Tiering All 499 MLB Prospects Traded At The Deadline Since 2015

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Image credit: Yordan Alvarez (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

With the MLB trade deadline looming, the thought of teams packaging prized prospects for in-season deals is on everyone’s mind. Which got us wondering: Exactly how many prospects have been involved in deadline trades in the past decade?

By our best count, there have been 511 such prospects included in trades at the deadline since 2015. In actuality, 499 prospects were traded, as in 12 cases, a prospect traded at one deadline was swapped again at another deadline.

Either way, we can expect MLB teams to deal around 55 to 60 prospects by the time the 2024 MLB trade deadline rolls around next Tuesday.

Knowing that, you may now be wondering about the answer to what is perhaps a more pressing question: What are the chances the prospect your team acquires will pay off? And perhaps significantly so?

To help provide an answer, we’ve tiered all 499 of the aforementioned prospects into a slew of different categories ranging from the best-of-the-best to guys you may have forgotten were traded at all. Any prospects traded twice have been denoted with an asterisk.

More Trade Deadline Coverage

MLB All-Stars (Or Close To It)

31 Players (6.1%)

We’ll begin with the traded prospects who have either been stars, productive long-term regulars or are, at their peak, at least an above-average regular in their role. Here is our top five:

1. Yordan Alvarez, OF (Acquired by Astros from Dodgers for RHP Josh Fields)

2. Dylan Cease, RHP (Acquired by White Sox from Cubs in multi-player deal that sent LHP Jose Quintana to Cubs)

3. Zac Gallen, RHP (Acquired by D-backs from Marlins for SS Jazz Chisholm, Jr.)

4. Pablo Lopez, RHP (Acquired by Marlins from Mariners for RHP David Phelps)

5. Josh Hader, LHP (Acquired by Brewers from Astros in multi-player deal that sent RHP Mike Fiers and OF Carlos Gomez to Houston)

PLAYERPOSTEAM
Adam Duvall3BReds
Andres MunozRHPMariners
Chris PaddackRHPPadres
CJ AbramsSSNationals
Dylan CeaseRHPWhite Sox
Frankie MontasRHPAthletics
Gleyber TorresSS/2BYankees
Isaac ParedesSSTigers
Jazz ChisholmSSMarlins
Jeimer Candelario3BTigers
Jesus LuzardoLHPAthletics
Jhoan DuranRHPTwins
Joe RyanRHPRays
Jonah HeimCRays
Josh HaderLHPBrewers
Josh Naylor1BPadres
Marco GonzalesLHPMariners
Matthew BoydLHPTigers
Michael FulmerRHPTigers
Nick PivettaRHPPhillies
Oneil CruzSS/3BPirates
Pablo LopezRHPMarlins
Patrick SandovalLHPAngels
Sean ManaeaLHPAthletics
Spencer Steer3B/2BReds
Teoscar HernandezOFBlue Jays
Tyler O’NeillOFCardinals
Willi CastroSSTigers
Yordan Alvarez1BAstros
Zac GallenRHPD-backs
Zach DaviesRHPBrewers

MLB Regulars

71 Players (13.1%)

These prospects have had a lower peak or shorter careers than the players above. However, they all fit comfortably into a category of players “you’d be happy to acquire in a trade.”

