Trade Rumors: Top Five Prospects Likely to be Traded
By David Hill
Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Ah, the prospect! They can be a symbol of hope for those teams that are struggling, a promise of a better future that will arrive just as soon as these younger players are ready to contribute at the major league level. Even though quiet a few prospects never reach their potential, just the promise of a better tomorrow can hold an almost mystical allure for an embattled franchise.
For those teams in contention, or with an eye towards making the postseason, prospects are a currency all their own. For what is essentially a lottery ticket, these teams are gaining an established major league player, someone that can come in and, hopefully, make a positive impact upon the team’s playoff aspirations. Of course, these trades can turn out to be akin to trading Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen, but one never knows at the time of the deal.
With the non waiver trade deadline at the end of the month, there are going to be quite a few trade rumors in regards to which players will be on the move. While most of the focus, at least in regards to the rumors, will be on the major league players on the move, quite a few minor league players may find themselves switching franchises.
Which prospects could find themselves on the move? Let us take a look at five minor leaguers who could find themselves with a new organization come August 1st.
Next: Building for the future
Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Red Sox are in the odd situation of likely finding themselves to be sellers, but attempting to generate a buzz around the team for the 2016 season. As such, the Red Sox front office tries to avoid terms like ‘rebuilding,’ replacing them with the better sounding ‘retooling,’ even though they essentially mean the same thing in baseball parlance.
While the Red Sox are likely to trade several of their major league pieces, they may use the trade deadline as a chance to build for the next few years. Should they decide to make such a move, one player who could find himself on the block would be Henry Owens.
That is not necessarily through a lack of performance on Owens’ part. His 2-5 record belies his solid 3.46 ERA and a 1.236 WHiP. The biggest concern for Owens may be his command issues, as he has walked 46 batters in 83.1 innings of work. While Owens may not be living up to his status as a consensus top 50 prospect in baseball, he would still be an attractive enough piece that he could help headline a trade to bring back a player to help going forward.
Even if the Red Sox do find themselves looking to jettison salary and rebuild the team once more, Owens may still find himself as part of a trade. His inclusion in a trade of a player like Hanley Ramirez or Pablo Sandoval, two free agent signings that have not found their way in Boston, may be a way to sweeten the pot for a team to take on more of the remaining contracts.
The Boston Red Sox may not be buyers in the traditional sense, but that does not mean that Henry Owens could find himself in another organization. As either a centerpiece to brign back a veteran to help over the next few years, or as a chip to entice a team to take on a bad contract, Owens could end up on the move.
Next: The postseason hero
Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Last season, Brandon Finnegan accomplished something that had never been done before in the history of Major League Baseball. The 17th overall selection of the Kansas City Royals, he became the first player to pitch in both the College World Series and the MLB World Series in the same year.
Yet, those postseason exploits did not earn Finnegan a spot with the Royals out of Spring Training. In fact, the Royals still seem somewhat unsure of what exactly they have in Finnegan, who has split his time as a starter and a reliever in the minors. Thus far, in his nine minor league appearances, including five starts, Finnegan has posted a 0-3 record with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.875 WHiP. However, as a major league reliever, Finnegan has a 2.04 ERA and a 1.019 WHiP, despite walking ten batters in 17.2 innings of work.
While it would seem as though the Royals would have a solid bullpen option in Finnegan, he may end up being a more intriguing asset to a team looking for a pitching prospect to rebuild around. Given the Royals needs, be them in the starting rotation or at second or right, Finnegan may be considered expendable in Kansas City’s pursuit of another trip to the World Series.
It is not often that a first round pick is traded in the following season, especially if they have already made the majors. However, that may be Brandon Finnegan’s future.
Next: An intriguing talent
Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
If a player wants to make an impression upon the major league front office, they could take a page from Brett Phillips’ performance last year. The former sixth round draft pick of the Houston Astros put together a phenomenal 2014 season, posting a .310/.375/.529 batting line with 14 home runs and 23 stolen bases between two stops last season.
