MLB Trade Speculation: 2 Essential Prospects in Any Buyer's Blockbuster Offer
'Tis the season of trade rumors in the MLB, as we are now into June and the season's first quarter is already behind us.
While most trades that go on in the course of a season involve a big leaguer for a big leaguer or a big leaguer for a single prospect, there is the occasional blockbuster deal where a team will deal a handful of their top young talent to acquire that one star they feel will put them over the top.
With every team, there are one or two guys in their minor league system that every team wants and that they will have to part with if they hope to pull off the big deal.
So here is a look at the two prospects it would take for each contender to land a big-name player in a blockbuster move.
Exclusions
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While there are a number of teams who are technically in contention, I have excluded some from this list because for one reason or another, I don't feel they will be in a position to make a blockbuster deal come July. Here is my reason behind my exclusions:
Arizona Diamondbacks: They have been a pleasant surprise, but I don't see them being around come deadline time.
Cleveland Indians: I think the Indians are for real, but they have built an impressive minor league system that could make them competitive for the next decade and I don't see them mortgaging that for one year.
Florida Marlins: They are a low-budget team, and they won't be able to hang around all year in the NL East.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Ownership issues will keep them from making the big move.
Minnesota Twins and Oakland Athletics: These teams are known for building from within and shying away from the big trade and this year will be more of the same.
Seattle Mariners: Much like the Indians, the Mariners have built a nice foundation for the future that they may not want to deal, and much like the Diamondbacks, I don't see them sticking around anyway.
Toronto Blue Jays: They are off to a nice start, but they can't compete in the AL East yet.
Atlanta Braves
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SP Randall Delgado
While Julio Teheran is the most talked about young pitcher in the Braves organization—and rightfully so—Delgado has an equally bright future ahead of him. Just 21 years old, he has pitched well in Double-A this season with a 3.77 ERA over 11 starts and would be the marquee name in any deal the Braves pull off.
SS Edward Salcedo
Salcedo is more of a project at this point than a sure-fire future major leaguer, but at 6'3" he has the body to mature into a good power hitter in the years to come. Still just 19 years old and in his second minor league season since being signed out of the Dominican Republic, Salcedo is holding his own at Single-A right now, hitting .268 BA, five HR, 22 RBI and nine SB as he continues to mature.
Boston Red Sox
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CF Josh Reddick
There have already been a number of teams that have inquired about Reddick's availability in a trade this season, and if the Red Sox make a big move to shore up their bullpen or improve at the catcher's spot, it could be Reddick who moves.
SP Brandon Workman
Workman was considered a steal by many when he fell out of the first round of last June's draft, and he has been impressive so far in his first pro season, with a 3.63 ERA in 10 starts at Single-A. He projects to be a solid innings-eater and a middle-of-the-rotation guy, and he would be one of the safer players another team could acquire from the Red Sox.
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Chicago White Sox
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RP Addison Reed
Top prospect and current bullpen arm Chris Sale won't be going anywhere, but another top White Sox relief prospect could be moved for the right price. Reed has been untouchable this season at High Single-A, with a 1.78 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 30.1 innings. While it remains to be seen if he will join the rotation, he has the stuff to succeed in any role.
C Tyler Flowers
Flowers' stock has fallen since 2009 season after he hit just .220 in a full season at Triple-A last year. His average is back up to .272 so far this season though, and he has always shown terrific power for a backstop. If he continues to hit well, he should be back on the prospect radar, as catchers are always in demand.
Cincinnati Reds
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1B/OF Yonder Alonso
Alonso has been one of the Reds' top prospects for a couple years now, and he is more or less ready for the big leagues offensively. The problem is, he is blocked at first base by reigning MVP Joey Votto and is limited defensively in the outfield. Still, he makes for a top-tier trading chip.
C Yasmani Grandal
Grandal has the potential to be a starting catcher, but the Reds already have their catcher of the future in Devin Mesoraco after he broke out with a .302 BA, 26 HR and 75 RBI last season. Catchers are always in demand, and someone with Grandal's talent would undoubtedly be of interest to a number of teams.
Colorado Rockies
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SP Juan Nicasio
Nicasio was signed out of the Dominican Republic at the age of 19 and is in his sixth pro season, so he has plenty of minor league seasoning under his belt. Coming off a 12-10, 3.91 ERA season last year at High Single-A, he has been even better in his first Double-A action this season with a 2.22 ERA in nine starts. While Tyler Matzek is the Rockies' top pitching prospect, Nicasio may be the most attractive in a trade.
OF Tim Wheeler
The Rockies first-round pick in 2009, Wheeler has shown good power potential in his two-plus pro seasons and he is off to a great start this year with a .337 BA, 14 HR, 45 RBI line. After hitting just .249 last year, time will tell if his newfound on-base skills are for real, but even hitting for a low average his power potential is intriguing enough to make him a good trade piece.
Detroit Tigers
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SP Andy Oliver
Stud prospect Jacob Turner is untouchable but Oliver, who already has six big league starts under his belt including one this season despite being just 23 years old, could be moved if the Tigers decide to make a splash at the deadline. Oliver had a 3.45 ERA in 130.1 innings last year in his first pro season, and he is big-league ready.
3B Francisco Martinez
When the Tigers chose Nick Castellanos in last year's draft, he immediately jumped Martinez as Brandon Inge's heir at third base, and that could make Martinez a trade option. He has been rushed through the system somewhat, so his numbers don't show his true ability. He opened this season at Double-A as a 20-year-old and he has held his own with a .262 BA, five HR, 16 RBI line.
