With the upcoming trade deadline, i wanted to do a little overview of what the Cards have on the farm and the value which they have to us and other teams.

St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Rankings 2008

A brief synopsis of the system; I’ve taken the top 15 or so of the top cardinal prospects and I have given them a number from 1-1000 based on their performance in the minors, potential, and overall hype. In the system, the number translates into what type of major league player the Cardinals could acquire straight up for said player. After that, you can take my projections and rankings to turn into packages for possible trade deadline acquisitions.  Enjoy!

1. Colby Rasmus:  by far the best prospect on the farm, five tool player who translates into an All Star center fielder and potentially could be the leadoff man for years to come. However he has yet to show dominance of AAA pitching like we could have hoped. That being said, he is starting to put it all together and we could see him at Busch within a few months.  

Overall Rank: 950

Straight up trade: AJ Burnett, Jason Bay,

Trending: UP

2. Chris Perez: even though he has been with the big club for the majority of the season, the sample size is too small to tell what kind of major leaguer he could be. At best a shutdown closer, at worst a journeyman reliever with great stuff who could never put it all together. If he figures out how to be a pitcher, not a thrower, he is destined for greatness.

Overall Rank: 700

Straight up trade:  Jhonny Peralta

Trending: DOWN

3. Kyle McClellan: Another player who has been with the big club for a majority of the season, but still has value to other teams. He has nasty stuff but hitters are changing their approaches which he must adapt to. Projects as a middle of the line starter or a top setup man down the road.

Overall Rank: 675

Straight up trade: Brian Fuentes

Trending: UP

4. Bryan Anderson: Left-handed hitting catchers are a commodity in the majors, especially ones that can hit for average like Anderson. He could be a tradeable commodity, because he is a future starting catcher blocked by Yadier Molina. While the defense can only be tabbed as average, he has done nothing but hit everywhere he goes.

Overall Rank: 625

Straight up trade: Damaso Marte

Trending: UP

5. Jaime Garcia: Left-handed starting pitchers are another commodity in this league, however ones who stay healthy are often great. This is not the case for Garcia, who has stayed healthy rarely during his pro career. He may project as a back end rotation pitcher, but I personally was worried at his velocity barely reaching 90 mph during his first appearance.

Overall Rank: 575

Straight up trade: Christian Guzman

Trending: DOWN

6. David Freese: Most likely the third baseman of the future for the birds, has been impressive so far at AAA this year. Although he is on the old side for a top of the line prospect, he has shown improvements in his game on his ascent toward the major leagues.

Overall Rank: 550

Straight up trade: Matt Herges

Trending: UP

7. Jess Todd: Probably the prospect that is the most on the rise in the minor leagues, Todd has a fastball-slider combo which has dominated AA talent. His appearance in the futures game gave me mixed reviews, but he is a fast rising prospect with top end rotation potential.

Overall Rank: 545

Straight up trade: Clint Barmes

Trending: UP

8. Adam Ottavino: the Cardinals first round pick back in 2006, has struggled a tad in every team he has been on, yet he has the stuff to make it to the big leagues as a back end rotation starter.

Overall Rank: 525

Straight up trade: Chad Bradford

Trending: EVEN

9. Pete Kozma: The card’s first round pick in 2007, has played well in his pro career. The type of guy who doesn’t do anything spectacular, but does everything well. He reminds me a bit of a Jack Wilson type.

Overall Rank: 510

Straight up trade: Chad Qualls

Trending: UP

10. Brett Wallace: The recent first round pick has the potential to be in the big leagues by September of next year. With a little more development, could become a perennial 30HR, 100RBI type of player. The only knock on this guy is that he may not be a third baseman when he gets to the big leagues.

Overall Rank: 500

Straight up trade: Ron Mahay

Trending: UP

11. Clayton Mortensen: Another fast rising prospect who could be in the big leagues by September of this year. Drafted a few years ago and is already in Memphis. However it would probably be best for him to get another year’s worth of seasoning before becoming a big leaguer for good.

Overall Rank: 495

Straight up trade: Masahide Kobayashi

Trending: UP

12: Tyler Herron: Pitched well at quad cities but is struggling at Springfield. He was a hot prospect but has dropped of and Todd and Mortensen have taken his place.

Overall Rank: 475

Straight up trade:  Jimmy Gobble

Trending: DOWN

13. Joe Mather: He has only looked mildly impressive in his time in the big leagues. If he stays with the club, he fits the bill of a Scott Speizio type. No real place for him to start as a cardinal in the future, tradeable commodity.

Overall Rank: 470

Straight up trade: Ryan Rowland-Smith

Trending: DOWN

14. Roberto De La Cruz: 16 year old outfielder who the Cards signed out of Latin America. Questions surround what his real last name is have surfaced, but this kid will be a big boost to scouting outside the US when he become a big leaguer in 6 or 7 years.

Overall Rank: 465

Straight up trade: Dave Borkowski

Trending: UP

15. Allen Craig: solid third baseman who could be a tradable commodity due to the excess of top third baseman in the system. Is performing in AA but will probably only make it in another organization.

Overall Rank: 450

Straight up trade: Andy Marte

Trending: EVEN