MLB trade rumors: Prospects Yankees, Dodgers, Astros, Braves should move but don't want to

Written By Thomas Lott
Keibert Ruiz
Getty Images

Everyone's favorite player in MLB is the next one. All teams and fans love to project who in their system is going to be the next Mike Trout or Clayton Kershaw. But you know what, there is only one Trout and one Kershaw.

Should a team like the Braves hold onto Christian Pache? Should the Yankees keep Deivi García because of what he might become at the cost of a championship? The answer is a resounding no.

Now, it might hurt, and teams aren't going to want to do it, but the Yankees, Braves, Astros and Dodgers all have those prospects they don't want to give up, just like every team in baseball. But you know what else? It's World Series or bust for New York and Los Angeles and the Braves and Astros would also really love titles.

Should they hold back a prospect for the potential of a couple of All-Star games or even a Cy Young? We don't think so. So we took a look at the players these four teams don't want to trade but absolutely should, especially if a deal means a championship. And we'll tell you who they could be traded for which might be the reason they come away with a title.


Yankees: Clint Frazier, OF

Yes, yes, we know he's not technically a prospect, but in all honesty, he really is. He might not qualify as a rookie anymore, but for a guy who is currently at Triple-A and blocked to get to MLB, he really is a prospect. And the Yankees don't want to move him. But let's take a look at a couple of things. The Yankees will lock up Aaron Judge, they have extended Aaron Hicks, they still have Giancarlo Stanton, and if they have to they do have other prospects in the pipeline like Estevan Florial. Yes, Frazier could replace Brett Gardner and with this year's injuries his worth is clear. But is it worth it to hold onto him to not win a championship? What if Madison Bumgarner is the difference in a World Series? How about Noah Syndergaard? Because let's be honest, it's championship or bust in New York this year and refusing to include Frazier in a trade is not a good excuse for not winning it all.

Potential moves: Bumgarner, Syndergaard

Dodgers: Keibert Ruiz, C

The Dodgers' catching situation isn't fantastic as they have Austin Barnes and Russell Martin. Ruiz is the team's future behind the plate, so there is little reason to trade him. But here's the thing, when's the last time you heard of a highly rated catching prospect succeeding when they got to MLB? Travis D'Arnaud was supposed to be great for the Mets, but he wasn't. Francisco Mejia was projected to be awesome and he hasn't been yet. Jorge Alfaro could have been great with the Rangers, Phillies and Marlins but he's been just OK. For every Gary Sanchez there are five catchers who either aren't that good or don't stick at the position. Now, is there a guy the Dodgers want that would take Ruiz to get him? That we're not sure of. But if the right guy comes along that would be that definitive difference maker, it's not a good idea to hold out hope that keeping Ruiz will mean a title in the future.

Potential move: Syndergaard

Braves: Ian Anderson, SP

Ian Anderson has kind of been an under-the-radar guy among the general public for the last few years, but for Braves fans and those who follow the MLB Draft, he has been a big name for a long time now and the Braves absolutely want to hold onto him. But here's the thing, the Braves' rotation includes Mike Soroka and Max Fried who are both very young (though still very good), Julio Teheran, who can be suspect from time to time and Dallas Keuchel has a 5.04 ERA in his last five postseason starts. Adding a Madison Bumgarner or Noah Syndergaard or even Matthew Boyd will take a big prospect and Anderson would get that deal done. The Braves don't need to hold him back for their future. They could win a championship now by adding. And they still have Kyle Wright, Bryse Wilson and Kolby Allard. They can deal with moving one guy.

Potential move: Bumgarner

Astros: Kyle Tucker, OF

If we've said it once we've said it a thousand times, the Astros don't want to trade Kyle Tucker and they likely won't. There's a few reasons for that: George Springer is a free agent after this season and Michael Brantley and Josh Reddick are after 2020. Houston wants to hold onto Tucker for their future. But the Astros are in desperate need of a fourth starter. They are 42-19 in all games started by Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander and Wade Miley this season but they're 19-18 with every other man on the mound. They need help at the back end of the rotation, and to get a controllable starter which they also absolutely need, teams will ask for Tucker. And if the Mets say we'll give you Syndergaard if you include Tucker, the Astros absolutely have to make that move. Again, it will hurt, but with Derek Fisher, Seth Beer, Yordan Alvarez and Alex McKenna (who is a few more years away) in the system, that's a bullet they need to bite.

Potential move: Boyd