The Trade Deadline seems to be happening early this year. Between the time I begin writing and this is posted, there might be more deals involving big-name prospects. This week, we’ll focus on the recently completed swaps. We’ll check back on the leftovers next time.
Five Big Hype Prospects
Kyle Manzardo, 23, 1B, CLE (AAA)
313 PA, 11 HR, 1 SB, .238/.342/.442
Manzardo burst onto Top 100 prospect rankings last season with a flashy 22-homer performance in nearly 400 plate appearances split between High- and Double-A. He has all the traits armchair prospect analysts (like myself) crave – plus discipline, a high rate of contact, and above-average exit velocities. If there was a fly in the ointment, his combination of high BABIPs and frequent fly balls seemed untenable. This season, he’s dropped to a more plausible .269 BABIP while maintaining the fly ball rate. His 2023 numbers more closely match his identity. His power outcomes have backed up, but there’s little cause for long-term concern. Additionally, Progressive Field is friendly to left-handed power hitters. Manzardo is undersized for a first baseman, and his power draws 45 and 50 grades on the 20/80 scouting scale. The profile reads a lot like a four-inches-shorter, left-handed Rhys Hoskins.
Luisangel Acuna, 21, 2B/SS, NYM (AA)
402 PA, 7 HR, 42 SB, .315/.377/.452
Repeating Double-A after a rough first exposure last season, Acuna has looked comfortable at the level. His BABIP-fueled batting line is 21 percent above league average (121 wRC+) despite middling power numbers. Like his brother, Luisangel has terrorized opponents on the basepaths. Scouts rate him as merely an above-average runner. There is a degree of swing-and-miss (12.4% SwStr%) to Acuna’s game that calls his future role into question. He’s expected to grow into average or better power if he can learn to lift the ball more consistently. Whether or not he can do so without developing a strikeout problem could depend on the sort of adjustment required. Lift-related mechanical changes tend to exacerbate whiff issues. In some cases, the issue is the location of contact – an adjustment that can yield positive results without negative repercussions. Acuna’s swing is violent and loud. Change could prove challenging. Despite strong walk rates, Acuna is an aggressive swinger, particularly at breaking balls below the zone.
Necessary offensive adjustments aside, there’s also question about Acuna’s future defensive role. He’s a physically capable shortstop who yet lacks polish. Lately, we’ve grown accustomed to seeing shortstop prospects with precocious defensive ability. Acuna could be asked to move over to second or third to better accommodate his ascent alongside Francisco Lindor.
Marco Luciano, 21, SS, SFG (MLB)
(AA) 242 PA, 11 HR, 6 SB, .228/.339/.450
The only member of today’s column who wasn’t traded, the Giants rushed Luciano to the Majors to cover a short-term opening at shortstop. Despite tepid overall numbers at Double-A, Luciano caught a heater beginning in late June. He batted .315/.397/.500 over his final 63 plate appearances at the level. His success carried over to a 27-plate appearance stint in Triple-A where he batted .292/.370/.625 with Major League caliber exit velocities. He’s 3-for-11 with five strikeouts thus far in the Majors. The once uber-prospect has developed into a slug-over-contact future third baseman. His strikeout rate might check in north of 30 percent. Only 11 qualified hitters have strikeout rates above 30 percent. The good news is nine of 11 have above-average batting lines. The two who don’t – Teoscar Hernandez and Byron Buxton – are celebrated hitters. Luciano will look to join this cohort of hitters.
It’s unlikely Luciano sticks with the contending Giants in the short term.
Edgar Quero, 20, C, CWS (AA)
321 PA, 3 HR, 1 SB, .246/.386/.332
A switch-hitter, Quero emerged as a bat-first catching prospect last season when he hit .312/.435/.530 with 17 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 515 Low-A plate appearances. The Angels made the curious decision to skip him past High-A – perhaps seeking to pair him with a better defensive instructor. His discipline remained in evidence this season. The power… not so much. Another plausible explanation of Quero’s aggressive assignment is to see if he merited moving to a different position to accommodate his bat. Instead, the Angels moved him from the organization entirely in the Lucas Giolito trade. Look for Chicago to slow the roll on Quero’s development. His defensive skills are reported to remain relatively raw.
Thomas Saggese, 21, 3B, STL (AA)
418 PA, 15 HR, 8 SB, .313/.379/.512
Saggese doesn’t have the physical traits evaluators crave, but he makes up for it with a hard-nosed playstyle. Part of the Jordan Montgomery trade, it feels like he was always destined to join the Cardinals. His tools draw a collection of 40 and 50 grades, but his feel for quality contact allows the total package to play up. Multiple reports reference his success against sliders. Something to watch is how he performs against upper-level pitchers with big fastballs and command. The Cardinals might seek to add corner outfield to Saggese’s bag of tricks. He fits best at third base, is considered too short for first base, and just passes at second base. The Cards love their role players to possess a deep well of utility.
Three More
Tekoah Roby, STL (21): The prospect headliner of the Montgomery trade, Roby has a four-pitch repertoire of above-average offerings. His best weapon is a double-plus curve ball. He’s currently sidelined with a shoulder injury. There’s relief risk for health reasons only – the stuff and command are sufficient to project a mid-rotation role.
Marco Vargas, NYM (18): Stolen from the Marlins in the David Robertson trade, Vargas is one of the flashier talents in the complex. He’s batting .283/.457/.442 with nearly twice as many walks as strikeouts and a strong rate of contact. Power development will decide whether he’s viewed as a future utility fielder or core performer.
