10 teams with the prospects to make big moves
History tells us that there will be headline-grabbing trades at the upcoming Winter Meetings, which begin Sunday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Last year outside of Washington D.C., the White Sox swung blockbusters that sent Chris Sale to the Red Sox and Adam Eaton to the Nationals on consecutive days. The year before in Nashville, the Diamondbacks stunned the industry by shipping Dansby Swanson, the No. 1 pick in the Draft just six months earlier, to the Braves as part of an ill-fated deal for Shelby Miller.
The Marlins, determined to shed the potential $295 million remaining on reigning National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton's contract, have a tentative deal in place with the Yankees even before heading down to Walt Disney World. While we wait to see which players will actually change addresses, here are 10 teams that could contend in 2018 and have depth in young talent that could provide trade fodder to bolster their chances of making the postseason:
Astros
Top 100 Prospects: 3
Top-rated prospect: Kyle Tucker, OF (No. 7)
Houston wouldn't part with Tucker or RHP Forrest Whitley, yet it still found a way to get a Justin Verlander trade done in August -- and that worked out pretty well. Even if Tucker and Whitley remain untouchable, the Astros still could put together an attractive package with outfielder Derek Fisher and right-handers Francis Martes and Joe Musgrove, former Top 100 Prospects who have graduated to the big leagues. Beyond Tucker and Whitley, the system features flamethrowing 2017 first-round righty J.B. Bukauskas and outfielder/first baseman Yordan Alvarez, a gifted young hitter.
Blue Jays
Top 100 Prospects: 3
Top-rated prospect: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B (No. 3)
After consecutive American League Championship Series appearances, Toronto dropped to 76 wins in 2017 and is looking to rebound. Trading Guerrero, who has the highest offensive ceiling of any prospect anywhere, would be foolhardy, but the Blue Jays do have a pair of sweet-swinging shortstops in Bo Bichette (this year's Minor League batting champ at .362) and Logan Warmoth. Outfielder Anthony Alford combines hitting savvy and athleticism, while the Jays have plenty of attractive right-handers led by T.J. Zeuch, Sean Reid-Foley and Nate Pearson.
Brewers
Top 100 Prospects: 7
Top-rated prospect:Lewis Brinson, OF (No. 12)
Milwaukee made a surprise run at a postseason berth this year and could use its surplus of prospects to break through to the playoffs in 2018. The Brewers are loaded with outfield prospects (Brinson, Monte Harrison, Corey Ray, Brett Phillips, Tristen Lutz, Trent Grisham), and they're also deep in offensive-minded inifielders (Keston Hiura, Isan Diaz, Mauricio Dubon) and right-handers (Luis Ortiz, Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, Marcos Diplan). They could trade from their areas of strength without compromising their ability to build from within.
Cardinals
Top 100 Prospects: 5
Top-rated prospect:Alex Reyes, RHP (No. 14)
Coming off its worst season in a decade, St. Louis figures to look to make a big move after reaching an agreement to acquire Stanton only to be unable to convince the Marlins slugger to waive his no-trade clause. Carson Kelly may be the game's best all-around catching prospect yet is blocked by Yadier Molina, while the Miles Mikolas signing means there's only one spot in the rotation left for the talented trio of Alex Reyes, Luke Weaver and Jack Flaherty. Similarly, Tyler O'Neill, Harrison Bader and Magneuris Sierra are caught up in an outfield logjam.
Dodgers
Top 100 Prospects: 6
Top-rated prospect:Walker Buehler, RHP (No. 10)
Elite prospects Buehler and outfielder Alex Verdugo are just about ready for prime time, but lack a clear path to playing time on a stacked Los Angeles club, so maybe they could be had in a deal for a superstar. Even if the Dodgers won't part with them, they have catchers (Keibert Ruiz, Will Smith) to spare and plenty of high-ceiling if raw talents such as right-hander Yadier Alvarez and outfielders Yusniel Diaz and Jeren Kendall.
Indians
Top 100 Prospects: 2
Top-rated prospect:Francisco Mejia, C (No. 13)
Cleveland was willing to make Mejia the headliner in a four-prospect package for Jonathan Lucroy in July 2016, only to see Lucroy veto the deal. Mejia still has a ways to go behind the plate and looked shaky at third base in the Arizona Fall League, so maybe he still could be had. Perhaps the Indians' pitching riches at the Major League level could make right-hander Triston McKenzie (second in the Minors with 186 strikeouts at age 20 in 2017) expendable as well, and they have a number of attractive teenaged prospects (third baseman Nolan Jones, outfielders Will Benson and Quentin Holmes) who could be spun off for more immediate help.
Pirates
Top 100 Prospects: 3
Top-rated prospect: Austin Meadows, OF (No. 16)
Yes, Pittsburgh is more likely to trade a veteran (Andrew McCutchen?) than give up prospects to get one. But if the Pirates wanted to, they have plenty of projectable right-handers (Tyler Glasnow, Mitch Keller, Shane Baz, Steven Jennings, Clay Holmes) and infield prospects (third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, shortstops Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker, first baseman Will Craig, second baseman Kevin Kramer) around whom to build a deal.
Rays
Top 100 Prospects: 6
Top-rated prospect: Brent Honeywell, RHP (No. 11)
Cost-conscious Tampa Bay rarely trades young talent, but it also has holes to plug after four straight losing seasons and owns the best farm system among the teams on this list. The Rays probably won't part with Honeywell, shortstop Willy Adames or first baseman/left-hander Brendan McKay, but could land just about anyone on the trade market if they would. Nevertheless, they have lots of outfield prospects (Jesus Sanchez, Jake Bauers, Justin Williams, Joshua Lowe, Garrett Whitley) and some interesting pieces they've acquired in past deals (right-hander Jose DeLeon, shortstop Lucius Fox).
Twins
Top 100 Prospects: 4
Top-rated prospect: Royce Lewis, SS (No. 26)
Minnesota already has a good young shortstop in Jorge Polanco and three more on the way in Royce Lewis (the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 Draft), Nick Gordon and Wander Javier, so one of those guys could be the starting point for a trade. Left-hander Stephen Gonsalves and right-hander Fernando Romero are attractive too, though the Twins might just be better off bringing them to Target Field in the next year or so.
Yankees
Top 100 Prospects: 5
Top-rated prospect:Gleyber Torres, INF (No. 1)
Even after promoting All-Stars Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino from within and sending five players who were first-round picks and/or Top 100 Prospects to the White Sox and Athletics in a pair of trades last July, New York still is overflowing with young talent. Infielder Gleyber Torres, right-hander Chance Adams, lefty Justus Sheffield and third baseman Miguel Andujar are all on the current Top 100 and nearly ready for the big leagues -- and it's not like the Yankees have a lot of gaping holes on their roster. They're also well stocked with power arms from the right side (Albert Abreu, Freicer Perez) and have a number of players who stood out in the Arizona Fall League (outfielder Estevan Florial, Sheffield, Abreu, shortstop Thairo Estrada, reliever Cody Carroll and outfielder Billy McKinney). Right-hander Jorge Guzman is reportedly part of the tentative package for Stanton.
MLB.com and MLB Network will provide extensive coverage of the Winter Meetings from the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort from Dec. 10-14. Fans can watch live streams of all news conferences and manager availability on MLB.com, including the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. ET.