Ranking the Prospects Traded at the Deadline

July 31, 2018

The 2018 trade deadline has passed and, with it, dozens of prospects have begun a new journey toward the major league with a different organization. We have the prospects traded since the Manny Machado deal ranked below, with brief scouting snippets for each of them. Players highlighted in blue are not technically prospects, having exhausted rookie eligibility, but we felt they fell under our umbrella of evaluation anyway as they’ve spent a lot of time up and down in the minors this year. Plus, it’s just interesting to think about where they fit. Scouting info comes from both in-person looks and also a combination of scouts and front-office personnel to whom we are eternally grateful.

Also, note that we have done a leaguewide update to THE BOARD. Every team’s prospect list has been updated this morning and new acquisitions have been slotted into their new orgs’ lists throughout the day.

Traded Minor Leaguers

FV	Rank	Name	Position	Age	From (deal)	To
55	1	Francisco Mejia	C	23	CLE (B. Hand)	SDP
High-variance prospect due to defensive uncertainty and epicurean approach at the plate. Has elite arm strength and hand-eye coordination. Could be star catcher with hit and power, or a low-OBP right fielder. Wide range of outcomes, but we think he hits.
55	2	Austin Meadows	OF	23	PIT (Archer)	TBR
Was hyped early in his high-school career, went in the top 10 picks, and has been a top prospect all through the minors. Fits in left field and has a chance for a plus bat with above average power, but hamstring and oblique injuries have slowed him in recent years.
45+	3	Yusniel Diaz	OF	22	LAD (Machado)	BAL
Plus-hitting corner outfielder who has shown average to above-average raw power in batting practice. Has never hit for power in games. Could be limited to left field only. Projects as average everyday player.
45+	4	Tyler Glasnow	RHP	24	PIT (Archer)	TBR
Was a classic projection bet of a high-school pitcher who delivered on the projection quicker than expected, jumping from 87-91 to 94-97 in a couple years. The curveball is plus and his changeup usable, but his extra long levers create command issues that have slowed him, like Meadows, from being an instant impact type as hoped. Alteration of fastball spin direction probably pairs better with his curveball.
45+	5	Brandon Drury	INF	25	NYY (J. Happ)	TOR
A passable defender at second and third. Has plus raw power. Could be average regular, floor is versatile utilityman with power.
45+	6	Oscar Mercado	CF	23	STL (Capel)	CLE
Plus-running converted infielder who is now a plus outfield defender. Chance for 55 hit. He’s a slam-dunk everyday player if the bat gets there, kind of a tweener if it doesn’t.
45+	7	Brett Cumberland	C	23	ATL (Gausman)	BAL
Cumberland was a college catcher with defensive issues but had an advanced hit tool and natural lift to his swing. His defense and pop times have improved to being playable in the big leagues. He’s a bat-first C/1B/DH.
45+	8	Franklyn Kilome	RHP	23	PHI (A. Cabrera)	NYM
Mid-90s fastball, plus curveball. Rotation-worthy fastball command has not developed. Could have elite relief stuff if fastball ticks up out of bullpen.
45	9	Taylor Hearn	LHP	24	PIT (K. Kela)	TEX
Will be above-average, mid-rotation starter if command ever develops a bit more. Has mid-90s fastball that comes in at tough angle, up to 97, and has thrown harder than that in the past. Features a 55 slider, 50 change. Has had slew of unrelated injuries but no severe arm injuries for quite a while.
45	10	Willi Castro	SS	21	CLE (L. Martin)	DET
Switch-hitting shortstop with plus bat control. Has gap power from the left side. Swing-happy approach limits OBP and quality of contact. Above-average defender at short.
45	11	Brett Phillips	CF	24	MIL (Moustakas)	KCR
Phillips is toolsy. He runs well, has an elite arm and has above-average raw power. His swing is noisy and his strikeout issues are severe enough that we consider it a barrier to everyday production. Phillips has great makeup and now gets a fresh start. He might yet figure something out and be more than that. He’ll have ample opportunity to do it on a rebuilding Royals club.
