Prospect News: Stash List #8: Pick Culpepper or Kade In The Shade

Graduated from Prospect News: Stash List #7: Can Clark Be Our Superman? Quinn Mathews, Max Clark 

1. Mariners LHP Kade Anderson (21, AA) 

Seattle has no shortage of options in reshaping their rotation this week. I suspect they’re hoping to send two starters at once to maximize return, offloading Luis Castillo and opening a path for Anderson. Trade winds seem to be blowing toward Chicago. I never like predicting what a team might like in another organization, but the Cubs have pieces of just about every variety and would probably love to move Kevin Alcantara, Matt Shaw and maybe even Moises Ballesteros. If Kade Anderson isn’t promoted within the few weeks, there ought to be an investigation.

2. Red Sox SS Franklin Arias (20, AAA) 

I’m sure Boston’s in no hurry to trade Arias, who has already hit two home runs in six Triple-A games, but he is reportedly the ask in return for Rockies C Hunter Goodman, and that’s just one rumor in the mill. I saw a story from Yahoo the other day that said Boston is actually expected to trade Arias before the deadline. I’d say it’s more like a ten percent chance. It makes more sense to me that they’d just promote him and play him. Hot team that can’t stop winning is a solid context to welcome a rookie.

3. Yankees SS George Lombard Jr. (21, AAA) 

Anthony Volpe is still in town and playing good defense and taking his walks, so even though Lombard son of Lombard is on fire at Triple-A, he may have to wait. On the other hand, New York could flip the Volpster before the deadline. Even if they can’t trade him, they should probably consider making this switch sooner than later. Their offense is not bomber-level. Give Lombard Jr. a chance to settle in before the postseason.

4. Rockies 1B/OF Charlie Condon (23, AAA) 

The more I ponder it, the more I think Condon will be in Colorado shortly after the deadline passes. They’ll try to trade Goodman or Troy Johnston or Ezequiel Tovar or even Jake McCarthy, and a follow-along effect will be every day playing time for Condon, who is probably already rostered in just about every league and rightly so.

5. Cardinals OF Joshua Baez (22, AAA) 

Teams are reportedly asking about Lars Nootbaar in trade, and if I were running the Cardinals, I’d take this chance to trade him and pave the way for Baez to play every day. He’ll strike out a lot, sure, but he’ll add a frightening element to an already challenging lineup.

6. Twins SS Kaelen Culpepper (23, AAA)

Feels like Minnesota has made more win-now trades this month than the rest of the league combined, and while it’s not easy to say they’ve gotten much better, perhaps they’re anticipating the arrival of Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper down the stretch, which is fun if true. Culpepper is back from an injured hand a little quicker than I would’ve thought and has picked up three hits in his last two games. If he’s truly healthy, his plus defense might make the team better tomorrow even if the power-speed blend takes a minute to materialize at the highest level.

7. Twins OF Walker Jenkins (21, AAA)

The only thing Jenkins doesn’t Leeroy extremely well is pull the ball in the air, but he’s strong enough that he doesn’t even have to do that to be useful. He’s not a carry-your-offense type talent at the moment, but he’s a tough out who would take some sting out of losing Byron Buxton.

8. Tigers 2B Max Anderson (24, AAA) 

Mr. Anderson went 0-for-0 with four walks on Friday night. Kind of moving like Neo these days, slashing .333/.532/.576 with two home runs and a 12-to-2 walk-to-strikeout rate over his last ten games. Two strikeouts in ten games is pretty good. I know I’ve confessed this in this space before, but I don’t understand the Tigers. Even so, it’s hard for me to imagine a reality where this guy’s waking up in Toledo much longer.

9. Rays 1B Tre’ Morgan (24, AAA) 

A run-saving defender at first base, Morgan flashed fresh power in July, belting five home runs in the span of five games and slashing .367/.436/.673 in his last 12 games. I can’t remember a time the league felt as fluid as it does at this deadline. Morgan’s probably not a big target for most teams, but he’s promising enough to push a deal over the finish line. If he doesn’t get traded, he drops off the list barring an injury to Jonathan Aranda or Yandy Diaz. Even then, I’m not sure he’d be the team’s short-term solution.

10. Royals OF Gavin Cross (25, AAA) 

Slashing .338/.385/.632 with nine home runs and nine stolen bases over his last 35 games: his best stretch as a professional. Tough to predict the Royals, but you’d have to imagine someone there wants to see the ninth overall pick from the 2022 draft added to the 40-man roster and on his way to Kansas City. He’ll have to be added to the 40 before November anyway unless they want to expose him to the Rule 5 draft.  

Thanks for reading!