Talking O's prospects with MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis (video)

During an interview with MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis at the Winter Meetings this afternoon, we touched on several Orioles topics, on both the major league and minor league levels. Here are some of Callis' comments:

Did top prospect Chance Sisco make solid progress this year?

"He did get better. I think the question still long term is going to be can he catch and can he catch at the big league level. He's improved defensively. A year or two ago, most scouts I talked to said, 'Not much of a chance (to catch in the majors), don't think it is going to work.' Now, I wouldn't say people are bullish on him, but he's gotten better and he might be able to make it happen.

"He has always hit for average and gotten on base. He hasn't hit for a ton of power yet, but he did homer in the Futures Game in front of a national TV audience. You know he's going to hit, power we'll see (if that develops), and if he can catch, that makes him a lot more valuable."

Is Sisco now a national top 100 prospect?

"That is a good question. At MLBPipeline, we do our lists a little differently. They are always in progress. We are always updating them. If a guy gets too much big league playing time, he comes off the list and if he gets traded, we switch teams. They are constantly updated in terms of the teams and which players still qualify. But our last top 100 list was really done in July. I think he is certainly in the discussion. I think it comes down to whether or not you think he will catch in the big leagues and I think that is still an open question."

The Orioles have been near the bottom of the majors in organizational rankings the last year or two. Is that a concern?

"They are having success at the big league level. And even if you have a loaded team like the Cubs, you still use those (minor league) guys as trade fodder. You can never have too many prospects. I think their draft this year was promising and has a chance to be one of their better drafts in recent memory. But I think they would tell you the same thing. Even though they are winning at the big league level, I'm sure they wish their minor league system was stronger, too."

How do you make it stronger?

"You draft better, you do better internationally. The one avenue that isn't real available to them because they are contending is, if you are rebuilding, you trade veterans for prospects. Which they are not doing - they're trying to win right now. I do think it is tougher in the current system with the bonus pool limits. If you win, you are going to have a smaller bonus pool and that limits who you can sign. ...Yes, the best players in the draft usually go near the top of the draft. But there are always good big leaguers in the third round, the sixth, the eighth round and it is a matter of finding those guys."

Check out the video of the interview with Callis below for his take on Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman and their progress at the major league level.