Thursday, September 29, 2005

Nats Trade for Prospects

The Red Sox acquired Mike Stanton from the Nationals in exchange for two prospects, RHP Rhys Taylor and RHP Yader Peralta. Given that this is basically a three game rental for the Yankees series, the term prospects is probably a bit generous.

Taylor, 20, went 2-2 with a 1.49 ERA in 11 games (5 starts) for the Red Sox's Gulf Coast League entry this season in his professional debut in the United States. Taylor signed with the Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent after pitching last summer in the Australian Summer Baseball League. During his 11-start stint in the GCL, Taylor posted a .209 batting average against and walked just 1.7 batters per 9.0 innings. The 19-year old Peralta went a combined 2-3 with four saves and a 4.57 ERA (23 ER/45.1 IP) in 27 games out of the bullpen for a trio of Red Sox affiliates: Greenville, Lowell and the GCL Red Sox. In three professional seasons, Peralta's ERA is 3.33 (50 ER/135.0 IP).

I don't know much about either prospect. Guys over at Yuda's have uncovered this about Taylor.
According to the man who signed Taylor, Jon Deeble - the Australian Olympic baseball coach who is also the director of Pacific Rim scouting for the Red Sox - Taylor is potentially one of the best pitching talents Australia has produced in some time. "There might be a few kids around who could throw as fast as him, but there would be none who are faster," Deeble said yesterday. What impressed Deeble was obviously Taylor's fast ball, but also the fact that at only 17, he already stood 187 centimetres and was likely to grow more. "Back then, he was 81 to 83 miles per hour (130-134 km/h) and now he is up into the high 80s and we see him filling out nicely in the body," Deeble said. "He's six three now (191 centimetres) and only 154 pounds (70 kilograms) and we see him getting a bit taller and being 224 pounds (102 kilograms). "I just think he has got a good arm and good free lose delivery. Obviously, he's a project for us, but hopefully he can add a bit of muscle and I think he can throw in the mid-90s (150 km/h), which is a good above average major league fast ball."

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