Re-Ranking the Top 15 MLB Prospects Traded This Offseason

When an organization decides to trade a blue-chip prospect, it’s a big deal.

Having said that, the amount of top prospects that have been traded this offseason is unprecedented. It’s not just that; many of them are fresh off their best minor league season, respectively, and on the verge of reaching (and staying) in the majors.

Of all the players who appeared in my end-of-season top-50 prospect rankings, five have already been traded this offseason: C Travis d’Arnaud, RHP Trevor Bauer, RHP Noah Syndergaard, RHP Jake Odorizzi and OF Jake Marisnick.

Will this prospect-dealing madness ever cease? Well, unless either David Price or Giancarlo Stanton is traded, it would seem that way.

Here’s a look at the top 15 prospects who have been traded this offseason.

*All stats courtesy of BaseballReference.com

*All roster projections courtesy of MLBDepthCharts.com

*Some scouting notes originally appeared in my ranking of each team's top-10 prospects.

15. Zeke Spruill, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Trade: In exchange for Justin Upton and Chris Johnson, the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired major leaguers Martin Prado and Randall Delgado from the Atlanta Braves, as well as prospects Nick Ahmed, Zeke Spruill and Brandon Drury.

Season in Review: Spruill, 23, spent the entire 2012 season at Double-A Mississippi, where he registered a 3.67 ERA with 106/46 K/BB in 161.2 innings.

Scouting Report: A 6’5” right-hander, Spruill’s fastball works in the low-90s with exceptional sink; uses it to generate a favorable amount of groundball outs (1.44 GO/AO); height and arm slot, he’s able to consistently throw the pitch on a downhill plane and pound the bottom half of the strike zone.

Spruill’s changeup represents a second potentially above-average offering; throws it with nice fade and arm speed that’s nearly identical to that of his fastball; slider is less advanced and consistent offering; features tight break when thrown correctly and flashes plus potential; the right-hander will need to establish one of his secondary offerings as an out pitch.

2013 Opening Day Level: Double-A

14. Mike Montgomery, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays

Trade: Montgomery was traded along with Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi and Patrick Leonard to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handers James Shields and Wade Davis.

Season in Review: Montgomery somehow took a step back from his dismal 2011 campaign, and did so while repeating a level. Opening the 2012 season at Triple-A, the left-hander’s 5.69 ERA and 4.22 BB/9 in 91.2 innings resulted in a midseason demotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where the downward spiral continued with a 6.67 ERA in 58 innings.

Scouting Report: When Montgomery was dealing, the 23-year-old’s fastball was sitting in the mid-90s; ability to reach back for a few extra ticks as needed; changeup is arguably his best present offering; receives above-average grades and should play up with improved command; loopy curveball still causes some (but not enough) hitters to whiff; needs to tighten the rotation and throw it with more velocity.

6’5” left-hander still has a projectable frame with broad shoulders; has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter and floor of a late-inning reliever; should benefit from the change of scenery; will now be forced to compete with numerous left-handed pitching prospects within the Rays’ system.

2013 Opening Day Level: Triple-A

13. Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, Miami Marlins

Trade: Hechavarria was acquired by the Marlins along with Jake Marisnick, Justin Nicolino, Henderson Alvarez, Anthony Descalfini, Yunel Escobar and Jeff Mathis in exchange for Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, John Buck and Emilio Bonifacio.

Season in Review: Opening the year in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League (Triple-A), the 23-year-old owned a .788 OPS at the time he was promoted to the major leagues. After injuries to both Jose Bautista and Brett Lawrie disfigured the team’s starting lineup with two months remaining in the regular season, Hechavarria made his long-awaited big-league debut on August 4. Appearing in 41 games while seeing playing time at shortstop, second and third base, he ultimately batted .254/.280/.365 with two home runs and 32/4 K/BB.

Scouting Report: The 5’11”, 185-pounder’s calling card continues to be his defense; above-average speed and athleticism; plenty of range at shortstop; good instincts and quick feet; plus arm strength is biggest asset; capable of playing third base as he did last season in Toronto.