PLAYERPOSTEAM
Adalberto MejiaLHPTwins
Adrian HouserRHPBrewers
Adrian SampsonRHPMariners
Ben BrownRHPCubs
Blake PerkinsOFRoyals
Brett Phillips*OFBrewers
Bryan De La CruzOFAstros
Christian Encarnacion-Strand3BReds
Colin HoldermanRHPPirates
Dairon BlancoOFRoyals
Daniel MengdenRHPAthletics
Daniel NorrisLHPTigers
Daniel Vogelbach1BMariners
Dean KremerRHPOrioles
Dillon Tate*RHPYankees
DJ HerzLHPNationals
Domingo SantanaOFBrewers
Drew WatersOFRoyals
Eloy JimenezOFWhite Sox
Erik SwansonRHPYankees
Evan PhillipsRHPOrioles
Ezequiel DuranSSYankees
Francisco MejiaCPadres
Garrett Cooper1BYankees
Giovanny GallegosRHPCardinals
Gregory SantosRHPGiants
Harold RamirezOFBlue Jays
Huascar YnoaRHPBraves
Ian HamiltonRHPGuardians
Jack SuwinskiOFPadres
Jalen BeeksLHPRays
James KaprielianRHPAthletics
Jeff HoffmanRHPRockies
Jerad EickhoffRHPPhillies
Jesus SanchezOFMarlins
Jimmy CorderoRHPPhillies
John GantRHPBraves
Jorge AlfaroCPhillies
Jorge LopezRHPRoyals
Jorge MateoSS/OFAthletics
Jose Caballero3B/2BMariners
Josh SmithSSYankees
Josiah GrayRHPDodgers
JP SearsLHPAthletics
Justus SheffieldLHPYankees
Keibert RuizCDodgers
Kyle BarracloughRHPMarlins
Logan AllenLHPIndians
Logan O’HoppeCAngels
Luis CessaRHPTigers
Luke RaleyOF/1BTwins
Luke Voit1BYankees
Mauricio DubonSS/2BGiants
Mickey MoniakOFAngels
Oscar MercadoOFIndians
Paul BlackburnRHPMariners
Pete FairbanksRHPRays
Reese McGuireCBlue Jays
Reese OlsonRHPBrewers
Robert GasserLHPBrewers
Santiago EspinalSSBlue Jays
Simeon Woods Richardson*RHPBlue Jays
Stuart FairchildOFReds
Tobias MyersRHPRays
Ty ButtreyRHPAngels
Victor VodnikRHPRockies
Wilyer AbreuOFRed Sox
Yennier CanoRHPOrioles
Zack LittellRHPTwins

MLB Top 30 Prospects

31 Players (6.1%)

This is a list with a massive recency bias. These are player either currently on Top 30 Prospect lists or recent graduates who aren’t yet established enough to fit into any of the above (or below) categories. Take Pete Crow-Armstrong as an example of a recent graduate who slides into that kind of baseball netherworld for now.

PLAYERPOSTEAM
Alexander CanarioOFGiants
Austin MartinSS/OFBlue Jays
Austin Shenton3BMariners
Cade PovichLHPOrioles
Cesar Prieto2B/3BCardinals
Chandler ChamplainRHPRoyals
Chayce McDermottRHPOrioles
Cooper Bowman2BAthletics
Drew GilbertOFMets
Edgar QueroCWhite Sox
Edwin ArroyoSSReds
Gabriel AriasSSGuardians
Hao-Yu Lee2BTigers
Hector Rodriguez2B/OFReds
Jake EderLHPWhite Sox
James WoodOFNationals
Jarlin SusanaRHPNationals
Joe BoyleRHPAthletics
Jordan LeasureRHPWhite Sox
Kevin AlcantaraOFYankees
Ky BushLHPWhite Sox
Kyle Manzardo1BGuardians
Nick NastriniRHPWhite Sox
Noelvi MarteSSReds
Pete Crow-ArmstrongOFMets
Robert HassellOFNationals
Ryan Bliss2BMariners
Ryan Clifford1B/OFMets
Seth JohnsonRHPOrioles
Tekoah RobyRHPCardinals
Thomas Saggese2BCardinals

Up-And-Down MLB Players

192 Players (37.6%)

These players typically had brief MLB careers. Those with longer big league careers have well below-average production.

