Top MLB Prospects Who Could Be Sellers' Prizes of the Deadline

The trade deadline often focuses on the buyers and which players will be able to help them in their pursuit of the postseason.  

But you know what? The sellers deserve attention, too. And over the next few slides, we're going to identify a handful of top MLB prospects who could become silver linings for selling teams. 

Most organizations have one or two players whom they consider "untouchable." The following prospects may be a notch below that caliber, but they all have significant talent and upside that teams will be interested in. 

Whether because of a crowded farm system (Houston Astros' Domingo Santana), a down year (Kansas City Royals' Brandon Finnegan) or a late bloom (Los Angeles Dodgers' Jose De Leon), the following youngsters will likely be available to sellers. But these players could also come back to bite their current teams down the road. 

Make sure to let your voices be heard in the comments section below. Would you be OK with your favorite team parting with one of these players? Would a package centered around these prospects be enough to acquire an impact player for the playoff push?

Let's get started!

Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels

2015 Stats (AAA): 3-4, 4.24 ERA, 68 IP, 71 K, 21 BB

The Los Angeles Angels have been rumored to be in the market for an impact bat, as reported by Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, but they won't be crazy about including Andrew Heaney or Sean Newcomb in any potential deal. 

While interest in those two promising arms is understandable, sellers shouldn't ignore the potential of fellow hurler Nick Tropeano. 

Tropeano is a 24-year-old right-hander who's on the cusp of being big league ready. He's endured his lumps at Triple-A in 2015, but it's hard to ignore Tropeano's impressive strikeout totals. The righty has struck out nearly 25 percent of the batters he's faced in Triple-A this season. 

The 6'4", 200-pounder made waves last season by winning the ERA title in the Pacific Coast League. He's an aggressive strike-thrower with more than one plus offering. Tropeano mixes in an impressive changeup, a splitter and a slider that complement his low-90s fastball. 

Does Tropeano have a similar ceiling to Heaney or Newcomb? Probably not. 

But he has shown consistent improvement throughout his minor league career, turning himself into a pretty safe bet to stick in the majors. Any team that acquires Tropeano will be adding a hurler with the potential to be a stalwart in its rotation for a long, long time. 

Greg Bird, New York Yankees

2015 Stats (AA/AAA): .271/.365/.446, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 33 R

With Mark Teixeira's contract set to expire after the 2016 season, Greg Bird seems like his natural successor at first base for the New York Yankees. 

But come on, this is the Yankees we're talking about. If Bird can be used to improve a team with playoff aspirations this season, he'll hardly be considered untouchable. 

However, Bird is an intriguing talent because of his combination of raw power and advanced plate discipline.

The 22-year-old made waves in 2013 with 20 homers and 84 RBI in Single-A. He then launched 14 homers in an injury-riddled season a year ago and has risen all the way to Triple-A in 2015.

Bird has shown a fantastic grasp of the strike zone in his minor league career. He does have some swing-and-miss in his game, but Bird has produced double-digit walk percentages at virtually every level. 

The Yankees need to upgrade an inconsistent rotation before July 31, but names like Luis Severino and Aaron Judge won't be part of the conversation. Losing Bird would sting, but if there's a team that can afford to gamble on a young prospect's future value, it's the Yankees. 

Brandon Finnegan, Kansas City Royals

2015 Stats (MLB): 3-0, 14 G, 2.96 ERA, 21 K, 13 BB

What a difference a year makes.

Last season, Brandon Finnegan was seen as a can't-miss prospect after reaching the major leagues in his first professional campaign. Finnegan posted a 1.29 ERA and struck out nearly 36 percent of the batters he faced in seven games to close 2014. 

But 2015 hasn't been as kind to the 22-year-old lefty. Finnegan hasn't been able to remain on the Kansas City Royals roster, spending most of the season bouncing back and forth between Double-A and Triple-A. Finnegan's problems have stemmed from a severe digression in command.

Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star recently wrote that Finnegan's 2015 "looks like just a lost year for his development" and that he "wouldn't be shocked if his name comes up in trade talks in the next couple weeks."

Despite Finnegan's struggles, he remains an intriguing arm talent. Although there are still plans to use him as a starter, the southpaw's elite velocity also profiles well as a future closer. 

If the Royals are willing to give up on Finnegan because of a down year to improve in 2015, potential suitors should be beating down general manager Dayton Moore's door. Left-handers who sit in the upper 90s don't grow on trees, and Finnegan's upside would be a nice return for a seller.

Domingo Santana, Houston Astros

2015 Stats (AAA): .318/.430/.580, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 56 R

Power is a rare and valuable commodity in today's MLB, which makes Houston Astros outfielder Domingo Santana an attractive trade chip. 

The 22-year-old has abused Triple-A pitching in 2015. Santana has hit well over .300 with a remarkable .430 on-base percentage in 68 games. Among all Triple-A hitters, he ranks first in wRC+ and OPS, second in OBP and third in slugging percentage. 