This season, Phillips has been even better. Recently promoted to AA, Phillips has put together a .319/.384/.582 batting line with 15 home runs and ten stolen bases. While one would like to see a better success rate on the base paths from Phillips, who has a 62.3% success rate since 2014, that blend of power and speed is certainly intriguing.
With the Astros as one of the surprise teams of baseball, and reportedly looking at top of the rotation starters such as Johnny Cueto and Cole Hamels, it will take a top prospect to land either pitcher. Even though Phillips was not listed on any of the top 100 prospect lists, his performance over the past year and a half has to be worthy of such a label.
Phillips is not just someone who posts strong offensive numbers. He is also regarded as having one of the stronger arms in the Astros’ system, if not the minors as a whole. Despite flying under the radar, Phillips appears on his way to becoming a five tool prospect that can easily be considered one of the top minor league players.
If the Houston Astros do acquire a pitcher like Cueto or Hamels, they will need to part with quite a bit of talent. A player like Brett Phillips may well be one of the prospects to headline such a package.
Next: Injuries have taken their toll this year
Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Last season, Marco Gonzales posted a stellar 2.43 ERA and a 1.123 WHiP, with a strikeout to walk rate of 4.33, across three levels in the St. Louis Cardinals system. That earned Gonzales a promotion to the majors, where just one year after being drafted, he posted a 4.15 ERA and a 1.529 WHiP. This performance was enough to have Gonzales considered not only one of the Cardinals top prospects, but one of the top prospects in baseball by both Baseball American and BaseballProspectus.com.
This year has not gone according to plan for Gonzales. He had struggled in his six outing this season, posting a 6.35 ERA and a 1.588 WHiP for the Memphis Redbirds before being sidelined with shoulder issues. Right now, Gonzales is on a throwing program, and does not yet have a time frame for when he will return.
However, that does not change the fact that Gonzales is still one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. In fact, for teams that are engaging the Cardinals in trade talks, these injury issues for the Cardinals lefty may allow him to be had at a slight discount.
Despite the Cardinals having the best record in baseball, they may still look towards adding an impact bat or another starting pitcher at the trade deadline. Yes, the Cardinals have the best ERA in the National League, but can they trust Jamie Garcia to stay healthy? Likewise, the Cardinals rank twelfth in home runs, and could potentially use an upgrade at first or in center.
Marco Gonzales may have seen his stock drop somewhat since the end of last year, but he could still fetch a solid return. For the St. Louis Cardinals, who may well be the favorites to win the World Series, trading him may be able to bring back that final piece needed for the championship.
Next: Seemingly a fixture on the trade block
Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Javier Baez is seemingly a fixture on the Chicago Cubs trading block. Given that both Starlin Castro and Addison Russell are set in the middle infield, and that Kris Bryant is not going anywhere, a trade of either Baez or Castro would be the likely scenario.
For all the relatively undeserved negativity towards Castro, he is a 25 year old three time All-Star, whereas Baez, despite his potential, is still an unproven commodity. After a disastrous 2014 debut, where he managed to hit nine home runs despite a .169/.227/.324 batting line and 95 strikeouts in 229 plate appearances, the former top prospect has gotten his bat on track with the Iowa Cubs. In 37 games, Baez has a .314/.386/.536 batting line with eight home runs.
With the Cubs in need of pitching help, and a number of teams that could use a middle infielder with the potential that Baez possesses, he would seem to be almost a given to be traded. Teams like the Mets or the Reds, both of which could be looking for their shortstop of the future, may have interest in acquiring Baez.
After his performance last season, Javier Baez may not be able to headline a trade package to bring back a top of the rotation starter. However, his power potential at a middle infield spot, along with his track record as a former consensus top ten prospect in all of baseball, would certainly make him an interesting trade target.
Next: Is Minnesota Twins Miguel Sano the Next Prospect MLB Bound?