The top three hold little in the way of surprise. It serves as further illustration though of how far this system has come in recent years that each of these players would be at least even odds to be a league average major league contributor right now. =============================================================================== #3 - Chris Perez - Age: 24 Rank: erik - 3, roarke - 3, azruavatar - 5 2008: (AAA) 25.1 IP, 38K/12BB, 50% GB, 3.59 FIP (MLB) 41.2 IP, 42K/22BB, 40% GB, 4.31 FIP Player Comment: I can understand the argument that Perez might not be ready to take over the closer’s role full time. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but I can understand it. However, I have a difficult time with the idea that the solution is to sign a “proven closer” for multiple years. In Chris Perez we have a cost-controlled young pitcher that can dominate the end of games. I think he is ready to assume that mantle now, but blocking his progress for the foreseeable future and spending available budget on a position of organizational strength would border on tragic. ~roarke Chris Perez remains the best reliever in the Cardinals system. A fastball that sits 94-96 and touches 98 with a biting slider gives him a devastating arsenal to become the Cardinals future closer. Even upon advancing to the MLB, Perez continued to strike out a batter an inning with decent (for him) control. Avoiding a case of the late inning yips in the early save opportunities this season will be key for Perez to gain a foothold on a position he could hold for many years to come. ~azruavatar All this footsie the Cardinals have played with Brian Fuentes makes me wonder what if the Cardinals properly esteem Perez. So his debut wasn’t completely mind-blowing. Handing out a big, three year contract to an aging pitcher that isn’t miles apart of Perez would have been a horrid idea and I’m glad it blew up. A one year stop gap option is justifiable, I suppose. I hope Perez comes to camp and shows the Cardinals how much wheel-spinning they were actually doing this winter haggling for a “proven closer”. ~erik #2 - Brett Wallace - Age: 22 Rank: erik - 2, roarke - 2, azruavatar - 2 2008: (A) 177 PAs, .327/.418/.490, .398 wOBA (AA) 57 PAs, .367/.456/.653, .474 wOBA Player Comment: Defensively limited players are not my thing. Wallace has a huge hurdle to overcome as someone who is likely no better than below average at 3B or average at 1B. The question is less about whether his bat will make up for that — it will — and more about how valuable he’ll really be when it’s all said and done. Does he become something like a +3 player (Justin Morneau 2008) or a +5 player (Kevin Youklis 2008)? Neither of those are comps, rather they serve as benchmarks for value: 3 wins = .300/.375/.500 or 5 wins = .300/.400/.550. Wallace is a true offensive talent, which is good because he’ll need it to carry him to the bigs. ~azruavatar Mozeliak recently stated that Craig, Freese and Wallace will get looks at different positions this spring besides 3B, with Wallace getting some time in left field. Envisioning the Walrus lumbering around in the outfield isn’t pretty, but no matter. The Cardinals drafted him for one reason: His bat, and it should more than make up for his defensive liabilities. But AZ stated, it does cut into his overall value. I still hold to a tiny sliver of hope he could stick at 3B, at least for a couple of seasons. ~erik I was not particularly enamored with the Wallace pick on draft day, but his immediate success quickly won me over. I am as concerned as the others about what position Wallace will ultimately play, but his bat should play anywhere. Even if the most practical use for Wallace in the long run is as a trading chip to an American League team, his value in that role should be very high. I am hopeful that he is able to find a defensive home for the Cardinals for a few years, at least. ~roarke #1 - Colby Rasmus - Age: 22 Rank: erik - 1, roarke - 1, azruavatar - 1 2008: (AAA) 386 PAs, .251/.345/.396, .324 wOBA Player Comment: Can hit for power? Check. Gets on base? Check. Plays plus defense in centerfield? Check. There was some gnashing of teeth this past season when Colby stumbled in AAA. Much like Albert has spoiled us in the big leagues, Colby has done the same in the minors raising expectations to a point where having an ok season just wasn’t enough. There’s little more to be said about Rasmus at this point: he’ll either pan out or he won’t. Bet the former. ~azruavatar Colby is the total package. I don’t read a whole lot to his weird 2008 season, if anything it probably made him more mature. Not much else to say that hasn’t been said about Colby. I can’t wait to see him in action in 2009. ~erik Despite Colby’s up and down 2008 season, my biggest worry about his future lies with the way he will be handled by the organization. The concern may not be warranted, but there have been enough questionable situations with other players in the organization that the awkward handling of Colby at the end of last season made me a bit nervous. Presuming that those kind of issues are not a factor, I fully expect Colby to be solid in year one and spectacular in the not-too-distant future. ~roarke --

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