Steamed Selig will select “significant player” from Cubs for Red Sox, compensation for Epstein

Since “Thief-O” Epstein and Ben Cherington cannot agree on what the former Boston GM is “worth,” Baseball Commissioner In Perpetuity, Allan Huber “Bud” Selig, will decide which player should be awarded to the Red Sox as “compensation” for losing Epstein, when he skipped out on his contract.

It is reported that the wise and guileless, former used car salesman, Mr. Selig, is duly disturbed at the idea of a person, such as Mr. Epstein, not honoring his contract. Thus, this minor transaction has risen to the level of a major league morality play, where the Red Sox may receive what the pundits and gossip-mongers on the internet are calling a “significant player,” perhaps even one from the Cubs’ 25-man core roster.

The Cubs’ GM was required by miffed Mr. Commish to submit to a list of players he is willing to hand over to the Sox [presumably, just one] and we can exclusively confirm there is no truth to the rumor that his list had but a single name: Anthony Rizzo, former Red Sock and Padre prospect.

Speculation has narrowed to two players that are on the list: Josh Vitters [3b] and Randy Wells [RHP], the latter could compete for the #5 starter slot in the 2012 rotation, or simply be more bullpen fodder. Vitters is still a work-in-progress and a case of arrested development [via strikeout] in AAA and some scouts have set his ceiling at AAAA: not ever ready for Prime Time.

Wells is not that funny fat lefty who pitched for the Sox in 2005-6; this Wells is Randy, who burst onto the MLB scene in 2008 with Toronto and, after tossing 6.1 innings for the Jays, he was shipped off the Chicago, where he achieved a 27-30 record [2009-11] in 82 starts. In 500.1 innings he had a near 2-1 K-W ration [331-159], an ERA of 4.01; a bit better than the Red Sox team at 4.20 ERA, but just above the AL avg. of 4.08.

RotoGraphs summarized his “split personality” 2011 season thusly:He went on the DL in early April, “but Wells’ return 53 days later didn’t help matters much at all. In his 11 starts from his return on May 28 to the end of July, Wells gave the Cubs just two quality starts and the team went just 3-8 when he was on the mound. Opponents hit .311/.370/.481 for an OPS of .851, or roughly the same OPS as Adrian Beltre or Todd Helton.Since Aug. 1, Wells has looked for all the world like a completely different pitcher. The Cubs have gone 7-1 in his starts, and opponents are hitting just .213/.257/.366 for an OPS of .623, or somewhere between the OPS of Jason Bartlett and Alex Gonzalez.”http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/index.php/wells-and-minor-nl-starting-pitchers/

Wells tops the ERAs of his potential competitors for the #5 slot: Carlos Silva, 4.68, Rich Hill, 4.73, Dicey K, 5.30, Andrew Miller, 5.54, Justin Germano, 5.68, Aaron Cook, 6.03, and Felix Doubront, 6.10.

With creaky Yook on 3rd and Will Middlebrooks almost ready for MLB, Josh Vitters would rank #3 on the Depth Chart.

Our sources say that Vitters has yet to see a curve ball he didn’t like; unless he can lay off the hook, his power potential may never be realized

Our fellow FanSIDED website S2S [Seedlings to Stars] ran a full post by Robbie Knopf entitled: “Will Josh Vitters Finally Break Out in 2012?” [http://seedlingstostars.com/2011/12/30/will-josh-vitters-finally-break-out-in-2012/] and here is a snip:“Maybe, maybe not. But he showed something positive in terms of his plate discipline in 2011 and that’s really the one glaring thing missing from him as a prospect. If Vitters can walk at just an average rate, his prospect status will shoot up. Vitters is heading to Triple-A as a 22 year old. The Cubs know all his talent is still there. 2012 could be the year where he finally takes advantage of all his talent and impresses the Cubs and scouts everywhere. And if that happens, don’t be surprised if Vitters ends the year with a big league opportunity in September at Wrigley Field.”

MLB Prospects page says:
“The No. 3 overall pick of the 2007 Draft hasn’t developed as hoped, but he’s still too young to give up on. Still thought of as a top third-base prospect, he’s got the great bat speed and raw power that made him an elite guy back in 2007. He doesn’t draw walks and hasn’t made adjustments, but the Cubs liked how he dealt with being pushed up to Double-A in 2010, and he spent the season back there in 2011, showed some progress and played in the Arizona Fall League for a second straight season.”

FanGraphs:

“Since being drafted third overall in the 2007 draft, few prospects have developed in more disappointing fashion than Chicago Cubs third base prospect Josh Vitters. Once considered an elite player with baseball skills including 70 power and hit tools, Vitters has stumbled to a .277/.319/.439 triple slash line across five minor league seasons. Due to these struggles, Vitters’ status as a prospect has slipped as 2011 was the first where he failed to make the Baseball America top-100.
However, 2011 also saw Vitters post his best numbers since the 2009 season in the Southern League at 21…Vitters looks like he could/should be a really good hitter. If a coach can finally get through to him with preaching patience and pitch selection, this former No. 1 pick could really explode. As it stands, he’s one of the more frustrating prospects in baseball.”

2011 Fall League Stats: .360 (36 for 100) 6(2B), 4HR, 17RBI, 4SB. [http://topprospectalert.com/2011/11/20/2011-arizona-fall-league-top-35-postseason-prospect-rankings/]
Career stats here: http://www.baseballamerica.com/statistics/players/cards/40461

And, no, neither Vitters nor Wells has ever played SS or RF.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

For all the latest news and analysis from BoSox Injection, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or with our RSS feed.