Deadline Dealing
August 01, 2004
The non-waiver trading deadline has passed, bringing with it a number of prospects changing locations. We'll cover the notable minor leaguers that will be needing new addresses, but first up is a bit of news on a recent promotion.
SS B.J. Upton was promoted by the Devil Rays on the first day of August, after weeks of speculation that such a move would be made around this time. Upton hit .311-12-36 with 17 doubles in 69 Triple-A games after a midseason promotion. Unfortunately, he also committed 25 errors in those contests, and will need to work on his glovework while adapting to the big leagues. Upton is the best prospect in baseball, and he’s definitely one to watch. He warrants attention in most fantasy leagues, simply because of his excellent five-tool position at a somewhat shallow position.
And now, onto the trades (includes all deals made on July 31, deadline day)….
RHP Francis Beltran (from Cubs to Expos)
Beltran has excellent velocity, and projects as a potential future closer. Control is the main issue, but Beltran should be able to overcome those worries in the majors. He has shown the ability to dominate the opposition, and he should continue to develop with time. A 40/22 K/BB ratio in 35 innings of work isn’t particularly encouraging, but shows exactly what was expected from his past performance. Flashes of brilliance, with plenty of inconsistency. Keep an eye on him in the future, but he'll need some time before he’s ready to close. In terms of overall ceiling, Beltran is superior to current Expos closer Chad Cordero.
2B/3B/SS Brendan Harris (from Cubs to Expos)
Harris is one of the most underrated prospects in baseball. He has power/speed/contact potential, and can play anywhere on the infield. Third base was his original position, but that was a bit cramped in Chicago. Don’t be surprised to see Harris as the Expos' future third baseman, and he very well could make a sizeable splash once he settles in. Harris also played second with the Cubs, along with a few games at shortstop. Harris does need to become a little more patient, but his defense has not been a problem, even with the multiple position changes.
OF Matt Murton (from Red Sox to Cubs)
Murton is an unheralded prospect out of the Red Sox system, and he was putting up some impressive numbers for the Red Sox during the first half of this season. Armed with the best overall power potential in the Boston system, Murton’s departure makes an already weak system even weaker. Murton has power, patience, and hits for average. His arm is below average and his speed has begun to drop as he has bulked up. All things considered, he should be a great fit as a future left fielder.
RHP Justin Jones (from Cubs to Twins)
Jones was one of the top prospects in the Cubs' system, and that’s saying quite a bit. His fastball and curveball are both well above-average, and his changeup is also above-average. The one knock on Jones heading into the season was that he needed to sharpen his control a bit, but even that was not a major concern. His 59/22 K/BB ratio in 64 innings of work alleviates most of those concerns, and provides a positive outlook for the future. Injuries look to be the one area that could slow Jones down.
LHP Matt Merricks (from Braves to Dodgers)
Merricks has made strides since last season, when he lost 15 games despite posting otherwise decent stats. His control was a bit of a problem, and many scouts questioned his attitude, but Merricks seems to have turned the corner and could work out as a future starter. Merricks displays a plus fastball and changeup, but the development of his curveball will determine his future role.
RHP Travis Chick (from Marlins to Padres)
Chick has emerged in 2004, transforming from a nearly total unknown to a prospect worth watching, thanks in large part to his 112/27 K/BB ratio in 90 innings of work. Chick throws in the mid-90s and projects as either a future closer or starter, depending on the development of his secondary pitches. Chick is prone to the long ball at times, but that is partially related to his above-average velocity.
LHP Bill Murphy (from Marlins to Dodgers)
Murphy was traded from Oakland to Florida in the Mark Redman deal, and is now on his way to Los Angeles. He throws a low-90s fastball and above-average curveball, and is currently working on improving his changeup. His control is an issue, with a 113/58 K/BB ratio in 103 innings of work, but he also shows the potential to be dominating. Murphy could very well end up as a middle-of-the-rotation starter, or he could end up as a lefty specialist out of the bullpen. Control will make all the difference.
Sorry for the delays....busy times once again. We hope to be back on a more stable schedule, but be advised that the release of the next few issues could be a bit shaky. Thanks for the patience!
Posted by Richie Madden: Aug 1 at 2:47 PM
Fantasy Baseball 
But no mention of Kazmir or Peterson...
Click here! for their info!
But no mention of Kazmir or Peterson...
Click here! for their info!
Thanks, Ollo.
In order to limit the number of prospects covered to a manageable sum, I limited the article to only July 31st deals. So, there was no mention of Kazmir or Peterson. Quite frankly, however, those deals were so pitiful that you wouldn't even want to read my analysis. The Mets got screwed. That's really all there is to it. Terrible deals. Really, saying anything beyond that would just be depressing.
I did use MLB.com as a source to determine which prospects were dealt and realized after I posted that their transaction pages actually didn't list a few prospects dealt (Hill, Abercrombie)...so, I apologize for that, as I did expect MLB.com to be on top of things like that.