Ranking the prospects dealt at the Trade Deadline
What a day. What a month. What a Deadline.
The Trade Deadline came to a close Tuesday with some furious activity just before the clock struck 6 p.m. ET. Teams worked right until the end to add impact bats and arms to their Major League rosters as part of their pursuits for the postseason. Others tried to bolster their farm systems with talented return packages that could make the futures of the franchise all the brighter.
In total, 56 prospects were dealt who made their new clubs' MLB Pipeline Top 30 rankings. And as we do with many prospects, we’re going to rank them here too.
A quick note: MLB Pipeline will be doing its annual in-season rerank later this month, and this list was compiled with an eye toward that. Two prospects (Robby Snelling, Dylan Lesko) currently in our Top 100 are expected to lose that status, and their more accurate placement within the industry is reflected here.
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1. Connor Norby, 2B/OF, Marlins (No. 5)
Acquired from the Orioles in the Trevor Rogers trade
Norby earns the nod here for basically being a finished product. Baltimore’s crowded position-player group allowed Norby to build basically a second full year at Triple-A in which he slashed .297/.389/.519 with 16 homers in 80 games, and he has the chance to hit for a solid average with selective aggression and at least average power. He could step in quickly and seize Miami’s second-base job with the opportunity he never quite got with Baltimore.
2. Agustin Ramirez, C, Marlins (No. 6)
Acquired from the Yankees in the Jazz Chisholm trade
There’s no doubt Ramirez can hit for power. The right-handed slugger has 38 combined homers over the past two seasons, and he slugged .570 over a 58-game spin at Double-A earlier this season. Ramirez has struggled some in an introduction to Triple-A (hurt by a low BABIP), and his defense remains rough enough that he might be a first baseman long term. (He’s thrown out only two of 33 attempted basestealers, for starters.) He would still have upside at the cold corner if Miami can’t iron out his issues behind the plate.
3. Jake Bloss, RHP, Blue Jays (No. 3)
Acquired from the Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi trade
Bloss has been one of the breakout stories of the Minor League season, going from a third-round pick out of Georgetown last year to the Majors this summer. Paul Skenes and Hurston Waldrep are the only other pitchers from the 2023 Draft class to see The Show to this point. Bloss’ 92-94 mph fastball and multiple above-average breaking balls give him a well-rounded arsenal, and that should give him plenty of shots at the Toronto rotation.
4. Thayron Liranzo, C/1B, Tigers (No. 5)
Acquired from the Dodgers in the Jack Flaherty trade
At his best, Liranzo shows impressive pullside power, and that helped him launch 24 homers for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga last year in his age-19 season. He’s hit a speed bump with the move to High-A this year, slashing just .220/.344/.356 with seven dingers in 74 games, so this is an opportunity for Detroit to buy low. His plus arm strength gives the Tigers something else to build around, and it should be a fun debate over the future of Detroit’s catching situation with Liranzo in the fold alongside the recently promoted Dillon Dingler and fellow youngster Josue Briceño.
5. George Klassen, RHP, Angels (No. 3)
Acquired from the Phillies in the Carlos Estevez trade
Severe control concerns at the University of Minnesota caused Klassen to go in the sixth round last year. The Phillies immediately got to work at harnessing the 6-foot-2 right-hander’s weapons, namely an upper-90s fastball and two above-average breaking balls, and the results have been stellar. Klassen sported a 1.97 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 21 walks in 59 1/3 innings between Single-A and High-A this season at the time of the trade. He still needs to be tested in the upper Minors and over deeper outings, but he might have the biggest up arrow next to his name of anyone on this list.
6. Robby Snelling, LHP, Marlins (No. 2)
Acquired from the Padres in the Tanner Scott, Bryan Hoeing trade
An upcoming Top 100 dropout, Snelling's stuff has regressed in 2024 with his fastball-curveball-changeup mix looking closer to average. Texas League sluggers took advantage, batting .309 against Snelling in 16 starts this season, and the southpaw had posted a 6.01 ERA with 67 K’s in 73 1/3 innings at the time he joined Miami’s system. He’s still only 20 and a year removed from being one of the Minors’ most successful pitchers, but there have been more fits than starts in his second full campaign.
