Prospect Yourself

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus recently took a look at how the Yankees prospects for the future will have an impact for 2008.

2008 Rookies: Joba Chamberlain is probably the most well-known rookie in the game. It's foolish to expect him to match last year's dominance, but he'll still be pretty damn good. Ian Kennedy looks like he'll break camp at the end of the rotation, and that's the right decision, as he's a solid big league starter now and will remain so for at least the next decade. While he won't break camp with the big boys, righty Alan Horne will likely make his debut at some point during the year.

Minor League Road Trip: Double-A Trenton's outfield includes Austin Jackson and Jose Tabata, and they're worth the price of admission alone, but they'll be joined by Colin Curtis, a guy who still has some upside. The Triple-A staff will be watched closely, as Horne, Ross Ohlendorf, Humberto Sanchez, and Kevin Whelan will all be trying to pitch their way to big league looks.

Pivotal Season: After missing all of 2007 recovering from Tommy John surgery, Sanchez turns 25 in May and needs to rebound quickly. As promising as Tabata is, some want to see the talk stop, and the elite production begin.

I Like Him Better Than Most: Control issues and some elbow problems dropped righty Dellin Betances' stock in many people's eyes, but his size, stuff, and makeup still give him a ceiling that few teenage pitchers can match.

Don't Believe The Hype: Despite the fact that he won 15 games last year at Double-A, right-hander Jeff Marquez is a bit of a one-trick pony who gets a ton of groundballs with his plus sinker, but his below-average secondary stuff limits his ability to miss bats.

Get Your Bags Ready? The Yankees' strength is pitching, so that will be likely what is offered around at the trade deadline. At the same time, this is the Yankees, and winning in the big leagues is priorities number one, two, and three, so anyone could be fair game.

Next Year's No. 1 Prospect Odds: Chamberlain and Kennedy in the big leagues leave Tabata and Jackson as the top prospects in the system, and while Jackson ranks as a slighty better prospect right now, Tabata is more capable of a breakout campaign.

Jose Tabata: 9-5
Austin Jackson: 5-2
Jesus Montero: 15-1
Dellin Betances: 50-1

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