(*) MINORS: Prospects traded in July 2014 deals

Minor Leagues

ROB GORDON

Aug 1 2014 11:07pm

(*) MINORS: Prospects traded in July 2014 deals

ROB GORDON

Aug 1 2014

Now that the 2014 trade deadline has passed, we take a look at some of the most prominent prospects to change organizations. Interestingly, two of the biggest deals involved the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers parting with closers Huston Street and Joakim Soria. In those deals, the Tigers parted with two of their top 10 prospects and the Angels parted with three of their top 10 prospects. While the deadline saw a flurry of activity, only one player—Addison Russell—from our Mid-Season Top 50 Prospects changed hands as teams once again played things close to the vest.

OF James Ramsey to Cleveland
Ramsey, a former 1st round pick in 2012, is a strong, athletic OF with decent speed and average power. When drafted the 24-year-old Ramsey was considered by many a fringy 1st rounder, but he has improved every season as a professional—.648 OPS in ’12, .814 OPS in ’13, and .916 OPS this year. Ramsey has worked hard to stick in CF, but will likely be moved to a corner slot once he reaches the majors. The move to Cleveland certainly improves Ramsey’s stock and speeds up his ETA to the majors as he is no longer blocked by Oscar Tavares, John Jay, Peter Bourjos, Stephan Piscotty, or Randal Grichuck.
2014 combined minor league stats: .300/.389/.527, 14 doubles, 13 home runs, 4 SB, and an Eye of 0.47 in 243 AB.

RHP Edwin Escobar and RHP Heath Hembree to Boston
Coming into the year, some scouts felt Escobar was the Giants top pitching prospect. The 21-year Venezuelan hurler has a good 90-93 mph fastball, an improved slider, and a good if inconsistent change-up. In 2013 Escobar showed improved control and walked just 30 while striking out 146 in 128.2 IP. He took a significant step back in 2014 and struggled with the move up to Triple-A Fresno, going 3-8 with a 5.11 ERA. The long ball has been his biggest problem this year, but it has not been an issue in the past and some of his struggles can be attributed to the hitter-friendly environments of the PCL. The move from SF to Boston probably doesn’t change much for Escobar. He will need to prove he is ready for the majors and the Red Sox have other advanced pitching prospects who will likely get a shot at a rotation spot before Escobar does.
2014 combined minor league stats: 3-8, 5.11 ERA, 3.0 Ctl, 7.8 Dom, 2.6 Cmd, 16 HR, .287 oppBAA

Hembree is a quality relief prospect who served at the closer for the Giants Triple-A Fresno club. He has a plus 92-95 mph fastball that can go as high as 98 mph and he backs it up with a lethal hard slider. Hembree has been a bit slow to develop, but has a minor league career K rate of 11.3 per nine to go along with a 1.21 WHIP. With the Red Sox seemingly out of contention it would not be surprising to see them give Hembree an extended look, but he is not likely to have much fantasy value anytime soon.
2014 combined minor league stats: 1-3, 3.79 ERA, 3.1 Ctl, 10.7 Dom, 3.4 Cmd, 19 saves, .263 oppBAA

RHP Jake Thompson and RHP Corey Knebel to Texas
The Tigers have had bullpen issues for the past several years and as a result moved two pretty good pitching prospects in Thompson and Knebel for Soria. The 20-year-old Thompson was considered the organization’s best pitching prospect. The 2nd round pick in 2012 has a quality 89-94 mph fastball that has good late life and a slider than can be plus. In 2013 Thompson went 3-3 with a 3.13 ERA. He has good control and has a career Dom rate of 9.1. Thompson is having a solid year at Double-A and played in the 2014 Futures Game, but the move to Texas means his fantasy potential takes a significant hit.
2014 combined minor league stats: 7-4, 3.12 ERA, 2.9 Ctl, 8.4 Dom, 2.8 Cmd, 4 HR, .239 oppBAA in 98 IP.

Knebel was once a dominant college closer at the University of Texas and is a Texas native. He struggled in 8 MLB appearances but was lights-out in the minors, striking out over 12.0 per nine. He has an explosive mid-to-upper 90s heater and a knee-buckling curveball. He can struggle with control, but long-term has the stuff to close in the majors. The move to Texas can only increase his value as the Rangers have shown a willingness to go with the hot hand in the closer role.
2014 combined minor league stats: 4-1, 1.98 ERA, 4.5 Ctl, 12.1 Dom, 2.7 Cmd, 3 saves, and a .136 oppBAA in 36.1 IP

1B Mitch Haniger to Arizona
This is far from a blockbuster deal, but Haniger has the potential to develop into a solid fourth OF. The 23-year-old Haniger was a 1st round pick in 2012 out of Cal-Poly and has a good combination of speed and moderate power. He has a solid approach at the plate and makes consistent contact. The move to Arizona will not likely impact Haniger’s value either in the short or long-term.
2014 combined minor league stats: .255/.316/.416, 7 doubles, 10 home runs, 4 SB, and an Eye of 0.46 in 243 AB.

