10 MLB Players Who Were Dealt as Prospects at the Deadline

Every July 31st or earlier, the MLB Trade deadline is the focus of the sports world with rumors flying about any star who wants to be with a contender, but for a team to trade for a star they need to have quality prospects.

All 10 of these current MLB players have been part of a trade deadline deal.
In some cases, prospects do not pan out but for these 10, they have done more than pan out, they have become household names and some have even been the main piece of a trade.

Cliff Lee

Before he was the most sought after pitcher on the trade market, Lee was part of a huge deal between the Expos and Indians in 2002.

Lee was part of the Bartolo Colon deal that sent the burly right hander to Montreal.

Lee is no stranger to the trade deadline having being dealt twice in the past two years and being dealt in an offseason trade over the winter as well.

Brandon Phillips

Phillips, just like Lee, was a young Expos prospect when he was dealt to the Indians in the same deal in 2002.

Then, in 2006, the Reds second baseman was traded by the Indians to his current team for pitcher Jeff Stevens.

Since his arrival in Cincinnati, Phillips has been a main component of the Reds lineup and his hard work paid off with a Gold Glove in 2008 and his first All-Star appearance in 2010.

Grady Sizemore

You can't mention Lee and Phillips and not mention the third superstar that was dealt by Montreal to Cleveland in 2002.

Sizemore broke into the big leagues in 2004 and became the starter in center field in 2005 for the Indians and has been the face of the franchise ever since C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee left town.

After a great season in 2008, Sizemore caught the injury bug during the 2009 season and is out for the rest of the 2010 season.

Elvis Andrus

Andrus was supposed the be the next big shortstop in the Braves' organization but was shipped off to Texas in the 2007 deal for Mark Teixeira in a trade that is starting to benefit the Rangers greatly.

The 21 year-old is in his second full season in Texas and made the All-Star team this season on a team that is contending for the playoffs.

Neftali Feliz

The 22 year-old Rangers closer was also a key piece of the Mark Teixeira trade in 2007 between the Rangers and Braves.

Feliz came over to Texas with Andrus, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Matt Harrison.
The right handed reliever burst on the scene in 2009 with his 100 mph heater and became the closer in 2010 and has already amassed 28 saves for the AL West leaders.

Nelson Cruz

No one knew in 2006 when the Milwaukee Brewers sent Carlos Lee to the Rangers for Francisco Cordero, Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix and Julian Cordero that Cruz would be having the best season in 2010.

Cruz had a break out season in 2009 hitting 33 home runs and driving in 76 runs.
Cruz is now a household name for most baseball fans and is part of the tremendous Texas team that has been made up of players acquired in trades.

Aramis Ramirez

Ramirez was acquired by the Cubs in 2003 from the Pirates with Kenny Lofton for Jose Hernandez, Matt Bruback and Bobby Hill.

The Cubs basically got away with robbery, as the three players sent to Pittsburgh never really made big contributions to big league teams except for Hernandez as a utility man.

The 32 year-old from the Domincan Republic has been the one constant figure in the Cubs' lineup since 2003 and is closing in on his 300th home run and 1,000th RBI.

Shin-Soo Choo

In 2006, Choo was traded with pitcher Shawn Nottingham from Seattle to Cleveland for Ben Broussard.

Choo was just a minor league prospect at the time and continued to be for a couple more years until his breakout season in 2009, when he hit .300 and bashed 20 home runs and drove in 86 runs.

In 2010, Choo's good first half earned him an All-Star selection but he was unable to play because of injury.

Derek Lowe

In one of the most famous trades in the past 20 years, Lowe and Jason Varitek were traded by the Mariners for Heathcliff Slocumb.

With Boston, Lowe started as their closer and then made the transition to starter in 2002 and has posted at least 10 wins in each season since. Lowe has thrown a no-hitter, won a World Series with the Red Sox and made the All-Star team twice in his career.

John Buck

Buck is just one of many Toronto players hitting home runs this season but before he was a Blue Jay, he was traded by the Astros to the Royals as a part of the three-team deal that sent Carlos Beltran to Houston.

Buck signed with the Blue Jays this offseason and made the All-Star team and is the subject of trade rumors this July, but he will be the main piece of the trade this time if it happens.