45	12	Justin Williams	LF	23	TB (Pham)	STL
Left-field-only prospect with strength-driven power. Has made swing adjustments in 2017-18 to add lift to naturally downward swing path but has plateaued in this regard. Could be everyday bat with further adjustment, a path followed by other Cardinals prospects, including Tyler O’Neill.
45	13	Luis Ortiz	RHP	23	MIL (Schoop)	BAL
Husky, strike-throwing righty with spotty injury history. Will show you 95 and a plus slider. Conditioning and injury history impact value but has average big-league starter ability.
45	14	Forrest Wall	CF	23	COL (S. Oh)	TOR
Plus runner, center- or left-field fit due to arm-strength issues, which is what moved him off of second base. Plus bat control. Has added more aggressive leg kick thorughout this season. Has some tweener elements but several realistic paths to big-league value.
45	15	Hector Perez	RHP	22	HOU (R. Osuna)	TOR
Mid-90s fastball with plus potential slider. Has been developed as a starter but is more likely to be a late- or multi-inning reliever. Ceiling is high if strike-throwing ever comes.
45	16	Jalen Beeks	LHP	25	BOS (N. Eovaldi)	TBR
MLB-ready lefty with deep repertoire, led by cutter and curveball. Was striking out 12 per 9 at Triple-A this year.
40+	17	Gilberto Celestino	CF	19	HOU (R. Pressly)	MIN
High-contact bat with projectable frame. Solid glove in center field, plus in corner. Has everyday upside.
40+	18	Jhoan Duran	RHP	21	ARI (E. Escobar)	MIN
Mid-90s with tail, flashes plus change and breaking ball. Consistency issues. Has arguably the best pure stuff of any pitching prospect on this list.
40+	19	Billy McKinney	LF	24	NYY (Happ)	TOR
Has altered once-downward swing plane since acquisition by Yankees. Viable second-division regular or corner platoon option.
40+	20	Jean Carlos Encarnacion	3B	21	ATL (Gausman)	BAL
Was a low-bonus DSL addition who quickly grew into his frame and developed above-average raw power. Is having a breakout year and is a potential everyday player who’s a few years from the majors.
40+	21	Dillon Tate	RHP	24	NYY (Britton)	BAL
Has shown mid-rotation stuff at times but performance has never matched pure stuff, which has waxed and waned amid several injuries over the years. Likely a reliever with mid-90s fastball, plus slider.
40	22	Jean Carmona	SS	19	MIL (Schoop)	BAL
Twitchy teenage shortstop with chance to be plus there. Swing is whippy and long. Needs significant polish but has everyday upside.
40	23	Luis Rijo	RHP	20	NYY (L. Lynn)	MIN
Teenager with lots of starter traits. Advanced secondary pitches and pitch usage. Fringe velo might improve. Plus athlete, plus curveball, change feel is good.
40	24	Dean Kremer	RHP	23	LAD (Machado)	BAL
Pop-up guy this year. Throws 92-95, touches 97, above-average curveball, average change. If pitchability improves, he’s a back-end starter. If not, solid relief option.
40	25	Michael Perez	C	26	ARI (Andriese)	TBR
Backup catcher type who has strong framing metrics and grades well for scouts, defensively. Has a contact-oriented approach at the plate that lacks impact but is competent and ready for the bigs.
40	26	Tyler Austin	OF	26	NYY (L. Lynn)	MIN
Stout-framed former catcher fits best in first base/left field and has plus raw power, enough contact skills to get to it. He’s a solid righty side of a corner platoon. Has lengthy injury history.
40	27	Conner Capel	CF	21	CLE (O. Mercado)	STL
Was a bat-first prep outfielder who took to a huge swing change last year. Went from 58% ground-ball rate to 38%. Chance to be stay in center and have some offensive value.
