Some of you follow our own farm but I thought it might be fun to track prospects on other teams that might be targets for us if we're selling. I'm working off the assumption we would only trade someone who is not part of the future core, so possible candidates include: Bregman, JV, Pressley, Framber, and Chas / Meyers (to make room for Leon or Melton). I'm also going to put info from Baseball America's RoboScout and RoboCast data analysis tool, which effectively takes minor league statcast data like exit velocities, launch angles, contact rates, etc. to determine who has the tools to be an effective hitter and then velocity, vertical / horizontal movement, extension, etc. for pitchers.
Methodology:
- Contending organization that may be looking to trade for one of the players above
- Not a top 5 prospect for the team. Historically these don't get traded often unless an elite player is involved (e.g. Tucker). Using the recent Padres-Marlins trade as an example, the Fish got the Padres #6, 9, and 13 prospects
- Listed in no particular order
- Focusing more on bats because our org has done better at finding and developing pitchers
Dodgers - For JV or Framber, you could get probably get Freeland and 2 of the others
Easily the most fertile as depth is their strong suite more so than elite level guys and they have a ton of guys that aren't in their top 10 (updated as of a week ago). Possible trade targets:
1) Jeral Perez (Baseball America #19 Dodgers Prospect, Age: 19, Level: A) Scouts are mixed on whether he is stuck at 2B or if he can play on the left side of the infield but the bat skills are potentially great. Even if staying at 2B, his timeline likely aligns with when Altuve is nearing retirement or needs to spend more time at DH. For all Low A hitters, he's ranked as the #2 hitter per RoboScout and RoboCast, which supports his .303/.432/.528 line. For April, Perez had an 84.8% in-zone contact rate (very good), 18.4% chase rate (excellent), and 105.1 mph 90th percentile EV that is already higher than average for a big leaguer.
2) Zyhir Hope (Baseball America #13 Dodgers Prospect, Age: 19, Level: A) High level athlete that was acquired from the Cubs in Busch deal that was drafted out of high school just last year. Amongst all A ball hitters, he ranks 9th per RoboScout and RoboCast, which aligns with his .282/.378/.521 line. Unlike Perez, he does have plus plus speed and a good arm that makes him a threat on the bases and in the field. In April, he had an 88.9% in-zone contact rate (excellent), 19.3% chase rate (below 20% is good), and 108.7 mph 90th percentile exit velocity that would put him in the top 40 in the entire minors (including much older AA and AAA hitters) and well above average for a big leaguer.
3) Eduardo Quintero (Baseball America #14 Dodgers Prospect, Age: 18, Level: Rookie) Youngest and furthest from the pros of the Dodgers targets, but easily the most talent. Has the potential to be a true 5 tool player that's a legitimate high end defensive CF and basically is a combo of Hope and Perez. Just started rookie ball this week but had a .359/.472/.618 line in the DOSL.
4) Alex Freeland (Baseball America #27 Dodgers Prospect, Age: 22, Level: A+) Switch hitting infield who is a so-so SS, but a plus arm so expected to be a plus 3B. No speed but a decent athlete that could be a fast mover who plugs in at 3B for us but more than likely becomes a solid utility guy. RoboScout and RoboCast rank him as the #4 hitter in all of A+, which aligns with his .345/.518/.593 line and incredible 27:16 BB:K ratio.
Yankees - Both of these guys would be a reasonable return for Bregman
5) Brock Selvidge (Baseball America #11 Yankees Prospect, Age: 21, Level AA) A lefty, which is an obvious need! In 26 innings, he has a 1.73 ER with 28 K's to 9 walks. The book on Selvidge is fairly simple, low 90's with the fastball but elite spin and a hard slider that is also a plus pitch. His control of those pitches has been excellent but will need to refine / develop his change and cutter to stick as a starter.
6) Agustin Ramirez (Baseball America #10 Yankees Prospect, Age: 22, Level AA) A Yankees catching prospect with huge power and questionable defensive skills. Yes, this smells like Gary Sanchez but there is at least one key difference, which is that Ramirez has a much better hit tool with a K rate below 20% both this year and for his minor league career. His average exit velocity last year was 91 MPH (roughly Yainer territory) and 90th percentile EV was 106.6 that would be well above MLB average. RoboScout and RoboCast has him as the #3 hitter in AA. In fact, Yainer may be a better comp because he's a similar bat first catching prospect with a big arm and a long way to go defensively that has enough bat to go to 1B / DH if necessary.
Cubs
7) Moises Ballesteros (Baseball America 37 Cubs Prospect, Age: 20, Level AA) One might see a listed height of 5-7 and think Altuve, but lets just say Ballesteros gets his money's worth when he hits up the Pancho's buffet. Easily over 200 pounds, Ballesteros is currently trying to catch where he has the arm for the position but obvious questions about his mobility behind the dish. Thankfully for him, defense is not his calling card. The guy is a legit bat with a very high level hit tool and good power. He currently has a .353/.443/.559 line as a very young player in AA, which is backed up by his RoboScout ranking as the #2 hitter in AA where he sits behind only the elite prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez.
Reds
8) Jay Allen II (Baseball America Not Ranked, Age: 21, Level: A+) Allen was ranked #16 for the Reds coming into last year, but fell off the map with a terrible year. He was noted to be dealing with a sprained thumb that kept him off the field for 3 months and was not the same when he got back. Right now he's hitting a ridiculous .362/.479/.638 against A+ balls alone with 7 steals. He's older than some of the other prospects and may fill out too much to be a CF, but if not profiles as a plus corner OF. RoboScout and RoboCast have him as the #3 hitter in A+ ball right now.
Braves - Would need more than this for JV or Framber (their most likely targets)
9) Owen Murphy (Baseball America #4 Braves Prospect, Age: 20, Level A+) I'm going to break my rule a bit here because the Braves farm system isn't great and their top 5 prospects are all pitchers, so I think purely based on depth they'd be willing to move one. Murphy was the last first round pick Dana was involved in drafting. RoboScout and RoboCast has him as the #4 pitcher in High A, which supports the success he's had so far this year with a 1.52 ERA with a 41:10 K:BB ratio in 29.2 innings.
Kansas City - Chas or Jake makes sense as their OF sucks and both players have multiple years of control
10) Carter Jensen (Baseball America #12 Royals Prospect) Jensen is expected to stick at catcher with a well-rounded defensive skillset. He's currently mashing at A+ ball as a 20 year old with a .326/.472/.495 line and more walks than strikeouts and the #1 hitter in all of A+ per RoboScout and RoboCast. As an org we are in desperate need of catching depth and the fact he gives us a lefty option is perfect. He's expendable for the Royals because their #1 prospect is a catcher and they also have a guy two years younger who is their #21 prospect. He's a great target, its just a matter of whether the Royals are contending.
Minnesota
11) Luke Keaschall (Baseball America #9 Twins Prospect, Age: 21, Level A+) Primarily playing 2B, but envisioned as a super utility type by the Twins. RoboScout and RoboCast #8 hitter in A+ ball is consistent with his .284/.432/.432 line with 11 steals in 12 attempts. Lauded by scouts and the org for a great work ethic.
Diamondbacks
12) Yilber Diaz (Baseball America #15 D-Backs Prospect, Age: 23, Level AA) Definition of a power arm with a fastball consistently working 95-100 with good carry that gets double plus grades and a plus power curve. His control continues to be a problem (12 walks in 25 innings this year), but he continues to rack up strikeouts (42). Most likely destined for the pen but nothing wrong with having that kind of arm at the back-end of the bullpen. RoboScout and RoboCast has him as the #1 pitcher in AA.
