Ranking 41 prospects dealt prior to Deadline

The trades were coming in fast and furious as the 2021 Trade Deadline approached on Friday at 4 p.m. ET. MLB Pipeline tracked all of the prospects changing hands via deals over the last couple of weeks and we’ve come up with a ranking below.

With the late flurry of activity right up until the deadline, there were a total of 41 prospects who were either on a team Top 30 list at the time of the trade or added to one after the deal was completed. That group included four Top 100 prospects, a large increase from a year ago, when only one Top 100 was dealt. That total has fluctuated over the years, with five Top 100 guys traded prior to the 2019 deadline, two in '18, seven in ’17 and eight in ’16.

Below is a ranking of all 41 Top 30 prospects who have found new employers since July 15.

1. Austin Martin, SS/OF, Twins (No. 2/MLB No. 16)
Acquired from Blue Jays in Jose Berríos trade
The most advanced bat in the 2020 Draft class, Martin went straight to Double-A for his official pro debut in 2021 after joining the Blue Jays at their alternate site last year. The No. 5 overall pick out of Vanderbilt controls the strike zone extremely well with a knack for hard contact. He’s hit-over-power for now and there are some questions about his eventual defensive home, with some scouts thinking center field, which he has played this year, or second base, which he has played in the past, a better fit than short because of his arm.

2. Keibert Ruiz, C, Nationals (No. 1/MLB No. 41)
Acquired from Dodgers in Max Scherzer/Trea Turner trade
MLB Pipeline's No. 5 catching prospect, Ruiz has about as good a knack for contact as any prospect in the game, striking out in less than 10 percent of his plate appearances in his Minor League career. The switch-hitter has shown off nearly all of his power from the left side, with 45 of his 48 professional home runs coming from that side of the plate, and he was doing a better job of getting to that pop this year in Triple-A. The 23-year old has the tools to be a solid receiver as well.

3. Josiah Gray, RHP, Nationals (No. 2/MLB No. 42)
Acquired from Dodgers in Max Scherzer/Trea Turner trade
This is the second time Gray has been dealt, going from the Reds to the Dodgers the December after he was drafted out of Division II Le Moyne in 2018. While he dealt with a shoulder impingement this year and had two uneven outings to kick off his big league career, Gray has the athleticism (he’s a former two-way player), the stuff and the feel for his four-pitch mix to be a very good big league starter, with a fastball up to 97 mph with excellent life, a distinct slider and curve and some feel for a changeup.

4. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, Twins (No. 3/MLB No. 68)
Acquired from Blue Jays in Jose Berríos trade
Currently pitching in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for Team USA, Woods Richardson is also a twice-traded pitching prospect. His fastball velocity has been down a tick, averaging around 91 mph this year in his move to Double-A, but he’s still just 20 years old and has a legit four-pitch mix, with a plus changeup and depth to his curve, to go along with projection and a feel for filling up the strike zone.

5. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs (No. 6)
Acquired from Mets in Javy Báez trade
The No. 19 overall pick in the 2020 Draft, Crow-Armstrong was off to a scorching .417/.563/.500 start over his first six games of his pro -- and full-season -- debut in 2021 when he tore the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, ending his year. He’s an easily plus defender in center field and he can run with the chance to be an above-average hitter. There’s a question about how much power he’ll have, though the Mets thought he’d add enough strength to impact the ball enough in the future.

6. Joe Ryan, RHP, Twins (No. 8)
Acquired from Rays in Nelson Cruz trade
A super athletic right-hander who used to play water polo, Ryan’s first outing post-trade came for Team USA in the Olympics in Tokyo, beating Team Israel in USA’s first game. In reaching Triple-A in 2021, Ryan has missed a ton of bats (11.8 K/9) in his Minor League career while throwing a ton of strikes (2.1 BB/9) with a four-pitch mix led by a live fastball and solid slider, coming from a repeatable and deceptive delivery.

7. Tucupita Marcano, SS/2B, Pirates (No. 7)
Acquired from Padres in Adam Frazier trade
Marcano has hit just about everywhere he’s been, save for his brief big league debut at the start of this season. He’s walked more than he’s struck out in his Minor League career and he’s mostly been a line drive type of hitter, one who could still grow into a bit more pop from the left side. He’s played just about everywhere defensively, with second perhaps being the best shot of a full-time home.

8. Josh Smith, SS, Rangers (No. 7)
Acquired from Yankees in Joey Gallo trade
A left-handed-hitting infielder taken in the second round of the 2019 Draft out of Louisiana State, Smith has the chance to hit for average thanks to his advanced approach at the plate and bat speed, with enough raw power and speed to potentially top out as a 20-20 type. He’s a consistent, albeit not flashy, defender who could stay at short, but might end up at second.

