If the Angels are looking at supplementing their roster with quality minor leaguers, typically, the Rule 5 Draft is one place to look, but usually not scour. There normally isn’t a ton of talent there, but this year is much different. Just take a look at the possibilities.
1B/3B Mark Canha – Not enough bat to be a difference maker at 1B. Too old (26) to be a prospect that you wait years on, but he has power, patience and can play third base. That sounds like three things the Angels could use. If the Angels aren’t going to take advantage of Grant Green’s bat at 3B, they could take a chance on this kid.
OF/2B Delino DeShields – One of the more talented minor leaguers in the game and he comes from good stock. He can play a very good CF and 2B in my opinion, though others aren’t as bullish on his defense. Once he’s adjusted he can show very good patience and game-changing speed (101 SB a year ago) as well as an ability to slap pitches into the gaps and some HR power. The caveat here, serious off the field issues. Arrested at age 18, DUI, minor for possession, reported disrespectful behavior toward both coaches and teammates and being removed from games multiple times for not putting forth effort. Delino DeShields isn’t ready for the majors. He’ll be ready for the major leagues at the end of the season or the beginning of next year though. If the Angels are willing to bite the bullet and stash him on their bench as a late inning defensive replacement in the OF and a pinch-runner for a year, they could find themselves with a very good leadoff hitting 2B in a year or two.
SS Taylor Featherston – A tragically underestimated player. Taylor plays an average shortstop and above average second base. But that’s only part of what’s going to get him to the big leagues. He’s hit 30+ doubles, 12+ HR’s and 14+ SB at every stop in the minors. His career slash-line is .277/.346/.457. He can do everything Gordon Beckham does for the Angels in the utility role, but he can do it for $5 million less and is only 24 years old. The Angels don’t have a lot of backup options at SS unless you consider Grant Green one (I do!).
RHP Suk-Min Yoon – One of the best pitchers to ever come out of Korea, Yoon came to the U.S. and really struggled to get acclimated with the culture and the results were evident in AAA last year where he posted a 5.74 ERA. Still, it was only a year ago that everyone thought he’s be a #3/4 starter in the major leagues. If the Angels feel like they can create the right environment for Yoon, he’d be worth taking a chance on.
3B Matt Skole – Once drafted as one of the premier amateur power hitters, Skole smashed 27 HR’s with a .438 OBP in Low-A ball two years ago. Then he suffered a wrist injury. These commonly take two years to full heal, but once they do it’s off to the races. Remember David Ortiz a few years back. After his wrist injury it looked like he was done. Once it healed, he returned to form. Skole can actually capitalize on his potential, unlike a current Angels 3B prospect in Double-A. Recovering from a wrist injury, he still managed to hit 29 doubles and 14 HR’s with a .352 OBP in AA. At only 24 years old, this kid could legitimately be the solution to the Angels issues at 3B, just not right away. More like a year or two down the road, if the Angels can stash him on the bench and wait that long.
OF Zach Borenstein – Traded to the D-Backs in return for Joe Thatcher, the Angels have the opportunity to bring him back in the Rule 5 draft. He had a monster year inflated by the Cal League a year ago, but he profiles as a halfway decent corner OF and left-handed power option off the bench. He’s not ready for the major leagues yet, but in a couple of years he can be. If the Angels can wait that long, they’d have an interesting depth option that brings memories back of Kole Calhoun.
1B Matt Fields – All power, but as we’ve seen with Mark Trumbo, they’re in high demand in the major leagues. Fields drilled 31 HR’s in the Texas League a year ago. By comparison, Trout hit 11, Trumbo hit 15 and Cron hit 17. Yeah, this kid packs a punch. He also drove 29 doubles and 28 HR’s in Triple-A last season. The issue is, he swings and misses too much, but he’d make an incredible power option off the bench for the Angels and could even compete for a spot at DH if things break right for him. Though at 28 years old, chances are Fields isn’t going to be getting any better.
RHP John Stilson – Stilson is still recovering from Tommy John surgery, but pre-surgery he had a fastball that sat 95, and average slider and a plus change up. The trick is he can’t spend any long than 90 days on rehab before he has to be offered back to his original team if the Angels scoop him up and it’s looking like he’ll need at least 60 of them. Could be a lights out reliever, a more dynamic version of Mike Morin basically.
LHP Daniel Winkler – Winkler is the ultimate finesse pitcher. He has an average fastball, average change up, average curve ball, with plus command and plus-plus control. He profiles as a very good #4 starter in the major leagues and is definitely ready for the big leagues. This is one pitcher the Angels need to pick up if he’s available. The only caveat, he’s recovering from Tommy-John surgery and he definitely won’t be ready for even rehab games until July, which makes it virtually impossible to pick him up and hold into him. In fact, the only way you can do it is if you picked him up, activated him on July 1st at the 90-day deadline and just accepted the fact that for July and August, you’d basically be operating with a 24-man roster. Once September hits the rosters expand and it won’t matter anyway. Why would you do this? Because this would mean that in 2016, the Angels would have a LHP ready for the rotation that posted a 1.41 ERA in AA as a starter with a better than 9.0 K/9 at every stop and impeccable command.
Of all of the possibilities, I find it likeliest the Angels will pursue either SS Taylor Featherston or LHP Daniel Winkler. The Angels need middle infield depth and Taylor is quite capable at both shortstop and second base. It also doesn’t hurt that Featherston is coming from the Rockies organization, which behind the D-Backs is the farm system Jerry Dipoto is the most familiar with and takes the most joy in pillaging. Winkler is also from the Rockies organization. The Angels are on the lookout for young, controllable pitching options as well as additional lefties to stock in the bullpen or rotation. Winkler fits all of these roles. It would take some creative maneuvering, but the payoff could be incredible.
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