PLAYERPOSTEAM
A.J. AlexyRHPRangers
Aaron BrooksRHPAthletics
Aaron FletcherLHPMariners
Aaron WilkersonRHPBrewers
Adam KloffensteinRHPCardinals
Alan BusenitzRHPTwins
Alec AsherRHPPhillies
Alex JacksonCBraves
Alex LangeRHPTigers
Alika WilliamsSSPirates
Anderson Espinoza*RHPPadres
Andre ScrubbRHPAstros
Andrew MooreRHPReds
Andrew VelazquezSS/OFIndians
Anthony KayLHPBlue Jays
Ariel MirandaLHPMariners
Austin AllenCCardinals
Bailey HornLHPWhite Sox
Ben HellerRHPYankees
Billy McKinney*OFYankees
Blake RutherfordOFWhite Sox
Bobby WahlRHPMets
Bradley BlalockRHPBrewers
Brandon FinneganLHPReds
Brendon DavisSSRangers
Brett EibnerOFAthletics
Breyvic Valera2BOrioles
Brian NavarretoCYankees
Bruce ZimmermannLHPOrioles
Cal StevensonOFAstros
Caleb KilianRHPGiants
Calvin FaucherRHPTwins
Chase De JongRHPTwins
Chris VallimontRHPTwins
CJ Alexander3BRoyals
Clayton BeeterRHPYankees
Clint FrazierOFYankees
Cody CarrollRHPOrioles
Cody EgeLHPMarlins
Cody PonceRHPPirates
Cody ReedLHPReds
Conner CapelOFIndians
Connor SeaboldRHPRockies
Cooper HummelOF/CBrewers
Corbin MartinRHPD-backs
Daniel PalenciaRHPAthletics
David PaulinoRHPBlue Jays
Dawel Lugo3BTigers
Devin SmeltzerLHPTwins
Diego Castillo2B/SSYankees
Dietrich EnnsLHPTwins
Dominic CanzoneOFMariners
Drew MillasCA’s
Drew RomLHPCardinals
Drew SmithRHPMets
Dustin FowlerOFAthletics
Easton LucasLHPAthletics
Edward OlivaresOFRoyals
Elliot SotoSSMarlins
Elvis PegueroRHPYankees
Enmanuel Valdez2B/OFRed Sox
Eric StametsSSIndians
Esteury Ruiz*2BPadres
Ford ProctorC/INFGiants
Forrest WallOFBlue Jays
Franklyn KilomeRHPMets
Gabriel MoyaLHPTwins
Garrett CleavingerLHPPhillies
Genesis CabreraLHPCardinals
Gerardo ReyesRHPAngels
Gerson BautistaRHPMets
Gilberto CelestinoOFTwins
Glenn OttoRHPYankees
Grant HolmesRHPAthletics
Greg DeichmannOFAthletics
Hans CrouseRHPRangers
Hayden WesneskiRHPCubs
Hector Olivera2BBraves
Hector PerezRHPBlue Jays
Hoy ParkSSYankees
Humberto MejiaRHPMarlins
J.B. BukauskasRHPD’backs
J.P. FeyereisenRHPYankees
Jackson WolfLHPPirates
Jacob LopezLHPRays
Jacob NottinghamCAthletics
Jacob WaguespackRHPBlue Jays
JaCoby JonesSSTigers
Jairo LabourtLHPTigers
Jake BrentzRHPTigers
Jake ThompsonRHPPhillies
Jamie CallahanRHPMets
Janson JunkRHPYankees
Jaylin DavisOFGiants
JD HammerRHPPhillies
Jeff BrighamRHPMarlins
Jeremy WalkerRHPRays
Jesus Tinoco*RHPRockies
Jharel CottonRHPAthletics
Jhon RomeroRHPNationals
Joe HarveyRHPRockies
Joe McCarthyOF/1BGiants
Joey WentzLHPTigers
John LambLHPReds
Jordan GroshansSS/3BMarlins
Jorge AlcalaRHPTwins
Jose MarteRHPGiants
Jose PerazaSS/2BDodgers
Jose RamirezRHPMariners
Josh RogersLHPOrioles
Justin WilliamsOFCardinals
Kai-Wei TengRHPGiants
Kelvin Gutierrez3BRoyals
Ken WaldichukLHPAthletics
Keury MellaRHPReds
Kolby AllardLHPRangers
Konnor PilkingtonLHPWhite Sox
Korey LeeCWhite Sox
Kyle DowdyRHPIndians
Levi StoudtRHPReds
Lewin Diaz1BMarlins
Lewis BrinsonOFBrewers
Lucius Fox*SSRays
Luis MaderoRHPAngels
Luis MedinaRHPAthletics
Marcos DiplanRHPTwins
Mark Mathias2B/3BRangers
Mason ThompsonRHPPadres
Merandy GonzalezRHPMarlins
Michael PerezCRays
Miguel CastroRHPRockies
Nathan LukesOFRays
Nick RobertsonRHPRed Sox
Nick Solak2B/OFRangers
Nick WilliamsOFPhillies
Noah DavisRHPReds
Owen MillerSSGuardians
Packy NaughtonLHPAngels
Pat LightRHPTwins
Payton HenryCBrewers
Peyton BattenfieldRHPRays
Phil BickfordRHPBrewers
Prelander BerroaRHPGiants
Ramon FloresOFMariners
Ray BlackRHPTwins
Raynel EspinalRHPCubs
Riley AdamsCBlue Jays
Riley O’BrienRHPReds
Rob KaminskyLHPIndians
Roel RamirezRHPCardinals
Ronald BolanosRHPRoyals
Ryan CordellOFWhite Sox
Rylan Bannon3BOrioles
Samad Taylor2B/OFRoyals
Samad TaylorSSBlue Jays
Sawyer Gipson-LongRHPTigers
Sean ReynoldsRHPPadres
Sergio AlcantaraSSTigers
Seth BeerOFD-backs
Seth ElledgeRHPCardinals
Shaun AndersonRHPGiants
Sheldon Neuse3BAthletics
Stephen NogosekRHPMets
Tanner GordonRHPRockies
Tayler ScottRHPRangers
Taylor GuilbeauLHPMariners
Taylor Hearn*LHPPirates
Taylor Trammell*OFPadres
Terrin VavraSSOrioles
Thomas HatchRHPBlue Jays
Thomas PannoneLHPBlue Jays
Thomas SzapuckiLHPGiants
Tomas TelisCMarlins
Travis Demeritte*2bBraves
Tristan BeckRHPGiants
Tucker DavidsonLHPAngels
Tucupita MarcanoIFPadres
Tyler Nevin1BOrioles
Tyler WebbLHPBrewers
Vicente CamposRHPDiamondbacks
Williams JerezLHPAngels
Willie Calhoun2B/OFRangers
Yhonathan BarriosRHPBrewers
Yusniel DiazOFOrioles
Zach PopRHPOrioles
Zack ShortSSBraves