7. Dylan Lesko, RHP, Rays (No. 5)
Acquired from the Padres in the Jason Adam trade
Lesko also heads from San Diego to a Florida system at a point when his stock is dropping. There are times when he’ll flash his mid-90s fastball, plus-plus changeup and impressive breaking stuff, but command and control continue to be a big issue for the 20-year-old righty in his second year coming off Tommy John surgery. The Rays should see him as a reclamation project and one they can mold while there’s still ample road ahead in his development.
8. Deyvison De Los Santos, 1B/3B, Marlins (No. 7)
Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the A.J. Puk trade
De Los Santos might have the most raw power of anyone on this list. He’s the current Minor League leader with 30 homers, and while hitter-friendly environs in the Arizona system played a role, his exit velocities are as loud as you’d expect. That’s the positive. On the negative side, De Los Santos expands the zone a lot to chase that power, and he’s likely a full-time first baseman in the end. Harnessing his approach would go a long way toward securing his spot in the heart of future Miami lineups.
9. Alex Clemmey, LHP, Nationals (No. 6)
Acquired from the Guardians in the Lane Thomas trade
The Nationals love their young, raw arms (look at the successes of Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora this year), and Clemmey gives them another with big upside. The 2023 second-rounder boasts impressive stuff headlined by a fastball that can touch 99 and a plus curveball, but he battles bouts of control. Even so, he has 97 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings at Single-A this season and gives Washington another lottery ticket toward redeeming a future ace.
10. Brody Hopkins, RHP, Rays (No. 7)
Acquired from the Mariners in the Randy Arozarena trade
Some in the Tampa Bay front office preferred the toolsy Aidan Smith in the deal for their former star outfielder, and there’s a fine argument there. But the Rays might be getting the pitcher in the swap at just the right time. A former two-way player in college, Hopkins has developed two plus pitches in his 93-96 mph fastball and low-80s slider out of a low release height. With even more focus on the mound, he could continue to take off, and the Rays have already promoted him to High-A for his next test.
11. Aidan Smith, OF, Rays (No. 13)
Acquired from the Mariners in the Randy Arozarena trade
12. Cayden Wallace, 3B, Nationals (No. 7)
Acquired from the Royals in the Hunter Harvey trade
13. Nick Yorke, 2B/OF, Pirates (No. 5)
Acquired from the Red Sox in the Quinn Priester trade
14. Jared Serna, SS/2B, Marlins (No. 11)
Acquired from the Yankees in the Jazz Chisholm trade
15. Samuel Aldegheri, LHP, Angels (No. 8)
Acquired from the Phillies in the Carlos Estevez trade
16. Adam Mazur, RHP, Marlins (No. 8)
Acquired from the Padres in the Tanner Scott, Bryan Hoeing trade
17. Seth Johnson, RHP, Phillies (No. 10)
Acquired from the Orioles in the Gregory Soto trade
18. Jonatan Clase, OF, Blue Jays (No. 8)
Acquired from the Mariners in the Yimi Garcia trade
19. Jackson Baumeister, RHP, Rays (No. 14)
Acquired from the Orioles in the Zach Eflin trade
20. Mason Barnett, RHP, A's (No. 6)
Acquired from the Royals in the Lucas Erceg trade
21. Jeral Perez, 2B, White Sox (No. 13)
Acquired from the Dodgers in the Edman, Kopech trade
