Ranking The Prospects Traded, 2016

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 Top 100: 15

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

2 Clint Frazier of Yankees Top 100: 21

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

3 Gleyber Torres ss Yankees Top 100: 27

Realistic Best Case Scenario: All-Star middle infielder

4 Lewis Brinson of Brewers Top 100: 30

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

5 Phil Bickford rhp Brewers Top 100: 50

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Mid-rotation starting pitcher

6 Grant Holmes rhp Athletics Top 100: 60

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Ben Sheets

7 Justus Sheffield lhp Yankees Top 100: 69

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Scott Kazmir

8 Luis Ortiz rhp Brewers Top 100: 74

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

9 Frankie Montas rhp Athletics Top 100: 82

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

10 Adalberto Mejia lhp Twins Top 100: 91

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

11 Josh Naylor 1b Padres Top 100: 100

Realistic Best Case Scenario: First baseman providing 25+ home runs and solid average.

12 Harold Ramirez of Blue Jays 50 High

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

13 Lucius Fox ss Rays 55 Extreme

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Didi Gregorius-like shortstop

14 Reese McGuire c Blue Jays 50 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Defense-first everyday catcher

15 Brett Eibner of Athletics

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Justin Ruggiano-type center fielder

16 Travis Demeritte 2b Braves 55 Extreme

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

17 Dan Vogelbach 1b Mariners 50 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Productive Billy Butler-esque DH

18 Jharel Cotton rhp Dodgers 45 Medium

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

19 Charlie Tilson of White Sox 50 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Second-division regular center fielder

20 Pat Light rhp Twins 55 Extreme

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

21 Dillon Tate rhp Rangers 50 High

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

22 Ben Heller rhp Yankees 50 Extreme

Realistic Best Case Scenario: 100 mph high-leverage reliever

23 Michael Santos rhp Rays 50 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Josh Tomlin-type starter

24 Billy McKinney of Yankees 50 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario: A taller Daniel Nava

25 Chris Paddack rhp Padres 45 Medium

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

26 Vicente Campos rhp Diamondbacks 45 Medium

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

27 Jonah Heim c Rays 45 Medium

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Defense-first backup catcher

28 Paul Blackburn rhp Mariners 50 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario: 2015 Kyle Hendricks clone

29 Nick Green rhp Rangers 50 Extreme

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Fifth/sixth-inning reliever

30 Hansel Rodriguez rhp Padres 45 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario:  or Gretel.

31 Taylor Hearn lhp Pirates 40 Low

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

32 Yordan Alvarez 1b Astros 50 Extreme

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

33 Luis Alejandro Basabe 2b Diamondbacks 45 High

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

34 Wendell Rijo 2b Brewers 50 Extreme

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

35 Max Wotell lhp Reds 50 Extreme

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

36 Phillip Pfeifer lhp Braves 45 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Lefty matchup reliever

37 Aaron Wilkerson rhp Brewers 50 High

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

38 J.P. Feyereisen rhp Yankees 45 High

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

39 Caleb Dirks rhp Braves 45 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Blake Wood

40 Erik Swanson rhp Rangers 45 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Mike Wright

41 Ariel Miranda lhp Mariners 45 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Andrew Albers

42 Rashad Crawford of Yankees 45 Extreme

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

43 Nathan Lukes of Rays 40 Medium

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

44 Jose Almonte rhp Diamondbacks 45 Extreme

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Powerball ticket for a No. 3/4 starter.

45 Lupe Chavez rhp Astros 45 Extreme

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

46 Jhonleider Salinas rhp Indians 45 Extreme

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Jeremy Jeffress-esque reliever

47 Jesus Castillo rhp Angels 45 Extreme

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

48 Alan Busenitz rhp Twins 45 Extreme

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Generic low-leverage middle reliever

49 Jordan Pries rhp Cubs 40 High

Realistic Best Case Scenario: Jeff Manship-esque career

50 Dian Toscano of Dodgers 35 Medium

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