No MLB Impact

183 Players (35.8%)

These prospects did not make an MLB impact of any sort after they were acquired. A few of these still may turn that assessment around, but they are not currently premium prospects.

A.J. PuckettRHPWhite Sox
Abrahan GutierrezCPhillies
Alberto Ciprian3BBrewers
Alberto TiradoRHPPhillies
Aldo RamirezRHPRed Sox
Alec BargerRHPRockies
Alejandro RequenaRHPPhillies
Alex De Jesus3BBlue Jays
Alex ScherffRHPRed Sox
Alex VizcainoRHPYankees
Alexis TapiaRHPRays
Alfredo GarciaLHPYankees
Andre DavisLHPWhite Sox
Andrew HoffmanRHPRoyals
Andy ThomasCGiants
Angel GermanRHPPirates
Antoine KellyLHPRangers
Austin BossartCMets
Beck WayRHPRoyals
Braeden OgleLHPPirates
Brandon MillerRHPMarlins
Brayan HernandezOFMarlins
Brett CumberlandCOrioles
Brian ShafferRHPRays
Bryant Flete2BWhite Sox
Bryce Ball1BBraves
Bryson BrigmanSSMarlins
Caleb DirksRHPBraves
Carlos GuarateRHPAthletics
Carson SeymourRHPGiants
Carter BinsCMariners
Case WilliamsRHPReds
Casey Gillaspie1BWhite Sox
Casey MeisnerRHPAthletics
Chad PatrickRHPAthletics
Chad Spanberger1BBlue Jays
Charlie TilsonOFWhite Sox
Chih Wei-HuLHPRays
Christian CerdaCD-Backs
Coleman CrowRHPMets
Connor Van ScoyocRHPRockies
Corey CoppingRHPBlue Jays
Corey RosierOFRed Sox
Derlin FigueroaOF/1BRoyals
Devin Mann3B/1BRoyals
Dian ToscanoOFDodgers
Donovan CaseyOFDodgers
Drew StrotmanRHPRays
Eduar LopezRHPRays
Elio PradoOFOrioles
Elvis AlvaradoRHPMariners
Ernie de la TrinidadOFTwins
Estuar SueroOFPirates
Evan McKendryRHPBrewers
Evan SiskLHPCardinals
Gabriel MacielOFTwins
Gerardo CarrilloRHPDodgers
German TapiaOFDodgers
Hansel RodriguezRHPPadres
Hendrik ClementinaCReds
Henry WilliamsRHPRoyals
Hudson Potts3BRed Sox
Ian ClarkinLHPWhite Sox
Ismael AquinoRHPAthletics
Ivan ArmstrongRHPGiants
Ivan PineyroRHPMarlins
Jacob Condra-BoganRHPNationals
Jadiel SanchezOFAngels
Jake MaddenRHPRockies
Jameson HannahOFReds
Jason BahrRHPRangers
Jay GroomeLHPPadres
Jayden MurrayRHPAstros
Jean Carlos Encarnacion3BOrioles
Jean CarmonaSSOrioles
Jeferson MejiaRHPAthletics
Jeffry AbreuRHPCardinals
Jeisson RosarioOFRed Sox
Jeremiah JacksonSS/3BMets
Jeremy RodriguezSSMets
Jesus CastilloRHPAngels
Jesus RiosRHPRoyals
Jhon TorresOFCardinals
Jhonleider SalinasRHPIndians
Jhonny SeverinoSSPirates
