Ranking The Prospects Traded At The 2023 Trade Deadline

1. Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Guardians (from Rays)

Manzardo is a pure lefthanded hitter who rarely swings out of the strike zone and drives the ball to all fields. His power is light for a first baseman and he’s limited athletically, but his ability to hit and control the strike zone give him a chance to be an everyday first baseman who gets to just enough power. 

2. Luisangel Acuña, SS, Mets (from Rangers)

The younger brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., Luisangel is an undersized, twitchy athlete with a big swing. He’s an aggressive hitter who swings hard and is prone to chasing pitches out of the zone, but his gifted hands and plus bat speed allow him to hit balls others can’t. He’s a plus runner adept at stealing bases and has the quickness, range, feet and actions to remain in the middle infield.

3. Edgar Quero, C, White Sox (from Angels)

Quero is a switch-hitting catcher with an innate feel for the barrel from both sides of the plate and exceptional strike-zone discipline. He’s only 20 years old and should grow into double-digit home run power as he matures. His receiving, blocking and throwing all need to improve, but he projects to stick behind the plate and be an everyday, bat-first catcher.

4. Drew Gilbert, OF, Mets (from Astros)

The Astros’ first-round pick last year, Gilbert is a hard-nosed player who controls the strike zone, makes contact from the left side, steals bases and plays above-average defense in center field. He has a chance to be a leadoff-hitting center fielder and is moving quickly.

5. Nick Nastrini, RHP, White Sox (from Dodgers)

Nastrini is a physical righthander with a power arm but a history of control issues. His fastball sits 93-96 and has touched higher, his slider is a swing-and-miss pitch and his power curveball and changeup are both average offerings. Nastrini has the stuff and physicality to be a mid-rotation starter, but he’ll have to become more consistent with his delivery and mechanics to improve his control and fulfill that potential.

6. Jake Eder, LHP, White Sox (from Marlins)

Eder returned from Tommy John surgery this year and is working his way back toward re-establishing himself as a potential mid-rotation starter. At his best, he has a fastball up to 94 mph with riding life, a plus slider he can manipulate the shape and break of, an average changeup and plus control. 

7. Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF, Mets (from Astros)

Clifford has enormous power from the left side and solid plate discipline. His ability to make contact against better stuff is a question and he’s limited to a corner defensively, but he has a chance to be a middle-of-the-order slugger if everything clicks.

8. Ky Bush, LHP, White Sox (from Angels)

Bush is a tall, 6-foot-6 lefthander with a well-rounded four-pitch mix. His sinking 92-95 mph fastball and plus slider give him two pitches to lean on, and he has enough control to be a solid back-end starter.

9. Sem Robberse, RHP, Cardinals (from Blue Jays)

Born and raised in The Netherlands, Robberse is a projectable 21-year-old righthander with a solid five-pitch mix and room to grow into more stuff. His fastball ranges from 92-95 mph and his slider, changeup, cutter and curveball all sit in the 80s and are usable pitches. He has the stuff and strike-throwing ability to become a back-of-the-rotation starter with further development.  

10. Hao-Yu Lee, 2B, Tigers (from Phillies)

Lee is an advanced contact hitter with a quick, simple swing. He primarily hits the ball on the ground and doesn’t have much power, but he can shoot balls into the gaps and leg out doubles with his above-average speed. He has a chance to be an everyday second baseman who hits for average and steals bases.

11. Justin Jarvis, RHP, Mets (from Brewers)

Jarvis is a tall, projectable righthander with a fast arm and a fastball up to 96 mph. His fastball gets on batters quickly out of his overhand slot and his slider, splitter and curveball are all usable offerings that round out his arsenal. Jarvis throws plenty of strikes and has a chance to stick in the back of a rotation.

12. Dominic Canzone, OF, Mariners (from D-backs)

Canzone is a powerful lefthanded hitter who has raked at every level. He controls the strike zone, hits balls hard and projects to hit for both average and power, but he’s a bit stiff and isn’t overly athletic. He is a defensive liability in the corner outfield and will have to hit his way to regular playing time.

