MLB Trade Rumors 2019: Top 25 assets

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 20: San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) throws a pitch during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 20, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 23: Gavin Lux #81 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats against the Chicago White Sox on February 23, 2019 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale Arizona. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

18. Gavin Lux

Last summer, the Los Angeles Dodgers were able to swing a trade for All-Star shortstop Manny Machado without losing any of their best prospects. The Baltimore Orioles were hard after shortstop Gavin Lux and starter Dustin May, but settled for outfielder Yusniel Diaz as the centerpiece of the deal. Yet again, the Dodgers are running away with the NL West and look like the team to beat in the National League. And yet again, their top prospects will be in high demand at the trade deadline as they look to finally get over the hump and win the World Series for the first time in three decades.

The Dodgers farm system is beginning to get thin at the top, but they still feature three top-100 prospects. Baltimore really wanted May last year, but the Dodgers refused to include him in a deal. The big right-hander likely remains relatively untouchable in the Los Angeles farm system. Catcher Keibert Ruiz is the team’s highest-rated prospect, and they may be reluctant to part with him given his offensive potential at a premium position.

That leaves Lux, the shortstop prospect, as the Dodgers prospect who is most likely to be used as a prime trade chip this summer. The 21-year-old is nearly ready for the big leagues and was the best offensive shortstop in the Minor Leagues last season. This year, he is hitting .313/.375/.521 with 13 home runs and 37 RBI through his first 64 games at Double-A. Lux is also a strong runner who projects as a 20-20 threat at the MLB level. Defense is a weakness, but a shift to second base will hardly lessen his value.

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