10 prospects to know ahead of the MLB trade deadline

1. Francisco Mejia, C/OF, Cleveland Indians

Mejia has long been one of the jewels of the Cleveland system, but despite a plus bat he's been unable to crack Cleveland's MLB roster with any regularity, in large part due to Tribe starter Yan Gomes' defensive prowess. Gomes is nowhere near the type of offensive player Mejia has the potential to be, but he is masterful behind the dish and Indians pitchers love throwing to him. 

In an effort to get his bat to the big leagues, Cleveland has begun to introduce Mejia to both third base and the outfield this year, but he is very much a catcher and that is where he would like to stay. The Indians are clearly going to win the AL Central this year but will need to add external help if they hope to compete for the AL pennant. Bullpen is their primary need, and if they're willing to include Mejia, a lifetime .291 minor league hitter, in a trade, they could set their sights pretty high. Padres relievers Brad Hand and Kirby Yates have been dominant and both are under long-term control, and the same can be said for Kyle Barraclough of the Marlins and Raisel Iglesias of the Reds.

2. Clint Frazier, OF, New York Yankees

The Yankees are set up as well as any team in baseball. They're unquestionably one of the best teams in the game right now and one of the favorites to win the whole thing this October, but they're also armed with one of the best minor league systems in the sport. 

In discussions with other clubs, New York is obviously being asked about infielders Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Estevan Florial, as well as pitchers Justus Sheffield and Chance Adams, but if they're going to put together a meaningful trade, Frazier is clearly the one they'd prefer to build it around. He's blocked long term in the outfield by Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner and really doesn't have anything left to prove in the minor leagues. The interesting thing about the Yankees is that they don't really have to make a huge move. They would like to add a starter, but they won't surrender any of their premier prospects unless the return is Mets ace Jacob deGrom ( beyond unlikely). They've been linked to Orioles' star Manny Machado, but would the Bombers move a package of top-flight prospects to a division rival?

3. Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers

Hiura was the Brew Crew's top pick in the 2017 draft, and he's very quickly ascended to the top of prospect lists league-wide. In his first year in professional ball, the 21-year-old hit .371 in 167 at-bats and hasn't slowed down a bit in 2018. A dominant beginning to the year in advanced A ball earned him a promotion to AA in June, and his .288/.350/.448 slash line in 32 games there prove he he was ready for that challenge. 

Hiura projects as an impact player at the game's highest level, likely as early as next summer, but it's questionable whether that will come with Milwaukee or not. The Brewers have been heavily linked to Machado, as well being peripherally mentioned as a fit for deGrom. Hiura would quite obviously have to be the centerpiece of either potential trade, and if the Brewers can conjure up the guts to move him, they may become the favorite to win the National League.

4. Jay Groome, LHP, Boston Red Sox

Similarly to Hiura, Jay Groome was Boston's first-round pick in 2017, but he got much more publicity than most guys who go No. 12 overall. Groome was long considered to be in play for the Phillies at No. 1, but concerns over signability and character caused his stock to drop dramatically. Things have not gone swimmingly since either, as he's pitched to a 5.37 ERA in 62 pro innings and currently is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery that will likely keep him out of action until next summer. 

Boston currently owns the best record in baseball, but the American League is very deep, and they'd unquestionably like to upgrade both late-inning relief and second base. Teams like the Mets who could offer Asdrubal Cabrera and Jeurys Familia, and the Marlins who could dangle Starlin Castro and Kyle Barraclough, make worlds of sense for Boston. Groome's talent is obvious, but he's a young player who at best is maybe three years away from impacting an MLB roster. He should be the type of lottery ticket who could seal either of the above mentioned deals.

5. Alex Verdugo, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are yet another team that has been consistently linked to the Machado sweepstakes, a fit that is obvious after they lost Corey Seager for the season earlier this year. For Los Angeles to pull that type of blockbuster move off, Verdugo is the guy Baltimore should covet, although the O's reportedly are looking for a much larger offer. 

The Tucson, Ariz., native simply has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues as he's just dominating the Pacific Coast League, hitting .352 in 60 games. Matt Kemp's resurgence has blocked his path to the big leagues, and in a wide-open National League, whichever team lands Machado will likely be the favorite to win the league.

6. Sixto Sanchez, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are another team that covets Machado (notice a trend here?), and they have been mentioned as a finalist in the talks. Any potential package making the trek from the City of Brotherly Love to Charm City would likely have to begin with Sanchez, universally considered one of the better right-handed pitching prospects in the sport. Sanchez is currently on the disabled list, but before that, he had dominated in advanced-A ball prior to getting hurt, hurling to a 2.51 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP.

7. Kolby Allard, LHP, Atlanta Braves

The Braves are in a similar position to that of the Yankees. They are currently in prime position to make a postseason run, and they have a farm system among the best in the sport. Atlanta has an abundance of young pitching in the system, and while the organization would be reluctant to give Allard away, other pitchers like Ian Anderson, Mike Soroka and Kyle Wright seem to have surpassed him on the organizational depth chart. The Braves could use help at third base and the bullpen more than anything, and similarly to the Red Sox, they could look to the Marlins and Mets for help.

8. Justus Sheffield, LHP, New York Yankees

Back to the Bombers. As mentioned earlier, Sheffield is definitely a name other clubs will express interest in, but reading between the lines, GM Brian Cashman really doesn't want to move the southpaw. If you believe what you may have read about the Yankees discussions with the Orioles about Machado, the All-Star would already be in pinstripes if Sheffield was being offered in a package, and as those sweepstakes near the finish line it bears watching if the Yankees ultimately change their stance at the last minute.

9. Victor Robles, OF, Washington Nationals

Robles has long been considered an elite prospect and the crown jewel of Washington's farm system, but it's possible circumstances have begun to change in that regard. Robles has missed the majority of 2018 due to injury, and the emergence of fellow young outfielder Juan Soto at the MLB level could begin to change the organization's thinking. 

Washington has long coveted Marlins' catcher J.T. Realmuto but wouldn't include Robles so talks went nowhere. It would still be a tough pill to swallow, particularly with Bryce Harper set to hit free agency this winter, but if sending Robles south was enough to get Realmuto right now, the Nationals may decide taking one more shot at winning the whole thing with this core is worth the risk.

10. Forrest Whitley, RHP, Houston Astros

As is the case for both the Red Sox and Yankees, any move the Astros make will be geared toward what happens in October, not getting there. The defending champs will likely win the AL West, but they may decide they need to make some peripheral improvements to to get through a tough American League and win the pennant for the second straight year. 

They could use an extra bullpen arm like Hand or Jake Diekman, and while it's obvious Whitley wouldn't be moved in a deal like that, this team likes to surprise people. If they decide to attempt a bigger play, Whitley could be a weapon they dangle.