MLB.com
1. Anthony Rizzo, 1B (Epstein's big trade)
2. Brett Jackson, OF (Hendry's last best pick)
3. Javier Baez, SS (young, raw)
4. Matt Szczur, OF (got a Smardzilla guaranteed contract from Hendry to forgo football)
5. Chris Carpenter, RP (Cashner light)
6. Dillon Maples, SP (the late rounder Hendry paid 1st round money on last year)
7. Trey McNutt, SP (he had to stay so Archer went in the Garza deal)
8. Rafael Dolis, RP (been hanging around a long time with little ML experience)
9. Robert Whitenack, SP (eh?)
10. Reggie Golden, OF (on top list for a while but seems not to be promoted up)
11. Junior Lake, SS (potential rising star)
12. Josh Vitters, 3B (perennial bust candidate)
13. Ronald Torreyes, 2B (maybe the key in the Marshall deal)
14. Ben Wells, SP (eh?)
15. Dan Vogelbach, 1B (the large high school kid the Cubs overpaid for in the draft)
16. Jeimer Candelario, 3B (don't know, another new Hoyer international signee???)
17. Gioskar Amaya, IF (don't know, another new Hoyer international signee???)
18. Marco Hernandez, SS (don't know, another new Hoyer international signee???)
19. Dave Sappelt, OF (the toss in in the Marshall deal; another Campana)
20. Pin-Chieh Chen, OF (don't know, another new Hoyer international signee???)
Law:
1. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
2. Brett Jackson, OF
3. Javier Baez, SS
4. Trey McNutt, RHP
5. Zach Cates, RHP
6. Wellington Castillo, C
7. Dillon Maples, RHP
8. Josh Vitters, 3B
9. Reggie Golden, OF
10. Matt Szczur, CF
The Cubs had three prospects in Law’s top 100, – outfielder Brett Jackson, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, and shortstop Javier Baez. Rizzo, who comes in at 36. Jackson, who is roundly considered a top 40 prospect by other lists, is ranked 89th by Law. Baez, usually in the top 50, is 95th.
So what do the authors agree on?
Rizzo is the best Cubs prospect. He is about 1/2 year away from the big leagues, or longer if LaHair does not struggle. Brett Jackson is the second best prospect, and he is ready to play but is blocked by Byrd in centerfield. Baez is a raw shortstop with upside potential, but Castro is the Cubs shortstop for the long term (unless they switch him to third). McNutt is the best pitching prospect, but did not have a great 2011. Maples is the second best pitching prospect, just signed out of college. Will he be fast tracked? Szczur is an overpaid outfielder who is also being blocked by Soriano and DeJesus so it less certain whether he will wallow in the minors for years to come. Golden is a young Class A prospect like former Cub Corey Patterson who may slowly work his way up the ladder to the majors some day. Vitters is the 8th best prospect, but his stock is fading as each year passes.
When the talk from Wrigley is that the turnaround of the organization will be completed by 2013 (with this year being the team's Lost Season), outsiders view the minor league system as being very weak. Even if Epstein-Hoyer-McLeod have an excellent draft in June, those players will be three years away from the majors . . . so the turn around ETA is more like 2015.
