This article is part of our John Sickels' Column series.
Summer Prospect Trade Analysis - the Joe Blanton Trade
As the summer progresses, we will analyze the prospects involved in major league trades. Watch this space!
Adrian Cardenas, 2B (Phillies to Athletics in Blanton Trade)
A supplemental first round pick in 2006 out of high school in Miami, Cardenas is a skilled line drive hitter with speed and gap power. At the time of the trade, he was hitting .309/.374/.444 with 16 steals in 16 attempts at Clearwater in the Florida State League. Scouts like his quick bat and contact ability, though he might need to sharpen his strike zone judgment a bit. Cardenas has a strong throwing arm, but moved off shortstop this year due to limited range. He could be similar to Todd Walker or Adam Kennedy as a player. Just 20 years old, he has plenty of time to improve.
Josh Outman, LHP (Phillies to Athletics in Blanton Trade)
A 23 year-old southpaw, Outman was a 10th round pick in 2005 out of Central Missouri State University. His best pitch is a nasty slider, but his fastball is respectable at 89-92 MPH and has hit 94 at times. Used as a starter earlier in his career, he converted to relief work this year at Double-A Reading, posting a 3.20 ERA and a 66:37 K:BB ratio in 70 innings, with 68 hits allowed. He held lefties to a .198 average, but his stuff is good enough that he doesn't have to be confined to a pure LOOGY (Lefty-One-Out-GuY) role. He could see major league action later this summer for Oakland.
Matt Spencer, OF (Phillies to Athletics in Blanton Trade)
The Phillies drafted Spencer in the third round of the 2007 draft, out of Arizona State. He was very successful for the Sun Devils in college, but his transition to pro ball hasn't been as easy. Hitting .249/.317/.367 this year in 84 games for High-A Clearwater, Spencer has yet to live up to the power potential scouts see in his left-handed bat. At age 22 he still has some time on the development clock, but despite his college success it remains to be seen if he'll hit sufficiently with wood. He has a strong arm and is a good right fielder.
Article first appeared 7/19/08
