Blue-Chip MLB Prospects Could Be Linchpins of Possible Blockbuster Trades
This MLB offseason has already been a busy one, and we are still a few weeks from the Dec. 7-10 winter meetings, which is when things traditionally heat up around the league.
Three prospects who rank in the top 100 in the league, as rated by MLB.com, have already been on the move in a pair of blockbuster deals.
The Boston Red Sox sent center fielder Manuel Margot (No. 25) and shortstop Javier Guerra (No. 76) to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Craig Kimbrel, while left-hander Sean Newcomb (No. 19) was shipped from the Los Angeles Angels to the Atlanta Braves in the Andrelton Simmons deal.
That early action raises the question: What other top young talents could find themselves traded this offseason?
What follows is a look at seven top prospects who could be linchpins of potential blockbuster deals if their teams winds up pulling the trigger on a major trade.
SS Gavin Cecchini, New York Mets
1 of 7
2015 Stats
| AA | 109 | .317/.377/.442 | 139 | 26 | 4 | 7 | 51 | 64 | 3 |
Overview
The New York Mets took infielder Gavin Cecchini with the No. 12 pick in the 2012 draft, but his first three seasons with the team were largely disappointing.
The 21-year-old entered the 2015 season ranked as the team's No. 10 prospect, according to Baseball America, and things finally seemed to click in a full season at the Double-A level.
As the July 31 trade deadline neared, the Mets viewed Cecchini as a potential trade chip in their efforts to improve the offense, as reported by Mike Puma of the New York Post.
He wound up staying put, but his standing as potential trade fodder likely has not changed, considering the presence of Amed Rosario as the No. 1 shortstop prospect in the team's farm system, as rated by MLB.com.
Cecchini is not an elite-level prospect, but he's No. 90 at MLB.com, and as we've seen in recent years quality shortstop prospects always have value.
SP Aaron Blair, Arizona Diamondbacks
2 of 7
2015 Stats
| AA/AAA | 26/25 | 13-5 | 2.92 | 1.166 | 50 | 120 | 160.1 |
Overview
The Arizona Diamondbacks won't consider trading Dansby Swanson or high-ceiling right-hander Archie Bradley as they attempt to land an ace to front the rotation, but they could look to build a package around either Aaron Blair or Braden Shipley.
Blair is closer to reaching the majors and has the higher floor of the two pitchers, so we'll focus on him as the team's blue-chip prospect who could be on the move.
The 23-year-old was selected with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2013 draft out of Marshall University, the same draft where the team took the aforementioned Shipley with the No. 15 overall pick.
Arizona promoted Blair to Triple-A midway through the 2015 season, and he more than held his own at 7-2 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.221 WHIP over 12 starts.
He's capable of stepping into a big league rotation in 2016, and a package headlined by him that also includes infield prospect Brandon Drury and some lower-level pieces would be awfully attractive in their search for a front-line arm.
SS Jorge Mateo, New York Yankees
3 of 72015 Stats
| A/A+ | 117 | .278/.345/.392 | 125 | 23 | 11 | 2 | 40 | 66 | 82 |
Overview
The New York Yankees won't consider moving right-hander Luis Severino, and the same probably goes for slugging outfield prospect Aaron Judge.
However, it could be another story with speedy shortstop prospect Jorge Mateo.
With 25-year-old Didi Gregorius putting together a solid all-around season in his first year with the Yankees, the shortstop position looks to be set long term.
Mateo is still a ways off from reaching the majors, but his development also took a steep upward turn this past season when he reached High-A Tampa in his full-season debut. The 20-year-old has a chance to develop into a solid all-around player, but right now it's his speed tool that truly makes him stand out.
He swiped 82 bases in 99 attempts this past season, and he grades out with legitimate 80 speed.
Parting with a dynamic player like that would be tough for a Yankees team with a newfound commitment to building through the farm.
However, the club was reportedly willing to deal Mateo for closer Craig Kimbrel at the trade deadline, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
If that's true, then he's by no means untouchable.
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SP Jose De Leon, Los Angeles Dodgers
4 of 72015 Stats
| A+/AA | 23 | 6-7 | 2.99 | 1.085 | 37 | 163 | 114.1 |
Overview
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made it abundantly clear that Corey Seager and Julio Urias are off-limits in any trade talks, and rightfully so, but they have plenty of talent behind them in one of the deeper minor league systems in baseball.
Most outlets, including MLB.com, peg right-hander Jose De Leon as the team's No. 3 prospect behind Seager and Urias, and he would certainly be an attractive trade chip.