22. Alexander Albertus, INF, White Sox (No. 14)
Acquired from the Dodgers in the Edman, Kopech trade
23. William Bergolla, SS/2B, White Sox (No. 15)
Acquired from the Phillies in the Tanner Banks trade
24. Graham Pauley, INF, Marlins (No. 12)
Acquired from the Padres in the Tanner Scott, Bryan Hoeing trade
25. Mac Horvath, OF, Rays (No. 19)
Acquired from the Orioles in the Zach Eflin trade
26. Charles McAdoo, OF, Blue Jays (No. 14)
Acquired from the Pirates in the Isiah Kiner-Falefa trade
27. Homer Bush Jr., OF, Rays (No. 20)
Acquired from the Padres in the Jason Adam trade
28. Matthew Lugo, 3B, Angels (No. 11)
Acquired from the Red Sox in the Luis Garcia trade
29. Patrick Reilly, RHP, Orioles (No. 15)
Acquired from the Pirates in the Billy Cook trade
30. Tyler Stuart, RHP, Nationals (No. 17)
Acquired from the Mets in the Jesse Winker trade
31. Gregory Barrios, SS, Rays (No. 25)
Acquired from the Brewers in the Aaron Civale trade
32. Jun-Seok Shim, RHP, Marlins (No. 20)
Acquired from the Pirates in the Bryan De La Cruz trade
33. Eddinson Paulino, INF, Blue Jays (No. 21)
Acquired from the Red Sox in the Danny Jansen trade
34. JD Gonzalez, C, Rays (No. 28)
Acquired from the Padres in the Jason Adam trade
35. Billy Cook, OF/2B, Pirates (No. 18)
Acquired from the Orioles in the Patrick Reilly trade
36. Will Wagner, 1B/2B/3B, Blue Jays (No. 22)
Acquired from the Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi trade
37. Matthew Etzel, OF, Rays (No. 29)
Acquired from the Orioles in the Zach Eflin trade
38. Will Klein, RHP, A's (No. 15)
Acquired from the Royals in the Lucas Erceg trade
39. Moisés Chace, RHP, Phillies (No. 25)
Acquired from the Orioles in the Gregory Soto trade
40. Joseph Montalvo, RHP, Tigers (No. 20)
Acquired from the Rangers in the Andrew Chafin trade
41. Kade Morris, RHP, A's (No. 20)
Acquired from the Mets in the Paul Blackburn trade
42. Andrew Pintar, OF, Marlins (No. 26)
Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the A.J. Puk trade
43. Trey Sweeney, SS, Tigers (No. 24)
Acquired from the Dodgers in the Jack Flaherty trade
44. Rafael Ramirez Jr., SS, Nationals (No. 23)
Acquired from the Guardians in the Lane Thomas trade
45. Yohendrick Pinango, OF, Blue Jays (No. 27)
Acquired from the Cubs in the Nate Pearson trade
46. Jack Neely, RHP, Cubs (No. 20)
Acquired from the Yankees in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade
47. Bradley Blalock, RHP, Rockies (No. 20)
Acquired from the Brewers in the Nick Mears trade
48. Eric Silva, RHP, Tigers (No. 25)
Acquired from the Giants in the Mark Canha trade
49. Cutter Coffey, 3B/SS, Blue Jays (No. 29)
Acquired from the Red Sox in the Danny Jansen trade
50. Yujanyer Herrera, RHP, Rockies (No. 29)
Acquired from the Brewers in the Nick Mears trade
51. Benjamin Cowles, INF, Cubs (No. 30)
Acquired from the Yankees in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade
52. Jared Dickey, OF, A's (No. 28)
Acquired from the Royals in the Lucas Erceg trade
53. RJ Schreck, OF, Blue Jays (No. 30)
Acquired from the Mariners in the Justin Turner trade
54. Luis Peralta, LHP, Rockies (No. 30)
Acquired from the Pirates in the Jalen Beeks trade
55. Niko Kavadas, 1B, Angels (No. 24)
Acquired from the Red Sox in the Luis Garcia trade
56. Brandon Lockridge, OF, Padres (No. 29)
Acquired from the Yankees in the Enyel De Los Santos, Thomas Balboni Jr. trade