Ranking, Scouting Top MLB Prospects Involved in Winter Meetings Trades

Major League Baseball's winter meetings may be over, but the shock from what transpired on Thursday may linger.

The final days of the event featured a flurry of deals involving All-Star players, as Matt Kemp, Yoenis Cespedes, Mat Latos, Howie Kendrick, Jimmy Rollins, Dee Gordon and Alfredo Simon were all included in separate trades.

Many teams considering whether to deal high-profile players this past week were ultimately swayed by offers featuring young players and prospects in return, with some clubs netting as many as three or four in some deals.

As a result, there was an unprecedented number of high-end prospects traded this week, and even more if you include the other deals made earlier in the offseason.

Here's an in-depth look at some of the top prospects, ranked based on their potential long-term impact at the highest level, who'll be suiting up for new teams in 2015.

5. Devon Travis, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays

2014 Stats (AA/AAA): 441 PA, .298/.358/.460, 37 XBH (10 HR), 16 SB, 37 BB, 60 K

Trade

Toronto Blue Jays acquire 2B Devon Travis from the Detroit Tigers for OF Anthony Gose.

2014 Review

Travis missed roughly six weeks with an oblique injury early in the season and batted just .140/.154/.140 over his first 12 games at Double-A Erie. However, the 23-year-old eventually settled in and found his stroke at the plate, producing a .321/.385/.506 batting line, 37 extra-base hits and 14 stolen bases over 88 games.

Core muscle surgery prevented Travis from making up for his lost time in the Arizona Fall League, though he’s expected to be ready for the spring training.

Scouting Report

At 5’9”, 195 pounds, Travis, a right-handed hitter, does an excellent job of getting the barrel on the ball and showcases surprising power thanks to above-average bat speed and strong wrists. He’s a patient hitter who employs a consistent approach at the plate and lets the ball travel deep—qualities that should translate favorably as he continues to move up the ladder. And while his defense lags behind the bat, he still possesses the quickness, range and hands to handle second base at the highest level.

2015 Opening Day Projection: Triple-A

MLB ETA: Mid-2015

4. Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Atlanta Braves

2014 Stats (A+): 13 GS, 74 IP, 3.28 ERA, 1.311 WHIP, 0.7 HR/9, 2.8 BB/9, 5.0 K/9

Trade

Atlanta Braves acquire RHPs Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins from the St. Louis Cardinals for OF Jason Heyward and RHP Jordan Walden.

2014 Review

After logging only 141.2 innings between 2012 and 2013 due to shoulder injuries, Jenkins turned in a 3.28 ERA in 74 innings this season at High-A Palm Beach. However, the 22-year-old right-hander’s strikeout numbers fell dramatically, as he fanned only five batters for every nine innings pitched.

Scouting Report

Jenkins’ fastball is still crisp despite the shoulder injuries, registering in the 92-95 mph range with decent life, but his secondary pitches are very raw as a result of his missed time developmentally. Specifically, the 6’4” right-hander struggles to throw his breaking ball and changeup for strikes, and he lacks the feel needed to get hitters to expand the zone. Therefore, he has no choice but to primarily throw fastballs. Luckily, he spots it well enough to both sides of the plate to generate weak contact.

2015 Opening Day Projection: Double-A

MLB ETA: 2017

3. Anthony DeSclafani, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

2014 Stats (AA/AAA): 20 G/19 GS, 102.1 IP, 3.78 ERA, 1.212 WHIP, 0.5 HR/9, 1.7 BB/9, 7.4 K/9

2014 Stats (MLB): 13 G/5 GS, 33 IP, 6.27 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 1.1 HR/9, 1.4 BB/9, 7.1 K/9

Trade

Miami Marlins acquire RHP Mat Latos from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for prospects RHP Anthony DeSclafini and C Chad Wallach, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, MLB.com’s Joe Frisario and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

2014 Review

The Marlins acquired DeSclafani in the blockbuster deal with the Blue Jays following the 2012 season. The 24-year-old right-hander debuted in the major leagues this past season, but struggled to the tune of a 6.27 ERA over a short sample of 33 innings.

