With the second half underway, most teams in the MLB have a good idea of where their seasons are heading. These teams will be buying and selling pieces over the next week and a half, including several big-name prospects. The common theme with most of the hitters on this list is the lack of a path to the majors. A majority of these names are in the upper levels of the minors but are blocked from making an immediate impact at the MLB level with their current teams. Assuming any of these players are dealt to worse teams, a new path could open up and lead to some MLB playing time.
More great fantasy baseball advice and analysis: Waiver Wire & FAAB Recommendations | Daily MLB Injury Report | MLB DFS Picks | Line-up Analysis | Dynasty Rankings and Strategy | MLB Bullpen Updates | MLB Player Props | Prospect Rankings & Analysis | Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers
Hitting Prospects to Watch Ahead of the Trade Deadline
Connor Norby – BAL
One of the most exciting surprises of the 2023 season, the Orioles have vaulted into first place in the AL East. A young core including Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson helped turn this franchise around and, despite additional recent promotions, the farm system is still stacked. While it’s still early in Baltimore’s competitive window, now is the perfect time to land some fresh talent with multiple years of team control before the deadline. Barring a massive acquisition, I wouldn’t expect the team to move its higher-end names like Jackson Holliday or Colton Cowser, leaving Connor Norby as a movable piece.
The 23-year-old flew through the system last year, climbing from High-A to Triple-A in one season. Across those 122 games, he posted an .886 OPS with 29 homers and 16 steals. This season, Norby is slashing .285/.344/.467 with Triple-A Norfolk. Baltimore is overflowing with young infield talent and he’s proven that he’s deserving of a shot at the MLB level already if he wasn’t blocked. The team’s biggest need by far is an impact starter. They have the farm depth to target a big name like Dylan Cease, though they could use Norby as the centerpiece of a smaller deal for someone like Jordan Montgomery or Jack Flaherty. Should Norby be traded by August 1, there’s a good chance he’ll see MLB playing time before the end of the 2023 season.
Curtis Mead – TB
While the Rays’ system is consistently among the best in the league, the team rarely uses that depth to make trade deadline splashes. Of course, their biggest deadline deal in recent memory was flipping Joe Ryan to Minnesota for Nelson Cruz, which didn’t age well. After a historically great start, Tampa Bay is now running on fumes and badly needs a sparkplug if the team is going to push for a World Series. Injuries to Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs should indicate that the Rays will target impactful starting pitchers and they have the prospect capital to make it happen. Cease, Lucas Giolito, or the aforementioned Cardinals’ arms would all make sense here. No matter who’s being targeted, teams will definitely be inquiring about Curtis Mead as part of the return.
Okay y'all, Curtis Mead is seriously ON ONE right now
He's reach base in all 5 of his plate appearances tonight, with his 3rd hit of the game this RBI triple
Mead has a .460 average (23-50) since coming off the IL on 6/30.
Crikey pic.twitter.com/CZ2y2uwcEV
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) July 20, 2023
Mead has done nothing but hit over the last three years while establishing himself as a high-end fantasy (and real life) prospect. He registered a .922 OPS in 76 games as a 21-year-old at the Double-A and Triple-A levels last season. In 2023, he was slowed down by a poor start and an extended injury but he’s slashing .463/.524/.741 in 13 games since returning to Triple-A. The Rays are too deep to give Mead a shot at the MLB level yet and he’d bring back great value on the trade market. However, they could get creative; would the Rays consider flipping the struggling Brandon Lowe to open up a spot for Mead? Whichever route they decide to take, I’d expect to see Mead make his MLB debut before the end of the 2023 season.
Diego Cartaya – LAD
The Dodgers have never been scared to make an impact move at the deadline and, as always, they have plenty of prospect capital to work with. In a bigger deal, a young MLB arm like Emmett Sheehan or Bobby Miller could be available. However, a name that seems likely to come up in more negotiations is Diego Cartaya. The 21-year-old catcher has really regressed with Double-A Tulsa this season. He’s slashing .191/.270/.362 with 12 homers and a 29.4% strikeout rate through 67 games this season. Cartaya came into the year as a unanimous top-25 prospect, so while his value is dropping, he’s still a name that will draw interest.
On top of the Dodgers’ loaded farm system, Dalton Rushing has pushed ahead of Cartaya as the team’s best catching prospect. Plus, Will Smith is locked into that role long-term. Essentially, this makes Cartaya expendable. The Dodgers could definitely use another quality starting pitcher before the trade deadline, as well as another bat in the lineup, specifically a shortstop or an outfielder. Some names that could fit here include Giolito, Eduardo Rodriguez, or Teoscar Hernandez. Cartaya would fill a need for a couple of those teams but the tools he’s shown in the past should be enough to draw league-wide interest.
Sal Frelick – MIL
Sal Frelick missed roughly two months after thumb surgery but is back with Triple-A Nashville this summer. He posted a brutal .639 OPS prior to the injury but he’s slashing .283/.381/.396 with a 9:2 BB:K in 13 July games. The 23-year-old was terrific in 2022 while soaring from High-A to Triple-A while slashing .331/.403/.480 and turning himself into a top-50 prospect. Fantasy-wise, Frelick’s upside is limited and a move out of Milwaukee would further dampen expectations. He has a hit-first profile with a .315/.394/.453 career MiLB slash line and just 15 homers through 196 games. His July performance has proven that he’s nearly MLB ready and his name will absolutely come up in trade discussions before the deadline.
Sal Frelick is heating up!
The second-ranked @Brewers prospect (MLB No. 17) picks up his sixth hit in four games as he homers to right for the @nashvillesounds: pic.twitter.com/hYUScLAlMw
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 21, 2023
Like Mead, Frelick could benefit the team now if he gets promoted. From a long-term perspective, the Brewers are probably content with some combination of Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, and Joey Wiemer in the outfield. They’re beginning to pull away from the Reds in the lowly NL Central and could use some more firepower if they want to make a postseason push. Frelick wouldn’t provide enough impact in 2023 for that, so flipping him may be the best option. Milwaukee could use depth in the rotation; would St. Louis be willing to move a starter within the division? Another bat would also make sense, and Jeimer Candelario would be a nice fit.
Justin Foscue – TEX
Like others on this list, Justin Foscue is knocking on the door of the MLB level. He’s slashing .271/.392/.484 with 32 extra-base hits and an elite 47:39 BB:K through 72 games with Triple-A Round Rock this season. He’s been a popular name in the prospect community since being drafted 14th overall in 2020. The 24-year-old should have a pretty solid fantasy floor and provide extra value in OBP leagues due to his improving plate discipline. Foscue is the perfect trade candidate for the Rangers before the deadline. The team is locked in all around the infield and Foscue could go make near-immediate contributions with a rebuilding squad.
Texas still leads the AL West and is actually right in the thick of the race for the top seed in the American League. The team will definitely be looking to add pieces before the deadline and they already got started by acquiring Aroldis Chapman in June. Like every other competing team, the Rangers could use another starting pitcher, especially due to Jacob deGrom’s season-ending injury. However, a more pressing need might be an impact outfield bat. If they go that route, I think Cody Bellinger as a rental is a perfect fit in that lineup. Then again, they could just promote Evan Carter to fill that role instead. Assuming Texas doesn’t make a huge splash by trading Carter, Foscue makes the most sense from a value standpoint.
⚾️ Home Run Derby Champion Signed Jersey Giveaway
Like and Comment below your Fantrax Username for a chance to win a Signed Vladimir Guerrero Jersey! pic.twitter.com/v4HHvwK0uO— Fantrax (@Fantrax) July 13, 2023