Well that was fun.
With just one month left in the regular season, teams faced a reality check about their chances at a playoff run in 2020. Some responded like we expected and others fell flat.
We know you know a lot of the big leaguers changing hands, but we wanted to break down the prospects that have new homes and check out where they rank among the group. This list includes both deadline prospects and any prospects that changed teams beforehand.
Note: Obviously there are a slew of Players To Be Named Later that we won’t find out about for another few weeks. Some rumors are swirling about several PTBNL at the time of publishing but we want more concrete info.
50 FV Players
Taylor Trammell, OF (SEA): A great athlete with an above average hit tool, Trammell could be a 15/15 player if the power in his profile shows up. He should provide 25-30 steals and play solid defense as an everyday player at his peak. There are some concerns due to his struggles at Double-A and he had a less than ideal 23.7% strikeout rate in 2019. A lot of Trammell’s success will depend on his ability to get on base and barrel up enough balls to hit for some pop. There’s still some projection left, although the ceiling is lower thane we thought two years ago. - Jason Kamlowsky
45 FV Players
Gabriel Arias, SS (CLE): High pedigree international prospect that debuted in full-season ball as a 17-year-old kid. Burst into the scene last season, cutting his swing length down and showcasing himself as power over hit right now. Does have a high ceiling offensively, but struggles to lay off spin, especially sliders low-and-away. Elite defender that can stick at shortstop, rocket of an arm. Cleveland’s player development can mold him into a contributing infield regular for a very long time. Borderline top 100 prospect that would’ve made his way into that list if there was a minor league season this year. Centerpiece of this trade in my opinion. - Diego Solares
Joey Cantillo, LHP (CLE): Cantillo has a backend starter ceiling with a three-pitch mix. He saw a jump in velo last year that brought his fastball into the 92-95 range with an above average changeup. A lot will depend on his curveball that takes more of a 12-6 shape, but he was a big riser in the Padres system last year with good strikeout numbers and a low walk rate. - Trevor Hooth
Terrin Vavra, 2B (BAL): Vavra is a future utility guy with high floor due to long family baseball background giving him very high-level game instincts. He's a hit over power guy who has very good zone recognition that won't likely strike out much. He’s the type of guy who could have a long career as a bench player and emergency starter. - Ben Chase
Edward Olivares, OF (KC): The young outfielder broke camp with the Padres this year but struggled as a part-time player, hitting .176/.222/.294. He’s an elite athlete and can provide strong defense at all three outfield positions as well as be a pest on the basepaths. His aggressive swing-heavy tendencies will let big league arms pick him apart, but when he gets a pitch to hit he’s got the power to make pitchers pay. - Matt Thompson
Hudson Potts, 3B (BOS): A toolsy slugger who really could have used a 2020 minor league season for development, Potts was drafted #26 overall in 2016 out of high school. The third baseman cranked 17 homers and 24 doubles in Double-A last year at just 20 years old, but struggled to get on base (.302 OBP) before scuffling in the Arizona Fall League. He was our #12 prospect in San Diego’s loaded system, so the upside is there if Boston can clean up his holes and refine his defense at third base, perhaps adding outfield versatility. - Jacob Zweiback
Jeisson Rosario, OF (BOS): Signed during the Padres highly coveted 2016-2017 international class, Rosario boasts elite athleticism with a keen eye to pair at the dish. He’s more than comfortable walking and doesn’t chase often, but he’s a slap hitter that lacks power, limiting his offensive ceiling. There’s a lot to like with Rosario’s defensive capabilities, as he’s a sure-fire bet to stick in center field and man it adequately. Solid prospect that doesn’t have much to offer at the dish. - Diego Solares
Stuart Fairchild, OF (ARI): A 24-year-old outfielder who went through the magical waters of Double-A Chattanooga and improved his strikeout and walk rate. Fairchild added a small leg kick to his load and unlocked some power. He’s got short, compact stroke that should play well in today’s game. He’s a fourth outfielder right now but has a chance at a couple of seasons where he plays like an everyday big leaguer. - Eddy Almaguer
40 FV Players
Lucius Fox, SS (KC): A plus defender with smooth hands and actions at the six, Fox has a utility ceiling due to the bat. Strong plate skills will be put to the test because his lack of power means pitchers have no reason not to challenge him. - Matt Thompson
Owen Miller, 2B (CLE): The book on Miller is pretty simple, he’s a hitter. Between his recognition of the strike zone and his quick hands, he’s able to make tons of contact and spray the ball around. There isn’t much pop to his game, but since he likely profiles as a bench player the bat will be of use. In a pinch he can fill a utility role and play around the field, but if he were to settle into a single defensive home, he because a contact-oriented second baseman. - Trevor Hooth
Riley O'Brien, RHP (CIN): At 25, O’Brien is showing traits of a late bloomer from the north, showcasing a 55 fastball with a potential slider that flashes plus. His changeup has made strides but it’s still not a consistent pitch, but he’s been able to get away without it because his fastball has ticked up. He has the upside of an everyday fifth starter but command is still something to overcome so a bullpen future still exists. - Eddy Almaguer
