Lions Makeover Continues On Draft Day

By Matt Eddy

A hyperactive offseason in Mohawk Valley gave way to a busy draft day as the Lions' extreme makeover continued unabated.

From Motown to Mohawk Valley, J.D. Martinez carries a big stick

The Lions selected seven players in the 2015 draft, then completed a post-draft trade with Spokane to acquire left fielder J.D. Martinez. Current card value was clearly the theme of the day, for the average age of Mohawk Valley's eight draft-day additions is 26 years old. All the maneuvering indicates the club's goals for the coming year: a 10th consecutive winning season and fifth straight trip to the playoffs.

In all, Mohawk Valley will bring to spring training a dozen new faces expected to fill regular or complementary roles.

The Lions kicked their retool into high gear last fall, swinging trades for second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, left fielder Carl Crawford, first baseman Albert Pujols, No. 5 starter Drew Smyly and center fielder Denard Span. They added role players, such as reliever David Carpenter and platoon second baseman Logan Forsythe, around the margins.

On draft day, Mohawk Valley buttressed a weak bullpen with righthanders Dellin Betances (first round) and Justin Grimm (ninth) and lefty Fernando Abad (fourth), while also picking up outfielders Brandon Guyer (fifth) and Dan Robertson (10th) for weak-side platoon deployment. The club also speculated on power righties Blake Treinen (eighth) and Chris Bassitt (11th) in the late rounds, but they have no defined roles for 2015.

Depth at the catcher position allowed the Lions to trade Yasmani Grandal to the Crows for Martinez, the 2015 first-rounder who will assume full-time DH responsibilities. Spokane selected Martinez at No. 18 overall, two picks before Mohawk Valley took Betances.

"Heading into the draft, a poor relief corps and substandard production versus lefthanders were clear deficiencies for us," Lions general manager Matt Eddy said. "Landing first-round talents Betances and Martinez go a long way toward addressing those shortcomings.

"Like last year, we look forward to a spirited battle with Rochester and Death Valley for Atlantic Division supremacy."

While turnover has been a constant this offseason, the Lions do return several core members of their 2014 World Series team, including center fielder Andrew McCutchen, shortstop Erick Aybar, catcher Yan Gomes and rotation stalwarts Yu Darvish, David Price, Garrett Richards and Stephen Strasburg.

Gone from last year's postseason roster are starter Alexi Ogando, ace relievers Joe Nathan and Koji Uehara, third baseman Eric Chavez and outfielders Domonic Brown, Nate McLouth, Ryan Raburn, Derrick Robinson and Will Venable.

"We knew we were headed nowhere fast if we took no action this offseason," Eddy said, "so we viewed change—even if it meant parting with World Series heroes—as a necessary, dispassionate course of action."