2016: Ranking The Prospects Traded at the Deadline

From June 30 to Aug. 1, 50 prospects changed teams in trades. Now that the non-waiver deadline has come and gone, we ranked all 50 and included a realistic best-case scenario to try to explain what the team trading for them is hoping to get.

Note that we said “realistic best-case scenario.” That means this is not what all of these players will achieve in their careers. In fact, we can guarantee they won’t all reach these heights.

Assuredly some of the players traded in the past month will be released by the end of next year. But this is an attempt to explain what they could be if they keep improving and stay healthy. When players are listed as comparables, these aren’t meant as body comps but as what the player’s career could look like.

1. Anderson Espinoza, rhp, Padres

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Front-of-the-rotation starter/ace


2. Clint Frazier, of, Yankees

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: All-star power-hitting corner outfielder


3. Gleyber Torres, ss, Yankees

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: All-Star middle infielder


4. Lewis Brinson, of, Brewers

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Adam Jones-esque power-speed center fielder


5. Phil Bickford, rhp, Brewers

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Mid-rotation starting pitcher


6. Grant Holmes, rhp, Athletics

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: No. 2 starter in the mold of Ben Sheets


7. Justus Sheffield, lhp, Yankees

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Scott Kazmir


8. Luis Ortiz, rhp, Brewers

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Strike-throwing fastball/slider No. 3 starter


9. Frankie Montas, rhp, Athletics

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Power reliever pitching the eighth or ninth inning


10. Adalberto Mejia, lhp, Twins

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Reliable fourth starter, eating tons of innings


11. Josh Naylor, 1b, Padres

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: First baseman providing 25-plus home runs and solid average


12. Harold Ramirez, of, Blue Jays

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Melky Cabrera-esque high average outfielder


13. Lucius Fox, ss, Rays

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Didi Gregorius-like shortstop


14. Reese McGuire, c, Blue Jays

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Defense-first everyday catcher


15. Brett Eibner, of, Athletics

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Justin Ruggiano-type outfielder


16. Travis Demeritte, 2b, Braves

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Second baseman with 20 home run power


17. Dan Vogelbach, 1b, Mariners

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Productive Billy Butler-esque DH


18. Jharel Cotton, rhp, Athletics

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Fastball/changeup setup man/closer like Ryan Madson


19. Charlie Tilson, of, White Sox

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Second-division regular center fielder


20. Pat Light, rhp, Twins

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Setup man with a blistering fastball but a high number of walks


21. Dillon Tate, rhp, Yankees

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Anywhere from front-of-rotation starter to stalls in Triple-A


22. Ben Heller, rhp, Yankees

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: 100 mph high-leverage reliever


23. Michael Santos, rhp, Rays

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Josh Tomlin-type starter


24. Billy McKinney, of, Yankees

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: A taller Daniel Nava


25. Chris Paddack, rhp, Padres

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Fourth starter after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery


26. Vicente Campos, rhp, Diamondbacks

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Sam Lecure-esque starter/reliever


27. Jonah Heim, c, Rays

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Defense-first backup catcher


28. Paul Blackburn, rhp, Mariners

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: 2015 Kyle Hendricks clone


29. Nick Green, rhp, Yankees

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Fifth/sixth-inning reliever


30. Hansel Rodriguez, rhp, Padres

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Hard-throwing late-inning reliever


31. Taylor Hearn, lhp, Pirates

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Alan Embree-esque power lefty reliever


32. Yordan Alvarez, 1b, Astros

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Extreme risk ranges from low-level minor leaguer to big leaguer


33. Luis Alejandro Basabe, 2b, Diamondbacks

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Above-average defensive second baseman with average bat


34. Wendell Rijo, 2b, Brewers

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Above-average offensive second baseman with average glove


35. Max Wotell, lhp, Reds

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Added strength helps him become mid-rotation starter in 2020 or later


36. Phil Pfeifer, lhp, Braves

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Lefty matchup reliever


37. Aaron Wilkerson, rhp, Brewers

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Up-and-down starter or fifth/sixth-inning reliever


38. J.P. Feyereisen, rhp, Yankees

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Hard-throwing sixth-inning reliever


39. Caleb Dirks, rhp, Braves

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Blake Wood


40. Erik Swanson, rhp, Yankees

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Mike Wright


41. Ariel Miranda, lhp, Mariners

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Andrew Albers


42. Rashad Crawford, of, Yankees

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Fourth outfielder with speed and defensive ability


43. Nathan Lukes, of, Rays

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Fourth outfielder with contact-oriented bat


44. Jose Almonte, rhp, Diamondbacks

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Powerball ticket for a No. 4 starter.


45. Lupe Chavez, rhp, Astros

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Next Astros’ complex-league trade steal


46. Jhonleider Salinas, rhp, Indians

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Jeremy Jeffress-esque reliever


47. Jesus Castillo, rhp, Angels

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Up-and-down starting pitcher


48. Alan Busenitz, rhp, Twins

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Generic low-leverage middle reliever


49. Jordan Pries, rhp, Cubs

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Jeff Manship-type career as middle reliever


50. Dian Toscano, of, Dodgers

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Realistic Best Case Scenario: Triple-A outfielder who gets fill-in callups

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