Connor Seabold, RHP (BOS): A classic fastball + changeup pitchability type that many believe has plus command of his four pitch arsenal. His changeup is the jewel of his arsenal and he flashed it during his first alternative site workout. Getting some whiffs that made their way to twitter. A backend starter profile ceiling but likely more a depth piece long term. - Ralph Lifshitz
Packy Naughton, LHP (CIN): Besides having one of the best names in baseball, Naughton has some things to be excited about. A lefty with some quirky, high effort mechanics, Naughton logged 157 innings in 2019 with quite a bit of success. His walk rate (5%) was borderline elite and he has four pitches that are at least average. He has a low 90s fastball that he uses to compliment a change up that is his best pitch. He can throw it in the low 80s with good sink giving him a reliable secondary pitch to induce ground balls and some swinging strikes. Naughton may never be more than an SP5 but he should prove to be a safe option.- Jason Kamlowsky
Luis Alexander Basabe, OF (SF): Plus runner was part of the Chris Sale deal; Basabe tore through the lower minors but the switch hitter stalled out when he hit Double-A. Acrobatic defensive plays help mask questionable routes and he has a cannon making him a stronger option in right field. His struggles against righties make him a likely short side platoon option. - Matt Thompson
Tyler Nevin, 1B (BAL): Fresh off a strong 2018 in the comfy home confines of Lancaster’s the Hanger, Nevin caught fire in the Arizona Fall League leading the circuit in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging. He faltered however in Hartford struggling throughout the first three months of the season. He started to hit in late July before exploding for eight home runs in August, salvaging his Double-A debut. He’ll look to take another step forward in 2021 in the hands of a more advanced player development team. - Ralph Lifshitz
Humberto Mejia, RHP (ARI): Mejia was thrust to the majors in 2020 because he needed to be added to the 40-man. Understandably for someone who hadn’t pitched above High-A, it didn’t go terribly well. He’s better suited for the bullpen where he can either be a swingman with three pitches or a more traditional reliever where he can rely on his high-spin 92 mph fastball and focus on either the curve or slider, the former of which played slightly better in his short stint with the Marlins. - Eddy Almaguer
Zack Short, SS (DET): One of the better defenders in the Cubs system before today’s trade for Cameron Maybin, Short is a twitchy athlete with more power than you’d expect (listed at 5’10”). He is quick and sure-handed in the field with the arm strength to stick at shortstop. An extreme pull approach helped him pop 17 Double-A homers in 2018 but has rendered him a .235 hitter, a flaw he offsets with elite walk rates. At 25 years old, he’s ready for his big league debut. - Jacob Zweiback
Addison Russ, RHP (NYY): Russ is a reliever through and through with a 55 fastball and a borderline average slider. The bespectacled 25 year old is now entering an organization that is adept at maximizing right-handers, so don't be surprised if Russ finds another notch. - Eddy Almaguer
35+ FV Players
Griffin Conine, OF (MIA): The son of former big leaguer Jeff Conine, the former Jays second rounder has shown a lot of power, hitting 29 home runs in 137 games over the last two years. Last year in full season ball, Conine also showed he can hit for average, batting .283 over 80 games. The stat that Marlins fans will like the most (excluding the power), is that he walks a lot (.371 OBP). The big concerns are his high strikeout rate (125 strikeouts in 80 games in 2019), 58 percent contact rate and not to mention he still hasn’t reached High-A and he’s 23. The Fish are accumulating these high strikeout prospects so it’ll be interesting to see if they can develop them- Wyatt Kleinberg
Gerardo Reyes, RHP (LAA): An elite strikeout artist with strikeout rates around 30 percent in his last four stops. He has a 97 mph heater with a high 80s slider that is a premier swing and miss pitch. Like many pitchers of this ilk, his command holds him back. If he can get his command up to even below average he can become a dangerous high leverage option. Currently he’s an up and down guy. Shows how thin that line is. - Matt Thompson
Jordan Humphreys, RHP (SF): Tommy John surgery has slowed Humphreys’ ascension to a crawl as he’s now 24 with just 11 innings in High-A as his most advanced experience. The former 18th rounder profiles as a fifth starter at best with an average fastball and a slider that’s flashed above-average before he went under. - Eddy Almaguer
Matt Brash, RHP (SEA): 6-foot-1 with big extension, low release and a FB 91-94 with ride. CH, SL, CB all 78-82. CH is best secondary with plenty of tumble and fade. Starting pitcher with some mechanical/effort concerns - Joe Doyle
Chad Smith, RHP (COL): Smith is a relief only prospect with an average fastball that sits 92-94, a fringe-average slider and a show me changeup. He's posted good strikeouts in the minors and reached Double-A in 2019. He's ready for the bigs but command issues will limit his bullpen role.- Eddy Almaguer
Julio Frias, LHP (ARI): Frias a 22-year old lefty starter that’s yet to make his full season debut. He has a big fastball (has touch 97) but command dogs the profile and makes you wonder how high he can climb. - Eddy Almaguer