New Prospects Good Fit for M's
by Bob Sherwin, Seattle Times
June 30, 2004
If the measure of a good team is one that's strong up the middle, the Mariners added three building blocks Sunday with the trade of pitcher Freddy Garcia to the Chicago White Sox for three young players.
The M's received the catcher of the present in Miguel Olivo, the center fielder of the future in Jeremy Reed and, with a much longer view, perhaps the shortstop or third baseman of the future in Michael Morse.
Olivo, who reported to the Mariners yesterday, said Reed "is a great hitter. I see him as being real close to the big leagues."
Reed will report to Class AAA Tacoma, and Morse to Class AA San Antonio. Bill Bavasi, the Mariners' general manager, said Reed could figure in the mix in 2005, though probably not out of spring training.
"Our speculation is that sometime next year he could be here," Bavasi said, "but we don't put timetables on guys."
The competition ahead of Reed, 23, is not strong. Jamal Strong, the Rainiers' starting center fielder, doesn't have power and his arm is average. His strength is his speed with more than 230 stolen bases in 4-1/2 minor-league seasons.
Reed, 6 feet, 185 pounds, is a much more complete player. The left-handed-hitting Reed led the minors with a .373 average and .453 on-base percentage last season and was recognized as the Topps Minor League Player of the Year. Baseball America rated him the White Sox's No. 1 prospect.
The former second-round pick in 2002 from Long Beach State hit .275 for Charlotte in 73 games this season with eight home runs, 37 RBI and 12 steals. However, after he hit .325 in April, he has hit just .254 since. While playing for the U.S. Olympic qualifying team last year, he jammed his wrist against the outfield wall. He wore a splint on the wrist all winter and some have suggested his lower average this year is connected to his injury.
"When we made the deal, we have a guy who we know is going to hit. Is it going to translate to big-league power? You never know," Bavasi said of Reed. "But it's a lot more likely than the guy who hits a lot of home runs in the minors and strikes out a lot."
Reed's bat control is one of his strengths. He has struck out just 34 times in 276 at-bats this season. |