De Leon was a 24th-round pick in 2013 and not much of a prospect before a breakout season in 2014. MLB.com explained why he was able to make that leap:
"Once De Leon made significant improvements to his conditioning and mechanics, his stuff took off. His fastball jumped from the low 90s to the mid 90s, and his slider jumped into the low 80s with better depth. Both qualify as legitimate swing-and-miss pitches.
De Leon's changeup has taken a big step forward in 2015, surpassing his slider as his best secondary offering. His control and command have gotten better along with the quality of his pitches. He's proving that what he showed at the end of 2014 is for real and looks like a frontline starter.
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The 23-year-old went 7-0 with a 2.22 ERA, 1.026 WHIP and 13.9 strikeouts per nine in 77 innings of work in 2014, after posting a 6.96 ERA over 53 innings in his pro debut the previous season.
SS Gleyber Torres, Chicago Cubs
5 of 72015 Stats
| A/A+ | 126 | .287/.346/.376 | 140 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 64 | 54 | 22 |
Overview
Just as the Chicago Cubs were graduating the likes of Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler to the major leagues, a new top prospect was emerging for the North Siders.
That man was Gleyber Torres, an 18-year-old shortstop who was signed out of Venezuela to a $1.7 million bonus during the team's 2013 international spending spree.
As one of the youngest players in the Midwest League, Torres not only looked like he belonged but starred as he hit .293/.353/.386 with 32 extra-base hits and 22 steals in 464 at-bats before a late promotion to High-A.
MLB.com provided the following breakdown of his tools:
"An extremely advanced hitter for his age, Torres has a quick, short right-handed stroke and handles the bat well. He uses the entire field and has good knowledge of the strike zone. He's not physically imposing but has some strength that could produce close to average power once he learns to turn on pitches more often.
Because he has just average speed and quickness, Torres may wind up at second base in the long run. But he looked better at shortstop than expected and his instincts may allow him to stay there. His strong arm will allow him to play anywhere in the infield.
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Trading Starlin Castro or Javier Baez is still the preferred route if the Cubs opt to pull off a trade for pitching help, but if they were to go the prospect route Torres would be a highly sought-after piece.
SP Mark Appel, Houston Astros
6 of 7
2015 Stats
| AA/AAA | 25 | 10-3 | 4.37 | 1.413 | 51 | 110 | 131.2 |
Overview
Would the Houston Astros really consider turning the page on former No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel and dealing him this winter?
"In regard to top prospects they'd consider dealing, the Astros might be more willing to give up pitcher Mark Appel than outfielder Brett Phillips," wrote Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle.
That didn't wind up being the case, as Brett Phillips and Domingo Santana were the key pieces shipped to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Carlos Gomez trade, but it gives you the idea that Appel is by no means untouchable.
The 24-year-old was expected to move quickly after being selected out of Stanford University in 2013 and given a $6.35 million bonus.
After a decent debut in 2013, he struggled mightily in 2014 when he posted a 6.91 ERA and 1.596 WHIP in 83.1 innings of work.
He pitched well in the Arizona Fall League last offseason and followed that up with an improved performance in the high minors in 2015, but he's still far from where most expected him to be three years into his pro career.
All of that said, the stuff is still dynamic and there is still legitimate front-line potential in Appel, so he qualifies as a blue-chip prospect and an attractive centerpiece in any blockbuster deals the Astros may explore this winter.
3B Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
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2015 Stats
| A | 115 | .288/.329/.443 | 135 | 38 | 1 | 11 | 70 | 71 | 3 |
Overview
The Boston Red Sox already pulled the trigger on one huge trade this winter, shipping four prospects including center fielder Manuel Margot and shortstop Javier Guerra to the San Diego Padres for All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel.
The clear need for a front-line starter remains, though.
"My thought process is most likely any acquisition we'd make in the starting pitching would first happen as far as the free-agent field is concerned," GM Dave Dombrowski told reporters after trading for Kimbrel. "You never know, but that would be my guess."
That means the team making a run at someone from the group of David Price, Zack Greinke, Jordan Zimmermann and Johnny Cueto would appear to be the preferred route, but completely ruling out another huge trade would be foolish.
Infielder Yoan Moncada, right-hander Anderson Espinoza and 2015 top pick Andrew Benintendi have been deemed "off-limits" in trade talks this offseason, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Notably absent from that list is third baseman Rafael Devers, who checks in right behind Moncada as the team's No. 2 prospect, according to MLB.com.
The 19-year-old has tremendous power potential, and he thrived with the jump to Single-A Greenville this past season. He may eventually slide over to first base, but his bat alone has a chance to make him a star.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted.
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