Five American League East Former Prospects On The Bubble

Every year, there are former blue chip prospects that face the reality that they either have to deliver on their blue chip status, or whatever made them noteworthy to begin with, or face the possibility of hammering out a living in the high minors, hoping for the occassional non-roster deal that results in them spending some time on the major league 25 man roster.  So, with that, here are five AL East former prospects that face questions in terms of their big league future in 2011:

• Baltimore Orioles – Brad Bergesen (RHP).  Bergesen has been mediocre this season, but in reality, he was due for some regression.  Bergesen wasn't a highly regarded prospect, doesn't throw particularly hard, and also had several other players that would be rapidly chasing him down in the Orioles' future plans.  With Matusz, Tillman, Arrieta, as well as Guthrie already slated in the rotation, with Zach Britton looking to break on through next season, Bergesen's future is tenuous at best.  The Orioles could move him into the bullpen, but with so many other needs on this team, he could provide some valuable trade bait in the off-season.
• Boston Red Sox – Jacoby Ellsbury (CF).  Ellsbury is looking more and more like he's played his last game in Fenway Park.  Ellsbury originally was cast as the next coming of Johnny Damon in some baseball magazines (I have the article, if you don't believe me.)  However, despite a exceptional 2007 post-season that turned him into a bit of a cult hero in Boston, he never quite blossomed into that impact player many pegged him to be.  He was poor enough in centerfield that the Red Sox replaced him with Mike Cameron, moving him to left field.  Since then, injures have killed his season, and with him entering arbitration, Ryan Kalish challenging for a spot, as well as the Red Sox contemplating signing Jayson Werth in right, Ellsbury could be sent elsewhere. 
• New York Yankees – Joba Chamberlain (RHP) – Chamberlain takes Brandon Morrow's former handle as the most mishandled prospect in baseball.  Since his sensational debut in 2008, Chamerlain was yanked back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation.  And while the Yankees attempted to limit his innings in order to ease his transition, their constant waffling between what his future role should be wound up doing more harm than good.  Chamberlain, in my opinion, needs to get out of New York, go to another city that will make up it's mind whether or not to develop him as a starter, and commit to the decision.  However, the Yankees know that Chamberlain's value is low, and resisted the Blue Jays' inquiries of him for fear of seeing him blossoming like another mishandled prospect, Brandon Morrow, and haunting them in the future.  I would love to see what a quality pitching coach like Mike Maddux, Dave Duncan, or even San Diego manager Bud Black could do with him, if given the opportunity to work with him.  Unfortunately, New York will demand full value for Chamberlain, and that could inhibit any potential deal that would liberate him from New York's boileroom atmosphere.
• Tampa Bay Rays – Jeff Niemann (RHP).  Unlike these other players, Niemann seems likely to continue being a productive major leaguer.  However, expectations have to be changed since he has came down a bit from his outstanding Rookie season. Overall, his numbers are largely the same, but Niemann has also been rather ordinary since he finally arrived in the league after spending four years in the minors either hurt or ineffective.  Niemann isn't the front of the rotation starter he onces was in college, and has become rather ordinary as a pitcher.  He's still fairly cheap, and that has value.  But with Tampa Bay looking to trade a pitcher, and superior options like David Price, James Shields, Matt Garza, Wade Davis, and Jeremy Hellickson looking to break in, Niemann could be shopped to find other needs.  Plus, of the starters I just named, Niemann's past health issues would cause some worry for me, if I were Tampa's front office. 
• Toronto Blue Jays – Travis Snider (LF).  Snider has been okay in the major league level, but while his power is manifesting itself a bit, his plate discipline has regressed.  Combine that with his poor defensive value, and you have to wonder if Snider might take a little longer to develop, or become a sort of Mark Reynolds type of player in left field. 

Tomorrow:  The AL Central And AL West, Due To Me Being On Vacation