Hechavarria showcases above-average bat speed when he keeps his swing short and simple; keeps bat head in the zone for an extended amount of time; right-handed hitter still chases obvious balls out of the zone and lacks a consistent approach; fringy pitch recognition, especially with breaking balls; will need to make ongoing adjustments.

2013 Opening Day Level: MLB

12. Nick Ahmed, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

Trade: In exchange for Justin Upton and Chris Johnson, the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired major leaguers Martin Prado and Randall Delgado from the Atlanta Braves, as well as prospects Nick Ahmed, Zeke Spruill and Brandon Drury.

Season in Review: In his full-season debut at High-A Lynchburg in 2012, the 22-year-old batted .269/.337/.391 with 84 runs, 46 extra-base hits (36 doubles), 40 stolen bases and 102/49 K/BB in 130 games.

Scouting Report: At 6’3” and 205 pounds, Ahmed possesses an athletic and projectable frame; above-average-to-plus speed; has both the range and instincts to remain at shortstop; showcases fluid actions and a reliable glove that should improve as he gains experience.

The right-handed hitter has more potential than his stats suggest; speed and basestealing skills would be ideal as leadoff or two-hole hitter; on-base skills and contact rate need to improve; showcases plenty of present gap power; doesn’t project for more than slightly below-average power at maturity.

2013 Opening Day Level: Double-A

11. Trevor May, RHP, Minnesota Twins

Trade: The Twins acquired May, as well as right-hander Vance Worley, from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for outfielder Ben Revere.

Season in Review: After moving slowly through the Phillies’ system at a one level-per-year pace, May registered a 4.87 ERA with 151/78 K/BB in 149.2 innings at Double-A Reading.

Scouting Report: The 6’5” right-hander has a power pitcher’s frame and matching arsenal; took a step back in terms of his command after breakout 2011 campaign; tendency to overthrow; loses a feel for his natural arm slot; fastball sits at a very heavy 90-95 mph; can reach back for a few more ticks when needed; throws the pitch on a solid downward plane; effective location of the pitch is key to setting up his secondary offerings.

Curveball is a hammer when he doesn’t over-grip and spike it; changeup has the potential to be an average pitch in the low-80s; throws it with inconsistent arm speed; slider gives the tall right-hander a potential fourth average pitch.

2013 Opening Day Level: Triple-A

10. Didi Gregorius, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

Trade: Acquired straight-up (or so it seems) for top prospect Trevor Bauer, the Diamondbacks landed Gregorius in the three-team, nine-player deal with the Indians and Reds.

Season in Review: Gregorius batted .278/.344/.373 in 81 games for Double-A Pensacola before a mid-season promotion to Triple-A Louisville. He batted .243/.288/.427 in 48 games at the level and was ultimately called up to the major leagues in September, where he collected six hits in 20 at-bats.

Scouting Report: At 6’1”, 185 pounds, Gregorius has a projectable build that should allow him to add strength as he matures physically; instinctual and creative shortstop; 22-year-old is a plus defender with excellent range in all directions; glove stands out due to a combination of impressive hand-eye coordination and soft, sure hands; above-average arm strength completes his impressive overall defensive skill set; more than enough for the position at the big league level.

Gregorius isn’t as polished at the plate; left-handed hitter employs a line-drive-oriented swing and is comfortable using the entire field; drops his hands too often which, in turn, makes his swing long; tendency to get beat by good velocity; solid overall approach with bat-to-ball skills; would benefit from working deeper counts and drawing more walks; value tied to his defense should make him a commodity; shows potential for an average hit tool; below-average power.

2013 Opening Day Level: Triple-A

9. A.J. Cole, RHP, Washington Nationals

Trade: The Washington Nationals acquired A.J. Cole and Blake Treinen from the Oakland Athletics as part of a three-team trade that sent Mike Morse to the Mariners.