SS José Rondón, 2B Taylor Lindsey, RHP R.J. Alavrez, and RHP Elliot Morris to the Padres
Rondon, Alvarez, and Lindsey are the key pieces of this deal and provide the Padres with a nice haul for their closer. The trio of prospects were all ranked in the Angels top 10 at the beginning of the season. The 22-year-old Lindsey has been a mainstay on the prospect scene since the Angels took him with the 37th overall pick in 2010. He has been a bit slow to develop but has a nice overall package of skills. His best year in the minors was in 2013 when he hit .274 with 22 doubles and 17 home runs, but he doesn’t really have one clear-cut standout tool. Lindsey has had a disappointing season at Triple-A and did not have a clear path to the majors. The move to Padres is a definite win for Lindsey who was blocked at 2B and SS in LA.
2014 combined minor league stats: .243/.317/.390, 15 doubles, 9 home runs, 7 SB, and an Eye of 0.72 in 341 AB.

The 23-year-old Alvarez is an excellent relief prospect. He generates upper-90s heat with a max-effort delivery and mixes in a plus hard slider. In 85 appearances, Alvarez has 160 punch-outs for a 13.4 Dom rate to go along with a 2.26 ERA. Long-term Alvarez has the stuff to develop into a quality late-innings reliever and the Padres have a solid track-record with exactly this kind of player.
2014 combined minor league stats: 0-0, 0.29 ERA, 3.2 Ctl, 12.4 Dom, 3.9 Cmd, 0 HR, .147 oppBAA in 31.1 IP.

Rondon is a raw, but toolys SS prospect who is in the midst of an impressive breakout season. The 20-year-old Venezuelan is hitting .315 with 11 SB, earning him a trip to the 2014 Futures Game. Rondon does a great job of controlling the strike zone and putting the ball into play, but offers little in the way of power (just 2 home runs in 996 career AB). The move to SD shouldn’t have much impact on Rondon’s somewhat limited fantasy value.
2014 combined minor league stats: .315/.357/.399 with 19 doubles, 5 triples, 0 home runs, 11 SB, and an Eye of 0.39 in 343 AB.

SS Addison Russell and OF Billy McKinney to Chicago Cubs
While this trade took place almost a month ago, it was the only July deal to involve a blue-chip prospect. Russell was ranked #11 on our most recent Top 50 prospect list and has the tools to be an impact SS. He has good power, solid plate discipline and above-average speed. In 2013, the 20-year-old Russell hit .269/.369/.495 with 20 doubles, 17 home runs, and 21 SB. He missed time with a hamstring injury early in the year, but has been impressive again in 2014. The move to the Cubs should be good for his long-term value, but the Cubs do currently have a log-jam at short with Starlin Castro and Javier Báez both ahead of Russell. Baez has been playing 2B recently and Castro could be moved to another team once Russell is ready for the majors.
2014 combined minor league stats: .298/.365/.490 with 6 doubles, 7 home runs, 5 SB, and an Eye of 0.44 in 151 AB.

McKinney was the 3rd ranked prospect in the A’s system and is a pure hitter who should be able to stick in CF. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but gets on base consistently and is showing improved power. He brings the Cubs a nice left-handed bat and should be able to hit .280 with 15-20 once he reaches the majors.
2014 combined minor league stats: .257/.347/.414 with 18 doubles, 11 home runs, 5 SB, and an Eye of 0.64 in 377 AB.

RHP Rafael De Paula to San Diego
The Yankees desperately need to sure up their infield and in order to land Headley had to part with De Paula along with 3B Yangervis Solarte. The 23-year-old De Paula was the Yankees #3 prospect and features a plus 92-97 mph fastball. He also has a nice hard curveball and a change-up that has good potential. Don’t let De Paula’s ERA in the FSL (4.15) fool you, his peripheral numbers have been very impressive and he brings the Padres a nice power arm. Obviously the move to the Padres does wonders for his long-term potential and De Paula has the stuff be an impact starter in SD.
2014 combined minor league stats: 7-5, 3.98 ERA, 3.8 Ctl, 10.1 Dom, 2.7 Cmd, 6 HR, and .246 oppBAA in 95 IP.

LHP Eduardo Rodriguez to Boston
Finally, the Orioles attempted to solidify their bullpen by sending 21-year-old Rodriguez to the Red Sox for Andrew Miller. Rodriguez is not overpowering but keeps hitters off-balance with his low-90s fastball, slider, and plus change-up. Rodriquez has struggled a bit at Double-A, going just 3-7, but still profiles as a solid mid-rotation starter. The move from Baltimore to Boston doesn’t really have much impact on Rodriguez’ ETA or long-term potential and at this point he doesn’t have a ton of fantasy potential.
2014 combined minor league stats: 3-7, 4.79 ERA, 3.2 Ctl, 7.5 Dom, 2.4 Cmd, 5 HR, and a .274 oppBAA in 82.2 IP.

SS Willy Adames to Tampa Bay
Clearly the major leaguers—particularly former Cy Young winner David Price—are the key pieces of this blockbuster, three-team deal, but Adames is far from a throw-in. The Tigers signed the 18-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic in 2012 and he quickly established himself as one of the best prospects in the system. Adames excels on the defensive side of the ball where he has good range, soft hands, and a strong arm. He should be able to stick at SS as he moves up. Offensively he gets surprising power from his 6-1, 170 frame. He showed good plate discipline in his debut last year, but has already struck out 96 times at Low-A West Michigan. Adames runs well under way, but isn’t likely to be much of a SB threat in the majors.
2014 combined minor league stats: .269/.346/.428, 14 doubles, 12 triples, 6 home runs, 3 SB, and an Eye of 0.41 in 356 AB.