I surveyed more than 40 executives, mostly presidents of baseball operations and general managers. They were granted anonymity so they could answer candidly, as well as asked not to include any of their own players.<\/p>\n
The results, like the major-league portion of our survey, were interesting \u2014 with a wide mix of names, but two prospects came up the most: outfielder Owen Caissie of the Cubs and catcher Harry Ford of the Mariners.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind that none of the teams mentioned below are necessarily trying to trade these prospects, but these are young, talented players those contenders could need to part with to acquire key major leaguers to help them win now. Trading away prospects is always difficult, but it\u2019s the only way \u2014 apart from promotions in select cases \u2014 these teams can add difference-making major leaguers for the stretch run.<\/p>\n
Here are the top prospects our panel of executives thought were most likely to get traded before the July 31 deadline, listed in order of the number of times they were mentioned.<\/p>\n
1. Owen Caissie, OF, Cubs<\/p>\n
Caissie was the prospect mentioned the most by execs \u2014 and it wasn\u2019t even close. He is slashing .258\/.369\/.496 with 18 doubles and 12 homers this season, his second in Triple A. Caissie, 22, appears to be major-league-ready but is blocked because the Cubs have an elite outfield. Five years ago, the Cubs acquired Caissie as one of the prospect headliners in the Yu Darvish trade with the Padres. Now, in all likelihood, they will trade him for pitching at the deadline.<\/p>\n
2. Harry Ford, C, Mariners<\/p>\n
Ford was mentioned second-most by a considerable margin. Most of those execs believed that, because of the Cal Raleigh\u2019s long-term contract<\/a>, Ford is the most valuable and expendable prospect in Seattle\u2019s strong farm system<\/a>. The Mariners are looking for a corner infield power bat, and it would make sense to dangle Ford, who was the No. 12 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. He is batting .307\/.421\/.473 with nine homers and 46 RBIs this season in Triple A.<\/p>\n 3. Brice Matthews, 2B, Astros<\/p>\n A 2023 first-round pick, Matthews, 23, is slashing .280\/.397\/.480 with 10 homers and 23 stolen bases this season in Triple A. He can play second base, shortstop, third base and center field. There\u2019s only one way I could see the Astros trading Matthews this month \u2014 if they could get an impact left-handed-hitting second baseman in return \u2014 and I\u2019m not sure whom they\u2019d target. However, his name kept coming up so there could be a potential match somewhere out there.<\/p>\n 4. Carson Williams, SS, Rays<\/p>\n Williams, 22, is another big-name prospect several execs mentioned. He is hitting just .212 this season in Triple A, with 11 doubles, 14 homers and 14 steals. A first-round pick in 2021, Williams has struck out 35.4 percent of the time in his minor-league career and is slightly above that rate this season. Still, he\u2019s the Rays\u2019 top prospect and a good defensive shortstop, and it would need to be a difference-making deal for them to consider moving him.<\/p>\n The Yankees promoted Spencer Jones to Triple-A Scranton\/Wilkes-Barre last week. (Kim Klement Neitzel \/ Imagn Images)5. Spencer Jones, OF, Yankees<\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure I believe that the Yankees will trade Jones, who has slashed .283\/.396\/.628 this season with 19 home runs, 35 RBIs and 11 stolen bases between Double A and Triple A. However, if the 24-year-old is dealt, expect it to be a huge deal for a top starter or an impact second or third baseman. That said, I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll be traded.<\/p>\n 6. Zyhir Hope, OF, Dodgers<\/p>\n If the Dodgers make yet another big trade deadline deal, most executives believe that Hope will be the prospect headliner going the other way. The Dodgers acquired Hope and lefty Jackson Ferris last year in a trade with the Cubs for first baseman Michael Busch and reliever Yency Almonte. Hope, 20, has batted .300\/.401\/.468 with 20 doubles, seven homers and 11 steals this season in High A. The Athletic\u2019s Keith Law had him No. 39 in his most recent top prospects ranking<\/a>.<\/p>\n 7. Edwin Arroyo, 2B\/SS, Reds<\/p>\n The Reds are looking for an impact bat at the trade deadline. Their prospect cabinet is loaded with shortstops and third basemen, and most teams believe the switch-hitting 21-year-old will be the one they deal. They acquired Arroyo in the Luis Castillo trade with the Mariners at the 2022 deadline. He missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He has batted .268\/.329\/.329 with nine doubles and 32 runs scored this season in Double A.<\/p>\n 8. Ethan Salas, C, Padres<\/p>\n A.J. Preller and the Padres are always looking to make a splash at the trade deadline and are never afraid to trade their top prospects. Salas, 19, is already at Double A, though he\u2019s been sidelined since mid-April with a lower back injury. He\u2019s lost a little prospect shine due to his offensive struggles \u2014 .221\/.325\/.210 slash line over three seasons and 800 plate appearances \u2014 but has time to figure it out. I doubt the Padres will trade him unless they can get an All-Star major leaguer in return who could help them win during this key window for their roster.<\/p>\n (Top photo of Owen Caissie: Michael Spomer\/ Cal Sport Media via Associated Press)\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Which top prospects could be on the move in the biggest trades before the July 31 deadline? 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