Jimmy HerronOFRockies
Joaquin TejadaRHPMariners
Joe JarneskiRHPWhite Sox
Joey CantilloLHPGuardians
Jordan HumphreysRHPGiants
Jordan PriesRHPCubs
Jordy BarleyOFPadres
Jose AcunaRHPReds
Jose AlmonteRHPDiamondbacks
Jose Gomez2B/SSPhillies
Jose KingSSTigers
Josh GessnerRHPPhillies
Josh RobersonRHPCubs
Joshua Rojas2B/SS/OFD-backs
Juan CarelaRHPWhite Sox
Juan NunezRHPOrioles
Juan RojasLHPOrioles
Justin HagenmanRHPRed Sox
Justin JarvisRHPMets
Kasey KalichRHPBraves
Kevin GowdyRHPPhillies
Kevin GuzmanRHPMarlins
Kevin MadeSSNationals
Kevin MerrellSSRoyals
Kevin SmithLHPOrioles
Khalil WatsonSSGuardians
Kodi MedeirosLHPWhite Sox
Kris AnglinLHPTigers
Kyle JohnstonRHPBlue Jays
Landon MarceauxRHPMets
Luis Alejandro Basabe2BDiamondbacks
Luis Ortiz*RHPBrewers
Luis RijoRHPTwins
Luisangel AcunaSSMets
Lukas SchiraldiRHPMarlins
Lupe ChavezRHPAstros
Malcom Nunez1BPirates
Malik CollymoreOFBrewers
Marco VargasSSMets
Mason AlbrightLHPRockies
Matt Rose1BWhite Sox
Matt SvansonRHPCardinals
Matthew DyerCMets
Max FergusonSS/2BRed Sox
Max WotellLHPReds
Maximo CastilloRHPRoyals
McKenzie MillsLHPPhillies
Michael SantosRHPRays
Michael StryffelerRHPGiants
Michell MilianoRHPPadres
Moises BritoLHPDodgers
Nathan WittRHPRays
Nick FrassoRHPDodgers
Nick GreenRHPYankees
Nick WellsLHPTigers
Nick ZwackLHPGiants
Niko HulsizerOFRays
Noelberth RomeroSSOrioles
Paul RichanRHPTigers
Phil PfeiferLHPBraves
Raider UcetaOFAstros
Rainier RivasOFAstros
Rashad CrawfordOFYankees
Ray CastroRHPWhite Sox
Ricardo CespedesOFMarlins
Richard GuaschRHPA’s
Ricky DeVitoRHPBraves
Robert WhalenRHPBraves
Rollie LacyRHPRangers
Ronald HernandezCMets
Roni CabreraOFRoyals
Ruben CardenasOFRays
Ryan Costello1BTwins
Saul GonzalezRHPCubs
Scott MossLHPIndians
Sem RobberseRHPCardinals
Seth ShumanRHPA’s
Steven HajjarLHPReds
Tito PoloOFWhite Sox
TJ SikkemaLHPRoyals
Tommy EveldRHPMarlins
Trevor Hauver2B/OFYankees
Trey HarrisOFNationals
Tyler ThomasLHPRangers
Tyler WatsonLHPTwins
Victor AcostaSSReds
Victor AraujoRHPMarlins
Victor Nova3BIndians
Wei Chieh-HuangRHPRangers
Wendell Rijo2BBrewers
Wilber PerezRHPWhite Sox
Will Toffey3BMets
Yainier DiazCIndians
Yeltsin Gudino2BBlue Jays
Yohanse MorelRHPRoyals
Zach BirdRHPBraves
Zack ShowalterRHPCardinals

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