Might Ledbetter be darkhorse piece in Donovan deal ?

[ramfandan]

Rays' Colton Ledbetter could be a fun addition to the St. Louis Cardinals outfield.

While grades are still filing in from all around the baseball world for all parties involved in the three-team trade, it seems like most everyone around the Cardinals organization is excited for the return, even though it is painful to watch Donovan head out of St. Louis. While switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje was the headliner coming to the Cardinals from the Mariners, the involvement of the Tampa Bay Rays was interesting, and slightly terrifying for those of us with PTSD in trades involving the Rays. When the full details came out, in addition to Cijntje, outfielder Tai Peete, and two Competitive Balance Round B selections, Tampa included outfielder Colton Ledbetter as a piece heading to St. Louis.

What all parties could agree on in regards to Ledbetter was that the toolsy outfielder can absolutely fly around the bases and in the grass, but the rest of his game is going to need some polishing. Roman pointed out to his ability to make spectacular plays in the outfield and wreak havoc on the bases, while both Farmhands and Aidan said he can make the acrobatic plays but at times needs to make the routine plays look routine. They believe that is going to happen with just more time and practice in center field. Finally, Roman said that Colton is the type of guy that can bring energy and charisma to the field, something that the new-age Cardinals are going to build off of during this transition time.

The 24 year old was in Double AA last year. While his hit tool was rated at just a 20, he did hita respectable .265 with a .715 OPS for Double AA Montgomery Biscuits
He took a step back in the power department from prior years, hitting just seven homers, but he did steal 37 bases and trimmed his strikeout rate while also drawing more walks.

Not saying he has 'everyday' OF but may be a guy to keep an eye on for OF depth piece. Sure sounds like a hustling fast player.

[Jatalk]

Rays' Colton Ledbetter could be a fun addition to the St. Louis Cardinals outfield.

While grades are still filing in from all around the baseball world for all parties involved in the three-team trade, it seems like most everyone around the Cardinals organization is excited for the return, even though it is painful to watch Donovan head out of St. Louis. While switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje was the headliner coming to the Cardinals from the Mariners, the involvement of the Tampa Bay Rays was interesting, and slightly terrifying for those of us with PTSD in trades involving the Rays. When the full details came out, in addition to Cijntje, outfielder Tai Peete, and two Competitive Balance Round B selections, Tampa included outfielder Colton Ledbetter as a piece heading to St. Louis.

What all parties could agree on in regards to Ledbetter was that the toolsy outfielder can absolutely fly around the bases and in the grass, but the rest of his game is going to need some polishing. Roman pointed out to his ability to make spectacular plays in the outfield and wreak havoc on the bases, while both Farmhands and Aidan said he can make the acrobatic plays but at times needs to make the routine plays look routine. They believe that is going to happen with just more time and practice in center field. Finally, Roman said that Colton is the type of guy that can bring energy and charisma to the field, something that the new-age Cardinals are going to build off of during this transition time.

The 24 year old was in Double AA last year. While his hit tool was rated at just a 20, he did hita respectable .265 with a .715 OPS for Double AA Montgomery Biscuits
He took a step back in the power department from prior years, hitting just seven homers, but he did steal 37 bases and trimmed his strikeout rate while also drawing more walks.

Not saying he has 'everyday' OF but may be a guy to keep an eye on for OF depth piece. Sure sounds like a hustling fast player.

We can dream I guess.

[earp]

Wash-----------Re____

[11WSChamps]

Dont we already lead the league in maybe backup type OFers?

[Melville]

Depth filler.
Terrible return overall in the Donovan deal.
Not one position player included who will ever likely contribute on a MLB field.

[JohnnyMO]

Depth filler.
Terrible return overall in the Donovan deal.
Not one position player included who will ever likely contribute on a MLB field.

What is this opinion based on other than the fact the predicting a lack of success is right the vast majority of the time with baseball prospects?

[ScotchMIrish]

He will have to improve. At 23 in AA - not particularly young for the level - he hit .265 with 7 HR 128 K. He does have speed with 37 SB. A+ ball in 2024 he struck out 126 times. His asset is speed and he needs to bring strikeouts down and BA/OBP up. Get the notion out of his head that he needs to swing for the fences.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Hey, if you can get a 4th or 5th OFer who can play anywhere as basically a throw in on a deal like that, you take what you can get, and if ever develops into something more, great.

[Melville]

Depth filler.
Terrible return overall in the Donovan deal.
Not one position player included who will ever likely contribute on a MLB field.

