Down on the Farm - 8/3/22

Trade deadline rundown, Dodgers call-up Miguel Vargas, notable minor league performances, RIP Vin Scully

What always stood out to me about Vin Scully was his total devotion to the game. He loved it. It's not just that you could hear it in his voice during the broadcast, you could feel it when he spoke his words — RIP 🙏

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Trade Season ↔️

As the dust clears from a busy trade deadline, there is a lot to review. We’ll focus primarily on the prospects and minor league players returned in the deals from the last few days. The final results from these trades won't fully play out for some time, but here is a look at the net projected rest of season WAR acquired/given up for each club (Steamer projections). Not a huge surprise, the Padres acquired the most 2022 projected WAR, the Reds and the Nationals gave up the most projected value.

Padres Land Juan Soto & Josh Bell From Nationals

The Padres landed both Juan Soto and Josh Bell from the Nationals in exchange for MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams, Robert Hassell III, James Wood, and Jarlin Susana. The Padres also sent first baseman Luke Voit to Washington. I’ve read a few takes from writers saying it wasn’t a great return. I get it, Soto is a generational talent, but the Nationals got back a strong group of talented players. The trade brings the Padres 2.5 seasons of Soto (slightly less than that, actually) and less than half a season of Bell. While it’s true the trade might not ever return the type of value Soto gives a club for that amount of time (~18 WAR using ZiPS), this group of players at least gives the Nationals a chance.

Almost all the players acquired by Washington will be controllable for the next six seasons and have the potential to be impact big league players. Before being shutdown with an arm injury, Gore showed off his potential to be a middle of the rotation starter and possibly even a top of the rotation starter. There is risk with Gore because of injury concerns, but if healthy the 23-year-old lefty has the ability to be a solid rotation piece for the next few years. Abrams hasn't hit much in the big leagues but is still just 21-years-old and slashed .314/.364/.507 (115 wRC+) in Triple-A this season. Abrams doesn’t project to be an above-average offensive player in the big leagues, but his athleticism and defensive ability sets his floor fairly high.

Out of the players that haven’t spent any time in the big leagues, Hassell could be the safest bet. The 20-year-old former 1st round pick in 2020 has slashed .299/.379/.467 (134 wRC+) with 10 homers and 20 steals across 346 plate appearances in High-A this season. Hassell has a sweet left-handed swing that right now generates mostly gap to gap power, but has the potential to produce more power as he matures physically. He’s athletic enough to stay in center long-term and projects to be a big league regular with the ceiling of an all-star caliber player. Wood was a 2nd round pick out of IMG Academy in last year’s draft and has plus-plus raw power. The 19-year-old is listed at 6’7, 240 and has above-average tools across the board. There are some questions about his hit tool long term given his size and long levers, but he has monster upside. In 236 Low-A plate appearances this season, he’s slashed .337/.453/.601 (171 wRC+) with 10 home runs and 15 stolen bases. Wood has also walked nearly as much as he’s stuck out this year. The final piece in the deal, right-hander Jarlin Susana, is still just 18-years-old and pitching in the complex league, but has impressed scouts with two potential above-average offerings.

Brewers Trade Josh Hader to Padres

The Brewers sent closer Josh Hader to the Padres for Taylor Rogers, Robert Gasser, Esteury Ruiz, and Dinelson Lamet. Ruiz has spent the last few weeks in the big leagues, but started the season in Double-A before quickly progressing to Triple-A. He’s slashed a combined .333/.467/.560 in the minor leagues with 60 stolen bases and 13 homers. He’s six for his first 27 in the big leagues. Gasser is a feel over stuff lefty who’s had a strong season in Double-A — he holds a 4.18 ERA (3.27 FIP) across 18 starts with a strikeout rate of 31% and walk rate of 7%.