Fansided

MLB Power Rankings: Here come the Cubs

By Joshua Sadlock

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 17: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after hitting a solo homer in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on July 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 17: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after hitting a solo homer in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on July 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO – JULY 19: Yoan Moncada #10 of the Chicago White Sox runs out onto the field prior to the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 19, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CHICAGO – JULY 19: Yoan Moncada #10 of the Chicago White Sox runs out onto the field prior to the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 19, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
28

San Diego Padres 41-54

Last week: 3-4
Last rank: 28

The stories that leak out every year as the deadline approaches about teams having outrageous demands for their players are always some of the best. A.J. Preller has been a constant source of entertainment in that regard.

Say what you will about Preller, the Boy Wonder GM who fudged medical reports to improve his chances on the trade market, but he usually gets great deals done somehow, someway. Brad Hand is a very valuable left-handed reliever with two more years of cheap control left. It would not come as a complete surprise to see Preller get at least one top-100 prospect out of him.

27

Chicago White Sox 38-54

Last week: 0-5
Last rank: 25

The GM of a bottom-five team is never going to win Executive of the Year, but Rick Hahn should get more than a few votes for the award at the end of the season. What Hahn has managed to do in the first year of his rebuild is nothing short of spectacular. The highlight of it all was packaging Todd Frazier with two relievers to get a 2016 first rounder in Blake Rutherford. A package like that was the only way Hahn was going to get value for Frazier, who struggled mightily in his two seasons in Chicago.

The White Sox might very well lose four out of every five games for the rest of the year, which is perfectly fine. They already have six top-50 prospects, most of whom are already knocking on the Guaranteed Rate Field doors. Grab a top-three pick this year, use it on one of the best college hitters available, and the White Sox could be ready to contend as early as 2019.

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