Rookie-level players are now in high trade demand
At the rate basebal is going, by 2020 teams will be signing international prospects on July 2 and trading them away July 3.
In the never-ending quest to find an edge, the 2017 trade deadline continued a developing pattern. Teams are proving willing to dig deeper and deeper into other teams’ farm systems in an attempt to land a bargain—and to find prospects teams are willing to deal.
Of the 59 minor leaguers traded this July, eight were in Rookie or short-season ball at the time of the trade. Another had yet to make it to the U.S., because he is pitching in the Dominican Summer League.
It was a similar story in 2016, when seven players in short-season leagues were dealt in the month leading up to the trade deadline.
This story is from the August 18 2017 edition of Baseball America.
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This story is from the August 18 2017 edition of Baseball America.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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