9. Ezequiel Duran, 2B/SS, Rangers (No. 8)
Acquired from Yankees in Joey Gallo trade
Signed for just $10,000 in July 2017, Duran was hitting for both average (.290) and power (.533) in High-A at the time of the trade. The 22-year-old infielder can hit the ball out to all fields and routinely records high exit velocities, though he can get a little overly aggressive at the plate at times. He has 20-20 potential and is probably best suited for second, though some think he can play shortstop as well.

10. Alexander Canario, OF, Cubs (No. 7)
Acquired from Giants in Kris Bryant trade
Signed for just $60,000 in July 2016, Canario has tremendous raw power thanks to excellent bat speed to go along with loft in his right-handed swing. He doesn’t always get to that power because he can be too aggressive at the plate, leading to high strikeout rates. He runs well, especially underway, and has the arm and power profile to fit in right field if he can refine his approach.

11. Alexander Vizcaino, RHP, Cubs (No. 8)
Acquired from Yankees in Anthony Rizzo trade

12. Hans Crouse, RHP, Phillies (No. 4)
Acquired from Rangers in Spencer Howard trade

13. Gerardo Carrillo, RHP, Nationals (No. 10)
Acquired from Dodgers in Max Scherzer/Trea Turner trade

14. Aldo Ramirez, RHP, Nationals (No. 11)
Acquired from Red Sox in Kyle Schwarber trade

15. Riley Adams, C, Nationals (No. 13)
Acquired from Blue Jays in Brad Hand trade

16. Drew Strotman, RHP, Twins (No. 15)
Acquired from Rays in Nelson Cruz trade

17. Kevin Alcantara, OF, Cubs (No. 11)
Acquired from Yankees in Anthony Rizzo trade

18. Trevor Hauver, 2B, Rangers (No. 18)
Acquired from Yankees in Joey Gallo trade

19. Austin Shenton, 3B, Rays (No. 22)
Acquired from Mariners in Diego Castillo trade

20. Mason Thompson, RHP, Nationals (No. 16)
Acquired from Padres in Daniel Hudson trade

21. Glenn Otto, RHP, Rangers (No. 25)
Acquired from Yankees in Joey Gallo trade

22. Caleb Kilian, RHP, Cubs (No. 16)
Acquired from Giants in Kris Bryant trade

23. Greg Deichman, OF, Cubs (No. 19)
Acquired from A’s in Andrew Chafin trade

24. Case Williams, RHP, Rockies (No. 21)
Acquired from Reds in Mychal Givens trade

25. Noah Davis, RHP, Rockies (No. 25)
Acquired from Reds in Mychal Givens trade

26. Donovan Casey, OF, Nationals (No. 27)
Acquired from Dodgers in Max Scherzer/Trea Turner trade

27. Reese Olson, RHP, Tigers (No. 13)
Acquired from Brewers in Daniel Norris trade

28. Peyton Battenfield, RHP, Indians (No. 29)
Acquired from Rays in Jordan Luplow/DJ Johnson trade

29. Carter Bins, C, Pirates (No. 30)
Acquired from Mariners in Tyler Anderson trade

30. Drew Millas, C, Nationals (No. 24)
Acquired from A’s in Yan Gomes/Josh Harrison trade

31. Jordy Barley, SS, Nationals (No. 28)
Acquired from Padres in Daniel Hudson trade

32. Bryan De La Cruz, OF, Marlins (No. 29)
Acquired from Astros in Yimi Garcia trade

33. Kasey Kalich, RHP, Royals (No. 24)
Acquired from Braves in Jorge Soler trade

32. Janson Junk, RHP, Angels (No. 21)
Acquired from Yankees in Andrew Heaney trade

33. Elvis Peguero, RHP, Angels (No. 22)
Acquired from Yankees in Andrew Heaney trade

36. Yainer Diaz, C, Astros (No. 29)
Acquired from Indians in Myles Straw trade

37. Payton Henry, C, Marlins (NR)
Acquired from Brewers in John Curtiss trade

38. Richard Gausch, RHP, Nationals (No. 30)
Acquired from A’s in Yan Gomes/Josh Harrison trade

39. Bailey Horn, RHP, Cubs (NR)
Acquired from White Sox in Ryan Tepera trade

40. Anderson Espinosa, RHP, Cubs (NR)
Acquired from Padres in Jake Marisnick trade

41. Bryce Ball, 1B, Cubs (NR)
Acquired from Braves in Joc Pederson trade