2017 Predicted Order of Finish
4. Vancouver Canadians, 75-87
Key Losses: 1B Carlos Santana
Key Additions: SP Madison Bumgarner, CL Koji Uehara, LF Josh Hamilton
Prospect to Watch: SP Ivan Martinez
Outlook:
While Vancouver improved their rotation and bullpen this off-season with some big moves, the team will still struggle to score runs this season. The offense doesn’t really have any impact bats, although their is plenty of young talent coming through the system in the next few years to hopefully change that.
Rookie of the Year Joe Wendle will look to build upon his fine numbers last season, but with Desi Kelly big league ready, Wendle has been moved to DH. That seems like a waste of his defensive value, as his numbers are good for a 2B but much closer to average when compared to just DH’s, but Vancouver doesn’t have another choice. Wendle should be the team’s best hitter again this season, but even if their pitching lives up to the preseason hype, the offense is unlikely to help enough to keep them in contention this season.
Ivan Martinez was given a $10,000,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic as a 16-year-old last season, and then held his own as a 16-year-old between two minor league levels last season. Vancouver seems to have the teenager on the fast track, so a good early start could see him pitching in AA or even AAA at the age of 17. He might be the league’s top pitching prospect.