10 Prized Prospects Who Could Be the Jewel of 2024 MLB Trade Deadline Blockbusters
The MLB trade deadline can reshape the leaguewide landscape for the final two months of the season, but it can also have a longer-lasting impact through the prospect talent that is sent the other way by contenders.
Last summer, catcher Edgar Quero (No. 62), first baseman Kyle Manzardo (No. 81), outfielder Ryan Clifford (No. 90) and outfielder Drew Gilbert (No. 95) were the top prospects that were on the move, at least with regard to their current standing on B/R's latest Top 100 prospect list.
Which top-tier prospects could be on the move ahead of this year's deadline?
Ahead is a closer look at 10 notable prospects who could serve as the centerpiece of blockbuster deals next week.
With a lackluster collection of rental options available on this year's market, more teams could explore larger blockbuster deals to acquire upgrades with club control beyond the 2024 season.
1B/OF Tyler Black, Milwaukee Brewers
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B/R Prospect Rank: No. 3 MIL prospect, No. 66 on B/R Top 100
Tyler Black broke through as a consensus Top 100 prospect last season when he hit .284/.417/.513 with 25 doubles, 12 triples, 18 home runs, 73 RBI and 55 steals in 123 games in the upper levels of the minors.
After starting his career as a second baseman, he played exclusively at the corner infield spots last year, and this season he has played primarily first base while sprinkling in some third base and center field.
With a .279/.388/.461 line at Triple-A this season, including 25 extra-base hits and 16 steals in 69 games, he has little left to prove in the minors and could be a plug-and-play addition for a rebuilding club.
The Milwaukee Brewers will be searching for a quality starting pitcher to slot behind Freddy Peralta in the rotation, and would likely only part with Black if they are bringing back someone with control beyond the 2024 season.
SS Starlyn Caba, Philadelphia Phillies
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B/R Prospect Rank: No. 4 PHI prospect, No. 59 on B/R Top 100
The Philadelphia Phillies signed Starlyn Caba to a $3 million bonus as one of the top prospects in the 2023 international class, and he backed up the hype by hitting .301 with a .423 on-base percentage and more walks (28) than strikeouts (16) in the Dominican Summer League.
The 18-year-old made his way stateside this season and began the year as one of the youngest players in the Florida Coast League, hitting .254/.427/.335 with 37 steals in 52 games before he was recently promoted to Single-A Clearwater.
He is one of the best defensive shortstops in the minors, and he has a chance to be a Gold Glove-caliber defender. Even if he never develops much power, his on-base skills and speed should give him a strong enough offensive foundation to be an everyday shortstop.
With the Phillies built to win now, trading from the lower levels of the minors makes sense, though it would take a blockbuster pickup for them to move Caba.
RHP Logan Evans, Seattle Mariners
3 of 10B/R Prospect Rank: No. 7 SEA prospect, Next 50 on B/R Top 100
Will the Seattle Mariners still pursue another major offensive addition after acquiring Randy Arozarena from the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday?
The answer should be a resounding yes for a team that has an outstanding pitching staff but ranks near the bottom of the league in batting average (.216, 30th), OPS (.660, 28th), and runs per game (3.75, 28th).
Given the team's wealth of pitching talent, Logan Evans might be viewed as more expendable than he would be in most other organizations. His rising stock could make him the centerpiece of a blockbuster deal.
The 23-year-old was a 12th-round pick in the 2023 draft, and after allowing just one earned run in 15 innings of work in his pro debut, he has a 2.17 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 66.1 innings of work at Double-A Arkansas this year.
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OF Spencer Jones, New York Yankees
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B/R Prospect Rank: No. 2 NYY prospect, No. 75 on B/R Top 100
With a towering 6'6", 235-pound frame and massive raw power, it's easy to dream of the middle-of-the-order potential that Spencer Jones possesses.
The New York Yankees essentially deemed him untouchable during the offseason after he posted a .766 OPS with 29 doubles, 16 home runs, 66 RBI and 43 steals in 117 games between High-A and Double-A in his first full professional season.
Things have not gone as well back at Double-A this year.
The 23-year-old is hitting .236/.319/.403 with a staggering 135 strikeouts in 79 games and a 37.4 percent strikeout rate, raising some legitimate questions about whether he will make enough consistent contact to fully utilize his power.
The Yankees front office is now reportedly open to moving him in the right deal, and he still has enough long-term upside to be an attractive trade chip.
2B/OF Luke Keaschall, Minnesota Twins
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B/R Prospect Rank: No. 4 MIN prospect, No. 64 on B/R Top 100
Luke Keaschall has raised his prospect profile as much as anyone this season, hitting .321/.435/.499 with 21 doubles, 12 home runs, 41 RBI and 21 steals in 90 games between High-A and Double-A.
The 2023 second-round pick is the type of prospect the Minnesota Twins have done a nice job developing in recent years as an offensive-minded utility player who moves quickly through the minors.
The 21-year-old has split his time between second base and center field this year, and his strong contact skills and terrific on-base ability give him a high offensive floor even if he is only an average power hitter at the next level.