Season in Review: In his first season with A’s, Cole opened the year at High-A Stockton where he struggled—mightily. Over his first eight starts, the hard-throwing right-hander registered a 7.82 ERA with 31/10 K/BB and 60 hits allowed (seven home runs) in 38 innings. The 20-year-old was subsequently demoted to Low-A Burlington in the Midwest League, where he righted the ship and registered a 2.07 ERA with 102/19 K/BB over 95.2 innings.

Scouting Report: A 6’4”, 180-pound right-hander, Cole was ripping open with his hips and front side to begin the season; adversely affected his velocity, command and overall effectiveness; mechanics were far more consistent upon returning to Low-A; although thin and wiry, his frame is incredibly projectable; should benefit from adding strength to both his core and lower half; utilizes a three-quarters arm slot.

His fastball typically sits in the low-to-mid 90s with some natural weight and late life; been known to scrape 96-97 mph; complements the plus heater with a curveball that has tight rotation and a sharp break; shape of the pitch was inconsistent; experimented with different grips over the course of the season; changeup was noticeably improved last season; showed a more advanced feel for the offering; utilized it against left-handed hitters.

Still a very raw and inconsistent pitching prospect, it may ultimately take Cole an additional season to reach the major leagues. Considering that his fastball is currently his only plus pitch, the improvement of his secondary pitches will be crucial towards his overall development. Cole should get a second crack at High-A to open the 2013 season.

2013 Opening Day Level: High-A

8. Alex Meyer, RHP, Minnesota Twins

Trade: The Minnesota Twins acquired right-hander Alex Meyer from the Washington Nationals in exchange for outfielder Denard Span.

Season in Review: Beginning the year at Low-A Hagerstown of the South Atlantic League, Meyer registered a 3.10 ERA and .210 BAA with 107/34 K /BB over 90 innings spanning 18 starts. The tall right-hander was later promoted to High-A Potomac of the Carolina League shortly thereafter, where he registered a 2.31 ERA and .213 BAA with 32/11 K/BB in 39 innings.

Scouting Notes: 6’9” right-hander has a massive frame and long limbs; shows body control and repeatable mechanics uncommon in players his size; throws everything on a steep downhill plane; delivery is borderline high-effort; employs drop-and-drive mechanics that don’t always capitalize on his height.

Meyer’s fastball is difficult to barrel; registers between 93-97 mph and can flirt with triple-digits in shorter stints; plus slider has a sharp, wipe-out break; changeup showed signs of being at least average last season; will need to develop a legitimate third pitch to remain a starter; favorably projects as a dominant late-inning arm if he struggles as a starter at higher levels.

2013 Opening Day Level: Double-A

7. Justin Nicolino, LHP, Miami Marlins

Trade: Nicolino was acquired by the Marlins along with Jake Marisnick, Adeiny Hechavarria, Henderson Alvarez, Anthony Descalfini, Yunel Escobar and Jeff Mathis in exchange for Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, John Buck and Emilio Bonifacio.

Season in Review: Nicolino made his full-season debut for Low-A Lansing in 2012, registering a 2.46 ERA and .241 BAA with 119/21 K/BB in 124.1 innings.

Scouting Report: Pitchability lefty; projectable 6’3”, 160-pound frame with room to grow; exceptional at repeating his smooth mechanics; can make it look easy; slight cross-body delivery creates deception; advanced feel for mixing his pitches and when to add/subtract; high-floor, mid-rotation upside.

Fastball sits 88-92 mph; commands it to both sides of the plate; challenges right-handed and left-handed hitters; changeup is a plus offering and easily his best pitch; deceptive arm action relative to fastball impedes early recognition; features late fade out of the zone; already comfortable throwing it in any count; mixes in a curveball that has improved over the last year; uses entire arsenal efficiently; keeps hitters off balance with advanced sequencing.

2013 Opening Day Level: High-A

6. Jake Marisnick, OF, Miami Marlins

Trade: Marisnick was acquired by the Marlins along with Justin Nicolino, Adeiny Hechavarria, Henderson Alvarez, Anthony Descalfini, Yunel Escobar and Jeff Mathis in exchange for Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, John Buck and Emilio Bonifacio.

