Written by Greg Fertel
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27 March 2008
I'm separating prospects at the two corners from center field.
MLB Center Fielder: Melky Cabrera, Age 23, Under Contract Until after 2012. Melky will not be out center fielder throughout the term of his contract. Right now, while his legs are youthful, he has enough range for his plus arm to make him an asset at the position defensively. His future as a major league starter is in the development of his bat. At right field, he'd be a gold glove caliber player. His PECOTA comparables include several hall of fame players, but he's not there yet.
Immediately Available: Johnny Damon, Brett Gardner (5.5 C), Justin Christian (5.0 D). More than any other long-term player on this list, Melky is going to have his job under siege for a long time. Brett Gardner shouldn't pose much of a threat (unless Melky eithers gets injured or is hitting .150) this season, but farther down the list Austin Jackson will present a challenge. Brett Gardner's strong spring and sexy speed should at least win him a 4th outfield spot in the near future. With a few injuries, Justin Christian could become an interesting character, given his on base and speed skills.
Available 2009: Austin Jackson (8.0 C), Colin Curtis (5.0 C). Austin Jackson broke out in a big way last season, and all reports have him continuing that success this spring. We're still trying to locate his final ceiling, but we do know that he's now a legitimate power candidate to go along with the defense, athleticism, and on base ability. He'll need some time in Double-A this season. Its easy to forget that Jackson started the season in low A ball last year. Colin Curtis could potentially be a 4th outfield candidate in the future, but given the Yankee depth he could end up in Triple-A hell ala Kevin Reese and Kevin Thompson.
Available 2010: Seth Fortenberry (6.5 D). Fortenberry has an interesting mix of tools, with a skillset that looks a lot like Mike Cameron, but without the gold glove defensive instincts. His problem? He's way behind on the growth curve. He was good at Charleston last year, hitting .255/.358/.424 with 18 HR, 87 RBI, 25 SB, 73 BB, and 137 K. With a little refinement, there are a lot of positive signs in there that could develop into a strong player. The D rating comes mostly from him being 24 years old and still not tested in the Florida State League. Still, a breakout season is possible.
Available 2011: Abraham Almonte (8.0 D). Almonte has a ton of tools, some success under his belt, and is still only 18 years old. We'll be looking on this season to try and understand what type of player Almonte is destined for. His small stature (5'9") seemingly rules out a lot of power, but small players have hit plenty of home runs in the history of baseball. His ceiling could receive an upgrade if he shows power, but Almonte is likely to remain a 'D' until his 20th birthday.