For a team willing to give him a couple more years to develop, he would be a great pickup.
Los Angeles Angels
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SP Garrett Richards
The Angels have dipped into their farm system quite a bit this season, with four of their top 10 prospects currently starting at the big league level, and now that Tyler Chatwood has joined the rotation, their top pitching prospect is Richards.
Coming off a great season last year when he went 12-5, 3.52 ERA, 149 Ks in 143 innings, he has been just as good in his first Double-A action this season and he could be the centerpiece of a potential Prince Fielder deal.
2B Jean Segura
Sticking with the idea that an Angels blockbuster would be for Prince Fielder, the team may also have to part with second base prospect Segura. He is coming off a monster year in 2010 when he went .313 BA, 10 HR, 79 RBI, 50 SB and threw in 12 triples for good measure. It would be a hefty price to pay, but these two along with maybe one lower-level prospect could land them Fielder.
Milwaukee Brewers
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OF Kentrail Davis
The Brewers have dealt a number of their top position-player prospects in recent trades, and that has left Davis as the team's top minor league hitter. In his first pro season last year, he hit .304 BA, three HR and 63 RBI at Single-A, and he is there once again this season. He should hit for a decent average, but it remains to be seen if there is any power on the horizon.
SP Amaury Rivas
The Brewers have a number of good pitching prospects, as Rivas is currently the seventh-ranked pitcher in the Brewers system. However, after going 11-6 with a 3.37 ERA last season at Double-A, he may be the most major league ready of the group. While he is not necessarily a front-of-the-rotation guy, he is a safe bet to contribute in the majors soon.
New York Yankees
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C Austin Romine
The Yankees have an abundance of catching prospects, with Romine joined by Jesus Montero and Gary Sanchez in the Yankees' top 10 prospects. Most feel that Romine will be the odd man out, with Sanchez as the everyday catcher and Montero best suited as the team's DH.
That said, Romine is viewed as the best overall defensively, and is no slouch with the bat with a .268 BA, 10 HR, 69 RBI line at Double-A last season. Look for him to be part of any deal the Yankees make this season.
SP Ivan Nova
While it is debatable whether he still falls under the category of "prospect" after having made 17 starts over the past two seasons, chances are the Yankees would move him before they move Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances. Still just 24 years old, he should be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter for years to come.
Philadelphia Phillies
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SP Vance Worley
The Phillies have a handful of talented pitchers under the age of 20 in their farm system right now, but teams generally target prospects who are a little closer to big-league ready and therefore safer. Worley is 23 years old and has recently taken Joe Blanton's spot in the rotation following an injury and pitched well, going 2-1 with a 3.75 ERA in four starts and two relief appearances.
OF Jiwan James
While Worley is a safe pickup, James is the exact opposite, as he has all the tools to be a star but has yet to put it all together. He was ranked as the organization's best athlete, and he is still just 22 years old in his fourth pro season, so he is worth taking a chance on at this point.
San Francisco Giants
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SP Zack Wheeler
Wheeler is a nice prospect, as he posted a 3.99 ERA over 58.2 innings with 70 strikeouts in his first pro season last year. The sixth overall selection in the 2009 draft, he would be untouchable on most teams, but because the Giants have such good starting pitching, he could be moved for someone like Jose Reyes if that opportunity presents itself.
OF Thomas Neal
Neal had a big season in 2009, hitting .337 BA, 22 HR, 90 RBI in a full season at High Single-A. However, he took a step back last year in his first Double-A action, and while he is scorching Triple-A pitching to open this season with a .375 average, he is no longer untouchable and could be shipped out in a big move.
St. Louis Cardinals
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SP Carlos Martinez
Martinez, formerly Carlos Matias, was absolutely dominant in his first pro season last year as he posted a 0.76 ERA in 59 innings of work while striking out 78 batters. He averaged just under five innings per start, so he could profile as a future reliever, but his talent is undeniable.
3B Matt Carpenter
The third baseman of the future for the Cardinals is last year's first-round pick, Zack Cox, which means the Cardinals could dangle Carpenter in a trade. Last season, he put together an impressive line of .309 BA, 13 HR, 69 RBI and 11 SB while advancing to Double-A. His defense is a bit of an issue, but the offense is there without a doubt.
Tampa Bay Rays
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SP Chris Archer
Starter Matt Moore and future closer Jake McGee are as untouchable as any prospects in baseball, but beyond that, the Rays have a number of arms they could deal, starting with Archer. The prize of the Matt Garza trade this past offseason, he would be the top pitching prospect for a number of teams, but with the Rays' wealth of arms, he could instead be a great trading chip.
SS Tim Beckham
The first overall pick in the 2008 draft, Beckham has been nothing but disappointing thus far in his pro baseball career. That said, he is having his best season to date with a .291 BA, four HR, 30 RBI line in his first action at Double-A. Still just 21 years old, the Rays may look to move Beckham while he still has some value.
Texas Rangers
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SS Jurickson Profar
Profar is considered by some to be the team's top overall prospect and by most to be the top position-player prospect. Still just 18 years old and in his second pro season, Profar is a ways from the majors but he projects to have all the skills to be an impact starter at the big league level.
However, with Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus manning the middle infield for the Rangers they could deal Profar to address other issues.
SP Tanner Scheppers
Although he is on the shelf with a shoulder injury right now, Scheppers is one of the team's top pitching prospects when healthy. He has bounced between the bullpen and rotation and his numbers have suffered because of it, but once he is healthy and settles into a role, he should be a solid contributor.
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