It is easy this time of 12 months to give attention to the obvious commerce candidates among the many bunch. Gamers on expiring contracts — or maybe with another 12 months of membership management — who play for rebuilding groups or playoff hopefuls who’ve fallen wanting expectations are inclined to dominate the dialog. That is comprehensible. Even the brief home windows of management over these seasoned veterans may be large difference-makers with regard to the postseason fortunes of these groups which can be nonetheless within the race.
On the opposite facet of the coin, followers of these rebuilding golf equipment or disappointing groups can scour prospect rankings for contending golf equipment, hoping to get a glimpse of what the long run would possibly maintain and what their soon-to-be-traded stars and mainstays would possibly web.
Someplace in between these two extremes, nevertheless, there are many gamers who maintain attraction. The reception when considered one of these gamers is included in a commerce is not at all times nice among the many fanbase. White Sox followers weren’t precisely thrilled final 12 months when the primary return within the staff’s commerce of Erick Fedde and Michael Kopech was infielder Miguel Vargas, as an illustration. Vargas wasn’t far faraway from being a consensus top-100 prospect and was solely 24 on the time of the swap, however he not carried that shiny “high prospect” label or as a lot of the attract of the unknown. As a substitute, he was a younger large leaguer who’d struggled to ascertain himself in three brief, partial MLB seasons.
Vargas hasn’t precisely damaged by to superstardom in 2025 — removed from it — however he is been an everyday on the infield corners in Chicago and offered league-average offense on the entire, together with a .246/.325/.458 slash (117 wRC+) over his previous 320 plate appearances. He is walked in almost 10% of these plate appearances, punched out at solely a 14.7% clip and more and more has the look of a strong common.
Although he’d misplaced among the luster from his prospect standing, Vargas –who’s managed during 2029 — may but wind up being a pleasant piece for the White Sox.
With that very current instance in thoughts, and with a lot give attention to the Eugenio Suarez-es and Spencer Jones-es of the world (i.e. rental veterans and hot-hitting prospects who’re the discuss of the deadline), it appeared like a worthwhile endeavor to attempt to pinpoint some once-ballyhooed prospects whose star has dimmed and who maybe not have a transparent path to an on a regular basis position of their present group.
Here is a have a look at six former high prospects who’ve exhausted that “prospect” designation however are hitting properly within the higher minors with out a lot of a path to enjoying time on their present membership…
JJ Bleday, OF, Athletics (controllable by not less than 2028)
Bleday was the No. 4 general pick of Vanderbilt by the Marlins again in 2019. Miami traded him to the A’s in change for lefty A.J. Puk — a swap of former top-10 picks who hadn’t panned out as hoped with their authentic golf equipment.
Bleday’s first 12 months with the A’s in 2023 was a disappointment. He hit .195/.310/.355 whereas Puk pitched properly down in South Florida. It seemed like a flop. At the very least, that was the case till 2024. Bleday was miscast as a middle fielder final 12 months — he ought to clearly be in a nook — however was nonetheless price greater than two wins above alternative regardless of horrible defensive grades. He hit .243/.324/.437 with a career-low 19.5% strikeout charge and popped 20 homers in 159 video games. Issue within the cavernous confines of his former dwelling on the Coliseum, and Bleday was 20% higher than league common on the plate, by measure of wRC+.
This 12 months, Bleday’s numbers dipped. He hit .191/.288/.358 in 233 plate appearances within the majors. The A’s have optioned him twice. Bleday nonetheless walked in 12% of these MLB plate appearances, although his strikeout charge crept again up and he turned extra vulnerable to infield flies. His general hard-hit charge elevated, nevertheless, and he is at present hitting .354/.393/.584 in 122 Triple-A plate appearances.
Sadly for Bleday, he more and more seems like a participant with out a position on the A’s. Lawrence Butler signed a long-term extension in proper discipline. Nick Kurtz’s emergence at first base has pushed Tyler Soderstrom to left discipline. Denzel Clarke hasn’t hit within the majors however has been possibly one of the best defensive participant on the planet in his brief time within the majors.
It is attainable there’s nonetheless a task for Bleday with the A’s — Butler can play heart discipline, and Clarke cannot hold hanging out at a 38.4% clip and proceed enjoying repeatedly — however a staff with enjoying time to spare within the outfield may attempt to purchase low.
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