Per Buster Olney's ESPN Insider Blog, via mlbtraderumors.com:

 

People in MLB front offices believe that the Marlins aren’t developing quite as much talent as they once did. One talent evaluator suggests the Marlins may have to lock up their current players to remain competitive. Dan Uggla and Ricky Nolasco are both extension candidates, but the Marlins aren’t close to signing either of them.

 

I see no indication that this the case, since we had 3 ligitimate ROY candidates on the team this year and have more exciting players in the pipeline. I perhaps can see their point when it comes to pitching, but the qualtiy development just seems to have shifted to position players.

Depends upon what they mean by "like they used to"

 

Because with Stanton, Sanchez, Coghlan, Morrison, Volstad, and Cousins on the big club, the minors look pretty sparse.

Still, 3/5ths of our rotation next Opening Day should be "homegrown" with JJ, Volstad and either Sanabia or West

You're missing the point. After this last round of prospects reaches the majors, there's really no one left.

 

This is mostly because they haven't had a firesale in a while. Those are the times where they restocked on OTHER team's minor league talent.

 

Then again, they did completely whiff in the Cabrera trade, which could really set the franchise back.

Aside from Dominguez, all of the very good young talent in the organization is already pretty much up in the big leagues; so I understand what Olney is trying to say.

Yeah. The minor league system isn't filled with many future major league caliber players. All those guys with big potential are already in the majors.

 

You could say that the Cabrera trade has affected our lack of major league team more than our minor league system. The main reason for the minor leagues not being as stocked as they used to is because of the simple fact that when we have traded for prospects, it hasn't worked out recently, and as stated, we haven't had a fire sale, so we haven't been able to restock our minor league system.

 

Most importantly however, is since 2008, our drafting hasn't been that good. All of our good prospects now in the majors were taken in the year 2007 or earlier. In the 08 and 09 drafts, we've pretty much failed to draft an impact prospect.

I suspect that Beinfest is feeling some pressure from Loria.

I suspect that Beinfest is feeling some pressure from Loria.

 

 

 

Beinfest might get a chance to interview for the Mets job. I hope not.

Most importantly however, is since 2008, our drafting hasn't been that good. All of our good prospects now in the majors were taken in the year 2007 or earlier. In the 08 and 09 drafts, we've pretty much failed to draft an impact prospect.

 

 

'08: Brad Hand and Edgar Olmos

'09: Chad James

And none of those guys are guaranteed major leaguers. Hell, none are in the top 100 prospects in baseball.

 

That's my definition of an impact prospect.

If James and Hand aren't in the top-100, they are right on the cusp.

I suspect that Beinfest is feeling some pressure from Loria.

 

 

 

Beinfest might get a chance to interview for the Mets job. I hope not.

I'm ready for a new GM at this point. I'm getting a little sick of Beinfestball, although I recognize him as an above average GM.

 

However, I wouldn't want him going to another team within the NL East.

I've thought the drafting we've done has been kinda so-so for a few years now. Not exactly what a team that lives & dies by young talent can afford to do. Especially when our trades have been bombouts too. It puts us way behind the 8-ball in a couple of years unless Loria busts out the wallet, which no one can ever expect that to happen.

If James and Hand aren't in the top-100, they are right on the cusp.

 

 

You also have to keep in mind that it's too early to judge those years. In other sports the draft can and does show immediate results, in MLB it dosen't. With a few exceptions, of course. But that comes from drafting in the top 2 or 3 spots. And we haven't been there because our record has been just good enough to keep us lower.

The biggest difference in player development that I see is the lack of international signings. The draft allows for the team to get a few good players each year, but if the Marlins would spend money on some players from outside the U.S. they could stand to improve the farm system as a whole. As of right now the only international player that appears to have the tools to progress is Marcell Ozuna, back in the day the Marlins had a pipeline of players coming up through the system like Catillo, Gonzalez, Heredia and Cabrera.

And none of those guys are guaranteed major leaguers. Hell, none are in the top 100 prospects in baseball.

 

That's my definition of an impact prospect.

 

Chris Coghlan and Gaby Sanchez weren't top 100 players, Cameron Maybin was top 10. Prospect lists are important as it's a road map, but this isn't in stone. And you can't fault them for dominating with Stanton, Morrison, Volstad, Coghlan, Gaby, etc the last few years. How about we let the A kids develop?

 

Like NNY said, Hand, James, Olmos, and I'll add Rasmussen, Jennings, Marinez, and Ceda, all project to be above average arms and have had good/great success so far. Dominguez is a future starter. That's not a bad top of the farm. It's not great, but it's not bottom 10 especially when there is high high potential young bats like Yelich and Skipworth who could just turn it on.

 

Good, not great. I'd appreciate a strong 2011 draft to help restock, but this isn't that big of a deal. The Marlins arguably have the best young talent in baseball right now to build around. All that is missing on this team, is a # 2 lefty starter and 2 relievers.

Think about this for next year

 

1B: Reliable 27 year old with OBP skills

2B: Monster hitting 31 year old

3B: RotY OBP man 26 YO

SS: Elite player 26 YO

LF: Amazing upside, already has OBP skills 23 YO

CF: Questionable 24 YO that shows flashes of what he could be

RF: Amazing Upside 21 YO with superb power

 

We could be a catcher short of set for the next 6 years

Olney's assertion is mostly based on a silly distinction between "developing talent" referring only to players in the Minor Leagues, as opposed to in the Major Leagues.

To me, this makes little sense. We graduated Gaby, Logan, and Stanton this year, along with Sanabia. That's a damn good crop. 2 potential all-stars, an average starter, and an SP who looks to already be at least a reasonable #5 with #3/#4 upside.

Olney's assertion is mostly based on a silly distinction between "developing talent" referring only to players in the Minor Leagues, as opposed to in the Major Leagues.

To me, this makes little sense. We graduated Gaby, Logan, and Stanton this year, along with Sanabia. That's a damn good crop. 2 potential all-stars, an average starter, and an SP who looks to already be at least a reasonable #5 with #3/#4 upside.

 

 

This and also what Lou said. I think we are developing our guys fine. It just so happened that a lot of them happened to make the club this year. Even Ozzie came up and showed what he can do.

This definitely was premature on Olney's part. Now if we go two or three seasons and don't call up any players that produce, then I can see this being written. But not after just finishing a season that saw the production we got out of rookies Gaby Sanchez, Logan Morrison, and Mike Stanton - all talent the Marlins developed.

I suspect that Beinfest is feeling some pressure from Loria.

 

 

 

Beinfest might get a chance to interview for the Mets job. I hope not.

I'm ready for a new GM at this point. I'm getting a little sick of Beinfestball, although I recognize him as an above average GM.

 

However, I wouldn't want him going to another team within the NL East.

 

Yeah, I can't say I disagree. We all know the hand that Beinfest has been dealt isn't always a good one. But he has still whiffed on things that he knew it was 100 percent vital for this team to have success with (trading Cabrera, getting the most out of all the guys we traded for in 2006 before they became too expensive). It is possible that we could have been in worse shape, but either way I don't see us improving with Beinfest's plan (or lack thereof) and it may be difficult to even continue treading water under the current philosophy. Even good baseball men reach a point in certain situations where they just aren't having success. In that case, it's time to look forward.