain the majors this yr.
- MLB ETA: Summer season 2024
Shaw, the thirteenth choose in final summer season’s draft, batted .357/.400/.618 in his first 38 skilled video games, together with a 15-game stint at Double-A to shut out the season. Popping out of Boston School, scouts had been torn on whether or not or not he ought to start his profession at shortstop — with the detractors citing his below-average arm as a purpose he will not stick there. The Cubs have continued to cross-train him at each middle-infield spots, in addition to at third base. His assortment of in any other case common or higher instruments, together with an above-average stick, ought to however land him on the big-league roster this summer season.