Season in Review: Marisnick batted .263/.349/.451 in 65 games at High-A Dunedin, followed by .233/.286/.399 in 55 games after an aggressive promotion to Double-A New Hampshire. Between both levels, he recorded 100/37 K/BB in 120 games.

Scouting Report: 6’4”, 200-pound outfielder is an elite athlete; still attempting to narrow the gap between natural ability and baseball skills; epitome of a toolsy player with five average-to-plus tools across the board; highly projectable frame with present strength; natural ability for above-average hit and power tool; streaky hitter; lanky frame results in too much movement during swing; same swing every time, regardless of pitch type, location and count; excessive weak contact and whiffs; bat path is long and can drag through the zone; collapses backside in an effort to meet the ball and force contact; struggled against above-average velocity and advanced secondary stuff; plus speed and base-stealing aptitude gives him legitimate 20-20 potential.

Marisnick has the speed and actions to remain in center field; plus range in all directions; natural instincts; long, graceful strides help him cover ground in the outfield; plus arm would play at all three outfield positions; more than enough for center field; position will ultimately be tied to his production; athleticism and tools give him a high-ceiling despite previous struggles.

2013 Opening Day Level: Double-A

5. Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

Trade: Odorizzi was traded along with Wil Myers, Mike Montgomery and Patrick Leonard to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handers James Shields and Wade Davis.

Season in Review: After registering a 3.32 ERA with 47/10 K/BB in 38 innings at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, Odorizzi was promoted to Triple-A Omaha where he posted a 2.93 ERA with 88/40 K/BB in 107.1 innings. The right-hander was called up to the major leagues in late September and registered a 4.91 ERA in two starts.

Scouting Report: 6’2” right-hander is agile but comfortable on the mound; repeats his mechanics well and understands how to use his lower half; clean, fluid arm action; fastball sits 92-95 mph with sink and action to the arm side; occasionally will get under the pitch and pipe it up in the zone with minimal movement; needs to throw on a downward plane with more consistency and avoid fly-ball tendency; curveball has an impressive top-to-bottom shape and will freeze right-handed hitters; slider and changeup are both present, though neither are as advanced as the curveball; he’ll need to refine the command of his four-pitch mix, but he should be able to reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter.

2013 Opening Day Level: Triple-A

4. Noah Syndergaard, RHP, New York Mets

Trade: Syndergaard was acquired by the Mets along with Travis d’Arnaud, John Buck and Wuilmer Becerra in exchange for R.A. Dickey.

Season in Review: Making his full-season debut last year alongside Nicolino, Syndergaard registered a 2.60 ERA with 122/31 K/BB in 103.2 innings for Low-A Lansing.

Scouting Report: 6’5” right-hander has a power pitcher’s frame and the ceiling of a front-line starter; physical presence on the mound; throws everything on a solid downhill plane; repeats mechanics well given his size; strong core and legs; fastball sits in the mid-90s with late, arm-side life; will flirt with triple-digits in shorter stints; amasses a healthy mix of strikeouts and ground-ball outs.

Curveball has plus potential; tight-breaker with late, downer bite; command of the pitch is inconsistent and will be challenged at higher levels; better command of his changeup, though it’s not as dynamic; offering is thrown with deceptive arm speed; even if breaking ball doesn’t develop as hoped, Syndergaard still has an incredibly high ceiling as a late-inning reliever.

2013 Opening Day Level: High-A

3. Trevor Bauer, RHP, Cleveland Indians

Trade: Bauer was acquired by the Indians as part of a three-team, nine-player deal between the Diamondbacks, Indians and Reds.

Season in Review: After nearly reaching the major leagues during his pro debut in 2011, Bauer opened his full-season debut at Double-A Mobile, where he registered a 1.68 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 48.1 innings. The right-hander’s hot start prompted a quick promotion to Triple-A Reno, where he posted a 2.82 ERA over eight starts. Last but not least, Bauer was promoted to the major leagues in late June, but struggled to the tune of a 6.06 ERA with 13 walks in 16.1 innings.

