Ranking the Prospects Traded During the 2021 Deadline

August 3, 2021

What a ride this year’s deadline was. All told, we had 75 prospects move in the last month. They are ranked below, with brief scouting reports written by me and Kevin Goldstein. Most of the deals these prospects were a part of were analyzed at length on this site. An index of those pieces can be found here, or by clicking the hyperlink in the “Trade” column below. I’ve moved all of the players listed here to their new orgs over on The Board, so you can click through to see where they rank among their new teammates. Our farm rankings, which now update live, also reflect these changes, so you can see where teams’ systems stack up post-deadline.

A couple of quick notes before I get to the rankings. We’ve included a few post-prospect players here (those marked in blue) so you can get an idea of where we value them now as opposed to where we had them at their prospect peak. Those players, as well as the Compensatory pick the Rockies will receive after they extend Trevor Story a qualifying offer and he signs elsewhere, are highlighted below. We had closer to 40 prospects (and 23 Players to be Named Later) traded last year, with the PTBNL number inflated by 2020’s COVID-related transaction rules. The backfields are not well-represented here, with just four prospects who have yet to play in full-season ball. Two of those are currently in the DSL and have no official domestic pro experience, though Alberto Ciprian has played stateside for instructs/extended spring training. Now on to the rankings.

2021 Trade Deadline Prospects

FV	Rank	Name	Position	Age	Team	From	Trade
55	1	Josiah Gray	SP	23.6	WSN	LAD	Scherzer
Gray is a mid-rotation lock with late-bloomer traits.
55	2	Nick Madrigal	2B	24.4	CHC	CHW	Kimbrel
Madrigal is one of the best contact hitters in baseball, the rare safe .300 hitter, but it comes with few walks and very little power.
50	3	Keibert Ruiz	C	23.0	WSN	LAD	Scherzer
Ruiz’s massive power surge in 2021 has stabilized his prospect status as a future above-average everyday catcher.
50	4	Simeon Woods Richardson	SP	20.8	MIN	TOR	Berríos
SWR has a four-pitch mix, plus changeup, deception and command.
50	5	Austin Martin	LF	22.4	MIN	TOR	Berríos
Martin is an on-base machine with contact skills, but questions about his power and defensive home persist.
50	6	Spencer Howard	SP	25.0	TEX	PHI	Gibson/Kennedy
Howard’s peak stuff puts him ahead of SWR here, but injuries and inconsistency have plagued his early career.
50	7	Kevin Alcantara	CF	19.1	CHC	NYY	Rizzo
Alcantara is an ultra-projectable outfielder with elite power projection and uncommon athleticism for his size.
50	8	Ezequiel Duran	2B	22.2	TEX	NYY	Gallo
Duran is a plus power second baseman whose value is derived mostly from the bat.
45+	9	Abraham Toro	3B	24.6	SEA	HOU	K. Graveman
A long-time favorite of data-driven teams, Toro will finally get consistent at-bats in the big leagues.
45	10	Josh Smith	2B	24.0	TEX	NYY	Gallo
Smith is a smaller guy without eye-popping tools, but there are no weaknesses in his game. He has elite baseball feel and instincts.
45	11	Pete Crow-Armstrong	CF	19.4	CHC	NYM	Báez
PCA is a plus-plus defensive center fielder with a decent bat and average power. The dream here is being the next Jackie Bradley Jr.
45	12	Drew Strotman	SP	24.9	MIN	TBR	N. Cruz
Though it didn’t happen immediately, Strotman’s stuff rebounded after TJ and he has a new, plus cutter. He’s a likely big league starter.
45	13	Reese Olson	SP	22.0	DET	MIL	D. Norris
Olson has four pitches and is into the mid-90s with a plus breaking ball, though there’s relief risk. He’s a multi-inning weapon if he can’t start.
45	14	Hans Crouse	MIRP	22.9	PHI	TEX	Howard/Kennedy
Crouse has seen a bit of a velo dip this year, but his pitchability has improved, the slider remains plus, and he has a new cutter. There’s considerable reliever risk here.
45	15	Alex Jackson	C	25.6	MIA	ATL	A. Duvall
Jackson is a frustrating talent who has yet to make contact in the big leagues. He has big, big power and will get a chance in Miami.
45	16	Alexander Vizcaíno	SIRP	24.2	CHC	NYY	Rizzo
Vizcaíno is a slam dunk late-inning relief prospect.
45	17	Alexander Canario	RF	21.2	CHC	SFG	Bryant
Canario is a tooled out corner outfielder who hasn’t put it together in games. He’s a high risk/high upside type.
45	18	Joe Ryan	MIRP	25.2	MIN	TBR	N. Cruz