However, his strikeout and walk rates were consistent with those he posted between Double-A and Triple-A, and his 3.77 FIP suggested that his ugly ERA was mostly a result of bad luck. DeSclafani closed out his breakthrough season with an impressive showing in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 2.67 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 27 innings.

Scouting Report

DeSclafini’s arsenal of three average-or-better pitches is highlighted by a 93-94 mph running fastball that he uses to pound the bottom of the zone, generating both whiffs and weak contact. The 6’1” right-hander’s go-to secondary offering is a hard, low to mid-80s slider with good tilt, and he has a good feel for sequencing it relative to his heater.

2015 Opening Day Projection: No. 5 Starter (MLB)

2. Franklin Barreto, SS, Oakland Athletics

2014 Stats (SS): 328 PA, .311/.384/.481, 33 XBH (6 HR), 29 SB, 26 BB, 64 K

Trade

Oakland Athletics acquire 3B Brett Lawrie, RHP Kendall Graveman, SS Franklin Barreto and LHP Sean Nolin from the Blue Jays for 3B Josh Donaldson.

2014 Review

Signed for $1.45 million in 2012 out of Venezuela, Barreto absolutely raked in the Short Season Northwest League this past season, batting .311/.384/.481 in 73 games for Vermont. The 18-year-old led the league in doubles (23), hits (90) and RBI (61), and he also ranked third with 29 stolen bases.

Scouting Report

Barreto is an offensive-oriented shortstop with a compact, line-drive stroke at the present, though his ability to hammer the gaps and pile up doubles suggests there will be more over-the-fence power in his future. In general, Barreto is an impressive athlete with good strength to his undersized 5’9”, 175-pound frame, and his above-average speed shows through his rangy defense and base-stealing ability.

His glove lags well behind his other tools—although that’s the case with most teenage shortstops not named Francisco Lindor—but his speed and plus arm strength are clean fits at the position. While the A’s surely will give him every chance to remain there long term, Barreto’s promising bat would also be a valuable commodity at the keystone.

2015 Opening Day Projection: Low-A

MLB ETA: 2017

1. Andrew Heaney, LHP, Los Angeles Angels

2014 Stats (AA/AAA): 24 G/23 GS, 137.1 IP, 3.28 ERA, 1.136 WHIP, 0.7 HR/9, 2.4 BB/9, 9.4 K/9

2014 Stats (MLB): 7 G/5 GS, 29.1 IP, 5.83 ERA, 5.45 FIP, 1.8 HR/9, 2.1 BB/9, 6.1 K/9

The Trade

Los Angeles Dodgers acquire 2B Howie Kendrick from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for LHP Andrew Heaney, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. The Dodgers had acquired Heaney from the Marlins earlier in the day.

2014 Review

Andrew Heaney opened the season with a dominant showing between the Double-A and Triple-A level, which resulted in a promotion to the major leagues in early June. However, the 23-year-old left-handed pitcher couldn’t replicate his minor league success against the game’s top hitters, going 0-3 with a 6.53 ERA and five home runs allowed in 20.2 innings over four starts.

Heaney continued to scuffle after returning to Triple-A, registering a 4.30 ERA and yielding eight more home runs over his final 60.2 innings spanning 11 starts, but he still returned to the major leagues as a September call-up. The southpaw looked sharper after rejoining the Marlins, notching four strikeouts and allowing just two hits over 4.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Scouting Report

Heaney’s fastball registers in the low 90s, occasionally bumping 94-95 mph, and he throws it with conviction to both sides of the plate. His best secondary pitch is a plus slider with swing-and-miss biting action in the low 80s, and he also possesses an above-average changeup that will flash plus.

The only concern with Heaney is durability, as his arm speed and release point worsen quickly as he becomes fatigued, in turn causing his stuff to flatten out and linger up in the zone. However, he otherwise has a clean delivery and sound mechanics, and he’ll only get stronger moving forward.

2015 Opening Day Projection: No. 5 Starter (MLB)