Teams with prospects for blockbuster trades
The completion of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement means baseball is back -- with a condensed offseason. That should only increase the fun, as teams across the sport take advantage of a narrow window to improve their rosters before Opening Day.
The result could be a flurry of trade activity in the weeks to come, with contenders dipping into their farm systems to reel in players who can help them right now, and rebuilding clubs eying talent to help them for years to come. There were a few savvy deals struck before the lockout, among them Tampa Bay trading Joey Wendle to the Marlins for outfield prospect Kameron Misner, and Miami acquiring two prospects in a package from the Pirates for Jacob Stallings. But no real blockbusters yet. Meaning if there are big trade splashes in play, they’re likely yet to come.
Which contenders could make moves? Here are eight clubs with a realistic chance to win in 2022 and farm systems with enticing chips:
Dodgers:
Top-rated prospect: Diego Cartaya, C
Young backstops of Cartaya’s caliber are rare enough that the Dodgers might not want to part with their top prospect in a trade, but Los Angeles has excelled in stocking its system with enough high-quality depth to supplement the big league club seemingly at will. Even after losing Keibert Ruiz and Josiah Gray in the Max Scherzer/Trea Turner deal last summer, the Dodgers could dangle an exciting bat like Andy Pages in their hunt for another starting pitcher, or deal from their stockpile of near big-league-ready infielders. The Dodgers are already one of the game’s deepest teams, and being the Dodgers, figure to factor heavily into the free-agent market to address those few needs. But they also have one of the deepest systems, putting them in great position to deal if they opt to explore the trade market.
Giants
Top-rated prospect: Marco Luciano, SS
The Giants had big holes to fill due to the departures of All-Star starter Kevin Gausman (free agency), longtime catcher Buster Posey (retirement) and Kris Bryant (free agency). San Francisco has Joey Bart to replace Posey, rebuilt their rotation by signing three starters and could still reunite with Bryant via free agency. But any additional adds probably need to come via trade, and as it stands, the Giants’ system is the strongest it's been in since Posey’s prospect days, more than a decade ago. Precocious shortstop Luciano is the headliner but there is depth too, like catcher Patrick Bailey and outfielders Luis Matos, Heliot Ramos and Jairo Pomares.
Guardians
Top-rated prospect: Tyler Freeman, INF
Cleveland needs outfield help, isn’t afraid to deal and has a deep system. Middle infielders are the draw here, with Freeman, Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio all highly-touted and near-big league ready. Freeman looks like the toughest for Cleveland to part ways with, but it's possible Arias, Rocchio or even incumbent shortstop Amed Rosario are packaged in a deal for a Major League bat. Trading from that depth could allow Cleveland to hold onto top hurlers like Daniel Espino, Logan Allen and Gavin Williams, all of whom are 23 years old or younger.
Mariners
Top-rated prospect: Julio Rodriguez, OF
Never one to shy away from a trade, Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto has one of the best farm systems in baseball at his disposal and a big league club that fell just shy of a playoff berth in ’21. That feels like the perfect recipe for a deal, especially if the Mariners can’t reel in a big ticket free agent and are forced to make a splash via trade.
Top prospects Julio Rodriguez and George Kirby are likely off-limits, but there is plenty of outfield depth and a stable of young arms behind Kirby, like Emerson Hancock, Matt Brash, Brandon Williamson and Levi Stoudt. Seattle might also dangle shortstop Noelvi Mate at the right price, say for an impact bat that would help it right now.
Padres
Top-rated prospect: CJ Abrams, SS
Though the Padres’ system has thinned a bit as they grew into contenders in recent years, it still sports a ton of talent at the top for A.J. Preller to engage the trade market with. Talented catcher Luis Campusano would stand out in a thin position league-wide, as young backstops rarely become available. Robert Hassell III might be more difficult to part with but San Diego has discussed it before, and Eguy Rosario could be expendable given the club’s big league infield depth. Preller, of course, is no stranger to moving pieces around. This offseason he’s already shaken up the Padres’ infield mix by sending Adam Frazier to Seattle for Ray Kerr and outfield prospect Corey Rosier, and brought in Jorge Alfaro as a potential backup or No. 3 catcher. Any potential bigger splash could tie in Eric Hosmer, as San Diego might look to attach a prospect to the marginalized first baseman in a deal to move him and clear salary for another hitter.
Rays
Top-rated prospect: Shane Baz, RHP
While the recent graduations of Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, Luis Patiño and Shane McClanahan have stripped the Rays' system of some headliners, it’s still one of the deepest pipelines in baseball. And the Rays are seemingly always ready to deal, maybe more so now coming off an American League East title and with Kevin Kiermaier on an expiring contract. They have likely future big leaguers throughout their system, depth that would allow them to swing a big deal (like Joe Ryan/Drew Strotman for Nelson Cruz at last year’s Trade Deadline) while still keeping enough young talent to be a self-sustaining small-market contender. Top pitching prospects Baz and Taj Bradley are probably off-limits, but the bats like Vidal Bruján, Curtis Mead and ’21 breakout outfielder Josh Lowe are sure to entice other clubs.
Red Sox
Top-rated prospect: Marcelo Mayer, SS
The Red Sox were able to replenish Minor League depth while remaining competitive over the past few seasons, and continued to do so by bringing Jackie Bradley Jr. back to Boston along with infield prospects David Hamilton and Alex Binelas in a trade with Milwaukee before the lockout. They’ll be looking for back-end relief help and a right-handed hitter before Opening Day, after already improving their rotation via free agency earlier this winter. Highly-touted bats like Triston Casas and Jarren Duran give them the position player prospect depth to make a splash via trade, but a true blockbuster would probably require parting ways with Mayer, the No. 4 pick and top prospect in the 2021 Draft.
Yankees
Top-rated prospect: Anthony Volpe, SS
The Yankees are eager to return to the postseason after an early exit in the AL Wild Card Game last October, and sport one of baseball’s most impressive systems in terms of pitching depth. Highly-touted hurlers like Ken Waldichuk, Clarke Schmidt and Hayden Wesneski are candidates to be dealt, particularly to a rebuilding team hungry for upside arms. The Yankees probably won’t trade Volpe or Jasson Dominguez, but shortstops Oswald Peraza and Trey Sweeney might be available in a deal that upgrades the big league team with World Series aspirations.