40	28	Jhon Torres	RF	18	CLE (O. Mercado)	STL
Toolsy teenage outfielder. Has a Division I tight end’s frame, plus power and room to grow into more. Athletic for size. High-upside right-field profile.
40	29	Luke Voit	1B	27	STL (C. Shreve)	NYY
Low-OBP first baseman with power. Solid 1B/DH depth behind injury-prone big leaguers.
40	30	Will Toffey	3B	24	NYM (J. Familia)	NYM
Has some defensive value due to competence at third base and also has solid contact skills/strike zone control. Lacks corner power. Plus-plus arm.
40	31	Gabriel Maciel	CF	20	ARI (E. Escobar)	MIN
Speedy, small-ball catalyst. Bunts, slashes, hauls ass down the line. Stays in center, could be plus due to speed. Realistic fourth outfielder
40	32	Chad Spanberger	1B	23	COL (S. Oh)	TOR
Plus-plus power, first-base-only, strikeout issues make the profile risky. Was streaky in college, too.
40	33	Ryan Costello	1B	22	SEA (Z. Duke)	MIN
Sweet-swinging pop-up small-school hitter. Swing has big time natural lift. Good glove, too.
40	34	Ty Buttrey	RHP	25	BOS (Kinsler)	LAA
Big-league-ready reliever. Plus-plus fastball, plus changeup.
40	35	Evan Phillips	RHP	24	ATL (Gausman)	BAL
Was a late-round, small-school find for the Braves. Had control issues but a plus fastball and above-average slider. Is throwing more strikes this year, making him a solid middle-relief option.
40	36	Bobby Wahl	RHP	26	NYM (J. Familia)	NYM
Plus fastball, plus slider. Is striking out 15 per 9 at Triple-A. Has had multiple surgeries, including one for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome last year.
40	37	Seth Elledge	RHP	22	SEA (S. Tuivailala)	STL
Classic plus fastball/plus slider middle-relief candidate.
40	38	Zach Pop	RHP	22	LAD (Machado)	BAL
Low-slot righty with violent delivery. Mid-90s, plus slider. Death to righty hitters. Had injury issues in 2017.
40	40	Jorge Alcala	RHP	23	HOU (R. Pressly)	MIN
23 year-old reliever at Double-A with upper-90s fastball, fringe secondaries.
40	40	Cody Carroll	RHP	26	NYY (Britton)	BAL
26 year-old reliever at Triple-A with upper-90s fastball, fringe secondaries.
40	40	Gio Gallegos	RHP	27	STL (Voit)	STL
Righty reliever with a funky overhand delivery. Has vertical breaking ball and viable change. Ready for middle relief.
40	42	Josh Rogers	LHP	24	NYY (Britton)	BAL
Pitchability lefty with plus command. Slider is above average, stuff is otherwise fringey.
40	43	Breyvic Valera	UTIL	26	LAD (Machado)	BAL
Fundamentally sound shortstop with limited range. High-contact hitter. Utility type.
40	44	Kodi Medeiros	LHP	22	MIL (J. Soria)	CHW
Low-slot lefty with a plus breaking ball. Is still starting but projects as lefty specialist.
40	45	Wei-Chieh Huang	RHP	25	ARI (Diekman)	TEX
Changeup-heavy reliever at Double-A. Average fastball.
40	46	Devin Smeltzer	LHP	23	LAD (B. Dozier)	MIN
Low-slot lefty specialist with funky delivery, plus breaking ball.
40	47	Patrick Sandoval	LHP	22	HOU (Maldonado)	LAA
A unique look for hitters. Above-average curveball from extreme overhand slot. Back-end starter or lefty ‘pen arm.
40	48	Genesis Cabrera	LHP	22	TB (Pham)	STL
Arm-strength lefty with odd delivery that limits his strike-throwing ability but also helps stuff play up.
