Every Prospect Traded By This Year's MLB Trade Deadline
Every Prospect Traded By This Year's MLB Trade Deadline
Today, we do a rundown of all trades that happened in MLB leading up to this year's trade deadline and focus on the Minor League prospects that were included in them.
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Pregame Pepper: Video Recap Of The 2022 Deadline
Leading Off
Every Prospect Moved By The 2022 MLB Trade Deadline
By Benjamin Chase
Every July, we see a host of deals made by Major League clubs looking to compete as the season turns from summer to fall. Most of those deals have one thing in common - prospects.
In order to get a team out of the race to give up its tradeable asset, competing teams must part with Minor League players that give those teams hope for their eventual future. Let’s take a look at some of the grease in the wheels that made this year’s trade deadline roll.
Juan Soto heads to San Diego from Washington
The big deal was, of course, Juan Soto being dealt along with Josh Bell for six players. Robert Hassell III is the top prospect in the deal, an outfielder with an impressive ability to put bat to ball and power/speed combination. James Wood is a 6-foot-7 center fielder who hits mammoth shots. That profile tends to either become a star (Aaron Judge, Willie McCovey are two comps being made) or completely bomb and never make it as a Major Leaguer. The other unique piece is pitcher Jarlin Susana, the top pitcher in this past winter’s international signing pool who is already 6-foot-6 and more than 225 pounds at age 18.
Luis Castillo goes from the Reds to the Mariners
Noelvi Marte is the biggest name in the deal right now, a consensus top-20 prospect in the game due to his impressive combination of power and speed. However, he may soon be surpassed by Edwin Arroyo, who has a better shot to stick at shortstop and should be an above-average offensive performer as well. Arroyo is only 18 and holding his own in full-season ball.
The Reds also acquired Levi Stoudt, whose Double-A numbers won’t blow anyone away, but he has a quality array of pitches that could project at the back of a rotation. Righty reliever Andrew Moore rounded out the deal -- he’s struck out nearly 44 percent of hitters he’s faced this season.
Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino from the A’s to the Yankees
The Athletics traded two top-end pitching chips to the Bronx for three arms and an infielder. JP Sears used his elite slider and average fastball to outperform his underlying statistics in the Yankees’ bullpen. Ken Waldichuk has elite fastball shape that allows him to project as a future rotation member. Luis Medina has elite raw pitches, but his control inconsistencies may end up pushing him into a relief role. Finally, Cooper Bowman could have a big league future if his bat can survive the jump to Double-A.
Tyler Mahle from the Reds to the Twins
Minnesota went back to the Reds after acquiring Sonny Gray before the season and sent three prospects to acquire Mahle. Spencer Steer is a power-hitting infielder that should be able to handle second and third and could see MLB time this year for the Reds. Christian Encarnacion-Strand is among the Minors’ home run leaders this year, though he may need to define his future position as either left field, third base, or first base. Finally, the Reds also received lefty Steven Hajjar, a 2021 draftee who can touch 97 mph but sits 93-95 with a four-pitch mix that projects as a backend starter.
Josh Hader from the Brewers to the Padres
Along with relievers Taylor Rogers and Dinelson Lamet, the Brewers received lefty prospect Robert Gasser, who uses excellent control and a four-pitch mix to impress, and outfielder Esteury Ruiz, who has had a breakout season at the plate this season after moving to center field.
Jorge López from the Orioles to the Twins
López has been elite for Baltimore this season and brought back four prospects in return. Cade Povich is a lefty that is working to fill in his frame and maintain his mid-90s velocity deeper into games to fulfill his mid-rotation potential. Yennier Cano is a Cuban reliever with a sinker/slider/change mix. Juan Nunez and Juan Rojas are both getting their feet wet in the Florida Complex League. Rojas, a lefty, is more projectable as a potential starter, but both have plenty of work to go on the mound.
Andrew Benintendi from the Royals to the Yankees
The Yankees swapped three Minor League pitchers for Benintendi. Beck Way is having the best season of the trio, using his mid-90s fastball and sweeping slider to carve through High-A hitters. Lefty T.J. Sikkema was impressive in college, but he’s struggled to stay healthy as a pro. The steal could be righty Chandler Champlain, who was a ninth-round pick in 2021 and showed up in the spring with a full four-pitch mix that he’s been controlling well in his first taste of full-season ball this year.