Ryan commands his fastball at the letters, where it dominates thanks to its angle and ride.
40+	19	Aldo Ramirez	SP	20.2	WSN	BOS	Schwarber
Ramirez is an ultra-athletic young righty with an advanced changeup and command. He’s risky due to his age/occupation, and grades out like a second round JUCO arm.
40+	20	Compensatory Pick	~ No. 31	2022	COL	MLB	T. Story
Players available where this comp pick is likely to fall in the draft are often near the 45/40+ FV line.
40+	21	Anderson Espinoza	MIRP	23.4	CHC	SDP	Marisnick
The former top prospect is back after two TJs. Espinoza is sitting 93-95 and flashes a plus breaker/change.
40+	22	Greg Deichmann	RF	26.2	CHC	OAK	A. Chafin
Deichmann is an older, future fourth outfielder who has failed to build on a 2019 power surge.
40+	23	Bryce Ball	1B	23.1	CHC	ATL	J. Pederson
Ball is a gigantic dude with gigantic power and big questions as to his ability to get to it.
40+	24	Caleb Kilian	SP	24.2	CHC	SFG	Bryant
Kilian is a command-over-stuff guy who locates four average pitches. Back-end starter is the dream.
40+	25	Gerardo Carrillo	SIRP	22.9	WSN	LAD	Scherzer
Carrillo is a high-octane relief prospect with upper-90s gas, a bevy of pitches, and a violent delivery.
40+	26	Daniel Palencia	SP	21.5	CHC	OAK	A. Chafin
Palencia throws in the upper-90s and his curveball flashes. He’s barely pitched in pro ball.
40+	27	Drew Millas	C	23.5	WSN	OAK	Gomes/Harrison
Millas is a plus defender with a plus arm and some power, but big holes in the swing lead to an elevated K rate.
40+	28	Diego Castillo	2B	23.8	PIT	NYY	C. Holmes
A foundation of contact skills combined with late-arriving physicality has Castillo looking like a shift-enabled infield piece.
40	29	Konnor Pilkington	SP	23.9	CLE	CHW	C. Hernandez
Pilkington is a pitch-data fave for his excellent fastball shape. He profiles for many as a future reliever.
40	30	Bowden Francis	SP	25.3	TOR	MIL	R. Tellez
A new slider has become the best of Francis’ four pitches. He’s a back-end starter lock.
40	31	Tucupita Marcano	2B	21.9	PIT	SDP	A. Frazier
Marcano has a super-advanced bat, but is rail-thin without real power projection.
40	32	Hoy Park	SS	25.3	PIT	NYY	C. Holmes
Park had a stat breakout at age 25. He’s a viable middle infielder with good bat-to-ball skills.
40	33	Cooper Hummel	C	26.7	ARI	MIL	E. Escobar
A 1B/LF/”catcher,” Hummel switch hits and can punish mistakes. He’s a Swiss Army Knife role player.
40	34	Trevor Hauver	2B	22.7	TEX	NYY	Gallo
Hauver has average power, tons of walks and Ks, and no real defensive home yet.
40	35	Austin Shenton	1B	23.6	TBR	SEA	D. Castillo
Shenton is a bat-only future first baseman. Will 50 pop be enough?
40	36	Kevin Gowdy	SP	23.7	TEX	PHI	Gibson/Kennedy
Gowdy is a former overslot high school arm who’s had injuries. His velo is up in 2021; he has a back-end starter shot now.
40	37	Bryan De La Cruz	RF	24.6	MIA	HOU	Y. García
De La Cruz has added power in 2021. It’s a good fourth outfielder profile with a chance to be a second-division starter.
40	38	Payton Henry	C	24.1	MIA	MIL	Curtiss
Henry is a big, physical backstop with a plus arm and some pop. The bat is the question mark.
40	39	Noah Davis	SP	24.3	COL	CIN	M. Givens
Davis has a mid-90s fastball and a good slider. His command and changeup must improve to start.
40	40	Ricky DeVito	SP	22.9	PIT	ATL	R. Rodriguez
DeVito is a sinker/changeup relief prospect who enjoyed a velo spike during quarantine.
40	41	Riley Adams	C	25.1	WSN	TOR	B. Hand
Adams is a big, physical catching prospect with power and strikeout issues. He’s a high probability backup.
40	42	Glenn Otto	SIRP	25.4	TEX	NYY	Gallo
Otto is a slider machine who might be better off in the ‘pen.
40	43	Alex Scherff	SIRP	23.5	MIN	BOS	H. Robles
Scherff is a future middle reliever with mid-90s heat and a plus changeup, but he’s never found a consistent breaker.
40	44	Carter Bins	C	23.2	PIT	SEA	T. Anderson
Bins is a plus defensive catcher with huge questions surrounding the hit tool, but at least he draws walks.
40	45	Kelvin Gutierrez	3B	26.9	BAL	KCR	Cash
Gutierrez is a plus third baseman with vanilla hit/power tools. He’s an infielder utility type.
40	46	Damon Casetta-Stubbs	SIRP	22.0	CLE	SEA	J. Bauers
Casetta-Stubbs had a velo spike and has a plus breaking ball. He’s a relief prospect.
40	47	Joaquin Tejada	SP	18.0	PIT	SEA	T. Anderson
Tejada is an athletic teen righty with big curveball spin rates.
40	48	Mason Thompson	SIRP	23.4	WSN	SDP	D. Hudson
