Blaze Jordan and the dynasty Angels of the 2020's

[angelsnationtalk]

As the 2019 season comes to an end the Angels fans are looking ahead to a new season. The one thing left that can determine future potential is where we finish this year in terms of record. Some might say let’s tank the rest of the season so we can work our way into a top 10 draft pick. If the season ended today then we would have the 11th overall pick in the 2020 draft. Blaze Jordan was supposed to be on the radar for the 2021 draft. He reclassified and is now eligible to be drafted in the upcoming 2020 MLB draft. As an 11 year old, he was crushing 395 foot bombs and hit two 500 foot bombs as a 13 year old. He hit one that went 504 feet when he was 14 years old. He competed with the top college players and missed going to the final round by one home run. Jordan is originally a first basemen but has currently been working on losing weight and getting stronger to play 3B. So far, Blaze Jordan is ranked with well above average raw power as well as hitting ability. He has average to potential above average arm strength since he’s periodically used a closer sometimes pumping out 90-91 MPH fastballs… as a 16 year old. He does lack running skills but that should be the least of anyone’s worries. Blaze Jordan is currently only 16 years old and will be 17 when the draft comes around.

Had Blaze Jordan waited for the 2021 MLB draft, he likely would have been a top 5 pick. Since he’s now in the 2020 draft some people have him drafted around 10-15 and possibly 17th overall. This could play a factor in the Angels’ way. 

We first need to keep in mind that MLB teams do not draft for need in the first round. They go for the best player available. Period. So there shouldn’t be complaints about us needing pitching. Assuming we don’t trade Marsh or Adell then we have a stacked outfield for years to come. We currently have a stacked infield as well. The only problem with that is we are stacked and 2B and SS. Thaiss and Ward are at 3B but one will be traded. The Angels have always had a major hole at 3B in terms of legit prospects. This is especially true when it comes to finding a good bat for 3B. All this of course is just a wish list. Blaze Jordan wouldn’t be ready for the MLB until at least 2024. Unless he destroys the minors which could happen but he is very young so who knows. Superstars do fly through the minors and debut at 19 or 20 so it’s possible.

A potential 2024 lineup (with salary guesses):

David Fletcher (3B) ($5M)

Jo Adell (RF) ($15M)

Mike Trout (CF) ($36M)

Shohei Ohtani (DH) ($22-30M)

Blaze Jordan (1B) (Min)

Jeremiah Jackson (SS) (Min)

Brandon Marsh (LF) ($2M)

Catcher (Free Agent) ($10M)

Luis Rengifo (2B) (3M)

***(Plus 3 extra bench players adding up to $5M)***

Total starting lineup salary: $100M - $110M 

(All players are based IF we stick with high upside farm players. This will obviously not be finished product).

 

A potential 2024 Starting rotation (with salary and player guesses):

Gerrit Cole ($28M)

Shohei Ohtani (see lineup number)

Free Agent ($17M)

Griffin Canning ($5M)

Jose Soriano ($1M)

Jack Kochanowicz / Chirs Rodriguez (Min)

**OR another free agent around $17M)**

Total starting rotation salary: $53M - $75M

 

Bullpen

Closer: ($10M)

Ty Buttrey ($4M)

Keynan Middleton ($3M)

Noe Ramirez ($2M)

Taylor Cole ($1M)

Justin Anderson $1M)

Hector Yan (min)

Luis Madero (min)

26th man in bullpen (min)

Total bullpen salary: $20M - $25M

 

Total team salary: $173,000,000 - $210,000,000

MLB Salary Cap: $216,000,000

(Cap estimated if trend of +$2M/yr continues)

Lineup seems fairly strong in terms of contact ability, speed and power. Obviously a young lineup assuming everyone pans out. This lineup is very cost controlled with high upside players. Starting rotation is deep with talent and financially flexible. If 2023 to say 2030 is the time frame Eppler is looking at to contended every year then this could be the route he takes by not dealing talent like Marsh or Jackson. These are just predictions. But once Pujols and Upton are off the books it becomes very fun for the Angels.

[Second Base]

If Blaze Jordan is as good as you say he is, being draft eligible in 2020 won't cause his stock to fall outside of the top 10 because he's a year younger.

If anything, being a year younger will mean his stock will rise. So if he is that good, he won't be in the board at 11, he'll be off by the 5th pick.

[Docwaukee]

@Second Base didn't you mention that he was being held out of competitive tournaments?  

ball makes a loud sound off his bat but there seems to be a bit more hype than substance.  

I thought I heard that the 2020 draft was pretty deep on college pitching

[angelsnationtalk]

3 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

@Second Base didn't you mention that he was being held out of competitive tournaments?  

ball makes a loud sound off his bat but there seems to be a bit more hype than substance.  

I thought I heard that the 2020 draft was pretty deep on college pitching

I still think he drops down around the 10's

[Second Base]

8 minutes ago, angelsnationtalk said:

I still think he drops down around the 10's

If he does, it will be because of him as a player, and not his age.

[Second Base]

13 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

@Second Base didn't you mention that he was being held out of competitive tournaments?  

ball makes a loud sound off his bat but there seems to be a bit more hype than substance.  

I thought I heard that the 2020 draft was pretty deep on college pitching

Loud sound no doubt. It'll be interesting to see where he's picked. Either the internet hype is accurate or it's not. 

[Angelsjunky]

2 hours ago, Second Base said:

Loud sound no doubt. It'll be interesting to see where he's picked. Either the internet hype is accurate or it's not. 

[Angelsjunky]

3 minutes ago, cvdog said:

Can he pitch because until we find better SP's we can sign Babe Ruth and it won't matter. 

Great post.

Jordan won't be in the majors for ~5 years, so it doesn't matter if he can pitch as the Angels need to--and will--address their pitching problems before that.