Adam Kloffenstein, STL (22): Part of the return for Jordan Hicks, Kloffenstein is a big right-hander with a limited repertoire. He tunnels a sinker and slider in a way reminiscent of Brady Singer and Brad Keller. He has a solid feel for command and projects to eat innings in an uninspiring way. He’s pitched to a 3.24 ERA in 89 Double-A frames.
Did I miss a detail or nuance? DM me on Twitter @BaseballATeam to suggest corrections.
“BIG HYPE PROSPECTS”
“He has a solid feel for command and projects to eat innings in an uninspiring way. He’s pitched to a 3.24 ERA in 89 Double-A frames.”
Should fire his hype man.
Maybe not Big Hype for some, but traded and probably fans wanted to know more about who the organization just welcomed in.
I know, I’m just having a giggle.
That sounds alot like Bryce Elder and while almost everything about this guy might be uninspiring, when you put everything together you could be talking about a solid, innings eating middle of the rotation starter.
From a prospect perspective, especially considering most of them flame out, I’ll gladly take a solid, slightly above average regular any day…
But man, Mets fans have to be calling this guy Buzz Killington after that Acuña write-up.
Uninspiring way… wooooohoooooo!
It’s like they were trolling the Rangers.
The Rangers get to talk about playoffs and postseason hopes. The Cardinals get to talk about prospects
.
The glass isn’t half empty man.
well after 25 yrs they decided to let others talk about playoffs. I’d say it was a good run.
2011. Shhh……
Rangers have a pretty good window the next couple years, no shame in going for it.
I am surprised they gave up Acuna and Saggese on the same day… But I’m just not used to having two solid IF prospects a year away from the show that you can afford to give away.
@Ray Langford:
Cool screen name!
I am not surprised at all, zero people actually expected either of those guys to be in the Rangers future, they were trade capital all the way. What is surprising is that Texas got starting pitching without giving up any of the big pitching prospects, pretty cool
Let’s Go Cards!
I’m curious to see what Luciano can do for the Giants in the long term. Didn’t realize he was so strikeout-prone, though. That also turned out to be the case for Casey Schmitt, whom opposing pitchers have seem to have figured out. He will need to learn to adjust.
They become much more SO prone because the game has moved so much to hit the ball hard and try to get HRs. I swear even a guy like Gwynn would have his swing ruined in today’s game. I would much rather see these young guys hitting for high BAs with less swing for the fence mentality.
I think Luciano will be a very good player though, he was finally getting healthy and swinging well since June and he’s getting a little taste of the Majors hopefully making him really hungry. Personally hope he doesn’t get too many ABs this season so he can have a full season and maybe compete for a ROY award next year.
LOL the Cardinals “big hype” prospects they are getting… “The Cards love their role players” , “projects to eat innings in an uninspiring way” , “shoulder injury. There’s relief risk for health reasons” Mo is really building this up to compete in 2024 like he said LMAO. Seriously trade Goldy in this great sellers market. As it stands next years rotation is Mikolas, Matz, Liberatore, Hudson, Woodford……………YIKES. And the front office has proven time and time again they aren’t willing to pay big for FA pitchers.
Why does a middle infield prospect need to develop power (25+HR) in order to determine if he’s a utility player or core player? If he hits .280 with, say, a .760-.775 OPS does it matter if he hits 12 or 25 HR? Middle IF don’t need to hit for big power to be core performers. Good OBP, defense and some speed is quite good enough IMHO.
saggese has to be flipped this winter right? gorman and walker already had to move to accommodate arrenado. wynn at short next year, donovan can back up everywhere and so can edman yet they have like matz and liberatore as a rotation next year. no way they keep sags too.
thought that was pretty harsh on acuna too, and i’m a rangers fan
I kind of think it’s as likely that they trade Edman or Donovan in winter.
Yep the Saggese acquisition definitely makes that more likely imo. Probably Donovan since their defensive skills align pretty closely. Hopefully for Gilbert or Luzardo or even Castillo.
Seattle is not trading Castillo.
I mean they claim they want to keep all their young pitching, yet they also want to sign Ohtani. Clearing salary will help that cause, and they also need another rotation opening, so that means Ray or Castillo, and only one of those guys will bring a good player in return.
“In an uninspiring way” LOL wow.
Big hype being compared to Rhys Hoskins. Poor kid. Any sentence with a Rhys comparison should say big flop
A fifth round pick who (a) made the show and (b) has put up 11+ bWAR in essentially five full seasons (rookie year + COVID year = one season) is a bust? When that WAR total includes the penalty for spending a misplaced year in the outfield. That’s a bust?
Manzardo slumped and then got hurt. Report said his mother was diagnosed with a serious illness. Playing through personal troubles and an injury could easily explain the slump because he started off the season playing extremely well.
Also, the “slump” is purely in the HR column. Every other number is as expected. HR are notoriously fickle. It takes 900-1500 PA to get a sense of a player’s normal rate – and that’s if the player experiences no growth or decline.
In other words, he could have been a little lucky last year or a little unlucky this year. He’s still a good prospect either way. Is he a 110 or 130 wRC+ future big leaguer?
I’m a realist, but still expected a better return for Montgomery and Hicks.
In regards to Saggase.. could you have been more of a Cards homer? Choke, Gag, Breathe..