Fansided

MLB Trade Deadline: Buyers’ Untouchable Prospects

By Kyle Franzoni

Jul 5, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz (32) throws the ball in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz (32) throws the ball in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 5, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz (32) throws the ball in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz (32) throws the ball in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Plenty of stars are on the market at MLB’s non-waiver trade deadline, but what prospects will be non-starters for buying teams?

During the 2014 MLB trade deadline, the flurry of activity started early and came often. By July 21st, there had already been four significant trades completed in the month of July and several minor deals. Those included the Oakland Athletics acquiring the pair of Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, the New York Yankees acquiring Brandon McCarthy and Chase Headley in separate deals, and the Los Angeles Angels landing their closer in Huston Street.

So why has the 2015 trade market been so slow to develop? Well, numerous reasons have been in play thus far.

First and foremost is the parity in the game. 13 teams currently sit either in first place or within five games of first in their respective divisions. If we stretch that to the two Wild Card spots, and we have 10 teams within a handful of games of a playoff spot. Needless to say, there isn’t a very clear picture of who is in selling mode with a few too many teams holding onto hope of making the postseason.

Perhaps the problem delves a bit deeper. Maybe it has to do a bit more with the machinations behind the scenes for those that are guaranteed sellers (Phillies, Brewers, Reds, Marlins). These teams aren’t necessarily looking to land a capable Major League player in return, but rather they want the next great star of the future in exchange for helping another team’s playoffs push in the present.

However, there seems to have been a shift in desire among the buyers to part with coveted prospects. The ascension of players like Joc Pederson, Carlos Correa, Kris Bryant, and others have caused across the league and prospects are now valued much higher than at any previous time in the history of the game.

So as the deadline approaches and we begin to figure out exactly what veterans may be on their way to help make a playoff push, perhaps it is also time to review the buyers and those top prospects that they will be hesitant to trade for a short-term rental.

Next: Don't even ask about this Dodgers pair

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