35+	49	Ernie De La Trinidad	OF	22	ARI (E. Escobar)	MIN
Smallish corner outfield with feel to hit. Has performed. Could be Daniel Nava-type player.
35+	50	Rollie Lacy	RHP	23	CHC (C. Hamels)	TEX
Sinkerballer with big ground-ball rate, fringey secondaries. Up-and-down stuff, maybe back-end starter.
35+	51	Jorge Lopez	RHP	25	MIL (M. Moustakas)	KCR
Mid-90s, repertoire has been in flux. Curve and change have each flashed plus in the past, well-below-average command.
35+	52	David Paulino	RHP	24	HOU (R. Osuna)	TOR
Oft-injured reliever had been shopped heavily ahead of the deadline. Throws low 90s and has elite curveball spin, but repertoire has been altered over the last few years. Change-of-scenery bullpen candidate. Makeup issues.
35+	53	Ricky Tyler Thomas	LHP	22	CHC (J. Chavez)	TEX
Strike-throwing lefty with funky, long arm action. Plus changeup, plus athlete. Could be back-end guy.
35+	54	Bruce Zimmermann	LHP	23	ATL (Gausman)	BAL
Fifth-round senior sign from a small college in 2017. Has been more consistently 90-93 this year with average secondary stuff and some pitchability.
35	55	Rylan Bannon	3B	22	LAD (Machado)	BAL
Small school college hitter with some pull power, chance to play at a favorable spot on the defensive spectrum. Was crushing Cal League before trade.
35	56	Tommy Eveld	RHP	24	ARI (B. Ziegler)	MIA
Converted QB, new to the mound in draft year, up to 97 with average slider.
35	57	Bryson Brigman	2B	23	SEA (C. Maybin)	MIA
Second baseman with long track record of making contact, dating back to high school and college showcases/national teams. Lack of physicality/power have been an issue in pro ball. Stats are up this year, but in Cal League. Batted-ball profile hasn’t shifted.
35	58	Wilber Perez	RHP	20	MIL (J. Soria)	CHW
Upper-80s fastball with cut, can spin a breaking ball. Trackman readout shows good spin separation between pitches.
35	59	Roel Ramirez	RHP	23	TBR (Pham)	STL
Three-pitch reliever who had a velo spike in 2017. Is now 92-95, hitting 98. Slider and change are average.
35	60	Corey Copping	RHP	24	LAD (J. Axford)	TOR
90-93, will flash 55 slider. Potential low-end reliever currently at Double-A.
35	61	Jhon Romero	RHP	23	CHC (B. Kintzler)	WAS
Mid-90s, plus slider, 40 command, and scouts think fastball plays down due to lack of movement.
35	62	Jacob Condra-Bogan	RHP	23	KCR (B. Goodwin)	WAS
Indy ball signee up to 99. Is throwing strikes in low levels, already 23.
35	63	Williams Jerez	LHP	26	BOS (Kinsler)	LAA
Converted outfielder with arm strength, deception. Possible lefty specialist.
35	64	Brian Shaffer	RHP	21	ARI (Andriese)	TBR
Durable sinker/slider type with average stuff who fits as more of a generic depth arm.
35	65	Jacob Waguespack	RHP	24	PHI (A. Loup)	TOR
Likely relief righty with fringe stuff that plays up due to weird angle at which fastball approaches hitters.
35	66	Caleb Frare	LHP	25	NYY (Int’l space)	CHW
Lefty with a changeup and downhill angle on the fastball. Had 0.92 ERA at Double-A. Has exhibited uptick in strike-throwing.
35	67	Luke Raley	1B	23	LAD (B. Dozier)	MIN
Stiff, power-hitting first baseman performing at Double-A.
35	68	Hunter Schryver	LHP	23	TBR (Int’l space)	CHW
2017 senior sign. Lefty reliever with 40 fastball, 55 breaking ball.