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well given this is mainly off of ESPN/CBS/and other web sites but I've never seen Kennedy mentioned as a
having great stuff or B
being anything more than a solid middle of the rotation pitcher.
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there's a reason why he was picked in the first round. if solid mid-rotation was all you could ask for at his PEAK, he would not be drafted #21.
he has four legit very good to very-very good pitches, even if his fastball is 89-92 his control upgrades it quite a bit. plus, it appears that he can get it upto 94-95, but his control is much better if he doesn't. he has also reportedly developed a two-seamer last year.
if he is a solid #3 for the yankees for 10 years and possibly #1 or #2 for 1-2 years, that's awesome. i don't know why you'd package him with your other best pitcher and a great CF and ship him for a huge contract.
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He was drafted in the first round because he was an advanced college arm, who put up great results for USC. He would be expected to be a low-risk signing, who could reach the majors quickly and contribute at a reasonable level. "Reasonable" being as a #3 or #4 starter. His raw stuff was seen as just about average, but it had a chance to play up due to his control. Where'd you hear that his ceiling was anywhere near Mussina or Maddux? That's a fairly ridiculous thing to say. People draft players like Royce Ring in the first round because they think there's less gamble in them producing on a big league level, it happens all the time in virtually every draft. "Signability" also has a lot to do with that.
Kennedy's four pitches are pretty far from "very very good". If the planets align maybe he could pitch as a #2 starter on a contender, but the chances of that are pretty slim.