Adrian Cardenas claimed by Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs on Monday the 6^th of February claimed, Adrian Cardenas, a highly touted prospect sometime ago. Cardenas was claimed by the Cubs, and designated INF Blake Dewitt for assignment. Only 24 years old and still hitting for contact in the minors, this could possibly pay off for the Cubbies.

Adrian was drafted in the 1^st round of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. During the 2008 season, he was acquired by the Oakland A’s. Cardenas best season came in 2011 in AAA Sacramento, where he played in 127 games from 4 different positions, to include LF, SS, 2B, and 3B. He split most of his time between LF and 2B, and he could possibly be a 4^th infielder for the Cubs this season. Cardenas had a respectable line from his minor league career from 06’-11’; .303 BA, 749 H, 2,475 AB, 29 HR, 164 EBH, 260 BB, 354 K.

Not all top prospects live up to their hype; however, most top prospects do make it to the big show. I have been caught up in fantasy worlds where I was big on certain named players to draft in my minor league draft, turned out to be duds. A lot of people have hard times trading prospects for MLB players, just due to the prospects up side; however, you never know what they will produce. For instance, in my Dynasty league, I traded Dee Gordon and Brandon Phillips for Ryan Howard, and Matt Garza. Both of which have pros and cons, my pros being I still had Castro and Cabrera to fill my SS void, and had no 1B, and added another top notch pitcher. I would have liked to keep Gordon, but from last year, all I could see in him was speed, average, and runs. That does give me 3 out of 6 categories, but Howard will give me a good 5 out of 6 categories and add Garza stats.

You have to build your minor league system to a certain way where you can trade them, and still produce young talent. If you draft all AA and AAA players, and in one to two years, those players are either duds so you have to drop them, or you need to bring them up. Two problems, one, you wasted draft picks on duds, and two not only do you have to bring up your minor league players; you have to trade/release players from your MLB roster. Draft smart, and draft with confidence, don’t be afraid to trade away highly touted minor league players for MLB players you know can produce.