13. Tekoah Roby, RHP, Cardinals (from Rangers)

Roby is a strong righthander with a powerful four-pitch mix, but he leaves his 94-97 mph fastball over the plate and struggles to land his secondary pitches for strikes. He will have to improve his fastball command to start and may end up as a power reliever.

14. Thomas Saggese, 2B, Cardinals (from Rangers)

Saggese is an advanced hitter with great hands and a knack for finding the barrel. He led the Texas League in hits this season and has hit over. 310 each of the last two years. He is a natural hitter with above-average raw power and should hit enough to overcome his fringy defense at second base.

15. Cesar Prieto, 2B/3B, Cardinals (from Orioles)

Prieto is a Cuban defector with a pretty, fluid lefthanded swing geared for contact. He lacks power and is just an average defender and runner, but his pure hitting ability gives him a chance to hit for a high average and get everyday at-bats.

16. Adam Kloffenstein, RHP, Cardinals (from Blue Jays)

A big 6-foot-5, 243-pound righthander, Kloffenstein is a groundball pitcher who primarily pitches off his slider and cutter and uses his 91-93 mph two-seam fastball as his third pitch. He throws strikes and has the durability and feel for pitching to start, but his arsenal and pitch usage may project better in relief.

17. Jackson Wolf, LHP, Pirates (from Padres)

Wolf is a lanky 6-foot-7 lefthander who generates tremendous extension in his delivery and gets ugly swings with the deception his long limbs generate. His stuff is fringy, but it all plays up with his deception and advanced ability to locate. He has a chance to stick as a back-of-the-rotation starter or swingman. 

18. Ryan Bliss, 2B, Mariners (from D-backs)

Bliss is a speedy, undersized middle infielder who hits balls on a line to all fields. He gets in trouble when he starts chasing power, but he projects to hit for average as long as he stays within his approach. His contact skills, speed and defense give him a chance to be a second-division starter or utilityman.

19. DJ Herz, LHP, Nationals (from Cubs) 

Herz is a deceptive lefthander who gets swings and misses with three pitches out of an extreme crossfire delivery, but he also struggles to throw strikes and projects to end up in the bullpen. 

20. Drew Rom, LHP, Cardinals (from Orioles)

Rom is a big lefthanded pitcher with average stuff that plays better against lefties than righties. His control is below-average and will likely force him to the bullpen, where he has a chance to miss bats from the left side.

21. Khalil Watson, SS, Guardians (from Marlins)

The 16th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Watson is tooled up but has yet to deliver any meaningful production as a pro. He’s a high-risk player who has significant maturity issues and a low motor. A fresh start in a new organization may help unlock his raw ability.

22. Henry Williams, RHP, Royals (from Padres)

Williams showed big stuff with a high-spin, 94-98 mph fastball and a wipeout slider before having Tommy John surgery. His stuff hasn’t quite come back yet, but he has a chance to be a physical righthanded starter if it does.

23. Devin Mann, 3B/1B, Royals (from Dodgers)

Mann is a gifted hitter with a short, direct righthanded swing that makes a lot of contact and generates easy pull-side power with his natural strength and leverage. He is a below-average defender everywhere on the diamond, but his bat gives him a chance to carve out an impactful part-time or bench role. 

24. Zack Showalter, RHP, Cardinals (from Orioles)

Showalter has turned heads in his first professional season with a 93-95 mph fastball with elite ride out of his low release height. His secondaries need work and he’s thrown just 30.1 professional innings, but the early results are promising. 

25. Marco Vargas, SS, Mets (from Marlins)

Vargas was one of the breakout players in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League this year. He has an advanced feel for contact from the left side, excellent strike zone discipline and burgeoning power. He has a chance to be a bat-first middle infielder, but he still has a lot of physical development ahead.

26. Nick Robertson, RHP, Red Sox (from Dodgers)

Robertson is a major league-ready reliever with a 94-98 mph that batters don’t pick up. He floods the strike zone and has the aggressive, fearless mentality to potentially pitch in high-leverage relief. 

27. Coleman Crow, RHP, Mets (from Angels)

Crow is currently injured with elbow inflammation, but when healthy he flashes a 91-94 mph fastball and a high-spin breaking ball. He’s a good athlete with solid control, but he has yet to show he can hold up physically over a full season and may end up in the bullpen.