Thompson has upper-90s gas and flashes a plus slider, but he’s often injured and has sub-par stats.
35+	49	Jack Suwinski	DH	23.0	PIT	SDP	A. Frazier
Suwinski is an interesting sleeper with big power and patience at the plate. His ability to limit Ks will define his future.
35+	50	Seth Shuman	SP	23.7	WSN	OAK	Gomes/Harrison
Shuman has a command-over-stuff starter’s package. Scouts wonder if he has a real weapon in the zone.
35+	51	Tyler Burch	SIRP	24.0	BAL	PHI	Galvis
Burch enjoyed a velo spike and has a plus slider. He led the Phillies org in SwStr% before the deal.
35+	52	Peyton Battenfield	SIRP	23.9	CLE	TBR	Luplow
Battenfield is a relief prospect with a rising fastball and a plus cutter.
35+	53	Jordy Barley	SS	21.7	WSN	SDP	D. Hudson
Barley has plus power and plus speed, but is chronically inconsistent.
35+	54	Jose Marte	SIRP	25.2	LAA	SFG	T. Watson
Marte throws upper-90s cheddar, and has an upper-80s slider and 30 control.
35+	55	Kasey Kalich	SIRP	23.3	KCR	ATL	Soler
Kalich has a mid-90s heater and had a short eval window as amateur. He’s a relief prospect.
35+	56	Elvis Peguero	SIRP	24.4	LAA	NYY	Heaney
Peguero is a long, loose reliever who has gotten into the upper 90s and is still looking for something consistent to go with it.
35+	57	Bailey Horn	MIRP	23.5	CHC	CHW	Tepera
Horn is 93-95 with an average breaking ball. He’s a relief prospect.
35+	58	Yainer Diaz	C	22.9	HOU	CLE	P. Maton
Diaz is an older catcher with contact ability, a bit of pop and a plus arm; his approach is the issue.
35+	59	Abrahan Gutierrez	C	21.8	PIT	PHI	B. Ogle
Gutierrez is a big-bodied catcher who is a solid defender with a good approach, some contact skills, and little power.
35+	60	Janson Junk	SP	25.5	LAA	NYY	Heaney
A somewhat generic reliever, Junk has a low-to-mid 90s fastball and a new (and newly-average) slider.
35+	61	T.J. Zeuch	SP	26.0	STL	TOR	Cash
The former first-round pick has struggled to miss big league bats. Zeuch has up-and-down starter feel at this point.
35+	62	Ivan Armstrong	MIRP	21.0	LAA	SFG	T. Watson
Armstrong looks like an NFL guard on-mound. He has a mid-90s fastball and an average slider.
35+	63	Josh Gessner	SIRP	21.2	TEX	PHI	Gibson/Kennedy
The Aussie product is showing a 92-94 mph sinker and a decent slider in the complex league.
35	64	Alberto Ciprian	3B	18.7	ARI	MIL	E. Escobar
Ciprian, a young international bat, has big power potential and has generated big fear over where he ends up defensively, with first base the most likely answer.
35	65	Keegan Curtis	SIRP	25.8	ARI	NYY	T. Locastro
Curtis is an upper-level up/down relief-type with big fastball carry.
35	66	Case Williams	SIRP	19.5	CIN	COL	M. Givens
Williams is a young righty with breaking ball feel.
35	67	Evan Sisk	SIRP	24.3	MIN	STL	Happ
Sisk is an extra-org lefty with some ability to spin it. He has situational reliever ceiling.
35	68	Carlos Rincon	RF	23.8	NYM	LAD	B. McKinney
Rincon is a corner outfield prospect with pop and strikeouts.
35	69	Braeden Ogle	SIRP	24.0	PHI	PIT	A. Gutierrez
Ogle has had a velo spike but his fastball shape is poor. He’s a lefty relief flier.
35	70	Michell Miliano	SIRP	21.6	PIT	SDP	A. Frazier
Miliano is a young, sleek righty with low-90s velo, a good curve, and 20 control.
35	71	John Nogowski	1B	28.6	PIT	STL	Cash
An upper-level performer, Nogowski is first base-only without big pop.
35	72	Calvin Faucher	SIRP	25.9	TBR	MIN	N. Cruz
Faucher has had a velo bump and has huge spin. He’s a relief flier.
35	73	Matt Dyer	C	23.0	TBR	NYM	R. Hill
Dyer is a lean, athletic catcher with power, an arm, and lots of strikeouts.
35	74	Donovan Casey	RF	25.4	WSN	LAD	Scherzer
Casey is an older Double-A performer, but a poor approach, middling pop and a corner profile limit him.
35	75	Richard Guasch	SIRP	23.3	WSN	OAK	Gomes/Harrison
Guasch is a 23-year-old Cuban who has mid-90s heat and a plus slider, but a bull-in-a-china-shop approach to locating.

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Anon21Member since 2018

3 years ago

Curious where Bryse Wilson would rank here if he wasn’t a little outside rookie eligibility.

MichaelMember since 2020

Reply to Anon21

Well preseason, they had him as a 45. Given his season so far, he’s probably a 40+ now

Eric LongenhagenFanGraphs Staff

Reply to Michael

^ This feels right.

ryancmcraeMember since 2025

Ditto Pablo Sandoval

kylerkelton

Reply to ryancmcrae

80 grade physique.