I was listening to Casey Stern and Jim Bowden on XM Radio's MLB Channel on Sunday afternoon, and Bowden mentioned that some of the MLB Futures Game prospects could be involved in trades this season, specifically mentioning Jurickson Profar of the Texas Rangers, as he is blocked by Elvis Andrus.
I posted the MLB Futures game rosters back on June 24th, and wonder if there are any other prospects who could be traded by July 31st, the non-waiver trade deadline.
I take a look at a couple pitchers, a third baseman, an outfielder and a first baseman who could be trade bait for teams in the running for a playoff spot after the jump:
Yonder Alonso, CIN-the Reds need a shortstop, a starting pitcher and possibly a closer. Alonso is a first baseman who is increasing his versatility by playing left field in AAA this season. He is hitting .298-.372-.490 with 11 HRs, 48 RBIs, 5 SBs, 35 extra base hits, and a 55-38 K/BB rate thus far. He has proved that he can hit for power, hit for average while maintaining a solid eye at the plate. Could Alonso head a package of prospects to the Cubs for Ryan Dempster?
Jarred Cosart, PHI-the Phillies need bullpen help and a right handed hitting outfielder. With the Royals in full rebuild, they could consider a dealing closer Joakim Soria to the Phillies for a package headed by Cosart. Cosart is 7-6 in High A ball with a 3.23 ERA, 1.185 WHIP, with a 68-36 K/BB rate in 92 innings of work.
Arodys Vizcaino, ATL-the Braves need a centerfielder and leadoff hitter and the Astros have just the player who fits the need in Michael Bourn. Bourn to the Braves for a package headed by Arodys Vizcaino would make sense for both teams, as the Astros are in rebuild mode and need to re-stock their farm system. Vizcaino is 4-5 with a 3.32 ERA, 1.107 WHIP and an 83-24 K/BB rate in 84 innings pitched.
Will Middlebrooks, BOS-recently Red Sox GM Theo Epstein stated that he does not need pitching help, but that couldn't be further from the truth. He is taking a page out of the Ruben Amaro "It's not what I say, it's what I do" playbook when it comes to the trade deadline. Epstein could deal his third base prospect Will Middlebrooks to a team that is starving for third base help in the minors, the Los Angeles Dodgers, for starter Hiroki Kuroda. Middlebrooks is hitting .315-.359-.498 with 9 HRs, 43 RBIs, 25 extra base hits, and a 59-16 K/BB rate at AA Portland.
Gary Brown, SF-the Giants have been rumored to be interested in Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran and the Mets are in a bit of a rebuild mode with Jose Reyes possibly leaving via free agency, Carlos Beltran leaving via free agency and Johan Santana recovering from major shoulder surgery. Trading Beltran to the Giants for a package headed by Gary Brown would make sense for both teams, as Brown would fit in nicely playing centerfield in the second biggest park in baseball. Brown is hitting .316-.383-.471 with 7 HRs, 51 RBIs, 66 runs, 35 SBs in 49 attempts and a 55-27 K/BB rate at High San Jose.