28. Victor Vodnik, RHP, Rockies (from Braves)

Vodnik is a hard-throwing reliever with a 96-100 mph fastball and an upper-80s changeup with plus-plus sink and run. He has the stuff to pitch in the late innings but has to improve his control.

29. Korey Lee, C, White Sox (from Astros)

Lee has power and 80-grade arm strength, but he’s a below-average hitter and poor blocker and receiver behind the plate. He needs significant defensive work and will get a fresh start in the White Sox’s system after stalling in his development with Houston.

30. Joe Boyle, RHP, Athletics (from Reds)

Boyle throws hard with a 97-99 mph fastball and an 88-90 mph slider but has extremely poor control. His arm strength gives him a chance to pitch in a bullpen if he can throw the ball over the plate more often.

31. Bradley Blalock, RHP, Brewers (from Red Sox)

Blalock returned from Tommy John surgery throwing harder and now possesses a 93-96 mph fastball and mid-80s power curveball that both get swings and misses. He throws strikes with above-average control and has a chance to blossom in the Brewers system.

32. Jeremiah Jackson, SS/3B, Mets (from Angels)

Jackson is a good athlete with enormous power, but he’s a reckless swinger who struggles to make contact. He’s versatile enough to play center field, third base and shortstop and has a chance to be a power-hitting utilityman. 

33. Sean Reynolds, RHP, Padres (from Marlins)

A former first baseman who converted to pitching, Reynolds owns a 96-100 mph fastball with excellent riding life at the top of the zone. His secondaries are below-average and his control is fringy, but his fastball gives him a chance to pitch in a big league bullpen.

34. Alika Williams, SS, Pirates (from Rays)

Williams is a standout defensive shortstop with a light bat. He’s a major league-ready backup shortstop whose defense should keep him on a roster.

35. Landon Marceaux, RHP, Mets (from Angels)

Marceaux is a pitchability righthander with a fringy four-pitch mix topped by an 89-93 mph fastball. He has plus control and relies on locating his stuff on the edges of the plate and keeping hitters guessing by mixing his pitches.

36. Jake Madden, RHP, Rockies (from Angels)

Madden is a lanky 6-foot-6 righthander with a 92-94 mph fastball that has room to tick up as he gets stronger and a swing-and-miss slider. He’s a starter now but projects to move to relief with his effortful delivery and below-average control.

37. Jhonny Severino, SS, Pirates (from Brewers)

One of the top players in the 2022 international signing class, Severino has a fast, powerful righthanded swing geared for loft and advanced contact skills despite a free-swinging approach. He projects to move to third base and will have to rein in his approach against more advanced pitching.

38. Mason Albright, LHP, Rockies (from Angels)

Albright is a 20-year-old lefty with a solid four-pitch he throws for strikes. He’s deceptive, durable and pitch efficient, but he’ll need to add power to his stuff to succeed at higher levels.

39. Kevin Made, SS, Nationals (from Cubs)

Made is a slick defensive shortstop with the hands, actions and arm strength to be a plus defender at the position. He swings at everything and will have to rein in his approach to hit enough to be more than a low-end reserve. 

40. Evan McKendry, RHP, Brewers (from Rays)

McKendry is a durable righthander who has five usable pitches he throws for strikes. His fastball sits 91-94 mph with riding life through the zone and his fading, upper-70s changeup is a swing-and-miss pitch. He also throws a slider, curveball and sinker and projects to be a depth starter or long reliever. 

41. Jeremy Rodriguez, SS, Mets (from D-backs)

Rodriguez is a projectable 17-year-old shortstop with an easy lefthanded swing, advanced strike-zone discipline and a chance to stay at shortstop. He’s still a teenager in the DSL who is many years away and needs to add strength.

42. Jordan Leasure, RHP, White Sox (from Dodgers)

Leasure is a hard-throwing reliever with a 95-98 mph fastball and a power 87-90 mph slider. He’s a power-over-precision pitcher, but he throws enough strikes to potentially be a low-to-mid-leverage reliever in the majors.  