What is this opinion based on other than the fact the predicting a lack of success is right the vast majority of the time with baseball prospects?

STL wanted a 2nd comp pick for Donovan.
Rays wanted Williamson.
Ledbetter was the throw away to help all 3 teams achieve their actual goals.
Depth filler, nothing more.

[ClassicO]

Depth filler.
Terrible return overall in the Donovan deal.
Not one position player included who will ever likely contribute on a MLB field.

What players do you believe they could have obtained for Donny? It’s one thing to complain; another thing to offer solution. It separates the whiners from those with something to offer.

[rockondlouie]

Depth filler.
Terrible return overall in the Donovan deal.
Not one position player included who will ever likely contribute on a MLB field.

What players do you believe they could have obtained for Donny? It’s one thing to complain; another thing to offer solution. It separates the whiners from those with something to offer.

Mel's so far off base here, the return for Donny was solid and the two picks Bloom got (and added bonus money) made it well above what I expected.

[JohnnyMO]

Depth filler.
Terrible return overall in the Donovan deal.
Not one position player included who will ever likely contribute on a MLB field.

What is this opinion based on other than the fact the predicting a lack of success is right the vast majority of the time with baseball prospects?

STL wanted a 2nd comp pick for Donovan.
Rays wanted Williamson.
Ledbetter was the throw away to help all 3 teams achieve their actual goals.
Depth filler, nothing more.

This doesn’t come close to answering my question and I’m sincerely curious. Why do you think the return was terrible and none of the prospects will contribute at the MLB level?

[Talkin' Baseball]

Depth filler.
Terrible return overall in the Donovan deal.
Not one position player included who will ever likely contribute on a MLB field.

What is this opinion based on other than the fact the predicting a lack of success is right the vast majority of the time with baseball prospects?

STL wanted a 2nd comp pick for Donovan.
Rays wanted Williamson.
Ledbetter was the throw away to help all 3 teams achieve their actual goals.
Depth filler, nothing more.

This doesn’t come close to answering my question and I’m sincerely curious. Why do you think the return was terrible and none of the prospects will contribute at the MLB level?

He just played in AA at age 24. He did ok, but didn't excel there. At this rate if he ever plays in MLB, he will debut somewhere between ages 25-27. That's the trajectory of someone who bounces around (if he makes it at all), not someone who moves the needle. My apologies to the Ledbetter's for my gloomy outlook, but generally speaking that is how that plays out.

[ramfandan]

Depth filler.
Terrible return overall in the Donovan deal.
Not one position player included who will ever likely contribute on a MLB field.

What players do you believe they could have obtained for Donny? It’s one thing to complain; another thing to offer solution. It separates the whiners from those with something to offer.

Mel's so far off base here, the return for Donny was solid and the two picks Bloom got (and added bonus money) made it well above what I expected.

In the Donnie deal, the centerpiece for it to happen was a pitcher NOT a position player. Mariners GM Hollander had a quote in recent article that we (Seattle) knew for this trade to happen we would have to part ways with Cijntje. Without that, no deal.
Some CTers were hoping for a position player to be the key component but not for Bloom. Cijntje was rated in top 100 prospects and Baseball America had the kid rated as top fastball in Mariners system.
Position players in deal were going to be secondary to acquiring a top prospect pitcher.

[Basil Shabazz]

MiLB
1006 PAs 25/126 .269 .341 .428 .768
NCAA
561 PAs 28/114 3 .313 .419 .587 1.006

MiLB
912 PAs 23/109 .258 .346 .381 .728
NCAA
605 PAs 14/74 .272 .374 .415 .789

Player 1 is LEdbetter, Player 2 is Noot. Everyone wanted to anoint Noot as the next best thing, I'd say let's see what LedBetter is and play this thing out. Noot was an 8th round draft pick and LEdbetter was a 2nd round draft pick.

[ramfandan]

MiLB
1006 PAs 25/126 .269 .341 .428 .768
NCAA
561 PAs 28/114 3 .313 .419 .587 1.006

MiLB
912 PAs 23/109 .258 .346 .381 .728
NCAA
605 PAs 14/74 .272 .374 .415 .789

Player 1 is LEdbetter, Player 2 is Noot. Everyone wanted to anoint Noot as the next best thing, I'd say let's see what LedBetter is and play this thing out. Noot was an 8th round draft pick and LEdbetter was a 2nd round draft pick.

Like you , keeping an open mind . Not many teams thought much of Donovan so he wasn't taken til 7th round. Sometimes you get a good player further down the line that overall was not highly rated.