Top MLB Prospects Who Could Be Centerpieces of Blockbuster Winter Trades

Baseball's prospect-mania has reached a point where some teams would rather trade a player who has proved he can succeed in the big leagues than give up the potential of an untested youngster. 

It's understandable to a degree. Potential is intoxicating, and all of us—fans, pundits, talent evaluators and front office executives—lap it up like Scooby-Doo destroys a box of Scooby Snacks.

But at some point this offseason, every general manager will be faced with a decision: The player (or players) he covets from another organization is available, but he'll have to part with youngsters who are teeming with potential to facilitate a trade.

Youngsters like the five players who we're about to take a closer look at.

Keep in mind that not only am I not advocating for a trade involving any of these players, but I'm also not suggesting that they will be traded. But they could be, and that's all it takes for them to be included on this list.

Rafael Devers (3B, Boston Red Sox)

2015 Stats (Single-A): 115 G, .288/.329/.443, 50 XBH (11 HR), 70 RBI, 24 BB, 84 K

MLB ETA: Late 2017/Early 2018

Like most sluggers, there's a lot of swing-and-miss in Rafael Devers' game, so it's unlikely that he'll continue to hit for average as he faces more advanced pitching. But his power is for real—and as the Boston Globe's Alex Speier wrote for Baseball America in October, it's been there all along:

"

As a 16-year-old, he did something in workouts that Dominican Republic area scout Manny Nanita had never seen.

“I saw him hit a home run over the left-field wall (at the Red Sox academy). I’d never seen a lefthanded hitter do that,” Nanita said. “His bat definitely stood out the first time you saw him. The ball was jumping off his bat. I liked the sound of the bat when he hit, how aggressive he was at the plate.”

"

Devers is only 19, so his already prodigious power could easily tick up a notch or two as he adds more muscle to his 6'0" frame. The bat will play anywhere, but where Devers plays remains a question. While he's shown improvement at third base, a shift across the diamond to first base can't be ruled out.

With no clear path to Boston—Pablo Sandoval blocks him at third base while some combination of Hanley Ramirez/Sam Travis/Travis Shaw figures to be at first base—it's not difficult to envision the Red Sox building a package around him as they try to land an ace for the rotation this winter.

Hunter Renfroe (RF, San Diego Padres)

2015 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A): 133 G, .272/.321/.462, 52 XBH (20 HR), 78 RBI, 37 BB, 132 K

MLB ETA: Late 2016/Early 2017

A dreadful start to the 2015 season dimmed the shine on Hunter Renfroe's star a bit, but the 23-year-old outfielder's power and outstanding defensive instincts make him an intriguing potential trade chip for San Diego to play this winter.

He put those skills on display in a late-season promotion to Triple-A El Paso, where he hit .333 with 13 extra-base hits (six home runs), 23 RBI and a .991 OPS in only 21 games. Granted, those numbers came in the traditionally hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but they're impressive nonetheless.

While he hasn't been directly linked to any trade rumors recently, we learned last winter that Padres general manager A.J. Preller isn't afraid to make bold moves. Making Renfroe the centerpiece of a blockbuster deal would be anything but a stretch for the second-year executive.

Jose De Leon (RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers)

2015 Stats (High-A/Double-A): 23 GS, 2.99 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 114.1 IP, 87 H, 37 BB, 163 K

MLB ETA: Late 2016/Early 2017

He gets overshadowed by his more hyped (Julio Urias) and, on some occasions, more well-known (Grant Holmes and Zach Lee) fellow pitching prospects in Los Angeles' system, but Jose De Leon has quickly become one of the top young arms in all the land.

The 23-year-old's deceptive delivery—batters often don't see the ball until it's already on its way to home plate—along with three-plus offerings, including a mid-90s fastball and nasty changeup, allow De Leon to rack up some truly impressive strikeout numbers.

His name surfaced at last year's trade deadline as the potential centerpiece of a deal for former Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels. While legendary reporter Peter Gammons said the Dodgers were "reluctant" to trade him, he was never deemed untouchable like Urias or Corey Seager.

That at least leaves open the possibility that, if the right opportunity were to present itself, he could be moved.

Aaron Judge (RF, New York Yankees)

2015 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A): 124 G, .255/.330/.448, 49 XBH (20 HR), 72 RBI, 53 BB, 144 K

MLB ETA: Late 2016/Early 2017

Built like a tight end, the 6'7", 270-pound behemoth called Aaron Judge has the kind of natural right-handed power that teams dream about.

He's shown an advanced approach at the plate, shortening his swing to generate more line drives, and has enough speed, athleticism and the kind of strong, accurate throwing arm you'd expect from a prototypical right fielder to be a productive player in MLB.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has been at his job long enough to know that you can't deal in absolutes, especially when it comes to highly touted prospects. So while he told Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal that he doesn't expect to trade Judge, he wouldn't call the outfielder untouchable.

That he's nearly ready for prime time only enhances his value as the potential centerpiece of a trade.

Manuel Margot (OF, Boston Red Sox)

2015 Stats (High-A/Double-A): 110 G, .276/.324/.419, 42 XBH (6 HR), 50 RBI, 32 BB, 51 K

MLB ETA: Late 2016/Early 2017

Manuel Margot doesn't have the kind of massive raw power the other position players on this list do, but what the 21-year-old lacks in pop he makes up for with Gold Glove-caliber defense at a premium position and the ability to make consistent contact at the plate.

His aggressive approach at the plate lends itself to making that consistent contact but also limits the number of walks he draws. But he's young enough to still find a happy balance between his aggressive nature and becoming a bit more selective at the plate.

Margot's speed allows him to cover a huge swath of ground in center field, getting to balls that others couldn't reach, while also making him a threat to run when he reaches base, having swiped 39 bases in 52 attempts last season.

With a greater emphasis being placed on defense, Margot's skill set is in high demand—and would be attractive to any number of teams looking to strike a deal with the Red Sox this winter.

Unless otherwise linked/noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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