43. Estuar Suero, OF, Pirates (from Padres)

Suero is a switch-hitting, athletic 6-foot-5 center fielder with above-average speed and big power potential. He’s a raw hitter prone to swinging and missing and needs to smooth out his swing and get stronger, but he has a chance to hit big if everything clicks. 

44. Ronald Hernandez, C, Mets (from Marlins)

Hernandez is a switch-hitting catcher with good strike-zone discipline, potentially average power and strong leadership traits behind the plate. He’s not much of a pure hitter but has the on-base skills and power to be a positive offensive contributor as a catcher.  

45. Connor Van Scoyoc, RHP, Rockies (from Angels)

Van Scoyoc is a big 6-foot-6, 243-pound righthander who has emerged as a late bloomer. His fastball sits 90-94 with solid sink and his upper-70s slider is a potentially average pitch. He has good command for his size and has a chance to be a middle reliever who specializes in keeping the ball on the ground.

46. Chad Patrick, RHP, Athletics (from D-backs)

A fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Division II Purdue Northwest (Ind.), Patrick is a starter now but projects to be a low-leverage reliever due to a lack of impact stuff. He throws a 92-93 mph fastball, fringy mid-80s slider and average changeup and is a good competitor who attacks the strike zone. 

47. Easton Lucas, LHP, Athletics (from Orioles)

Lucas is older and will turn 27 this year, but he sits 97-98 mph from the left side on his fastball and pairs it with a sweeping low-80s slider. He has shoddy command and struggles with giving up home runs, but his arm strength from the left side gives him a chance to earn a callup.

48. Roni Cabrera, OF, Royals (from Rangers)

Cabrera is a teenage outfielder still in the Dominican Summer League. He is an arrow-up prospect who has begun hitting the ball harder and swinging and missing less in his second turn through the league, but he’s still a lottery ticket many years away.

49. Tanner Gordon, RHP, Rockies (from Braves)

Gordon is a tall, 6-foot-5 righthander with fringy to average stuff and struggles to avoid hard contact. He has a deep four-pitch mix and average control, but he’s hittable over the plate and will have to work the edges of the strike zone better to earn a stable major league role.

50. Juan Carela, RHP, White Sox (from Yankees)

Carela works with five fringy pitches topped by a 91-93 mph fastball, but he’s able to mix his pitches and throw strikes to get outs. He’ll be challenged at higher levels and may have to move to the bullpen to help his stuff tick up.

51. Derlin Figueroa, OF/1B, Royals (from Dodgers)

Figueroa is a big-bodied lefthanded hitter with above-average raw power and a good feel for the strike zone. His swing can get long and uphill, but he has bat speed and a chance to reach his power against better arms. 

52. Josh Roberson, RHP, Cubs (from Rays)

Roberson is a 27-year-old reliever with loud stuff but below-average control. His fastball sits 97-99 mph but plays down due to poor command. His 88-89 mph slider is a more effective offering he commands better. He went unprotected and unpicked in last year’s Rule 5 draft and is running out of time to prove he can pitch in the majors.

53. Justin Hagenman, RHP, Red Sox (from Dodgers)

Hagenman has fringy to below-average stuff across the board topped by a 92-94 mph fastball and fringy slider, but he executes at a high level and fills up the strike zone. He is better against righties than lefties and can pitch multiple innings.

54. Matt Svanson, RHP, Cardinals (from Blue Jays)

Svanson is a big, 6-foot-5, 235-pound reliever with a 92-94 mph fastball he commands well and a sweeping mid-80s slider. He’s had success in the lower levels but has to prove his stuff will play against better hitters. 

55. Alec Barger, RHP, Rockies (from Braves)

Barger is a 25-year-old reliever in Double-A with middling stuff and below-average control. He mixes a low-90s fastball and mid-80s slider and projects to be a low-end reliever at best. His slider shows some ability to miss bats and will be his ticket.

56. Jesus Rios, RHP, Royals (from Padres)

Rios is a 6-foot-1 righthander with a fastball up to 95 mph and a chance at an above-average slider, but he’s a relief-only prospect currently getting crushed in the Dominican Summer League.