Due to his good work in the minors, major league teams were treated to a small sample size of Santana's abilities in 2015. The slugger clubbed two homers and drove in eight runs in 16 games while striking out an eye-opening 40.5 percent of the time.

High strikeout totals are nothing new for Santana. Despite all his exploits this season in Triple-A, he's still fanned nearly 30 percent of the time. Santana's walk rate has improved throughout the course of his minor league career, and that must continue if he is to reach his full potential. 

With the Astros almost certainly in the market for a starting pitcher, Santana's name will surely be on the lips of interested general managers. Houston recently took two of the top outfielders in the 2015 MLB draft in Kyle Tucker and Daz Cameron, leading many to believe Santana could be had in the right deal.

If he is indeed traded, Santana's prospective team may have acquired the next Giancarlo Stanton. Santana has his flaws, but his powerful stroke at the plate will have teams drooling over him leading up to the deadline. 

Jose De Leon, Los Angeles Dodgers

2015 Stats (A+/AA): 6-5, 3.16 ERA, 94 IP, 132 K, 33 BB 

With top prospects Corey Seager and Julio Urias unlikely to be moved by the Los Angeles Dodgers at the deadline, right-hander Jose De Leon will be on the radar of any team working on a deal with L.A. 

De Leon skyrocketed up prospect boards with a dazzling 2014 campaign and has continued that impressive production this season. A minuscule 1.67 ERA and a 7.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio in High-A gave the Dodgers no choice but to promote him to Double-A earlier in the year. 

Like many other top pitching prospects, De Leon's fastball consistently sits in the mid-90s. But as Jake Seiner of MiLB.com recently wrote, the 22-year-old is much more than a hard thrower:

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The 22-year-old runs his fastball into the mid-90s and keeps hitters off the smoke with an above-average change and promising slider. De Leon's entire repertoire plays up because he does a tremendous job hiding the ball. Hitters literally don't see the ball until it leaves De Leon's hand thanks to his ability to first hide it behind his body as he winds, then keep it behind his right elbow as he goes through his throwing motion. It's a nifty trick that can't really be taught, but it's what has De Leon rocketing to the top half of a lot of midseason top 50 and 100 prospect lists.

"

De Leon should be ready to debut in the big leagues sometime next season. He's not as glamorous as Seager or Urias, but he's a late bloomer with a chance to blossom into something really special. 

Dalton Pompey, Toronto Blue Jays

2015 Stats (AAA): .241/.331/.286, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 7 SB, 16 R

Dalton Pompey began the 2015 season as the starting center fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays. 

But the 22-year-old quickly proved he was overmatched against big league pitching. In 23 games, Pompey hit .193 with a 24.2 strikeout percentage. 

Pompey's struggles continued in Triple-A, so Toronto decided to demote him once again to Double-A. There, the speedy outfielder was finally able to right the ship, hitting over .350 with six homers and seven steals in 31 games. 

Back in Triple-A, Pompey is trying to prove he's deserving of another chance in the big leagues. His 2015 struggles are definitely concerning, but Pompey's talent is worth taking a chance on. 

"The important thing to remember is that his unsuccessful stint in the majors and subsequent struggles in Triple-A are in no way a reflection of his skill set," said Jeff Moore of Sportsnet.ca. "Pompey is still every bit the prospect that ignited the expectation flame last season. The talent is still there. It’s just needed a reset in the minors to shine."

But with Toronto desperate for playoff baseball in 2015, Pompey could become expendable if pitching upgrades become available. In terms of high-impact, young players who could be on the market, Pompey may one day be the best of the bunch. 

Zack Wheeler, New York Mets

2015 Stats: Will miss the entire 2015 season due to Tommy John surgery 

There may not be a team in MLB that needs to make a deal more than the New York Mets. 

Despite sticking around the National League playoff picture, the Mets rank 29th in runs scored this season. A promising young pitching staff has kept New York afloat, but without offensive upgrades, the Mets' playoff hopes are bleak. 

If the Mets decide to make a move, trading from their stable of young hurlers makes sense. With Zack Wheeler on the shelf for the rest of the season, he'd be the most logical candidate. 

Wheeler has made nearly 50 starts in his major league career, posting a 3.50 ERA in those outings. The right-hander has also struck out 22 percent of the batters he's faced in those two seasons. 

Those numbers are obviously impressive, but Wheeler's elbow injury to begin 2015 may have made him expendable. The Mets aren't going to deal Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard, so Wheeler would be the obvious choice if a starter must be traded.

ESPN.com's Buster Olney tweeted earlier this month that the Mets were "willing to overpay for a hitter" and that Wheeler could potentially be had. Trading for a pitcher recovering from Tommy John isn't ideal, but if he makes a full recovery, Wheeler could be a franchise-changing arm.

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of 7/21.