Other prospects of note:
Christian Cerda was acquired by Arizona from the Rays in the deal that sent David Peralta to Tampa Bay. Cerda has high defensive pedigree as a catcher, and he’s hit very well in his first experience stateside.
A three-way deal sent Trey Mancini to Houston and Jose Siri to Tampa Bay. The Astros received Jayden Murray, a pitcher with elite command that recently was promoted to Triple-A. The Orioles received righty Chayce McDermott, a rising pitcher that mixes four above-average pitches, from the Astros, and Seth Johnson, a righty with an upper-90s fastball and elite slider from the Rays who will need Tommy John surgery.
The Brewers paid a fairly steep price to acquire former No. 1 overall pick, reliever Matt Bush, from the Rangers. Mark Mathias, who is a Quad-A middle infield guy, could provide depth, but the jewel is lefty Antoine Kelly. Kelly has some of the best raw stuff in the Milwaukee system from the left side.
Speedy utility prospect Hector Rodriguez and righty Jose Acuna had just a cup of coffee at Single-A before the Mets moved them to Cincinnati in the trade that brought Tyler Naquin to the Mets. Both have had success in complex ball, but are a long way off from the Majors.
Tampa’s catching needs brought Christian Bethancourt from the A’s in exchange for well-traveled outfielder Cal Stevenson and Christian Fernandez, a righty putting up big strikeout numbers in his first year of full-season ball at age 22.
A four-player deal that landed the Cardinals starter Jose Quintana featured just one prospect, infielder Malcom Nunez. Nunez has played mostly first base this season, which could be due to the presence of better defenders in the Cardinals’ system at third base, the position he played before this year. Nunez also offers a power bat -- he’s hit 17 home runs this year in Double-A.
The Mets sent four players to San Francisco to obtain platoon bat Darin Ruf. Lefty Thomas Szapucki has finally returned from injury and pitched well in Triple-A, albeit with some control issues. Also in the deal is Nick Zwack, a lefty that has performed very well across both A-ball levels in his first full season this year, and righty Carson Seymour, a righty that has also tossed well across both A-ball levels in 2022.
In a four-player deal that moved Eric Hosmer to Boston, San Diego sent infielder Max Ferguson, a speedster who is among the Minors’ leaders in steals this season, and speedy outfielder Corey Rosier, who has a fourth outfield profile. The Padres received lefty Jay Groome, an elite prospect coming out of high school who has struggled to stay healthy as a pro. He now works low-90s with his fastball and works with four average pitches.
The Blue Jays acquired swingman Mitch White from the Dodgers along with Minor League infielder Alex De Jesus, who has shown excellent plate discipline across both A-ball levels this season. Los Angeles received Nick Frasso, an athletic right-handed pitcher, who has had an incredible season in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, and Moises Brito, a lefty that’s getting his first pro work.
The Astros got Red Sox catcher Christian Vázquez by sending second baseman Enmanuel Valdez and outfielder Wilyer Abreu to Boston. Valdez could fit well in Fenway with his ability to spray line drives around the field. Abreu can play around the outfield with a bit of three-true-outcome approach at the plate.
The Royals finally traded Whit Merrifield. The Blue Jays were the recipients, moving utility prospect Samad Taylor, who should contribute at the big league level this season playing around the field, and righty Max Castillo.
Joey Gallo’s time in New York ended as he was traded to the Dodgers for Clayton Beeter, a righty with a fastball that touches 98 mph and has excellent late life along with a wicked mid-80s curve. Beeter likely projects as a reliever, unless the Yankees can teach him a third pitch and/or change his delivery.
In order to get reliever Scott Effross from the Cubs, the Yankees gave up pitching prospect Hayden Wesneski, a righty who works with five pitches, headlined by a four-seam fastball that touches 99.
The Phillies sent righty Ben Brown to the Cubs to acquire David Robertson. Brown was originally a 33rd-round pick who has worked up to Double-A using a mid-90s fastball, a sharp mid-80s slider, and an average curve.
