Top 15 Prospects Traded Before the Deadline

In what may have been the most active trade deadline in years, we saw an absolutely huge amount of prospects change teams. We've looked at most of the major trades already, which you can find here:

Fantasy Impact of the Dodgers-Braves-Marlins trade

Fantasy Impact of the Blue Jays-Rockies trade

Fantasy Impact of the Royals-Reds trade

Fantasy Impact of the Tigers-Blue Jays, Rangers-Phillies, and Astros-Brewers trade

With that in mind, here's my top 15 rankings list of the traded prospects before the deadline.

1. Jeff Hoffman (COL) 
My Midseason Rank: #17

To get the best shortstop in the game, you have to give up something of a legitimate value, and the Blue Jays definitely did that in addition to Jose Reyes. Hoffman can potentially be a top of the rotation starting pitcher, although his fantasy value does diminish slightly with the shift into Coors Field on a regular basis. I think we see Hoffman during the 2016 season, probably by midseason.

2. Nick Williams (PHI)
My Midseason Rank: #22

The general consensus has been that the Phillies got both quantity and quality from the Rangers despite not receiving either of Joey Gallo or Nomar Mazara back, and Williams falls into the latter category. He can be a .300 hitting corner outfield with 15-20 home runs and a few steals each year, and could be in Philadelphia by midseason 2016.

3. Daniel Norris (DET)
My Midseason Rank: #25

Norris takes over David Price's spot in the rotation, and they likely got a very similar performance in his debut yesterday. Norris went 7+ innings, striking out five and allowing just one run on four hits and a walk en route to the victory. He can be a potential #2/#3 starting pitcher for fantasy when his command is working well, providing low ratios and high strikeout totals. There are some concerns about consistency from start to start right now, but time can give us a better idea of how that will go.

4. Brett Phillips (MIL)
My Midseason Rank: #34

Phillips may be the biggest beneficiary of his trade in my opinion. He goes from an organization that has a plethora of young options in center field with Springer and Marisnick, along with Tony Kemp, Robbie Grossman, and Teoscar Hernandez all running around in some shape or form. Meanwhile in Milwaukee, Shane Peterson, Logan Schafer, and not a whole lot else stand between Phillips and the starting center field job some time next year.

5. Jose Peraza (LAD)
My Midseason Rank: #37

This one is an interesting one to me. The Dodgers will have an opening at second base and shortstop to start next year, with Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins both free-agents to be. Peraza could handle both of those positions, and it really just depends on what they want to do with him and Corey Seager. They could start the year with Seager at short, Peraza at second, and Justin Turner as the third baseman. Or move Seager to third and leave Peraza at second. Either way, Peraza should likely be in the majors in 2016.

6. Jake Thompson (PHI)
My Midseason Rank: #38

Thompson has now been traded twice in the past two deadlines, first by the Tigers last year and now by the Rangers this time around. He's thrown over 130 innings at AA between last year and this year, and could be in the Phillies' rotation next year. The only player really with a rotation spot locked in for next year is Aaron Nola (and perhaps Matt Harrison if he's healthy), and Thompson could be a #3/4 fantasy starter there.

7. Jorge Alfaro (PHI)
My Midseason Rank: #55

Alfaro will miss the rest of the year with an ankle injury, but the potential remains for a top 5 fantasy catcher if he can stay behind the plate. With Carlos Ruiz under contract through the 2016 season only, I can see the Phillies moving him with the aim of being the starting catcher by the 2017 season.

8. Sean Manaea (OAK)
My Midseason Rank: #69

I love the acquisition of Manaea as a part of the Ben Zobrist trade, as there's still the upside that made Manaea a candidate for the top pick in the draft two years ago. In his first start with the A's AA affiliate, he threw seven shutout innings, striking out 9 and allowing just 3 hits. I think we see Manaea in the majors toward the end of the 2016 season.

The rest of the list was outside my top 100 midseason list.

9. Michael Fulmer (DET)

Fulmer has been dominant at AA this year in 15 starts, and could be a candidate for the rotation during the 2016 season. The Tigers only have Verlander and Sanchez under contract for 2016, along with new acquisition Daniel Norris as rotation candidates.

10. Domingo Santana (MIL)

Santana remains the potential 25 HR/15 SB outfielder, but as a corner outfielder it isn't clear yet where he would play for the Brewers next year behind Khris Davis and Ryan Braun. He's been drawing walks at a career high in 14.7%, which could help him provide those counting stats even if his average doesn't always follow.

11. Josh Hader (MIL)

Hader has emerged as a solid back-end rotation option with the potential for more in some years. He should be a solid provider of strikeouts, and has two average or better pitches to go along with solid command. He could be ready for the big leagues right around the time that the Brewers decide that Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza can't get anyone out consistently.

12. Keury Mella (CIN)

Mella has been excellent this year in High-A San Jose, and is looking more like he could be a starting pitcher as the season goes on. For two months of Mike Leake, Mella is an interesting lottery ticket that could end up as either a back-end starter or potentially a late-inning reliever.

13. Miguel Castro (COL)

Castro started the season with the Blue Jays in their bullpen despite not pitching above High-A, and it sounds like he will be tried out again as a starter by the Rockies. He can be an impact arm in the back end of the bullpen if that doesn't work, and could do it very soon.

14. Jacob Nottingham (OAK)

Nottingham has had a breakout season this year between Low and High-A, although there are questions about whether his defense behind the plate will force him to be moved eventually to another position. If he can stay in catcher, he could be a top 10 fantasy option at the position in a few years.

15. Zach Davies (MIL)

The profile on Davies isn't an amazing one, but he manages to get a ton of grounders and has continued to have success at AAA this season. He's a candidate for the rotation in Milwaukee in 2016, especially if the team does make a move to release either Lohse or Garza.

Honorable Mentions: Jairo Labourt (DET), Casey Meisner (OAK), John Lamb (CIN), Matt Boyd (DET)