i did a double take on Denny Stark (1974 not 1984)

Hence the two Tommy John surgeries (too young to be throwing that hard) and the eventual return to health (faster recovery). Fixed.

Besides Triunfel who is the next best INF option?

Either Mario Martinez or Jharmidy deJesus. Martinez is a slicker defender, but some lingering issues from spring training have had him playing first instead of third to start the season. He projects as more of an average hitter and doubles hitter than a power hitter. deJesus is more clunky around the bag, but should hit for better power, if he can make the proper adjustments moving up.

If you’re looking for middle infielders, Gabriel Noriega, who is still in extended, is regarded as the best glove in the system but can barely hit at all, so he may end up as Oswaldo Navarro v2.0.

The middle infield duo at High Desert of 2B Edilio Colina and SS Juan Diaz isn’t bad, as org filler goes, but I don’t think either will be cracking the Future Forty any time soon. Diaz has a better chance, as he was pushed hard from a young age and scouts have generally liked his tools.

Overall, there’s some solid depth at third, but little up the middle, which is why the trade of Valbuena stung a bit. There’s no one left down there who can do it all, so to speak.

Besides Triunfel who is the next best INF option?

Thanks,

Question if you have a second Jay, who would you compare Mike Carp to? Do you think he can be a productive major league regular?

I don’t really like to do comps because I believe other people are much better qualified for it. Based off his career numbers to date, I can see him putting up Tino Martinez-like numbers, maybe with a few more walks, more Ks, and the slider dragged a little bit from the HR end of the spectrum to the 2B end. I don’t see many 30+ home runs seasons from him (definitely not 44, though Tino himself only had three seasons with over 30 dingers), but 25 +/- 3 seems about reasonable, along with 30+ doubles. The downside is that he’s not likely to be mistaken for a quality fielder, so you’re looking at a potentially slightly above average hitter and a below average fielder. That’s hardly ideal, but still better than the rest of the internal options, and the price is right.

When he played in Everett we always wondered if Mumba Rivera was related to the former Twin Bombo Rivera

That would be great if he was, but Bombo was from Puerto Rico and Mumba is from the U.S. Virgin Islands, so I don’t think so.

When he played in Everett we always wondered if Mumba Rivera was related to the former Twin Bombo Rivera…