The MLB Trade Deadline ended on Tuesday with some ruckus just before the clock struck 6.p.m ET. Teams worked round the clock to add impact bats and arms to their Major League rosters as part of their projects for the postseason.
Others fought to bolster their farm systems with talented return packages that could brighten the future of the franchise.
A total of 56 prospects were dealt who made their new clubs’ MLB Pipeline Top 30 rankings. This post seeks to rank the top 5 prospects at the MLB Trade Deadline.
1. Connor Norby, 2B/OF, Marlins (No.5)
Dealt from the Baltimore Orioles in the Trevor Rogers trade.
Norby gets a nod for being a finished product. The Orioles’ crowded position-player group allowed Norby to basically build a second full year at Triple-A where he slashed .297/.389/.519 with 16 homers in 80 matches. He also has the chances to hit for a strong average with selective aggression and at least average power.
He could step in swiftly and clinch the Miami Marlins’ second-base job with the chance he never got with the Orioles.
2. Augustin Ramirez, C, Marlins (No.6)
Bought from the New York Yankees in the Jazz Chisholm trade.
There is no doubt that Ramirez can hit for power. The right-handed slugger has combined homers over the last two campaigns, and slugged .570 over a 58-game spin at Double-A earlier his season.
Ramirez has struggled some in an introduction to Triple-A (hurt by a low BABIP), and his defense is still rough enough that he might be a first baseman long term (He’s thrown out only two of 33 attempted base stealers, for starters.) He would still have upside at the cold corner if the Marlins cannot fix his issues behind the plate.
3. Jake Bloss, RHP, Blue Jays (No. 3)
Bought from the Houston Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi trade.
Bloss has been one of the breakout stories of the Minor League season, graduating from third-round pick out of Georgetown last year to the Majors this summer.
Paul Skenes and Hurston Waldrep are the only pitchers from the 2023 Draft class to witness The Show to this point. Bloss’ 92-94 mph fastball and multiple above-average breaking balls give him a well-loaded arsenal, which should give him enough shots at the Toronto rotation.
4. Thayron Liranzo, C/1B, Tigers (No.5)
Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Jack Flaherty trade.
Liranzo showed spectacular pull side power, and that helped him launch 24 home runs for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga last year in his age-19 season. He has hit a speed bump with the move to High-A this year, slashing only .220/.344/,356 with seven fingers in 74 matches. So it is an opportunity for the Tigers to buy low.
Thayron’s plus arm strength gives the Tigers something else to build around, and they should have an interesting debate of Detroit’s catching situation with Liranzo. He will be judged alongside Dillion Dingler and Josue Briceño.
5. George Klassen, RHP, Angels (No.3)
Dealt from the Philadelphia Phillies in the Carlos Estevez trade.
The last pick in the MLB Trade Deadline is Klassen. Severe control concerns at the University of Minnesota caused him to go in the sixth round last year. The Phillies hit the ground running while harnessing his powers; an upper-90s fastball and two above-average breaking balls, and the results have been astounding.
Klassen delivered a 1.97 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 21 walks in 59 ⅓ innings between Single-A and High-A this season at the time of the trade. He still needs to be tested in the upper Minors and over deeper outings, but he might have the biggest up arrow next to his name of anyone on this list.
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