Is The Giants’ Minor Pitching Depth That Much Shallower?

In the wake of two somewhat-controversial trades, some questions have risen about whether or not the Giants have sacrificed their pitching depth in the minors.  Have the trades of Tim Alderson and Scott Barnes really left the Giants shorthanded in the minors?

Certainly, the Giants depth is shallower, but the Giants are not without a lot of starting pitching in the system.  At every level, there is still a strong selection of starters.  Here’s a look at them, ranked in a very non-scientific way.

1. Madison Bumgarner - It should hardly be a surprise that Bumgarner tops the list.  It could be legitimately argued that Bumgarner is the top pitching prospect in the minors right now.  His presence is the single most overwhelming thing allowing the Giants to consider trading a prospect with the possible ceiling of Tim Alderson.

2. Jorge Bucardo - Bucardo, 19, has been an intriguing young pitcher in the system along with his older brother.  Jorge has been the early leader of the Volcanoes this season, and despite some rough spots more recently, he has the overall mix that could make him a strong pitcher in the middle of a rotation.

3. Kevin Pucetas - Pucetas gets looked over since he does not have overwhelming stuff, but the PCL All-Star has been very consistent at every level.  He is very much the right-handed ideal of what Scott Barnes might become, but he’s doing it and is knocking on the door of the majors.  He could be a middle or back of the rotation starter.

4. Joe Martinez - Another player who is on the verge with the majors, Martinez led the Eastern League in ERA before earning an unlikely spot in the majors.  Like Pucetas, Martinez doesn’t have overwhelming stuff, but does have the ability to pitch with a good knowledge of how.  A lot of doubt comes from how his unfortunate injury will affect him, but he’s likely to make a start for the big league team this week on his comeback from that injury, after being a healthy scratch from Triple-A Fresno on Monday.

5. Ben Snyder - Snyder is a bit of a question mark - the truth is, he hasn’t been a starter this season.  However, his extended relief appearances make him a candidate to return to the role, and he has had an excellent season in Double-A.

6. Clayton Tanner - Tanner, 21, is still young, but he has a bit to overcome.  Although he is doing very well this season, he is only repeating the level at San Jose, and needs to show he can make the move to the next level.  He has a good changeup, and that should push him higher.

7. Wilber Bucardo - Wilber, 21, is a little older than his brother and at the same level, but Bucardo has one standout pitch; his sinker.  While he is repeating the short-season level, if he can get control of that pitch, he could move up very quickly.

8. Craig Clark - Clark has caught the headlines with his strikeouts this season, but his stuff is not overwhelming.  He’ll need to find out more ways to get out right-handed batters at the higher levels to stick as a true starter candidate.

9. Henry Sosa - Simply put, Sosa could be #2 on this list.  He could also be off of it.  Sosa was showing what he could do, again, before getting injured, again, this time in Connecticut.  The success at a higher level means he can be legitimate, but he has to stay healthy.

10. Bryan Salsbury - Salsbury is an X-Factor in this list.  An All-American Junior College pitcher when drafted in 2009, the 19-year old is now on a string of three scoreless starts in the Arizona League and is unusually harder on left-handed batters than right-handers.  It’s hard to project a pitcher at this level, but Salsbury could be much higher on this list by the end of the year.

11. Daryl Maday - Maday, who turns 24 in a little more than a week, has had a bit of a surprising career since being a 30th round pick in 2006, but he had a strong debut in 2007 and a great 2008, and has been fairly strong in Double-A this season.  A low 90’s fastball and a good slider, Maday has a foundation to be a good middle or back of the rotation starter.

12. Kyle Nicholson - Nicholson, 24, has had great minor league numbers, but those numbers get tempered as he is an older prospect after being drafted as a college senior.  This season, he has dominated the South Atlantic League and has just earned a promotion to San Jose, taking the spot of Barnes.

13. Jesse English - English, 24, has had a long path on his way to the majors.  The left-hander with a good fastball still has a shot, but it’s not a good one.  He is still far too vulnerable to right-handed batters to move up as a starter as he is now, and is probably more likely to move as a specialist reliever.

14. Ryan Sadowski - Sadowski famously made his major league debut earlier this season, taking the spot of Jonathan Sanchez, but he has had some problems in more recent starts.  Sadowski has good stuff, but not the kind that plays well as a starter.  He might make his return as a bullpen guy, where his unflappable attitude and ability to deceive with a lesser fastball might make more sense.

15. Cameron Lamb - Lamb, 20, has been very strong this season in the Arizona League.  Lamb was signed out of Australia in 2007, and made scattered appearances in 2007, but did not play in 2008.  There’s no scouting reports on him yet, but Lamb has a good strikeout rate, with some need to work on his control.

There is, of course, one other name to consider: Zack Wheeler.  The first round draft pick is still unsigned, but he has quite the promise.  Where would he rank if signed?  Well, if his pre-draft scouting reports hold, he would be the #2 player on this list.  The young left right-hander has a lot of potential, and could be a front of the rotation starter.  The Giants must feel confident they can sign him, as his presence gives the Giants a second top pitching prospect, making Alderson expendable.

So, where would the departed players place on this list?  Alderson started the season as SFDugout.com’s #2 prospect overall, but his status has slipped.  His velocity is down and his control is off, and the question is how mechanical his issues are.  While the ceiling remains high, he’d probably be the #3 pitcher on this list (not including Wheeler).  His inconsistency puts him a bit behind Pucetas in my eyes, who doesn’t have as high a ceiling, but has been so consistent that he is as close to a sure thing to make the majors as anyone in the system and should provide good rotational depth.

Barnes, meanwhile, would be fifth on the list as it stands (sixth, if you include Alderson).  He has the consistency, but is still quite a bit away from the majors.  Still, he’s a very good prospect who could have the level of Pucetas and Martinez ahead of him if he proves himself at higher levels.

The Giants definitely traded away two of their better pitching prospects, but not their best.  Considering the players the Giants have in the system around them, the young pitchers now in the majors, and the big prospect that is unsigned but likely to join the team soon, the Giants haven’t cut themselves off at the knees, and should still have plenty of options to make the major league rotation over the next three seasons.