Trade survivors offer Jays depth
Over the course of just four days last month Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos traded 11 pitching prospects — five of whom were widely considered among the organization’s top 10 — to bolster his big-league club for the post-season.
If you include last November’s deal for Josh Donaldson, Anthopoulos has traded 14 minor-league prospects in the last year. It’s a remarkable overhaul of what had been praised as one of the deepest farm systems in baseball. But blue chippers still remain. Here’s a look at some of those who survived the trade deadline:
DALTON POMPEY, CF
Age: 22 Level: Triple-A 2015 stats: .307/.382/.422, 21 stolen bases MLB ETA: September 2015 With Daniel Norris dealt to Detroit as part of the David Price deal, Pompey vaults to the top of the Jays’ prospect rankings. The speedy Mississauga native made the big-league club out of spring training, but struggled early in the season and was sent back to the minors to refine his game. He is expected to rejoin the Jays when rosters expand in September.
ANTHONY ALFORD, OF
Age: 21 Level: Class-A (Advanced) 2015 stats: .296/.395/.409, 24 stolen bases MLB ETA: 2018 A former two-sport star who was quarterback at Mississippi and split his time between football and baseball before this season, Alford may be the best pure athlete in the Jays’ system. This is his first season playing baseball full time and while he is still refining his fundamentals, he has shown an exceptional aptitude for the professional game, earning a promotion earlier this season from low-A Lansing to high-A Dunedin.
SEAN REID-FOLEY
Age: 19 Level: Class-A 2015 stats: 4-9, 4.21 ERA, 11.5 K/9 MLB ETA: 2018 The Jays’ second-round draft pick in 2014, Reid-Foley now stands as the organization’s top pitching prospect. At six-foot-three and 220 lbs., he is a power right-hander who can touch 98 m.p.h. with his fastball. He earned a promotion to Dunedin earlier this year but struggled in eight starts and was sent back to Class-A Lansing.
MAX PENTECOST, C
Age: 22 Level: Class-A (Advanced) 2015 stats: Injured MLB ETA: 2017 The second of the Jays’ two firstround picks in 2014, Pentecost has yet to play this year following offseason shoulder surgery — his second in as many years. He is the organization’s top catching prospect. In 19 games for the short-season Vancouver Canadians last year, the Georgia native hit .313 with zero homers and nine RBI.
VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR., OF
Age: 16 Level: N/A 2015 stats: None MLB ETA: 2020 Considered the top international free agent this season, the Jays signed the Montreal-born Dominican teen to a deal worth $3.9 million (U.S). The son and namesake of the former Expos great is at least a halfdecade away from the big leagues, but scouts rave about his raw power and advanced approach at the plate.