Top Prospect
Alert
It's rare that you see a young pitcher,
with as much talent as Tony. He has been traded twice and still only 21
years old. But that is what has happened and he is about to show both the
Yankees and Red Sox that they made a bad decision. The son of the former
major league slugger, Armas has the ability to be a top starter in
Montreal At 6 foot 4 and about 205 pounds, this righthander was signed by
the Yankees out of Venezuela in 1994 and given the largest signing bonus
in Venezuelan history ($140,000). He was traded to Boston for Mike Stanley
and then to Montreal for Pedro Martinez.
In 1998 while at single-A Jupiter of the Florida State League, Tony
went 12-8 with a 2.89 ERA in 153.1 innings of work (27 starts). He allowed
140 hits, 59 BB's, 136 K's and had 1 CG. Armas uses a low to mid 90's
fastball, changeup, and slider as his 3 top pitches.
In 1999 at Harrisburg, he was 9-7 with a 2.89 ERA in his 24 starts (2
CG's). He allowed 123 hits, 55 BB's, and picked up 106 K's. I feel he was
the best pitching prospect in the Eastern League, which included Grant
Roberts, Matt Riley, and Ryan Andeson. Armas made a start for the Expos,
and even though he took the loss, he showed a glimpse of the future. In
that game he went 6 innings, giving up 1 run, walking 2 and getting 2 K's
vs. San Francisco.
Even though the Expos could use him immediately, I think they should
start him at Triple-A Ottawa. He will be in the for good rotation for good
by mid to late season. I feel he is the best young pitching prospect that
the Expos have had in there system since they made the trade with LA for
Pedro Martinez.
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