Baseball Tri-Weekly: Traded Prospects that Could Make an Impact in 2018

Was Yoan the best prospect traded in 2017? Rio is excited to find out next year. 

Traded Prospects that Could Make an Impact in 2018

By Aviator McShadeless

Baseball Tri-weekly

With the 2017 season winding down,  playoff teams around the EHCC made interesting moves to sure up their post season. On the back end of that were some prospects and picks that could shape the 2018 campaign. Here is a look at a few that could be the most impactful.

Yoan Moncada and Rafael Devers - Rio

Probably the biggest names moved at the deadline, Rio would have sold their soul to get these players. Fortunately for them, the Canadian soul exchange rate is higher than expected, and San Juan… not sure why they don’t like the future. Both have put in work in the minors. Rio is not expected to compete for years, but with these two as the core of their infield-heavy Soldados, it will make it extremely hard to resist calling them up and putting solid pieces around them.

Vlad Guerrero Jr. – Las Vegas

What will go down as the most questionable trade of the year, Doggs ownership hired Russian hackers to exploit the Alexa source code. The result was future hall of famer and anime enthusiast Vlad Guerrero being shipped to Las Vegas for a borderline keeper and a solid starting pitcher. This deal doesn’t make any sense. Toyko will likely miss the playoffs. Their squad is a collection of castoffs and post-hype slouches. Creating a minor league stud dash button should have been their priority in June. As soon as Vlad is ready, he will be called up. The Doggs have a gapping hole, and they also have a need for a good player.

Rhys Hoskins - Rakeville

Rhys is a man. A man’s man. One of the earlier moves had James Paxton heading over to Quebec City to sure up that dominant pitching staff. In return, Rakeville received a first round minor league pick, which became Rhys Hoskins a few weeks later. The first baseman turned outfielder is tearing the cover off the ball in Stackerville, and had the Rockets not pulled the plug on the season, Hoskins would already be up driving his team past almost any first round opponent. The EHCC lucked out this year, but a full season of Rhys in Rakeville’s already stellar 2018 offense should make them a force.

Michael Kopech - San Fernando Valley

Despite being the highest pitcher taken in the 2017 draft, the chance Kopech is called up next season is very low. This guy throws gas. He has a raw arm, and if the Jets groom him as a starter he is likely a few years away. If they see him as a back of the bullpen force, however, his timeline could be a bit more interesting. Closers are becoming a strategic play in the EHCC, and a pitcher the caliber of Kopech could be a hot commodity come the 2018 trade deadline if he continues to progress. If SFV can get good value for him, he might be on a playoff roster in September. If not, Kopech could be reduced to throwing 100 mph fastballs in front of the 12 fans that attend Jets games for the rest of his life.

Gleyber Torres – Las Vegas

You know when your lover tells you to take out the trash, and instead you change the light bulb in the bathroom. She later comes back and complains when the trash isn’t on the curb, and despite how productive you were, in her eyes you’re essentially useless. You are Gleyber Torres. Useless.