Ranking top 10 teams with prospects to trade

July 28th, 2016

The non-waiver Trade Deadline is rapidly approaching (Monday, 4 p.m. ET), so there's no doubt general managers have been busy listening to and/or making offers.
Some teams have already been busy. The Red Sox got for talented right-hander (No. 21 on the newly updated Top 100 Prospects list). The Cubs used their farm system as well, sending No. 26-ranked prospect -- along with (now No. 13 on the new Yankees' Top 30) and Rashad Crawford (not to mention big leaguer ) -- to get closer .
Guessing which prospects could still get dealt is a bit of a fool's errand, but there are teams that are better positioned than others to be buyers for big league talent. Below is a top 10 of teams in the playoff hunt, ranked according to talent and depth in their farm system.
1. Rangers
Number of Top 100 prospects: 4
Top prospect:, 3B/1B (15)
Last year, Texas acquired without giving up either of its top two prospects, Gallo and outfielder Lewis Brinson. Could the Rangers manage to do so again? They do have surging lefty and intriguing second basemen like Andy Ibanez to consider.

2. Red Sox
Number of Top 100 prospects: 5
Top prospect: Yoan Moncada, 2B (2)
Boston has already been active, sending Espinoza to the Padres to get Pomeranz. Even with that and the offseason deal for (again with San Diego), there's still prospect talent to bring in big league help, if needed. Moncada and outfielder Andrew Benintendi (No. 7 overall) have to be all but untouchable, but third baseman Rafael Devers and right-hander Michael Kopech are a pair of additional Top 100 guys in the system.

3. Dodgers
Number of Top 100 prospects: 5
Top prospect:, LHP (6)
Urias isn't going anywhere. It's an extremely plausible scenario where he and right-hander Jose De Leon (No. 44) could be internal "Deadline acquisitions," helping the pitching staff down the stretch. There are, however, some bats who could be of interest, namely first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger and outfielder Alex Verdugo, both of whom are at Double-A Tulsa.

4. Cubs
Number of Top 100 prospects: 3
Top prospect:, C/OF (23)
The Cubs have already been buyers. While it's hard to see a scenario where they'd deal Contreras, 2015 first-rounder Ian Happ's bat sure has some value right now.

5. Astros
Number of Top 100 prospects: 7
Top prospect:, SS/3B (1)
It's possible the Astros will be content in letting the farm system provide help, as they did when Bregman was called up to make his big league debut on Monday. But Houston hasn't shied away from dealing prospects before, like in the offseason trade, and it does have some arms at the upper levels. Right-handers , and are all in the Top 100.

6. Pirates
Number of Top 100 prospects: 6
Top prospect:, RHP (10)
The Pirates have called upon their farm system to help, particularly on the mound, with seemingly a mainstay in the rotation and Glasnow making two starts before right shoulder inflammation sent him to the 15-day disabled list. They've not parted with top prospects in the past, but there is some non-Top 100 pitching depth to deal here. , who has made four big league starts, and , a lefty who made a spot start earlier in the year, could be of interest, especially given their proximity to the big leagues, though Kuhl left his last Triple-A start with triceps discomfort.

7. Indians
Number of Top 100 prospects: 5
Top prospect: Clint Frazier, OF (24)
Frazier and fellow outfield prospect Bradley Zimmer just got bumped up to Triple-A Columbus, and it likely would have to be a very good deal for the Indians to part with either one. But they do have assets teams covet, like left-handed pitching in the form of No. 95 prospect Justus Sheffield and catching with Francisco Mejia, who has a 39-game hit streak with the Class A Advanced Lynchburg Hillcats (No. 5 on the Top 10 catching prospects list).

MILB Video - Title: Mejia's hit streak - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=926343083

8. Blue Jays
Number of Top 100 prospects: 2
Top prospect: Richard Urena, SS (91)
The Blue Jays may only have two Top 100 players, but both might be of interest to other teams. Urena will stick at shortstop, and No. 93 prospect Sean Reid-Foley looks at least like a solid No. 3 starter. Bonus: Both will be at Double-A New Hampshire next year. Non-Top 100 guys like outfielder Anthony Alford, along with pitchers Conner Greene and Jon Harris, could also bring in big league talent.

9. Giants
Number of Top 100 prospects: 2
Top prospect: Phil Bickford, RHP (67)
Like the Blue Jays, the Giants only have two Top 100 prospects. But both Bickford and shortstop Christian Arroyo (No. 96) would have to be of interest to teams looking to stock their farm system. There's also right-handed pitcher Tyler Beede and first baseman Chris Shaw, both of whom are at Double-A Richmond, to give the Giants more potential prospect bait.

10. Mets
Number of Top 100 prospects: 2
Top prospect: Amed Rosario, SS (18)
Rosario is likely still off the table, and who can blame the Mets there. But in addition to first baseman Dominic Smith (No. 68), guys like outfielder -- who showed what he can do in the big leagues -- and shortstop Gavin Cecchini, both of whom are at Triple-A Las Vegas, could draw interest because of their proximity to the big leagues.

Other contending teams
Team (No. of Top 100 prospects; top prospect ranking)
11. Nationals (5; , 4)
12. Cardinals (3; Alex Reyes, 9)
13. Tigers (1; Matt Manning*, 81)
14. Marlins (1; Braxton Garrett*, 48)
15. Orioles (0; Cody Sedlock*, No. 1 on O's Top 30)

  • 2016 draftee; not eligible to be traded until offseason