Scouting Report: Fastball sits in the low-to-mid-90s with some late arm-side action; mechanics still force him to pull open with is front shoulder too often; flattens out the pitch and it stays up in the zone; curveball is an absolute hammer and a second plus pitch; explosive, torque-oriented delivery makes it especially deceptive and difficult to recognize out of his hand; deep, deep arsenal also features a tumbling splitter, slider and above-average changeup.

Bauer dominated in the minor leagues, but struggles were painful at times during his big-league stint; tried to nibble at the strike zone rather than trusting his pure stuff and letting it rip; tried to fool hitters with loaded arsenal; more concerned about executing perfect pitches and missing bats; concerns about his makeup and coachability made his time with the Diamondbacks short-lived; in a much more favorable position with the Indians; could break camp as the Tribe’s No. 3 starter.

2013 Opening Day Level: MLB

2. Travis d'Arnaud, C, New York Mets

Trade: d’Arnaud was acquired by the Mets along with Noah Syndergaard, John Buck and Wuilmer Becerra from the Blue Jays in exchange for R.A. Dickey.

Season in Review: d’Arnaud batted .333/380/.595 with 39 extra-base hits (16 home runs) and 59/19 K/BB in 67 games for Triple-A Las Vegas in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He would have likely reached the major leagues by September, at the latest, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in June.

Scouting Report: Although he’s a well-rounded overall prospect, d’Arnaud’s true upside is tied to his offensive prowess; 6’2” right-handed hitter has above-average bat speed and raw power; power frequency has increased over last two seasons; short, compact swing doesn’t inhibit power; makes loud contact to all fields; impressive pop to the right-center field gap; has some swing-and-miss in his game and doesn’t walk a lot; combination of hit and power tool could make him an occasional all star in the major leagues.

d’Arnaud’s defense has vastly improved over last two seasons; quiet athleticism; active catcher who moves well laterally; has become a more aggressive blocker; receiving skills continue to improve; has been praised by both pitchers and managers for his game-calling ability; plus arm is strongest defensive asset; that and his improved footwork led to a career-best 30-percent caught-stealing rate prior to injury.

After big-league spring training, d’Arnaud will likely spend the first couple months of the 2013 season in Triple-A. However, as long as he can stay healthy, it’s conceivable that the 23-year-old will play in roughly 100 major league games.

2013 Opening Day Level: Triple-A

1. Wil Myers, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Trade: Myers was traded along with Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery and Patrick Leonard to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handers James Shields and Wade Davis.

Season in Review: After a disappointing 2011 season, Myers emerged as one of the game’s top prospects by batting .314/.387/.600 with 69 extra-base hits (37 home runs), 109 RBI and 140/61 K/BB in 134 games between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha.

Scouting Report: At 6’3”, 205 pounds, Myers possesses a wiry, projectable frame; capable of adding strength without getting too bulky; upper body is loaded with quick-twitch muscles; flicks his wrists at the ball without sacrificing hard contact; setup is upright and slightly open, helps him tap into pull-side power; excellent bat-to-ball skills suggest he’ll have at least an above-average hit tool; his 140 strikeouts in 134 games isn’t pretty, but remember he was implementing a more aggressive approach; has a tendency to drop his back shoulder and get long; gets out on his front foot too early; cast hands around ball; mechanical/timing issues will be ironed out.

Developed as a catcher up until the 2011 season, Myers is surprisingly athletic for his size and showcases smooth, natural actions in the outfield; has good instincts and overall range; plus arm strength plays at any outfield position; played 87 games in center field last season; will likely land at a corner position in the major leagues.

Like most of the other top prospects on the cusp of the major leagues, Myers will open the 2013 season at Triple-A. However, expect him to be in the major leagues by late-June. The right-handed hitter is a key piece of the Ray’s future—he’s the type of player that they’ll lock up after his rookie year a la Evan Longoria and Matt Moore.

2013 Opening Day Level: Triple-A