 

[angelsnationtalk]

52 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

Great post.

Jordan won't be in the majors for ~5 years, so it doesn't matter if he can pitch as the Angels need to--and will--address their pitching problems before that.

 

Exactly. We have the field prospects. We could essentially sign Jordan and then get high profile college arms in the 2021 and 2022 draft and they’d be up in the majors around the same time as Jordan. 

By 2024 Pujols, Upton, Calhoun, Cozart and Simmons would essentially be gone. Plenty of money to move around. Off the top of my head I believe that’s ballpark range of $95M-$100M or somewhere around there. All those positions will be replaced with high ceiling prospects. (*Jordan, Marsh, Adell, Jackson/Rengifo/Wilson/Fletcher/Thaiss).

[tdawg87]

Draft him for his name alone.

[Fish Oil]

He hit two 500+ homers when he was 13, and another at 14. None at 15. None at 16. Sounds like he is regressing. 17 and over the hill?

[AngelsLakersFan]

That description doesn't sound like a good use of a first round pick to me.

[BackUpTheTruck]

The Angels have a better chance aquiring Blaze Pizza.

[angelsnationtalk]

2 hours ago, BackUpTheTruck said:

The Angels have a better chance aquiring Blaze Pizza.

As long as it’s not that shitty cauliflower crusted pizza then I’m okay with that. 

[angelsnationtalk]

4 hours ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

That description doesn't sound like a good use of a first round pick to me.

It’s 2019... All you need is a good highlight reel on YouTube and they’ll hand out contracts. It’s the new wave...

[TroutBaseball]

Blake Jordan Adams > Blake Parker Bridwell

[Second Base]

19 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

Draft him for his name alone.

Yeah, but he's white. Like really really white. Whiter and Brandon Marsh.

[Lou]

What a stupid name.

Like Bryce-level stupid.

[Angelsjunky]

5 minutes ago, Lou said:

What a stupid name.

Like Bryce-level stupid.

We can rename him D'Blaze.

(But I agree - worse than Bryce, which is just standard redneck. "Blaze" is like monster truck redneck.

[Lou]

3 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

We can rename him D'Blaze.

(But I agree - worse than Bryce, which is just standard redneck. "Blaze" is like monster truck redneck.

Excuse me?

D' is sacred, pal.

[Angelsjunky]

20 hours ago, angelsnationtalk said:

Exactly. We have the field prospects. We could essentially sign Jordan and then get high profile college arms in the 2021 and 2022 draft and they’d be up in the majors around the same time as Jordan. 

By 2024 Pujols, Upton, Calhoun, Cozart and Simmons would essentially be gone. Plenty of money to move around. Off the top of my head I believe that’s ballpark range of $95M-$100M or somewhere around there. All those positions will be replaced with high ceiling prospects. (*Jordan, Marsh, Adell, Jackson/Rengifo/Wilson/Fletcher/Thaiss).

Sure, although with two caveats. One, I'd like to think the gap between where we're at now--a 75ish win season--and perennial contention is a bit shorter than 5 years. Next year the team should be a wildcard contender; by 2021 or 22, they should be at least a darkhorse for the division. But sure, in terms of the current best prospects reaching prime and the team becoming a dominant force in the league, that's probably more 2023-25, 2022 if we're optimistic.

The other caveat is that by 2024, most of those relievers will be long gone. Bullpens tend to be far more transitory than rotations. I would guess that some of the current minor league starters will end up as bullpen pitchers. I think Chuck was suspect that for Suarez, which I'm inclined to agree with. I could also see Chris Rodriguez ending up in the bullpen, maybe guys like Madero, Hernandez, Bradish, Ortega, etc. Agree on Yan. But I think Anderson, Ramirez, Cole, and maybe Buttrey and Middleton will be gone.

The point being, as the Angels have more decent pitching prospects, the second tier starters may end up filling out the bullpen.

[tdawg87]

As long as he chews Copenhagen and has a ratstache I am totally on board.

Also he comes to bat to a different Kid Rock song every game.

[Angelsjunky]

7 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

As long as he chews Copenhagen and has a ratstache I am totally on board.

Also he comes to bat to a different Kid Rock song every game.

We need a reverse schwing reaction - maybe a soggy cucumber. @Chuckster70?

[angelsnationtalk]

6 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

Sure, although with two caveats. One, I'd like to think the gap between where we're at now--a 75ish win season--and perennial contention is a bit shorter than 5 years. Next year the team should be a wildcard contender; by 2021 or 22, they should be at least a darkhorse for the division. But sure, in terms of the current best prospects reaching prime and the team becoming a dominant force in the league, that's probably more 2023-25, 2022 if we're optimistic.

The other caveat is that by 2024, most of those relievers will be long gone. Bullpens tend to be far more transitory than rotations. I would guess that some of the current minor league starters will end up as bullpen pitchers. I think Chuck was suspect that for Suarez, which I'm inclined to agree with. I could also see Chris Rodriguez ending up in the bullpen, maybe guys like Madero, Hernandez, Bradish, Ortega, etc. Agree on Yan. But I think Anderson, Ramirez, Cole, and maybe Buttrey and Middleton will be gone.

The point being, as the Angels have more decent pitching prospects, the second tier starters may end up filling out the bullpen.

I think you're right with Madero, Hernandez, Bradish, Ortega and more being bullpen pieces. I think they still want Rodriguez to get healthy to be a starter since he has the stuff for it. But yes, 2023-2030 could be one hell of a team.

This is why I don't blame Eppler toooooooo much for not making trades. At least not trading Marsh or Jackson because I think they can become key players in the future. Obviously assuming they keep progressing in their development.

[tdawg87]

Blaze Jordan should come to the MLB draft wearing a MAGA hat.