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MLB Trade Deadline: The 10 Best Prospects that Could be Moved

By Greg Goldstein

Mar 7, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Kyle Zimmer (45) before a spring training game against the Oakland Athletics at HoHoKam Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Kyle Zimmer (45) before a spring training game against the Oakland Athletics at HoHoKam Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /
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10. RHP Luis Ortiz (Texas Rangers)

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Team Needs: Starting Pitching, Relief Pitching, Catcher

Ratings: 64th Overall, 4th in Rangers System

The Rangers have had a great season thus far. They lead the AL West by 8.5 games and are lead by both exciting young players and established veterans. They may in fact be the best equipped to emerge as the American League champions by season’s end. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have areas to improve on. They actually have two spots in particular that could use some beefing up with the help of Luis Ortiz.

Cole Hamels, Colby Lewis and Nick Martinez have al been good for Texas through the first half of the season. Hamels has clearly been a top five starting pitcher in the American League, but their two other rotation spots are up in the air. Yu Darvish got sent back to the disabled list after returning to the team for a few starts and Derek Holland‘s performance does not justify him being a starting pitcher on the quality of team that the Rangers have.

The Rangers relief pitching has been much improved since Sam Dyson‘s move to the closer role, but the club could use some more high-end talent in the back of the pen that could fill in if Dyson starts to regress.

Luis Ortiz won’t be the centerpiece in a deal for the likes of Jonathan Lucroy or Julio Teheran, but he could entice some sellers to trade impact players. Ortiz is rated within the top 75 of MLB Pipeline’s prospect list as of right now and is close to making an impact in the big leagues being that he is just 21 years old playing at the Double-A level. Ortiz has the ability to be a middle of the rotation starter with a fastball that sits in the low-mid 90’s and a deceptive delivery. He also has been performing well in the minors combining for an ERA under-3.00 in 2016.

The right-hander should be enough too pry the likes of tier-two players on the trade market like a Sean Doolittle or Jake Odorizzi.

Possible Deals: Arodys Vizcaino, Sean Doolittle, Jake Odorizzi, Drew Pomeranz

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