The Phillies acquired Noah Syndergaard from the Angels for a package that included outfielder Jadiel Sanchez, a 21-year-old outfield prospect with impressive raw power, but whose injury issues have frequently kept him off the field.
To open a 40-man spot, the Dodgers sent Garrett Cleavinger to the Rays in exchange for German Tapia, an outfielder dominating in his second time through the Dominican League.
As a two-for-one, the Blue Jays sent highly regarded prospect Jordan Groshans to the Marlins for two relievers. Groshans is a former 12th overall draft pick in 2018 that saw injuries wipe out his 2021. He’s struggled to hit for power this season, but if he can bounce back next year, this could be a steal for Miami.
The Braves brought back postseason hero Ehire Adrianza from the Nationals in exchange for outfielder Trey Harris, who may be a fringe big league talent but has future coach/manager written all over him.
The Braves also added to their bullpen, acquiring Raisel Iglesias from the Angels. The prospect return was lefty Tucker Davidson, who impressed in 2021 in four MLB starts but has struggled this season with a 6.46 ERA over 15 1/3 innings. Davidson has a solid four-pitch mix led by a fastball in the mid-90s, but his control has been inconsistent.
Atlanta shored up the outfield with Detroit’s Robbie Grossman, sending back lefty Kris Anglin. Anglin has struggled in his first full-season ball this year, but he brings an impressive looping curve that could give him life as a reliever.
Minnesota added to the bullpen with Detroit reliever Michael Fulmer, sending righty Sawyer Gipson-Long to the Tigers. Gipson-Long was having an excellent season with High-A Cedar Rapids, but he’s been hit hard in Double-A. His raw stuff projects as a backend starter.
The Phillies acquired outfielder Brandon Marsh from the Angels in exchange for catching prospect Logan O’Hoppe. O’Hoppe recently played in the Futures Game and could factor into the Angels’ catching situation by season’s end.
Utility infielder Brandon Drury was acquired by the Padres from Cincinnati for switch-hitting infielder Victor Acosta. Acosta just turned 18 and is an impressive infield defender who could be an elite third baseman or a very good shortstop. His bat could be impressive as well, with his left-handed swing ahead of his right-handed swing right now.
The Giants traded catcher Curt Casali to Seattle in exchange for Minor League reliever Michael Stryffeler, who has posted a 2.17 ERA in Double-A the last two seasons while striking out more than 38 percent of hitters. His issue is his walk rate, which is over 15 percent over the last two years.
To get Sandy León as a backup catcher in Minnesota, the Twins shipped righty Ian Hamilton to Cleveland. Hamilton has appeared in the Majors for a total of 15 games, with an impressive mid-80s slider.
The Cardinals added Austin Allen to their catching mix from Oakland in exchange for righty Carlos Guarate, who has an impressive low-90s sinker that leads a five-pitch mix.
The Mets added reliever Mychal Givens from the Cubs in exchange for righty Saul Gonzalez, who has spent most of the season pitching in relief after coming back from surgery. His low-90s fastball “jumps” on hitters due to his 6-foot-7 length.
Technically, a prospect-for-prospect deal was made between the Royals and Blue Jays in mid-July when lefty Foster Griffin, a former first-round pick of the Royals, was traded to Toronto for Jonatan Bernal, a 20-year-old righty swingman from Mexico in Single-A.
The Brewers acquired injured reliever Trevor Rosenthal from San Francisco in exchange for Tristan Peters, a left fielder who has average power and speed but an excellent eye at the plate.
The Rays and Giants exchanged older prospects as the Giants sent right-handed reliever Jeremy Walker, who had a strong six-game MLB run with Atlanta in 2019 but had shoulder issues and hasn’t been the same since. The Rays sent back Ford Proctor, a natural catcher that can play around the infield but doesn’t have the bat to likely make the bigs.
The Cubs acquired 30-year-old veteran Minor League right-hander Raynel Espinal from the Giants for infielder Dixon Machado. Espinal is a swingman, “Quad-A” arm that could eat innings for Chicago down the stretch.
Benjamin Chase is a newspaper reporter in rural South Dakota with a deep love of baseball. He is one of the co-hosts of the Pallazzo Podcasts prospect podcast Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Eastern and can be found on Twitter under @biggentleben.