Ranking prospects traded before the Deadline

White Sox add three Top 100 players to their strong farm system

August 1st, 2017

The big splash came right after the All-Star break, when the Cubs acquired for a pair of Top 100 prospects, outfielder and right-hander , along with two other Minor Leaguers. The ensuing weeks leading up to Monday's 4 p.m. ET Deadline might have been more drips comparatively, but there's no question the remaining period for deals without waivers was active.
Fans of contending teams are focusing on the recently acquired big leaguers they hope will help lead their clubs deep into October. The sellers hope the return for those Major League players helps them turn things around in the future. Who were the best prospects who changed organizations leading up to the Deadline? We'll rank all who are currently on Top 30 lists post-trade (39 total), with a total of seven Top 100 prospects changing hands.
1. Eloy Jimenez, OF, White Sox, No. 7 overall (from Cubs in Jose Quintana trade)
Just 20, Jimenez is a two-time Futures Game participant who won the Midwest League MVP as a teenager a year ago. A bone bruise in his right shoulder delayed his start to the 2017 season, but he has been absolutely raking since the trade, hitting .364/.426/.691 in the Class A Advanced Carolina League over his first 16 games as part of his new organization.

2. Blake Rutherford, OF, White Sox, No. 45 overall (from Yankees in Todd Frazier/David Robertson/Tommy Kahnle trade)
Taken No. 18 overall in the 2016 Draft, Rutherford has been holding his own during his first full season in the South Atlantic League, and he remained in the Class A circuit post-trade. He was really coming on at the time of the trade, with a .327/.373/.455 line in July. He's gone 8-for-29 since the trade and has the chance to hit for both average and power, though that's yet to show up consistently yet in games.
3. Dylan Cease, RHP, White Sox, No. 67 overall (from Cubs in Jose Quintana trade)
Despite needing Tommy John surgery, the Cubs gave Cease $1.5 million after selecting him in the sixth round of the 2014 Draft because of his fastball-curve combination and upside. He was brought back slowly, but the gloves started to come off in full-season ball this season. He misses a ton of bats, but he'll have to continue to work on his changeup and his command to reach his ceiling of a frontline starter.

4. Willie Calhoun, 2B/OF, Rangers, No. 69 overall (from Dodgers in trade)
All Calhoun has done since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 Draft out of Yavapai College is hit. He's hit for average and power, making a beeline all the way up to Triple-A in his second full season. He's played second and started seeing time in left field in 2017, but his best position is in the batter's box. He's just about ready to contribute to a big league lineup.
5. , OF, A's, No. 77 overall (from Yankees in trade)
An over-slot signing by the Yankees back in 2013, Fowler had steadily gotten stronger and improved as he moved up the organization's ladder. He got his first call to the big leagues in June, only to rupture the patellar tendon in his right knee when he ran into an outfield wall in his first big league game. Out for the year, he does have 20-20 potential when he's 100 percent healthy.
6. , 3B/1B, Tigers, No. 92 overall (from Cubs in trade)
In another system, Candelario would have received more time in the big leagues by now. But he was blocked by at third and at first with the Cubs. He has the tools to play third long term and shows a solid approach from both sides of the plate. The power has started to show up more consistently, with the doubles possibly turning into more home runs as the 23-year-old continues to mature.
7. , OF, Cardinals, No. 100 overall (from Mariners in trade)
O'Neill has been one of the better power-hitting prospects in the Minors over the last few years, blasting 32 homers in the hitter-friendly California League in 2015, then winning 2016 Southern League MVP honors a year ago and hitting another 24 out. After a slow start to this season, he's up to 21 homers now, thanks in part to a .317/.394/.730 line with eight homers in 16 July games prior to the trade.
8. , SS/OF, A's (from Yankees in Sonny Gray trade)
One of the fastest players in the Minor Leagues currently, with top of the scale (80 grade) speed, Mateo stole 82 bases back in 2015. He scuffled a little bit in 2016, including some questioning his effort level at times. But he righted the ship in 2017, with a switch going off particularly when he reached Double-A. He's continued to see time at short and has embraced learning center field this year, which could be his best long-term defensive home.
9. Jesus Lazardo, LHP, A's (from Nationals in Sean Doolittle/Ryan Madson trade)
Luzardo looked like one of the better high school lefties in the 2016 Draft class until he needed Tommy John surgery. That didn't keep the Nationals from giving him $1.4 million after selecting him in the third round. He rehabbed and was throwing very well during his pro debut this summer. He has an intriguing combination of stuff and feel for pitching, which has already come back during his debut.
10. James Kaprielian, RHP, A's (from Yankees in Sonny Gray trade)
There's some obvious risk here, given that Kaprielian had Tommy John surgery and has thrown just 29 1/3 career innings in the Minors since the Yankees took him in the first round of the 2015 Draft. But if he can come back post-surgery, and it seems more and more pitchers do just that effectively, and look anything like the guy who created a buzz in the Arizona Fall League and then in big league camp last spring, then the A's could have another Top 100 caliber player on their hands.

Best of the rest
11. , OF, Blue Jays (from Astros in trade)
12. , SS, A's (from Nationals in Sean Doolittle/Ryan Madson trade)
13. Casey Gillaspie, 1B, White Sox (from Rays in Dan Jennings trade)
14. Merandy Gonzalez, RHP, Marlins (from Mets in A.J. Ramos trade)
15. Brayan Hernandez, OF, Marlins (from Mariners in trade)
16. , OF, White Sox (from Brewers in trade)
17. Isaac Paredes, SS, Tigers (from Cubs in Justin Wilson trade)
18. , RHP, Twins (from Yankees in trade)
19. , 3B/SS, Tigers (from D-backs in J.D. Martinez trade)
20. A.J. Alexy, RHP, Rangers (from Dodgers in Yu Darvish trade)
21. Marco Gonzales, LHP, Mariners (from Cardinals in Tyler O'Neill trade)
22. Oneil Cruz, SS/3B, Pirates (from Dodgers in Tony Watson trade)
23. , LHP, White Sox (from Yankees in Todd Frazier/David Robertson/Tommy Kahnle deal)
24. Shaun Anderson, RHP, Giants (from Red Sox in trade)
25. Tyler Watson, LHP, Twins (from Nationals in trade)
26. Jose Gomez, INF, Phillies (from Rockies in Pat Neshek trade)
27. A.J. Puckett, RHP, White Sox (from Royals in trade)
28. McKenzie Mills, LHP, Phillies (from Nationals in trade)
29. Stephen Nogosek, RHP, Mets (from Red Sox in trade)
30. Brandon Miller, RHP, Marlins (from Mariners in David Phelps trade)
31. , RHP, Marlins (from Mariners in David Phelps trade)
32. Ricardo Cespedes, OF, Marlins (from Mets in A.J. Ramos trade)
33. Thomas Pannone, LHP, Blue Jays (From Indians in Joe Smith trade)
34. Brendon Davis, INF, Rangers (from Dodgers in Yu Darvish trade)
35. Esteury Ruiz, 2B, Padres (from Royals in Ryan Butcher/Trevor Cahill/Brandon Maurer trade)
36. , SS, Tigers (from D-backs in J.D. Martinez trade)
37. Jamie Callahan, RHP, Mets (from Red Sox in Addison Reed trade)
38. , RHP, Mets (from Rays in trade)
39. Yefry Ramirez, RHP, Orioles (from Yankees in trade for international signing pool bonus money)