The Twins traded away a similar prospect when they sent Spencer Steer to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Tyler Mahle, and the team is once again in search of starting pitching help while they try to chase down the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central race.
SS Brice Matthews, Houston Astros
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B/R Prospect Rank: No. 2 HOU prospect, Next 50 on B/R Top 100
Brice Matthews played his way into the first round of the 2023 draft when he hit .359/.481/.723 with 20 home runs, 67 RBI and 20 steals in 54 games at the University of Nebraska.
The 22-year-old has a power-over-contract approach at the plate, but he has proven to be a more well-rounded offensive player than expected in the early stages of his pro career, pushing him toward the top of a thin Houston system.
To open the year, he hit .321/.423/.580 with six home runs, 17 RBI, and 10 steals in 21 games at High-A and earned a quick promotion to Double-A, where he has continued to hold his own at the plate.
A terrific athlete who was an all-state quarterback in high school, he could wind up in center field long-term, where his speed and instincts would play well. For now, he will continue to be developed as a shortstop.
3B Coby Mayo, Baltimore Orioles
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B/R Prospect Rank: No. 2 BAL prospect, No. 11 on B/R Top 100
The Baltimore Orioles' most glaring need at the trade deadline is to find a starting pitcher to slot between ace Corbin Burnes and up-and-comer Grayson Rodriguez in the playoff rotation.
That will likely mean trading from their abundance of young offensive talent, with corner infielder Coby Mayo and catcher Samuel Basallo the most likely prospects to be moved at first glance.
Mayo, 22, established himself as an elite-level prospect last season when he hit .290/.410/.564 with 45 doubles, 29 home runs and 99 RBI in 140 games between Double-A and Triple-A.
He has continued to rake back at Triple-A this season, batting .295/.372/.582 with 18 doubles, 19 home runs and 57 RBI in 70 games. He has a middle-of-the-order run producer upside, and even if he eventually shifts across the diamond to first base, his offensive profile would easily fit the position.
RHP Adam Mazur, San Diego Padres
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B/R Prospect Rank: No. 4 SD prospect
The San Diego Padres have not been shy about trading their prospect talent in the time that A.J. Preller has been calling the shots in the front office, and that's especially true of their MLB-ready pitching talent.
Highly regarded pitching prospects like MacKenzie Gore, Luis Patiño, Ryan Weathers, Cal Quantrill and Robert Gasser are among a long list of pitchers who were traded while on the cusp of reaching the big leagues or shortly after they debuted.
Right-hander Adam Mazur fits that same profile. He has strong numbers in the upper levels of the minors and seven big league starts under his belt this year, and flipping him to a rebuilding team for a short-term rotation upgrade could benefit both sides.
The 23-year-old was a second-round pick in 2022, and he has a 4.39 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 54 strikeouts in 55.1 innings in the minors this year. He has scuffled to a 7.84 ERA over his 31 innings in the big leagues, but the potential is there for him to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation staple.
RHP JR Ritchie, Atlanta Braves
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B/R Prospect Rank: No. 5 ATL prospect
The Atlanta Braves swung for the fences at the top of their 2022 draft haul when they took three high school pitchers—Owen Murphy (No. 20), JR Ritchie (No. 37) and Cole Phillips (No. 57)—with their first three selections, all inside the top 60 picks.
Ritchie threw the ball well in his pro debut and was sent straight to Single-A for his first full professional season, but he lasted just four starts before he was sidelined with an elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery.
The 21-year-old returned to the mound on June 17 and made three starts in rookie ball before returning to Single-A on July 12 with five no-hit innings.
With an athletic 6'2", 185-pound frame and a great feel for his secondary stuff, Ritchie has the potential to develop into a Top 100-caliber prospect in the near future, but the Braves have not been shy about trading pitching prospects to fill other needs on the roster.
C/1B Dalton Rushing, Los Angeles Dodgers
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B/R Prospect Rank: No. 2 LAD prospect, No. 69 on B/R Top 100
With Will Smith now signed through the 2032 season and Thayron Liranzo emerging as a Top 100-caliber prospect, the Los Angeles Dodgers could opt to use Dalton Rushing in a blockbuster deal this summer.
The 23-year-old spent his first two collegiate seasons serving as the backup to 2021 No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis. Then, during his junior year at Louisville, he sent his draft stock soaring when he hit .310/.470/.686 with 23 home runs and 62 RBI in 64 games.
After turning heads in his pro debut, Rushing posted a .856 OPS with 15 home runs in 89 games at High-A last season, and he has continued to look the part of a potential impact offensive player this season at Double-A Tulsa.
In 68 games, he is hitting .262/.375/.463 with 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 47 RBI, and after seeing significant time at first base last year, he is back to being a full-time catcher and has thrown out 18 of 60 base stealers.
The Dodgers have a history of clinging tightly to their top-tier prospects, and that is likely the route they will go with toolsy outfielder Josue De Paula, but an abundance of catching talent could make Rushing a movable piece.
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